I was ready to die and then Chloe grabbed my arm and pointed back toward the store.
I turned and saw – there was a helicopter on the roof.
I turned to Astrid.
‘Run!’ I shouted.
ALEX
THE SKY HAD HOLES in it. The air was hot and windy and it battered us as we crossed the roof.
‘Get in the chopper!’ Captain McKinley yelled to us.
The stupid blonde girl was getting rescued. She, who deserved it least of all.
Niko gave her a boost into the back. Her hands were tied so she couldn’t climb.
Captain McKinley and I got in the cockpit. He clicked on the switches and pressed buttons, like he had done before, but now he was like a robot. It was his training, doing the preparations – the man was gone.
He flipped a switch and said, over the intercom, ‘Be sure you’re strapped in, back there.’
Let her not be strapped in, I thought to myself, let her fall out and die.
DEAN
THE CHOPPER STARTED TO lift!
They were leaving without us!
The explosions were closer now, coming more frequently. Every few seconds, we were thrown off our feet. It was like trying to run in a bouncy house.
I tore off my mask. I could use the O energy to run faster.
And I felt it, the surge, and I ran. I ran for it with everything I had.
ALEX
CAPTAIN MCKINLEY PUSHED UP on the control stick and the helicopter rose in the air. The air from the bombs rocked and buffeted the helicopter. He had to struggle with all his might to get it to lift.
But he did.
And we started off the roof against a steady BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
DEAN
I VAULTED UP THE LADDER, four runs at a time. I pulled myself onto the roof. Shouted, ‘Alex!’
I yelled with all my might, ‘Alex!’
ALEX
IN A BOMB BLAST I saw a figure on the edge of the roof. He was running at us.
‘Look!’ I shouted. ‘It’s my brother. It’s Dean!’
He was on the roof!
‘What?’ Captain McKinley shouted.
I grabbed his shoulder and pointed.
‘That is my brother, Dean!’
‘Copy. Setting down. Brace yourself!’ Captain McKinley shouted, wrestling the control stick. He struggled to set the helicopter back down.
Dean came running to the chopper and I pushed the door open and fell out to the roof and then we were hugging!
‘Dean! Dean! I found you.’
Then my brother put his head back and roared.
DEAN
I FOUGHT AGAINST THE COMPOUNDS. I tried to stay sane.
Niko tackled me, holding me down, and Alex took off his air mask and put it over me.
By then, Astrid and the kids and Jake were climbing onto the roof.
ALEX
‘GET IN NOW!’ CAPTAIN McKinley shouted.
No time for hellos.
He literally threw his kids in the back of the chopper.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, the bombs were getting closer.
DEAN
ASTRID FUMBLED TO STRAP the kids in.
Niko shoved me into a seat and strapped me down.
I was trying to breathe. Trying to become human again.
‘Good to see you, Dean,’ Niko said. His voice came digitally right into my Army air mask, right in my ear.
Alex made his way to me, crawling over the others.
‘We got you,’ my brother said. ‘We got you!’
ALEX
‘HOLD ON!’ CAPTAIN McKINLEY shouted. He lifted the helicopter back into the air.
