Free Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

“There’s a delivery gate over there. It’s closed, but you both should be able to squeeze through. Head right two blocks, then along the street to the end. You’ll see a Seven-Eleven.”
    I nodded. “I know where it is.”
    “Good. Go around the back of the store and wait. I’ll meet you there.”
    Tori sprinted off, but I stood there, looking at Aunt Lauren.
    “Chloe?”
    “Tori didn’t turn us in, did she?”
    “No. Now—”
    “It was Rae, wasn’t it?”
    Aunt Lauren paused, and I saw the answer in her eyes. “I’m not the only one who mistakenly thought she was doing the right thing, Chloe.”
    I started to turn away. She caught my arm and held out a folded envelope.
    “An explanation and some money.” When I didn’t take it, she leaned around and put it into my back pocket. “If you decide to keep running, I won’t blame you. But, please, give me a chance. One last chance.”
    I nodded. She pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek, then let me go. Tori had already rounded the corner of the building, disappearing from sight when Liz shrieked behind me.
    “Chloe!”
    I spun so fast I lost my balance. Aunt Lauren gestured for me to keep going, but I saw only the figure behind her. Tori’s mom.
    I shouted a warning, but Mrs. Enright’s hand flew out. A bolt shot from her fingertips. It hit Aunt Lauren with a horrible sizzling pop, knocking her off her feet. Blood flew from her lips, spraying the concrete as she fell.

Thirteen
    I STARTED TO RUN to Aunt Lauren. I made it a few feet before Tori’s mom locked me in a binding spell. I dimly heard her say something, but I didn’t know what it was. My ears were filled with my own silent screams as I stared at Aunt Lauren, motionless on the ground. Finally Mrs. Enright’s voice came through.
    “I should probably ask where my darling daughter is.”
    “Right here,” said a voice behind me.
    Mrs. Enright’s head lifted. Her brow furrowed. Her lips parted. Then she jolted backward, hit by a spell from Tori. My binding broke. I lurched toward Aunt Lauren, but Tori grabbed my arm.
    “We have to go,” she said.
    “No. I—”
    Mrs. Enright recovered, hands flying as she launched a spell. Tori yanked me out of the way and it hit the wall, blasting a blackened crater.
    “You can fight her,” I said. “Stop her, and I’ll get the gun—”
    “I can’t.”
    Tori heaved on my arm. I pulled away. She muttered “Fine,” let go, then raced off, disappearing around the corner. Tori’s mom lifted her hands again. Then a voice shouted, distracting her, “They’re over here!”
    I took one last look at Aunt Lauren and ran.
     
    There was no way we were getting to that delivery gate now. I soon realized why Aunt Lauren had sent us ahead—so she could watch our backs because we’d be exposed to any employees entering the side yard and we couldn’t afford to raise any alarms.
    We peered around the corner of the next building, saw that open expanse, heard voices coming, and knew we’d never make it.
    “Now what?” Tori said.
    I didn’t answer.
    “Come on!” she whispered. “What’s the plan?”
    I wanted to grab her and shake her and tell her there was no plan. I couldn’t even wrap my head around the concept. My aunt might be dead.
Dead.
That’s all I could think about.
    “Chloe!” she whispered. “Hurry! What are we going to do?”
    I longed to tell her to leave me alone. Come up with her own plan. Then I saw her eyes, bright with fear fast turning into panic, and the words died in my throat.
    She’d just learned Liz was dead. She’d seen my aunt possibly killed by her mother. Neither of us was in any shape to think, but one of us had to.
    “Your aunt said the Edison Group won’t come close to the front,” she said. “If we run for it—”
    “They’ll make an exception. Or find a way to cut us off. But…” I looked around. My gaze stopped on the huge building dominating the yard. “The factory.”
    “What?”
    “Stay close to