At the school, Verchiel parked in a no parking zone. Ark was already there, heading into the building. Fuck him, Katelina thought, half hoping he'd pick it up from her mind.

She followed Verchiel past a group of armed National Guard soldiers, her nervous eyes on the ground as she tried to ignore their guns.

Inside, Verchiel led them through the lobby, where a handful of refugees sat in a cluster, then on past the gymnasium. Katelina had a quick peek through the open ...