In the pitch-dark of the underground chamber, Luke couldn’t remember where he’d dropped his backpack. He knew it had come off when the dead dude was chasing him, but he had no idea where or when. The others were searching for their discarded packs, too, and for a few minutes he just stood there in the dark and let them.

Luke had a lot on his mind, and he was in no huge hurry to leave the chamber. Down here, they were all on the same team, all playing a part. Down here, they were safe. Plus, it was already cooling down.

“I think I found yours, Ren!” Alex called from somewhere near the back wall. “Wait, never mind — it’s mine!”

A moment later, Alex’s flashlight clicked on. Luke got busy pretending to get busy finding his pack. It was easier now with some light, and pretty soon, they all had their packs on and their flashlights pointed at the section of wall where the door had been.

Luke’s fingertips were still raw from desperately clawing the stone for the slightest opening. But then he saw Alex’s flashlight click off, and he knew he was getting ready to use his amulet. He was confident his cousin would get them out; he was good with that magic bug. Sure enough, a few moments later, a narrow gap yawned open under the flashlight beams. Luke stepped forward and got a hand on it. He pushed until the strange doorway was open the rest of the way.

“Should we stay here for a while?” he said once they were in the tunnel.

“No,” said Ren. “I’ve been thinking …”

Figures, thought Luke.

“We rushed in here like a herd of elephants. If they pick up our trail, they could find this door — or just leave people here. I think we need to get out before we’re trapped.”

That was good enough for Alex, but Luke had a bad feeling as they headed toward Tut’s tomb. Part of that was thirst and exhaustion and peeling skin. But there was something else, something bigger.

He considered the other two as he walked. His flashlight beam danced off Ren’s back. She was barely as tall as a batting tee, but she’d come through again. Alex was just ahead of her. Luke glanced up at him. The little dude had straight up been barbecued and still taken care of business. It seemed amazing to him that just a few weeks ago, he’d thought of both of them as little twerps. But then, a lot of the things he’d thought and done over that time seemed unbelievable.

They reached the doorway at the top of the tunnel and paused while Alex opened it. “It’s like picking a lock,” he said. “I just have to find the weak point.”

Behind him, Luke winced unseen.

There was no light to give them away now, and they switched off their flashlights as the doorway slid open. But the tomb was dark and quiet beyond. They stepped out cautiously, switched their flashlights back on, and pointed them at the floor.

“King Tut’s tomb,” whispered Ren as the battered and lightly toasted crew shuffled through the famous chambers. When they’d seen it the first time, it had been a bone-strewn archaeological site. Now it felt like walking through a friend’s place after he’d moved away.

“That dude was all right,” said Luke, almost to himself.

“Funny, he said the same thing about you — Duuuude,” said Ren.

Luke let out a little laugh, but he secretly wished she wouldn’t be so nice. It made everything harder for him. There was no sign of The Order inside, but they grew quiet again as they neared the exit. The cool night air soothed their skin, and moonlight filled the tunnel mouth as the three crept forward. Before they even made it to the shark-cage gate, they could see the flashlights and hear the muffled words of their pursuers. But they were no longer right in front of the tomb.

“They’re heading away,” whispered Alex. Luke leaned out and saw the sun-bleached bone of the back of Peshwar’s mask glowing eerily in the faint moonlight. They were slowly moving on. It was good news, but Luke’s heart sank.

“We should go now, before they change their mind or send someone back,” whispered Ren.

Alex agreed: “We can slip off in the other direction if we stay low and move quietly.”

The open valley lay in front of them and the murderous hunting party lurked behind. His cousin was right: They probably could make it.

But Luke could never allow that. Not this close. Not when they might see him, too, and know he helped.

His head swam and his guts churned. For a moment, he thought he might throw up, right then and there. He almost wished he would. It would do the job well enough. He couldn’t believe he’d gotten himself into this mess.

It had seemed so easy at first. They’d just wanted information. And they’d paid well for it. Well enough that he would be able to get private coaching, the best equipment, everything he’d need to live his dream.

But then they’d gone further — way too far. He’d wanted to quit then. He’d tried to quit. He thought knocking out the guy on the train was a pretty effective resignation. Then he’d made that last phone call in Luxor …

He filled his lungs with cool night air.

For a few more steps, that was all he did. But then he forced himself to remember that call, the actual words: We’ll kill them. We’ll kill your parents.

“HEY!” he shouted. “We’re over here!”

Alex and Ren swung around, the moonlight delicately tracing the shock on their faces. A moment later, the sound of boots, running hard, filled the air.

“I’m sorry,” Luke said, punishing himself by looking his friends in the eyes.

“Luke …” said Alex, and the disappointment and hurt in his voice smashed Luke’s heart like glass.

“I had to,” he said, his own tone just as heavy.

“I can’t believe …” said Ren, wrestling with it. “You’re the mole?”

Luke looked down, his friends’ expressions already burned into his memory. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. Then he stood up tall and pointed down at his crouched comrades.

“OVER HERE!” he shouted again.