I was running before I realized it. My feet pounded the earth, my breath coming in gasps.
Grayson leapt out of the darkness and tackled Julian. They fell to the dirt, a mess of limbs. Julian snarled something I couldn’t understand.
A scrab blocked my path, and I barely got my machete up in time. My hands were shaking, but I hit my target. The scrab fell, giving me a view to the barn.
Julian slammed his foot into Grayson’s stomach. Grayson doubled over with a wheeze. Julian took off.
I ran, skidding to a stop in front of the barn door. I braced my hands on either side of the door, suddenly too scared to go inside.
Edan limped out of the darkness, and I almost collapsed with relief. I grabbed his arms, searching his body for injuries. His face was twisted in pain, the leg of his jeans torn open and bloody.
“Always the legs,” he said with a wince.
He took both my hands and flipped them over.
“DAMMIT, EDAN!”
I glanced over my shoulder. Julian was patting his pockets, searching for something.
I looked back down at my hands, where Edan had just placed the tablet.
“You know how to use this thing?” Edan asked.
I meant to smile, but a sob escaped my lips. “Yes.”
I took a step away from him, letting my free hand grasp his as we started to part. “Stay here, OK? You can barely walk.” The image of a scrab dragging him screaming into the barn was still playing on repeat in my head. I was painfully aware of the fact that I still had no idea where Madison and Noah were. I didn’t want to lose another friend tonight.
He nodded, his fingers gripping mine a little tighter.
As I turned, I caught Julian’s gaze. He was staring at our hands, his expression twisted into the most monstrous expression I’d ever seen. Our eyes met.
Danger.
Danger.
Danger.
I pressed the red button as I walked to him. There were only two scrabs left on the field, and they both went rigid as I shocked them. Patrick leapt forward, killing the one closest to him.
I took in a tiny breath as I drew closer to Julian. There were at least ten scrabs just around the corner of the barn, waiting at attention. He’d obviously been holding those for the next wave.
“Give me that before you hurt yourself,” he snapped. He held out his hand.
I realized too late that his other hand was reaching into his waistband. He lifted the gun and pointed it over my shoulder.
I dove for him, but it was too late. Two quick shots rang out, Julian’s arm jerking as he fired. I tackled him. He grunted as we toppled to the ground.
I heard the familiar pounding of heavy running footsteps. The gunshot had sent the remaining ten scrabs in every direction.
“No!” Edan yelled from behind me. “No, no, no. Grayson?”
Julian shoved me off of him, flying into a sitting position. He aimed the gun straight at Edan and didn’t hesitate. He squeezed the trigger.
It clicked. He squeezed again. Another click. He was out of bullets, or it was jammed. He let out a yell of frustration.
Edan, kneeling over Grayson with his hands pressed to his bloody chest, gave Julian a truly horrified look.
Julian’s eyes were wild as he turned to me. He lunged for the tablet.
I shot up and broke into a run. Half the scrabs were headed for the team, one alarmingly close to Laila. I pressed the red button just before it reached her. Every scrab I could see came to a halt, mouth open in a silent scream.
Julian was gaining on me, and I ran faster, speeding into the darkness beside the barn. A hand seized the back of my shirt, yanking it so violently that I was airborne for a moment before I hit the ground, hard. My weapons pack flew off and skittered across the ground.
I rolled over, cradling the tablet to my chest. I stumbled as I tried to get up. He reached for me again, and I smacked his hand away as I shot to my feet.
He swung. I saw it coming a half second before his fist landed on my cheek.
It knocked me on my ass, stars dancing in my vision.
“Oh god,” Julian’s voice was a strangled sob. “I didn’t mean to do that. Oh my god, I didn’t mean to do that, Clara. You know I didn’t mean to do that, right?”
I looked up at him, baffled. He had both hands in his hair, eyes wild, cheeks wet with tears.
Why was he crying?
I should get up. I knew this, and yet my legs wouldn’t move. My cheek stung. It felt like something had come loose in my brain.
“Why did you do this?” Julian was screaming and crying at the same time. It was truly a sight, watching a man who had just killed several people feel sorry for himself. “Why did you make me do this?”
In the distance, someone screamed.
I still had the tablet.
My brain clicked back into place. I jumped to my feet, repeatedly pressing the red button. I had no idea if it did anything. I ran back toward the field.
“Why are you running away from me?” Julian screamed. He was following me. “All I ever did was try to help you. I was going to give you everything, and you spit it back in my face! Do you want to get yourself killed, Clara? Because that’s what’s going to happen! You’re going to fucking die!”
He grabbed me around the waist so suddenly that I gasped. He yanked me against him.
I rammed my elbow into his side. He cursed. His grip on me loosened.
I pulled free of him and spun around. He had his fists raised again.
But I saw it coming this time. I ducked and let his arm sail over my head. I smashed my fist into his chin. He hit
