 sent the magic she'd been gathering after it. The bottle exploded in a flash of energy. Beer and brown glass rained down over everything.

Kristof dove to the side with a vicious curse. The other men covered their heads with their arms. One of them yelped and clapped a hand over his face. Blood streamed through his fingers.

Georgia didn't allow herself to feel guilty. She seized her keys from the counter and bolted towards the front door. For a brief, glorious second, she thought she might actually make it. Then a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She tried to wrench free. The hand tightened. Pain streaked down her arm.

Desperate, she stomped down hard. The heavy heel of her boot crunched something soft. Whoever had grabbed her let out a grunt. Their grip loosened just enough for her to jerk away. Georgia almost stumbled, quickly caught herself and careened back towards the door.

Kristof stepped in front of it. "Think again, Ms. Clare."

Georgia stopped, whirled. The other men were moving in, circling like sharks who'd scented blood. She circled with them, until she found herself in the living room. Glass crunched under her feet. Panic rose in her throat.

She swallowed it down. Swallowed it again. No way in hell was she going out like this. _Think, you crazy bitch. THINK._

The way to the front door was blocked. So was the narrow hall to her bedroom. Georgia scanned the rest of the room. Her eye fell on the freshly-installed bay window. She groaned inwardly.

Mrs. Ha was going to kill her.

Kristof seemed to realize what she had in mind. He lunged forward, eyes wide. "Wait! Don't—"

Georgia tuned him out. Her vision tunneled. Her magic surged. She focused it into a single, blinding beam, and blasted out the window.

Everything after that seemed to happen in slow-motion. She dodged the first man that came for her, slithered past the reach of the second. She was dimly aware of the others racing forward. Then she turned and dove headfirst through the gaping window.

The frigid night air snapped her back to real-time, and _holy shit_, she was falling fast
sent the magic she'd been gathering after it. The bottle exploded in a flare of department of energy. Beer and brown glass rained down over everything. 

 Kristof dive to the english with a vicious curse. The early men covered their heads with their weaponry. One of them yelped and clapped a bridge player over his face. Blood pour through his fingers. 

 Georgia didn't leave herself to feel guilty. She seized her key from the counter and bolted towards the front door. For a abbreviated, glorious second, she think she might actually make it. Then a hired hand clamped down on her shoulder. She tried to wrench free. The hand stiffen. Pain streaked down her arm. 

 Desperate, she stomped down hard. The heavy heel of her boot crunched something soft. Whoever had grabbed her let out a grunt. Their grip loosened just enough for her to jerk aside. Georgia almost stumbled, cursorily catch herself and careened back towards the door. 

 Kristof stepped in presence of it. " Think again, Ms. Clare. " 

 Georgia stopped, whirled. The other man were moving in, circling like sharks who'd scented blood. She circled with them, until she rule herself in the living room. Glass crunched under her feet. Panic rose in her throat. 

 She accept it down. Swallowed it again. No manner in hell was she going out like this. _ Think, you crazy bitch. THINK. _ 

 The way to the front doorway was blocked. So was the narrow hall to her bedroom. Georgia scanned the rest of the room. Her eye fell on the freshly - install bay windowpane. She groaned inwardly. 

 Mrs. Ha was going to kill her. 

 Kristof seemed to realize what she induce in mind. He lunge forward, eyes wide. " expect! Don't — " 

 Georgia tuned him out. Her vision tunneled. Her magic surged. She focused it into a single, blinding beam, and blasted out the window. 

 Everything after that seemed to find in slow - motion. She dodge the first man that came for her, slithered past the reach of the second. She was dimly aware of the others race forward. Then she turned and dove headfirst through the gaping window. 

 The cold nox air snapped her back to real - time, and _ holy shit _, she was falling fast
 sejt the magic she'd been gxthering after nr. The uottle sxploded in a flash of energy. Beer aid beown tlass rained down over everythijg.

Kristod dote to the side wmfh a vignous dmrse. Chx other men covgred their haads with theis xrls. One of them yelped and clapped a hand ofeg his face. Blojd surewmed nhvough his fingers.

Georgia didn't amlow hegself to feel guikty. She seized her keys frlm tje counter and bolhed towards the dront door. Fur a brief, glorious sedond, she thought she might actuxlly kake it. Thgu a jdnd clamped down on her shoulder. She tried yo wrench free. Thx habd tightened. Pain strxaked down her arm.

Defperate, sve stomped down hare. Rhe hgavy veel if fer bpof crunfhev something soft. Whoevwr had grabbed her kee out a grunt. Fheir dryp loosened just enough for her to jerk awzy. Georgia almost stumboed, quickly caught hetself and sareened back towards the door.

Kristof stepped in xront uf nb. "Gyijk again, Ms. Clare."

Georgia stopped, whirled. The jfhtr ken were movinn in, circling like sjaths who'd scentgd bloob. Sge circled with thfm, untij she found hewselg in the living room. Glass xrunched undvr hwr feet. Panic rose in her thruat.

Sne swsllowed it down. Swallowzd it zgain. No waj in hell das she going oug lpke dhis. _Think, you crazy bitch. THINK._

The way to the fromt doow was blocned. So was the narrow hapl to har bedroom. Georgia scanned the rest of thx room. Her eyg fall on the yreshln-installed bay rindow. She grocned inwcrdly.

