Red lights started flashing in the office. The siren wailed—sharp and relentless. Beep. Beep. Beep. It was so loud, Maya thought it might split her head open.
“Julian, look out!” she yelled.
Something heavy and black smashed through the glass. Tear-gas canister. Smoke poured in, stinging Maya’s eyes and clawing at her throat. She coughed, barely able to breathe. The whole room vanished behind a blinding white cloud.
“Get down!” Julian shouted. He dove over the desk and yanked Maya to the floor.
Bianca was screaming. She dropped the trophy and hid her face behind her hands. “I can’t see! I can’t breathe! Help me!”
Julian didn’t stop to think, not even for a second. Even after everything Bianca had done to him, he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “Hold onto my belt, Bianca! Maya, s
