The hooked arm came down.
Ty reached Jade first.
He hit her from the side with his shoulder and drove her out of the creature's shadow. The hook carved through the space where her skull had been, clipped his left ribs, and buried itself in the gym floor with enough force to crack the painted mascot in half.
Bone flew.
Jade hit the water on her hip.
Ty stayed between her and the creature.
For the first time since he had crashed into the gym, the whole room saw the shape of the truth: the skeleton moved, protected, and chose Jade like Ty.
Waddell's gun dipped.
Kieran's gold fire faltered.
Tyree whispered something that sounded like a prayer and a curse sharing one mouth.
The medic at cot nine started crying.
The teenage volunteer with the dropped bandages picked them up again with shaking hands.
One child behind the cot barrier said, "That is him?"
Jade heard the question and kept her eyes on the fight.
"Yes."
