For several seconds, nobody moved.I stared at the two figures standing beyond the broken doorway.Adrian Vale.Samuel.Seraphine Blackwood.And Elias.My grandfather.But something was wrong.The Elias standing beside Adrian looked exactly like the man I'd just seen in Claire's memory.Same face.Same dark eyes.Same straight posture.Same scar running from the edge of his left eyebrow toward his temple.Even the clothes were similar.My mind refused to accept what I was seeing."No," I whispered.Elias looked directly at me.Not surprised.Not confused.Afraid.That frightened me more than anything else."Grandfather?"He didn't answer.Noah stepped forward."You were in the memory."Elias looked at him."I know."Claire's voice trembled."That was you."Elias nodded slowly."Yes."Anna stared between Elias and the chamber behind us."But that was thousands of years ago."Elias looked at her."Yes."Amy moved closer to me.I could feel her hand against mine.She was shaking."So how

The sixth heartbeat came again.Thump.Thump.Thump.It wasn't coming from Lily.It wasn't coming from any of us.It was beneath the floor.Everyone heard it this time.Even Seraphine.Her face changed."What is that?" Amy whispered.Nobody answered.The sanctuary shook again.Dust fell from the ceiling.Lily didn't move.She simply stood in the center of the room, watching us.I couldn't take my eyes off her."The first," I repeated.Lily nodded."What does that mean?"She looked at Daniel."Tell him."Daniel didn't respond.Lily's expression hardened."You've spent seventeen years hiding me."Daniel's jaw tightened."You were a child.""So were they."She pointed toward me, Noah, Claire, and Anna."You saved me by putting my memories into Claire. You knew I'd eventually wake up."Daniel looked at Claire."I hoped you wouldn't."Claire stared at him."You hoped?"Daniel looked genuinely ashamed."I didn't know what would happen."Claire laughed bitterly."That's what everyone keeps s

The thing climbing out of the darkness moved slowly.That was what frightened me most.It wasn't rushing toward us.It wasn't attacking.It was climbing.One hand appeared first, gripping the edge of the broken stone.Then another.The chamber had gone completely silent.Even the people who had spent centuries fighting supernatural wars were watching without moving.I could hear Amy breathing beside me.Fast.Uneven.I reached for her hand.She held on."Whatever happens," I whispered, "stay behind me."She looked at me."No."I frowned."No?""I'm not hiding behind you."Even now, she sounded like herself.Scared, but stubborn.I almost smiled.Then the figure pulled itself out of the hole.It was a man.At least, it looked like one.He was tall and extremely thin, with long dark hair hanging around his face. His clothes were old, almost destroyed by time. Chains were wrapped around his wrists and ankles.Unlike Cain, he wasn't covered in scars.He looked almost ordinary.Too ordinar

I ran.I didn't think about the police.I didn't think about the crowd.I didn't think about the lockdown.I didn't even think about the fact that Marcus had specifically told me not to go inside.I heard my mother's voice.That was enough."Jack!"It came from somewhere inside Ravenwood High.I pushed through the front doors.The hallway was almost empty.Students had been evacuated, but not everyone had made it out.The fire alarm continued screaming overhead.Red lights flashed across the walls.My footsteps echoed through the corridor."Mom!"No answer.I stopped.I listened.There.Her heartbeat.Second floor.Room 214.My stomach tightened.Of course.Room 214.The place where all of this had started.I ran up the stairs.Behind me, I heard footsteps."Jack!"Danny.I turned.He was running after me."What are you doing?""Coming with you.""No.""You're not going alone.""Danny—""You can argue later."He caught up.I shook my head."You don't understand what's happening.""You

The voice beneath the floor disappeared.For a moment, nobody moved.Then Michael spoke."That's my father."Elias shook his head."You don't know that.""I heard him.""You heard someone."Michael turned toward him."You knew my father.""Yes.""Then you know his voice."Elias didn't answer.Michael stepped closer."Is it him?"Elias finally looked at him."I don't know."Michael's expression hardened."You just told me he was alive.""I said he was alive.""Then why are you suddenly unsure?""Because the thing beneath this school isn't safe."Michael laughed bitterly."Neither is the rest of this town."He turned toward the staircase."I'm going down."My mother immediately grabbed his arm."No."He pulled away."Don't touch me.""You don't understand what's down there.""My father is down there.""And if he is?"Michael stared at her."Then I'm bringing him home."My mother looked at me."Jack."I knew what she wanted.She wanted me to stop him.But I couldn't.Not after everything