MADDIE

I stare at Sebastián’s unconscious body on the ground, stunned. I’ve never actually seen Genesis fight.

“Go down to the beach!” Genesis yells at me. “Now!”

But I can’t go without . . .

Where’s Luke?

“Luke!” I shout as I race past the green tent. Panic tightens around my chest. The jungle is on fire, I’m half deaf from the blast, and I have no idea where he is. “Luke!” Smoke stings my eyes. People are running. Shouting.

“Maddie!” Luke’s suddenly beside me. Holding me. “Maddie.” He’s lost his cap, but he’s whole and unburned. And still carrying the rifle. “The boats! Let’s go.” He takes my arm, but I pull away.

“No, we have to get a detonator. For the warheads. We’re going to blow them up once we’re on the water.”

“But I’m supposed to—”

“Stand guard.”

I turn and run around the corner of the tent, dodging men racing toward the beach path with supply boxes. I duck through the tent flap, and Luke reluctantly takes up a position at the entrance, facing the chaos. Rifle at the ready.

The inside of the tent is dark, and I fumble around for several seconds before Luke pulls open the tent flap. “Hurry!” he shouts.

For a second, the firelight from outside illuminates the inside of the tent.

It’s empty.

The C-4 triggers are gone.