The shots are loud, painfully deafeningly loud. I can see Felix’s lips move, but can barely hear the words. He reaches over and takes hold of my ice-cold hand. Put the gun away, Brendan, I hear Anil say through the buzzing in my ears. His voice is strong, level. Brendan swivels his head around to look back at Anil. What’s wrong, Paki? Did I scare you? he asks, voice mocking. Suddenly the door next to Felix opens and Chloe’s there. Her face is crumpled, wet with tears. I cut my foot, she says. I look down and see blood pooling up between her toes, covering the straps of her silvery sandals. Then comes the scream, and we all freeze. What the . . . Brendan breathes, clutching his gun tighter. Jesus, Felix says, dropping my hand. Emma . . . Felix is out the door, so fast it’s like he disappeared. Then Emma is running toward us. She is pointing Felix back toward the car. We need to get out of here, she says. Now. Chloe tumbles past me to the backseat, next to Anil. Felix slams his door shut, sliding into the seat next to me.
