Nora's POV
The words hit me like a physical blow. "What?" I whisper, though every syllable rang crystal clear in my ears. My lungs seize as the implications crash over me. "If something escaped from Hell, that means the Simon of Hell have been opened."
"The Gatekeeper," we both breathe simultaneously.
My heart hammers against my ribs. "You were right all along. The Gatekeeper literally controls the Simon of Hell. They can seal them or tear them wide open, and it looks like they chose the latter."
"Exactly. Now we need to move."
This time I don't hesitate. My fingers intertwine with his as James pulls me through the dense forest at breakneck speed. We don't pause until we burst onto my back porch, both Mack and Evangeline positioning themselves like sentries in the yard.
"How can you be certain?" I gasp, fighting to steady my breathing. The shock leaves me more winded than our frantic sprint ever could. "How do you know it's actually a demon from Hell?"
