The group would have stopped for a moment had the current of bodies not been against them. Dante screwed his face up and wished he’d brought his coat and scarf to hide behind.

“That…” began Kaori, “That makes sense…somehow…”

“Dude, I’m sure someone told me that already,” said Joel.

“You guys are crazy,” said Doyle, “John, tell them they’re crazy!”

John, however, remained silent. He couldn’t even hide the fear in his eyes behind his glasses, because Lysander and Angelo were mingling into crowd like the sort of hyperactive reporters Dante had seen in footage of the Old World. That crowd was gathering pace now, a mass of fifty or sixty teenagers hurrying through the main spine of the school towards the auditorium, teachers and staff taking up positions along the side to make sure everyone remained safe and calm. Dante was reminded of the nightclub and its similar atmosphere of bustling bodies crushing against one another. His heart began to beat faster, thudding into his brain like the footsteps of a giant.

And then he saw Katrina, wrapped in a cat-print towel, pushing through the crowd towards him. The rest of the Second Year had made it inside, accompanied by Mr Haan, with no sign of casualties.

“Azarat,” called Ms James over the students, “What was that thing?”

“Some kind of stone giant,” he replied, “No hint of aggression yet. Phantasia Celeste appears to be dealing with the situation,”

A murmur spread across the crowd at the sound of Phantasia’s name. Perhaps their memories of her exploits and the gossip surrounding them were beginning to stir? Dante remembered it all as clear as anything, but he could see the confused look in his friends’ eyes as their own recollection began to kick in.

“Where’s Payne?” asked Ms Clarke over the crowd, “If that thing is hostile we’ve got to set up defences,”

“Payne’s not here,” replied Mr Haan, “Neither is Amber. Just get the kids safe and we’ll deal with it ourselves!”

Joel looked excited, even with the chaos surrounding them. “The teachers are gonna deal with that thing? Man, I don’t wanna be buried underground while shit like that is going down!”

“Don’t say things like that,” said Kaori, “Just stay with me. This is… I want to wake up and know this never happened… None of it…”

“It’s like deja vu,” said Doyle, shaking his head.

Dante glanced back at Katrina and managed a slight smile as she slipped through the first years to reach him. She put a damp arm around him in a half hug and her messy hair left a wet imprint on his cheek, but he was too relieved to care.

“Tell me you remember everything!” she said, “You’re always remembering! You’re the only one who does!”

“Yeah,” he said, swallowing hard as a shiver ran up his body, “It’s all true, just like she said…”

As the mass approached the entrance to the shelter – heavy steel doors kept locked by uncrackable security at all other times – Phoenie crashed through the crowd, cell gripped tight in one hand as she gasped for words. “John! John Smith! You can’t deny it! Not now! You better be recording! All of this!”

“DON’T WORRY!” shouted Lysander, who was nestled in the midst of some bewildered first years, “I’m creating a super exclusive documentary!”

As the students were ushered down into the shelter, Dante felt Katrina grip his hand in hers and wished for a peaceful conclusion. One that involved waking up to discover this was all a dream. Checking his cell, he realised only two minutes had passed since the initial evacuation order, and wondered just how slow this time would pass. He tightened his grip on Katrina’s hand and closed his eyes, his surrogate sister’s clammy touch washing away the niggling voice whispering at the back of his mind.

Chapter 40
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