“I protected them as long as I could,” my dad says, his voice strangled, fluid bubbling up from inside him and trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“Come on, we’re getting out of here,” I reply, kneeling down next to him.

A shadow of pain crosses his face. He shakes his head. “Not me, Sam. You have to go on your own.”

A howl rises above the fighting on the roof. Bernie Kosar, desperate and in agony.

Sarah touches my shoulder gently. “Sam, I’m sorry. We don’t have long.”

I shrug away from Sarah’s hand, shaking my head. I glare at my dad, tears now running freely down my cheeks. “No,” I hiss angrily, “you’re not leaving me again.”

Sarah tries to squeeze past me and drag Ella’s body out from beneath him. I don’t help. I know I’m being stupid and selfish, but I can’t let him go this easily. I’ve spent my entire life looking for him and now it’s all falling apart.

“Sam . . . go,” he whispers.

“Sam,” Sarah pleads, cradling Ella in her arms. “You have to grab John and we have to go.”

I stare at him. He nods slowly, more blood spilling out from the side of his mouth. “Go, Sam,” he says.

“I won’t,” I say, shaking my head, knowing it’s the wrong thing and not caring. “Not unless you come too.”

But it’s too late anyway. The wire hanging outside the window goes taut as a Mogadorian rappels inside. We’ve taken too long and Bernie Kosar wasn’t able to stop them. The second wave is upon us.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

BUBBLES BREAK THE SURFACE OF THE SWAMP WHERE Nine is still under water. He’s been pinned down there for almost a minute. I take a step towards the edge, wanting to dive in and save Nine, but not sure if Five will let me. He’s watching me closely, an eyebrow raised, like he’s wondering how Eight and I will react.

“Where’s the real Number Five?” asks Eight, his voice low. “What did you do with him?”

Five’s brow furrows in confusion, then he smiles. “Oh, you think I’m Setrákus Ra,” Five says, shaking his head. “It’s cool, Eight. I’m the real deal. No shape-shifting tricks.”

As if to demonstrate, Five reaches down with his free hand and opens the lock on his Chest. He clicks it shut again and glances over at us. “See?” Eight and I remain frozen in place, not sure what to do.

“Let Nine out of the water, Five,” I say, trying to keep my voice level, as far from panic as possible.

“In a second,” he replies. “I want to talk to you two without Six and Nine around to interrupt.”

“Why—why would you attack us?” Eight asks, sounding angry and disbelieving. “We’re your friends.”