The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

"Yeah, I think it's hot," Corey said with a grin.

Daniel prodded me along before I could retort. Corey fell in beside us and we were at the bedroom door when Ash came running in.

He stopped in front of me. "There's definitely someone out there."

Tori stood. "Um, don't you think you should tell the person in charge here?"

Ash gave her a cold look, then stepped to the left, so he was addressing both me and Daniel. "There's definitely someone out there."

"Not really what I meant," Tori said.

"Don't really care," Ash said. He caught my sleeve and tugged. "Forget them. We're going. Now." He looked over at Hayley. "You coming, blondie?"

She hesitated.

"Whatever," he said, waving her off as he herded me out the door.

"Hold up," Hayley said, and hurried after us.

"I really don't think--" Dr. Fellows called.

"Really don't care," Ash called back.

"You guys are definitely related," Corey said as we jogged down the hall. "The only difference is that Maya is polite when she's getting in your face."

Ash snorted and started to reply.

"Wait!" I skidded to a halt halfway down the steps. "Where's Rafe?"

"Already outside," Ash said. "I took him scouting. He's standing guard on the porch. Now stop talking and move!"

FORTY-THREE

I TURNED LEFT AT the bottom of the stairs and headed for the living room.

Ash caught the back of my shirt. "The exit is this way."

Daniel brushed past us. "Yes, but we're going to take the extra minute to tell Kit and the others that we're leaving."

"Fine, go," Ash said. "Maya, stay with me."

I followed Daniel into the living room.

"Hey!" Ash said. "Both of you don't need--"

The back door banged open. Shoes pounded down the hall as Rafe raced in.

"They're coming," Rafe said. "I saw someone around the side of the garage. They shot out the lights on it."

Daniel was now in the living room doorway, hands braced on either side as he leaned in, talking fast. Then he jogged back to us.

"Daniel!" Kit shouted. Daniel didn't stop. Kit swung out the door. "Hold on. They'll have the house surrounded. There's no place you can run."

"We're sure as hell not surrendering," Ash said.

"No," Chloe said. "There's an escape route in the basement."

"You guys take them down." Kit pushed Derek, Simon, and Chloe toward us. "I'll get Tori and Lauren."