Page 431

“How do you know?”

His gaze flicked upward.

“Because nothing short of death will stop him.”

Ross moved through the smoke.

I saw the silver flash of his hair.

“Ward!”

Ross fired.

Ward turned, pushing me down.

The bullet struck the wall.

Nathan returned fire.

Ross disappeared through a door beneath the staircase.

“The lower passage!” Thomas shouted. “It leads to Blackwater!”

Ward started after him.

The lighthouse shook.

A deep grinding sound rose from beneath the floor.

The timer on Ward’s radio beeped.

00:19:59.

00:19:58.

00:19:57.

“Ross is going to the second gate,” I said.

Thomas gripped Nathan’s arm.

“He can’t open it.”

“He has me,” I answered.

Everyone looked at me.

“He knows I followed Ward.”

Another shot exploded upstairs.

A woman screamed.

Calle.

Ben’s voice followed.

“Get your hands off her!”