I could hear Ryan’s yells somewhere between our building and Shax's. His voice grew louder as they approached, and when Claire's feet hit the ground just ten feet away, she let him go.

He fell to the ground, rolling onto his back. “Let’s never…ever do that again,” Ryan puffed.

Claire grabbed his hand and yanked him to his feet. “Don’t be a baby,” she grinned, pulling him to the roof access.

After two flights of stairs my lungs begged for air, but the adrenaline surging through my body made my legs feel they could go on forever.

Jared stopped, looked above us, and not a second later, a loud crash sounded on the roof, followed by the sounds only demons on the hunt could make.

“We’re not going to make it,” Jared said, looking to me, and then to Claire. “Take Nina and Ryan out.”

“No!” I said, gripping his arm.

“There are too many, Jared!” Claire said. “Half of them will slip past you.”

They both looked to Ryan, and then Jared grabbed Ryan’s coat with both fists. “Get Nina out of here. Get her to the alley.” Ryan looked at Claire, and Jared jerked him again, demanding his full attention. “Get Nina out! We’ll hold them off.”

Jared pushed Ryan back, pulling two Glocks from their holsters. Claire threw the duffel bag to me. “Make sure he doesn’t get himself killed, all right?”

“Okay,” I said, tugging on Ryan’s coat.

We descended the stairs, leaving the Ryels behind. Ryan didn’t take his eyes off Claire until she was out of sight, and then he focused, taking two steps at a time.

The screeching grew louder, more excited, and then the gunfire began.

Ryan stopped, held his pistol to his chest, and then slammed his back to the wall. “Shit!”

“We can’t stay here! We have to go, Ryan. We have...to...go!” I pleaded, tugging on him with each word.

“I can’t leave her,” he said, looking up.

“The only way you can help her now is to stay alive!” I said, emphasizing each word.

He closed his eyes tight, and then grabbed my arm, pulling me down the last two flights of stairs.

“This is the door to the alley!” I said, pointing.

Ryan tugged on the handle a few times. When it wouldn't open, he aimed his gun, shooting a few rounds into the handle. I looked away, protecting my eyes from splinters flying in every direction.