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My heart stops.

Everyone in the room goes still.

A second voice answers.

“How many?”

“Multiple.”

“Police?”

“Can't tell.”

Another voice shouts through the radio.

“Close the gate!”

My eyes burn.

Sean.

It has to be.

The guard outside starts running.

His footsteps disappear down the corridor.

Jasmine stares at me.

“You were right.”

I can barely breathe.

“Not yet.”

But hope is spreading through me so fast it hurts.

Then another message comes over the radio.

“Get the van to the airstrip!”

The girls begin talking at once.

“They're leaving.”

“What about us?”

“Are they coming back?”

I raise my voice.

“Listen to me!”

Silence falls.

“They aren't taking you anywhere.”

“How do you know?” Jasmine asks.