Beck was still smoking when he heard a few sharp screams from inside. Before he could react, a shadow bolted out of a side door and vanished into the night.


    He stubbed out his cigarette, jaw tight, and strode into the room. "What happened?"


    Three guys were sprawled out cold on the floor, heads bleeding. The rest were kneeling beside them, checking for signs of life,pletely lost on what to do.


    Beck shot a quick look in the direction ra had run, then snapped, "Go after her."


    They all knew each other-usually on good terms, nobody wanted to leave their friends bleeding. But right now, Beck was in charge, and nobody dared argue.


    ra had a huge head start. Most people would have run for the lights, for safety, but not her. She dove deeper into the darkness, slipping through shadows like she belonged there.


    Maybe it was all the time she''d spent with Z-her eyes had adjusted. She could see in the dark better than any of them.


    Everyone chasing her made the same mistake—they assumed she''d go for the light.


    A few hundred meters in, Beck stopped and turned. "Timmy?"


    He took a breath, thinking fast. "You guys keep going straight. The rest of you,e with me this way."


    ra had taken out three men in seconds. She wasn''t someone you could underestimate. The usual tactics wouldn''t cut it.


    Plus, he''d promised Megan he''d get this done, no screw-ups this time.


    They searched for another two kilometers, shlights darting through the trees, but it was useless-ra was gone. She''d melted into the dark.


    Beck''s scowl deepened. "Check with the others. Anything?"


    Timmy came back shaking his head. "Nothing. No one''s seen her."


    If she wasn''t out in the open, she had to be close, hiding somewhere in the dark.


    Beck rubbed his temples, just as his phone buzzed.


    "Timmy, how''s it going?" Megan sounded calm, too calm.


    He winced, remembering thest time he''d let her down. He''d promised to protect her, always, no matter what.


    "She jumped three of us and took off. We''re still looking."


    Megan went quiet for a second. He could tell she was frustrated, but she didn''t yell.


    "If you find her, call me. If not, just leave it. Timmy, don''t stress about it-I''m f fine for now. But...


    bus, don''t tell aner''s


    word."


    Not a


    That just made Beck feel worse. Megan was always the strong one, the overachiever, the one who never gave


    P, even when thrown to the wolves-she''de out leading them.


    He respected her, cared about her. Her words meant everything. The less she med him, the more it stung.


    He turned


    guy hard. "Hurry up. If we


    her you''re not seeing an don''t


    and kicked the nearest t belongs to Swn het


    cent."