The door swung open.

And everything exploded.

A flash of movement - black hoodie, white mask, something metallic catching the hallway light - then the world cracked apart with the sound of a gunshot so loud it felt like the sky split.

"Carl-!"

I didn't think. My body moved before my mind caught up.

I jumped.

A hot, burning pain tore through my arm, violent and sharp, ripping the breath out of my lungs. I stumbled back, crashing against Carl's chest. His scream broke the air at the same ...