A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

Don't Stop Runnin' Til You're Long Gone

"Help us!" I call softly, begging him to. I'm not sure if he can—he's ten feet above us. If he jumps, he'll probably break a few bones. But if he doesn't, we are trapped. I can't carry Kellin out, unsteady as I am. I can barely keep myself upright, let alone carry someone else. And there's no way in hell that I'm leaving him.

Craig hesitates, but he jumps all the same. Alex is still probably near enough since he floats down gently to the ground. The thought worries me. Where are the others? Are they still alive? I haven't heard anything from Gerard since the hallway. Alex is still alive, if Craig can use his powers. But for how long? We need to hurry.

"We can get out through the back door," I pant as I shove some of the blocks out of the way, creating a pathway. The explosion knocked out most of the back wall. I can see a hallway stretching out behind it. We have to hurry—they'll be coming soon.

"What happened?" He asks. "I heard the explosion and left my room to see what happened."

I shrug. "Something Mr. Styles had waiting for us, I guess. It was an ambush. They trapped us in here."

He winces. "I should've come earlier," he mutters.

"You've decided to come with us?" I ask.

Craig shrugs as he throws a few more blocks aside. "What else am I going to do? This might be the only chance I'll ever have to get out of here. I was wrong, I have to say. You guys have done a pretty good job. Besides, I can't just leave you guys here and let them kill you."

"Thank you," I say.

Craig just shrugs, looking around remorsefully. "I just wish I could've helped earlier."

"It's never too late."

Kellin is still unconscious, lying with his eyes closed. Craig and I lift him as gently as I can, supporting his weight between it.

Memories flash through my mind. Of the last time I tried to escape. Jaime carrying me down the hall. Trying to save me. Letting them take him instead.

The hallway is dark. We feel our ways down the walls, not wanting to summon a flame in case we need to fight. We stumble through the hallway, tripping on loose blocks and slipping in the cold water running down the hallway. The path slopes up, but still, we keep going, crawling up the steep floor, doing our best to hurry. I know we're running out of time, though.

"Stop right there!" A voice calls out, and Craig yanks me down to the ground just as a bullet pings off the wall behind me.

"Shit," I mutter. "I thought we'd have more time."

The three of us crouch on the floor. Kellin's awake but groggy, the bruise on his forehead healing fast. We crawl toward the exit, ducking as the bullets rain over our heads, pinging against the walls. I blink rapidly as the light floods around us. The cold air hits my skin, the scent of rain hanging in the air, the signs of spring on its way. It's still dark out, the stars shining overhead, but I can see the shapes of the guards charging toward us from around the building.

"Can you turn us invisible?" I ask Craig. "If Jack is near enough you can borrow some of his power."

"Yeah, but I can't block the bullets at the same time," he says. "They'll just cut us down."

I nod, my mind whirling away. We're not gonna make it. I know that for a fact. Not with the guards closing in on us. There's no way we can fight our way out. There's no way the three of us will make it to the trees. And even then, no way all ten of us can get away. They'll just follow us until they catch us again. There's no way we're gonna be able to make it unless....

Though it pains me to think about it, I know what I need to do.