Page 127 of Stormbreaker

But they’re coming for me.

I’ve always known they’d come.

I should hide. I should run. Jump into the water and swim as fast as I can. But I’m trapped. They’ll just follow. They won’t let me go.

It’s so quiet that all I hear is the lapping of water against the ferry. The rush of the breeze snaking through the crowd. The sound of my doom drawing closer. The Extinguishers stop and unholster the stunners strapped to their backs. Shrieks and screams fill the air as everyone shuffles aside.

“Out of the way,” one utters. His voice is low, but it shoots through the crowd like an arrow. The shuffling continues as everyone tries to find somewhere to go. But the boat is packed and the space is limited, so apart from throwing themselves in the water, there isn’t much they can do.

The Extinguisher in front stops and looks back, conferring with the woman behind him.

They break apart and scan the crowd. I watch as he leans down to speak with a student. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the student goes wide-eyed and points toward the corner where I’m standing.

I stop breathing entirely.

My palms sweat, and my heart melts between my ribs.

I knew this moment was inevitable.

I could only escape for so long.

Again, the lead Extinguisher turns to say something to the woman walking alongside him, and then they’re shoving through the crowd.

More scrambling. More shuffling as everyone compacts themselves together.

But I’m rooted to the spot. Unable to move or blink.

I turn to ash, burned down by the lies I’ve been clinging to since I was seven years old.

Maybe it was finally time. Maybe this is better. I didn’t have the courage to turn myself over, so they’ve done me a favor and saved everyone from me.

The Extinguishers draw nearer. Heavy footsteps ricochet across the planks.

They stop a few feet away as my vision smears, turning white, then black, then red.

“Lacey Turner,” someone says. “You’re coming with us.”

Gasps. Soft murmurs. Everyone turned to stone.

Someone starts screaming.

It takes me a few seconds to process it. To repeat the name in my head.

Lacey Turner.

She’s hunched against the wall, crying as she’s surrounded by four monsters wearing the color of dried blood.

I still can’t quite put it all together. I feel like I’m watching this moment from the clouds.

They aren’t here for me.

They’re here for Lacey.

They take her by the arms, and she’s still screaming.

Her knees collapsing as she begs for her life.

“Pick her up!” the head Extinguisher says. “Get her out of here!”