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“Malakai?”

His attention shifts toward the entrance then he points. “They’re here.”

Employees drag the table away from the doors just enough to create an opening. The second it appears, Rhett shoves Ali through. Mariah comes right behind her.

“Oh my God.” I’m moving before either of them can say anything, nearly tackling Mariah as I throw my arms around her.

“What the FUCK?” she shouts, squeezing me just as hard.

Then I see Ali. She’s crying. Ali never fucking cries.

Whatever relief I felt disappears beneath a fresh wave of fear.

I let go of Mariah and grab her. “Are you okay?”

She nods too quickly.

“What happened?”

“One of those things came out of the ground beside me.” her voice shakes as she tries to catch her breath.

My hands tighten around her arms. “Did it touch you?”

“No.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Mariah reaches for my arm. “I’m okay too.”

I close my eyes for half a second and breathe.

They’re here.

They’re safe… They’re fucking safe.

When I open my eyes, I look past them toward Rhett, and my stomach drops.

His shirt is torn along his side, the fabric dark with blood. “You’re hurt.”

He glances down like he’s only just realizing it. “Huh.”

I stare at him. “Huh?”

“Didn’t notice.”

“What do you mean you didn’t notice?”

I move toward him but Ezra gets there first, grabbing the torn edge of Rhett’s shirt and pulling it aside. “Where?”

“One of those things caught me.”

Malakai’s attention snaps toward him. “Did it break the skin?”