<p>Ella</p>
<p>The room is filled with the leader's guttural scream as he clutches his arm.</p>
<p>The syringe drops from his grasp and clatters to the ground. The goons that had held me down are suddenly gone, scattering in every direction like cockroaches in the light. More bullets tear through the air, each shot a jolt to my senses. Two goons stare frozen at each other before their lifeless bodies collapse to the floor.</p>
<p>I don't waste a second more. Fear fuels my body, overriding the ache in my limbs, and I leap off the bed, bolting toward the door. The chaos in the room behind me feels like it's happening in another world, muffled by the blood rushing in my ears. Just as I make it through the threshold, strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back.</p>
<p>A scream rips from my throat, and I thrash in panic. Then, I hear a familiar voice, calm but firm.</p>
<p>"Cover your ears," George commands.</p>