A hand!

My heart hammered against my ribs. I dropped to my knees and heaved away different-sized rocks, each one heavier than the last. Please be alive, please, please be alive. Finally, pale hair came into view. A face I loved.

Gavin! His eyes were swollen shut, his lips parted on a moan. He was alive!

His pitiful condition angered me, and another dose of strength lanced through me. Anima would pay.

I left my body behind and fired up. As injured as I was, I managed to produce only the smallest flickers of flame. Still, they were enough. I pressed them into Gavin’s cheek and his moan morphed into a bellow. Within seconds, the swelling drained from his eyes, allowing him to blink into focus.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Zombies are here, and they’re loaded with explosives.” The two parts of me joined and I helped him to his feet.

“The other slayers?”

“You’re the first I’ve found.”

A small cry for help caught my attention.

I snapped to, heading toward the sound, stumbling over the rubble, closing in. “Kat? Kat, is that you?”

Boom!

Boom!

More rattling.

More dust.

How many explosions would I have to endure before I found all of my friends?

Boom!

A gust of molten air threw me backward. I landed, losing the breath I’d only recently regained. Gavin and River rushed to my side and helped me up.

This wasn’t happening. Couldn’t be happening.

“You okay?” River asked.

Not even close. “You made it,” I said.

“Brought five of my best,” he replied. “Would have brought more, but I wasn’t sure who I could trust. We’ve already found Reeve. Chance is taking her to our van. Come on. I’ll take you there.”

“Forget it. I stay. I search.” I protect. “By the way, there were two guys from Anima in the backyard. Zombies aren’t our only threat.”

“Got it.”

My nails cut into my palms, and I realized I’d fisted my hands. “Have you seen Cole or Kat?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

Okay. Okay. No time to waste. “Help us search.”

River moved forward. Gavin and I lumbered after him, closing in on the cries—except, all went quiet.

“Kat! Kat, where are—” Another zombie, headed our way. “Incoming!” I shouted, dragging the boys to the ground.

Boom!

The moment the rattling stopped, we raced through the rubble. Too much dust. Hard to breathe. Hard to see—but I noticed movement, a spill of dark hair... Mackenzie, I realized, my heart skipping a beat as she clawed her way up from a pile of concrete and slumped over.

I quickened my pace, but the boys beat me to her.

Gavin felt for a pulse, then hefted her into his arms. Her head lolled against his chest. “She’s alive.”

For how much longer? She was bloody, already black-and-blue. “Take her to River’s van,” I said, “and heal her with your fire. I’ll look for the others.” I wouldn’t stop until everyone was found.

We branched apart. “Cole! Kat!” I headed in the direction of Mr. Ankh’s office. Smoke parted with my movements—

And finally, blessedly, I saw Cole!

He held a babbling Juliana in his arms, Veronica limping beside him.

“Ali!”

My knees almost buckled, so great was my relief.

“I’m s-so s-sorry,” Juliana said. “M-Milla said they’d take Ali. Only A-Ali. Just wanted t-time to show Cole h-he could live w-without her.”

Her words registered, and I flinched. I’d already guessed the truth, but the confirmation stung. She’d helped Camilla, and together, they’d helped Anima do this. Just to get rid of me. Was I really that bad?

“You did what?” Cole almost dropped her.

She squeezed her eyelids tightly closed, no longer able to face him, tears leaking out.

He opened his mouth to blast her.

“Don’t,” I said. There was time enough for that later. “Let’s find Kat and the others. Stay away from zombies. They explode.”

Frosty must have heard our voices. He jetted from around the corner. Blood poured from his temple and soaked his shirt. His wild gaze scanned our faces, noting our identities. “Have you seen Kat?”

“No.” Lord, help us. Of everyone, she was the most fragile. “Kat,” I shouted.

Boom!

As the ground shuddered, Cole thrust Juliana at Veronica. “Get her out of here. Now. I can’t even stand to look at her.”

Juliana sobbed. Veronica gave a weak nod.

“There’s a van at the end of the driveway,” River said. “Gavin and Mackenzie are there.”

“Reeve?”

The frantic voice came from behind me.

I spun. Bronx rushed toward us, features smeared with blood and soot.

I pointed in the direction of the front door, or what used to be the front door. “River’s guys found her. And before you flip out, they’re on our side, here to help. At the end of the driveway, there’s a van. She’s there.”

Bronx didn’t stick around to ask any more questions.

Dodging zombies and explosions, Cole and Frosty helped me pick through the rubble. I’m not sure how much time passed before sirens erupted in the distance.

Boom!

I continued working, hot tears streaking down my cheeks. Besides Kat, we were missing Jaclyn and Mr. Ankh. They were okay. They had to be okay.