The sound was not a c***k. It was a scream.
High-pitched. Shattering. Like a million wine glasses breaking at once. Ezra was out of the chair before the echo died. He grabbed the rifle. He kicked the bedroom door open.
"Up," he said. "Now."
Mara was already moving. She had Ryder by the hand. She had a bag slung over her shoulder. She didn't ask questions. She saw the look on Ezra's face.
Ash stood by the bed. He was dressed. Coat on. Bag in hand. He was waiting.
"The dome," Ezra said. "It's going."
He didn't wait for them to nod. He went to the hallway. He grabbed the second rifle. He checked the load. Full. He shoved a box of shells into his pocket.
"Varen," Ezra said into the radio clipped to his coat. Static hissed. Then a voice.
"It's breaking," Varen said. His voice was calm.
