Chapter 22 · Three Seconds Past the Blast

"Don't move." Marcus had his palm flat against Danny's chest before the kid could take another step into the rubble-choked corridor. "Anyone else standing, sound off."

Silence. Then a cough from the left stairwell.

"Here." Reina's voice, flat and cold. She came around the corner with her blade already lit, orange glow cutting through the dust. Her gaze locked on Danny. "He shouldn't be here."

"Yeah, well, he is." Marcus didn't drop his hand. Danny's heartbeat hammered against his palm, way too fast. "How many others?"

"Four that I saw before the blast." Reina stopped three meters out, weight on her back foot. Combat stance. "Now five."

Danny tried to push forward. Marcus shoved him back.

"Stay."

"Sir, I can—"

"You can shut up and let me think." Marcus scanned the wreckage. The blast pattern was wrong. Last loop it took out the entire east wing in one go. This time it punched through in bursts, staggered detonations that left pockets of structure standing. Someone changed the payload. Someone who knew he'd moved Danny early.

Footsteps behind him. Marcus spun, pulling Danny with him.

Two cadets came through the smoke.