UNDER ATTACK

My words were cut off by the sound of a blade slicing through the air. I felt a body make contact with mine, then the wind as it left my chest when I fell onto the cold, damp concrete. I only knew Alex had been hit when I heard the strangled sound of his groan.

“Sophie, run!”

Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion and Alex’s command didn’t even sound like him. It was higher, more menacing, and I kicked my feet, sliding on the concrete until I got some traction, then stopped dead, seeing the dark figure in front of Alex.

Our attacker was dressed entirely in black and stood a half-head taller than Alex, his face obscured by a black knit ski mask that only revealed sinister hooded eyes, which remained fixed on us.

He held his blade aloft once more and I heard my own scream when I saw the blood—Alex’s blood—dripping from the cold steel ...