"Watch out!"
Nick's hand yanked me back just as a figure in black dropped from the upper escalator—mask on, weapon ready.
We spun the other way—
—and ran straight into more of them.
"Shit," I muttered, spotting the knife. "We need to move."
"No kidding. Stay behind me—I'll break us through."
He surged forward.
I followed.
One of them lunged at him—
another slipped past—
came straight at me.
Knife raised.
No time to think.
I twisted aside, dropped low, swept his legs—
he went down hard.
"Move!" Nick shouted, barely dodging a knife thrown from behind us.
We bolted down the escalator, shoving through people who hadn't even realized what was happening yet—
and ran for the exit—
then stopped.
More ahead.
Different.
Suits.
Dark glasses.
That was wrong.
Winter.
No sun.
"They've got guns!" I shouted—
Too late.
The first shot cracked through the air.
It slammed into a cart right beside us.
Everything exploded.
Screams.
People running.
Panic.
We used it.
Slipped into the chaos—
cut toward the underground parking exit.
"Hope they're not waiting there," Nick muttered.
"Yeah? I don't," I shot back. "They're not letting us walk out."
"Shit—"
He kicked one of them out of our path mid-run.
Didn't even slow down.
"Nick—" I grabbed his arm as we hit a split. "They're after me. We split here."
"One way out.
One way back inside.
"Idiot!" he snapped, shoving me forward. "Run!"
We burst through the doors—
Gunshot.
Glass exploded behind us.
We dove behind the nearest car.
"Another inch and I'd be dead," Nick breathed.
"What now?" I hissed. "They'll be here any second. We're not making the exit. How many?"
I leaned out—
He yanked me back.
Bullet slammed into the hood.
"Two," he said. "Maybe more. We're exposed. We need to move."
He scanned the area.
Nothing.
"Distraction," he said. "Then we run for that SUV."
I followed his взгляд.
Far row.
Center.
Too far.
"You're insane. They'll tear us apart before we get halfway."
"If we stay, we're dead anyway. Hear that?"
I did.
Footsteps.
More of them.
Closing in.
Fast.
Nick moved.
Ripped off a side mirror.
"I reinforced myself," he said. "Jacket—now."
I yanked it off.
Handed it over.
He wrapped the mirror, shifted—
threw it hard one way—
dragged me the other.
Gunfire followed the jacket.
Shredded it.
We ran.
Last row—
Voices behind us—
Then—
pain.
White-hot.
Exploded in my side.
I dropped to my knees, choking on air, fingers digging into the knife buried in my flesh.
"Shit—Alan!" Nick grabbed me. "Stay with me—"
"I'm fine," I hissed, ripping the blade out.
Blood poured.
Hot.
Too fast.
"You figure out what we do next," I gasped. "We're trapped."
"Yeah, I see that."
"They went this way!" a voice shouted nearby.
We moved.
Car to car.
Then—
my legs gave out.
"Alan—" Nick caught me.
His hand came away red.
"Damn it… this is bad."
He pressed down hard.
Pain shot through me—
sharp—
blinding—
my vision swam.
"Listen…" I rasped. "You go. Get help."
"You'll bleed out before I get back!"
"You see another option?" I snapped.
"We'll figure something out."
"What, Nick?" I forced out. "They're here for me—not you!"
"At least let me stop the bleeding."
He tore my shirt open.
Didn't hesitate.
Checked the wound.
Stripped off his jacket—
ripped his sweater—
wrapped it tight around my waist.
Too tight.
Fabric soaked through instantly.
"Go," I whispered.
He didn't move.
We were crouched against the wall, hidden beneath a pickup.
His hands—covered in my blood—came up to my face.
Cold.
Metallic smell everywhere.
"Alan… don't you dare die."
"Trust me…" I choked out. "Not planning to."
"There's blood here—"
Too close.
Nick pulled me into him.
Held me tight.
We froze.
Didn't breathe.
Boots.
Black.
Coming closer.
Another pair.
I shut my eyes.
This is it.
My body went slack—
slipped—
And then—
I was pulled back.
Through—
something.
I opened my eyes.
A faint, translucent opening in the wall.
"They're here!" someone shouted—
Too late.
We were already gone.
Dragged through to the other side.
"Andrew…" I breathed, a weak smile breaking through.
Of course.
Who else could walk through walls?
"Why can't you ever stay somewhere safe?" Andrew's voice came—tight, edged with relief.
And then—
Clyde.
Cold.
Sharp.
Cutting straight through everything.
"You might've tried using your brain before chasing that pass," he said. "I thought you were smarter than this."
That snapped me back.
I lifted my head—
still pressed against Nick's chest.
Still in his arms.