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CALLI

Whatever has happened outside of this party seems to lift the spirits of everyone around me, even those who are as clueless as me.

But I don’t feel it.

My heart is so full after hearing those words from Daemon in the bathroom, but the guilt that goes along with them threatens to swallow me up and never let me go.

I should have told him how I really felt instead of stumbling over the words as our new reality loomed over me.

And I still don’t know the freaking result of that test.

I look around as everyone jokes and laughs while finishing their desserts, the drinks flowing easier than they were before.

Leaning over, I whisper in Alex’s ear.

“What’s happened?”

“Everything has gone well with… yeah,” he says, guilt washing through his features in apology for his vagueness.

“And we’re safe here now?”

“As safe as we ever are.”

“How reassuring,” I mutter.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You've barely eaten anything toni—” Alex’s words are cut off as the ground rocks with what I can only assume is an explosion before gunfire cuts through the air.

“Motherfuckers,” someone booms before women start screaming and men begin barking orders.

Everything happens in a blur as someone grabs my upper arm and drags me behind our table that has suddenly been upended so we can hide behind it.

“I fucking knew this was a bad idea,” Daemon barks before taking off behind Theo and Nico.

“No, wait. Come back,” I scream, fear like I’ve never known pressing down on me until I’m barely able to breathe.

“Trust us to do our jobs, Cal.” Alex grabs my face and kisses my brow before he takes off as well, just as another round of gunfire echoes through the room.

Things shatter and break, and explosions rock the ground beneath our feet as chaos ensues.

“Fuck,” someone cries from behind me, and when I look back, I find Jerome with blood pouring from his thigh.

“Shit, have you been shot?” I ask, adrenaline kicking in as I rush over to help him.

“N-no,” he stutters, staring down at the wound with wide eyes. “It was glass.”

“Okay, good. You got a gun?” I ask, slipping my hand into his jacket in the hope I find one tucked into his waistband.

Wrapping my fingers around the cool metal, I pull it free and place it in his hand.

When I find his eyes again, I can’t help but swallow nervously. He looks fucking terrified.

“You’ve got this, J. Anyone who isn’t one of us, shoot them, yeah? We’re gonna get out of here.”

But as I say that, another ominous crash sounds out as something collapses.

“They’ve blown the entrance,” a familiar voice shouts. “We need to find a way out.”

“They’re coming in through the back,” someone else calls.