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Another flash of light bursts and pops to life. I glance around and see guys moving around the edge of the crowd as we huddle together. The light fades quickly, but not before I meet Tanner’s blue eyes across the crowd. He’s taller than most and he was looking for something. Probably me.

When his gaze stops on me, his smirk chills me worse than the water.

When darkness cloaks us, I tug on Eli. It’s too quiet for me to say anything. They’d hone in on my location even faster, but we need to move because Tanner knows exactly where we are. And that can’t be good.

There’s movement behind me. Before I can alert Eli, a hand covers my mouth right as a scream builds in my lungs and climbs into my throat. I grab at the hand, desperate to not fall victim to whatever he has planned.

“Shh, princess.” Luke’s voice is in my ear.

Oh, thank god. He’s here. He’s safe. I sag against Luke and nod into his hand. The others are out there. Nico was near the entrance, but I didn’t see Caden and Jack. Maybe Luke knows where they are.

When Luke pulls me in a direction away from Tanner, I grab onto Eli. That’s exactly where I want to go. We just need to find a way out of here.

The wet fabric of my dress clings to my legs and shivers rack my body, but it’s not my focus. My heels on the wooden floor clack and splash like bombs going off in my head.

The shoes have to go. When I stop, Eli bumps into me. Luke tugs on me, but I use my other hand to slip off my heels. I don’t dare drop them on the floor and give that asshole Tanner any more information about where I am.

For a moment, I consider throwing them to distract the guys searching for me, but being barefoot might slow us down outside of the gym.

I grab Eli’s hand while holding the straps of my shoes and push into Luke to show him I’m ready to get out of here.

Another flash goes off. Luke’s eyes widen as he looks behind us. I don’t want to know what’s coming for us, so I look for an exit. Jack stands at a dark doorway I think leads to the boys’ locker room.

I swallow at the fear that trickles through me, knowing that’s where the guys are taking me. I really don’t like locker rooms.

The flash of light ends and a roar fills the space behind us, making me turn even though I know I can’t see anything.

Caden. Fists sink into flesh. A sound I’m all too familiar with from the fights last night. Eli releases me and he slips away, entering whatever fray is behind me. Luke tugs me forward, heading toward where I saw Jack.

“Jack will get you out,” Luke murmurs softly before pulling me in that direction and maneuvering me into position before him.

“What about you and the others?” My voice is barely a sound. My heart clenches, unwilling to leave any of them behind, but knowing the best thing for them is for me to follow directions right now.

“Go. I’m right behind you.” He shoves me toward Jack as the sound of the fight moves closer.

I run barefoot, splashing in the standing water on the floor. Luke is right behind me. Right now, I’m so grateful I chose the dress that wouldn’t be weighed down with water. Not that I figured that was an option tonight.

The light flashes again. I’m so tempted to look back at the fight happening behind me, but I can’t take that risk. If I don’t get to Jack, their fight will be for nothing. The light makes it easier for me to see, so I hurry.

When I’m close enough, Jack grabs my hand and drags me to the door. Another flash lights up everything. I glance back and see Luke turn to face whatever is behind us as we crash through the door and into the locker room. Jack doesn’t pause, shining a light in the direction we need to go to escape. I don’t say a word, don’t spare a glance behind us.

My feet ache as they slap against the hard tile floors, but I don’t make a sound or protest. We just have to get out of here and let the cops deal with the guys who made a mess of Homecoming.

We reach the door to the hallway and stop. Jack pulls me in against him, my back to his front. He shuts off his light and pauses for a moment to listen. Inky darkness hides everything around us.

I don’t hear anything over the pounding of my heart. Nothing from the other side of the door and nothing from behind us. My breath shudders in and out of me. I bite my lip, wondering how the guys are faring against the attack. Obviously they’re holding them off, but what if one of them is hurt?

Jack doesn’t say anything. He’s warm against me, but just as soaked.

The seconds we wait feel like hours. My heart hurts and so do my feet. His chest rises behind me and he shifts to open the door. He pulls it inward with us behind it and waits. I hold my breath.

Is someone already waiting for us? Expecting us to come out this way.

When no one appears, Jack moves us around the door. My breath releases as we enter the dimly lit hallway. The noise from the gym is distant. Jack takes my hand and leads me away from the gym.

When we reach the doors to the outside, I stop him. He glances down at my bare feet. Yeah, that won’t work in the parking lot.

I quickly slip on my heels and then meet his dark blue eyes. I nod, ready to do what we have to do to escape this hell.