Meret tried to scream, “Maya!” but the word came out as a whisper-yell as panic surged through her entire body.

She tried to get up, but her head felt glued to the ground, the pain overwhelming.

She didn’t know if she had been shot or if she was bleeding—everything felt numb except the sharp, blinding ache in her head.

She attempted to move again, slowly pushing her body against the floor, but she barely had the strength. That was when she noticed someone talking, almost yelling at ...