She ran up the steps and onto the stage. It was a disaster area. The massive sets had been smashed into pieces. The few performers left were wandering around, dazed and bloodied. Six saw two bodies lying motionless amid the clutter of the broken scenery.

The monster had turned its attention to the arena filled with spectators. It had left the stage and was rampaging through the rows of seats, tearing at them with its claws. Because the audience had at first believed the creature to be part of the show, most had not gotten up and run away until it had leaped onto the arena floor and begun its assault. By then it had been too late for some of them.

Now they pushed and clawed at one another in their race for the exits. Six watched as the monster knocked half a dozen of them aside with one sweep of its claw. A small blond woman swatted at it with her designer handbag, and the beast struck her down with its tail. Two other women ran to her aid, trying to pull her to her feet. The creature roared at them, sending them screaming away in terror.

Six knew she had to do something. She was exhausted and growing weaker, but she was still a Garde, and she still had plenty of fight left in her.

She ran to the edge of the stage and jumped off, running towards the monster. It was heading for one of the exits.

When Six caught up with the thing, she leaped up onto its tail and climbed the ridge of its back. Sensing her presence, the beast stopped and tried to shake her off. But Six dug her fingers in between the scales that covered its massive body, lying flat against the thick plates and holding on as the monster attempted to dislodge her.

When it couldn’t shake her off, the monster decided to keep going. It headed for a doorway. Now several security guards had appeared, pointing pistols at the creature. Six heard the sound of shots. But the bullets did no damage, burying themselves in the heavy scales. The beast lumbered forward with barely a pause, crushing one guard beneath its feet and sending the other two scrambling to get out of its way. It pushed its head through the doorway; then with its massive shoulders tore a hole in the wall large enough to fit through. Six felt plaster and pieces of wood fall around her as she was carried out on the monster’s back.

The creature made its way inside the long tunnel that connected the arena to the hotel. It moved rapidly on all fours, its back nearly brushing the ceiling. Every so often it let out a piercing cry, as if it was calling to someone. Then Six heard an answering cry, and her heart froze. There was more than one.

She continued to move along the beast’s back, working her way up to its head and what she hoped was the most vulnerable part of its body, the eyes. The thing seemed to have forgotten she was there, and she hoped she could still catch it off guard and stop it—or at least slow it down—before it remembered her.