The Riftborn horde surged forward, a wave of twisted humanity with a single, horrifying focus. The air, once still and tense, was now filled with the cacophony of their guttural snarls.
Jake's mind, usually a fortress of calm and calculation, went utterly blank for a few precious seconds, completely overwhelmed by the sheer, primal terror of the charge. The previous attack at the house had been a breach; this was a full-scale, coordinated assault.
"Back to the van! NOW!" Ms. Michelle's voice was a razor-sharp command, cutting through the suffocating panic.
They turned as one, their flight instincts kicking into a desperate overdrive. But it was already too late for a clean retreat. The semi-circle of Riftborn had seamlessly closed its ends, cutting off the most direct route back to the street. They were being expertly herded, prey driven into a killing zone.
