Scott McCall's Arc

Chapter 28 of 30

Rain hammered the lot as Scott shoved the school doors open. The broken ash line lay scattered across the tile — a torn streak of dark grit, grains flung wide where something had forced through. Kira crouched beside it. "Still warm," she said. Scott's jaw tightened. They were already inside. They moved into the hallway shoulder to shoulder. Scott had no arrow of his own — Isaac had the real one somewhere deeper in the building. All Scott had was his hands, his pack, and the choice not to kill. He took a breath and let his eyes burn red. A roar tore down the corridor from the gym. Lockers rattled. Scott broke into a run. Derek matched him stride for stride, eyes flashing electric blue. Malik came up on his other side, gold eyes lit, jaw set. Three predators sprinting toward one. Kira skidded to a stop at the junction. "I have an idea," she said. She didn't wait for him to argue. She turned and ran the opposite way, sneakers slapping wet tile, disappearing around the corner toward the science wing. Scott's chest pulled after her — and then let go. He trusted her. They hit the gym atrium together. Scott shouldered through the double doors. Derek flanked left. Malik flanked right. All three stopped just inside, eyes glowing in the dim — red, blue, gold — three points of light facing the dark water pooling across the gym floor. Something tall stood in the center of it, waiting. It turned its head. Scott didn't flinch. "We're not running," he said. The Acheron smiled with a stolen mouth. The doors slammed shut behind them.