Baran leveled the glowing blade at Kurt, and energy coalesced at its tip in the form of a pinpoint searing white light that hummed with lethal intent.
"Drop dead," Baran said flatly and fired.
The beam of condensed light shot forward, faster than Kurt could process, punching a hole clean through his chest and smoke sizzled from the wound that was already cauterized from the intensity of the beam.
Kurt looked down, saw the gaping hole where his heart used to be, and blood gushed from his mouth in a thick, wet torrent.
Then he dropped to his knees and collapsed forward, dead before he hit the ground.
Sam, who'd just finished picking the first lock, working frantically on the second, looked back at this and screamed. "KURT!" Her shaking hands no longer able to maintain its grip on the hair clip she worked with.
