Ruby winced, expecting the cold darkness, but she felt no pain. She opened her eyes to see the woman in front of her stumbling back, a crimson blossom blooming on her shoulder.
The warehouse was chaotic with sounds of sirens, crackling flames, and the blinding flashes of reporter cameras.
As Violet leveled her gun at the defenseless Nancy, Max and Julian had both fired from their respective positions. Violet screamed as the bullets tore into her, but in her reflex, her finger squeezed the trigger one last time.
Ruby felt a sharp, hot sting in her arm, like a searing poker pressed against her skin. She didn't realize she'd been hit at first; the adrenaline was a thick veil over her senses. She lunged forward, trying to grab the woman before she could flee, but Ace swept the wounded Violet up and disappeared into the thick wall of black smoke.
