One waited in the back of the van in silence. Gina sat next to him, cringing to the side as though touching him would harm her. He ignored her.

"When we get there, you follow my lead," Strom said. One ignored him, too. He took his orders from the Master. What Strom wanted was irrelevant.

They parked a block away in a dark and quiet lot deep in shadow. One descended from the van and immediately headed out, feeling for the large group of children he knew would be close ...