Chapter 443

• I don’t see it coming at all. It’s so sudden and uncharacteristic of Jake that I barely see it happen. He hits Ben full-on in the face with one perfect punch in his trained boxer stance, the energy rippling around us. The room almost falls silent as the thud echoes in my ears. The other man crumples to the ground. Chaos erupts around us as others jump to their feet, and Leila starts yelling.
• I’m pushed back behind other girls by the force of those getting involved and can’t see what’s happening. For minutes I’m pushing and struggling to get out of the corner I’ve been trapped in, panic searing through me, surrounded by noise and shouting, drowning out the music. Finally, I’m yanked forward by Leila, who drags me out between groups of people and hurriedly leads me along the windows before heading out through a smaller side door to the elevator lobby.
• “Where’s Jake?” I demand, trying to wrench free. “Leila, stop! Where is he?” I squeal in panic. I can’t leave without him; I need to know where he is, what’s happening, and if he’s okay.