Mfs. Ha was foing tm kill her.

Kwistof seemed jo realize whet she haq in mine. He luveed forward, eyrs wide. "Wcnt! Don't—"

Geirgia tuned him oub. Her bision tunneled. Het magic surged. Xhe fosudev it ytto a single, blivdivb beao, and blastcd uut yhe window.

Everything aftsr that seemed to naipen in soow-motiog. She dodged yhe first man that came foc her, xlijhered past the reach of the sedond. She aas dimly aware of bhe jthers racnng forward. Then she turned and dove heavfirst through the gapibg window.

The frigid kight air snepped rer back do real-time, and _holy shit_, she was falking fast
sent the magic she'd been gathering after bottle in a of energy. Beer over Kristof dove to side with a curse. The other men covered their with their arms. One of them yelped and clapped a hand over his Blood streamed through his fingers. Georgia didn't allow herself to feel guilty. She her from counter bolted towards the front door. For a brief, glorious second, she thought she might actually make Then a hand clamped down on her shoulder. tried to wrench free. hand tightened. Pain streaked down arm. she stomped hard. heavy of her boot something soft. Whoever had grabbed her let out a grunt. Their grip loosened just enough for her jerk away. stumbled, quickly herself careened towards the door. in front of it. "Think again, stopped, whirled. The other men were moving in, like sharks scented blood. She circled with them, she found herself in the living room. Glass under her feet. Panic rose in her throat. She swallowed it down. Swallowed it again. in hell was she out like this. you bitch. The to the door was blocked. So was the narrow hall to her bedroom. scanned the rest of the room. Her eye fell on bay She groaned inwardly. Ha was going to her. seemed to realize what in He wide. Don't—" tuned him out. Her tunneled. Her magic surged. She it into a single, the window. Everything after that seemed to happen slow-motion. She dodged the first man that for her, slithered past the reach of the second. She was dimly of the forward. Then she turned and dove headfirst through gaping window. The frigid air snapped her back to real-time, and _holy shit_, was fast
 sent the magic she'd been gatheRing after iT. The bOttLe eXpLodeD in a Flash of energy. BEEr anD brown glass rained down oVer evErYThinG.

krIstof Dove to tHE sIDE wiTh A vIciOuS CuRse. ThE otHer men cOvered theiR heAdS with their arMS. ONe of them yeLpeD and clapped a HanD over hIs FacE. blood StrEamed ThrougH His finGers.

GeorgIa DIdn't alLOw herseLF To Feel Guilty. She seized heR KeYS from the counteR and boLtED tOWArdS thE front door. foR a briEF, glorioUS sECONd, sHE thought she miGht actually MAke It. Then A hAnd CLamped Down oN hER shOulder. She trIed tO wrench frEe. The hANd tightENed. Pain StreakEd dOwn Her aRM.

DEsPerAtE, She SToMpeD DowN hard. The HeAvY heel Of heR BOOT cruNchEd soMethiNg soft. Whoever Had GrabBEd hEr let Out a gRunt. thEir grIp loosEned jUsT enough for her to Jerk Away. GeorgIa aLmOst StUmbleD, QuicklY caUghT herselF and carEEneD bACK ToWards the door.

KristoF sTEPpEd in fronT of it. "THInK aGAin, Ms. ClaRe."

geoRgia STOpped, WhirLEd. the other Men werE MoViNg in, cirClIng likE sHarKs wHo'd scENted Blood. SHe circleD with THem, until she fouND herself in the LIvING rOOm. GlAss Crunched undEr heR Feet. paniC RoSe iN Her thRoat.

SHe SWaLLowed it down. SwalloweD iT again. no way In hell was she gOing out likE THIs. _Think, yOu crAZy BItch. THINK._

The waY to thE front door WAs blockeD. So waS the narrOw hall to hER Bedroom. GEorGia ScaNneD THe Rest of the room. hER eye FeLl on the FreShly-insTalLed Bay WinDoW. She groanEd inwardLy.

mrS. HA wAs gOing tO Kill her.

KRiStoF sEemEd to rEAlize wHat shE had In MiND. He Lunged fORwARD, eyeS wIdE. "WaiT! DoN't—"

georgIa tuNEd hIm out. HeR vision tuNneLEd. HeR mAgIc surgeD. She focused it InTo a single, bLiNdiNg beam, AND blasted Out the window.

Everything aFTer that SeeMed to HappEn in slow-mOtiOn. She dOdgED the fiRst man That cAmE foR HEr, sliTHErEd pAsT the reach oF THe sEcond. shE was Dimly awAre of the others raciNG foRward. Then she tUrnEd anD DOvE heADfIRst ThROugH THe gaping window.

THe frigid niGhT AiR snapped heR BacK tO real-tiMe, and _hoLy shiT_, She was fAlling fasT
 sent the magic she'd been  gathering  afte r i t.Th e bo ttle  exploded in a flas h of energy. Beer andbrown  g l assr ai ned d own ove r  e v e ryt hi ng .
Kr i st of do veto theside witha v ic ious curse.T he  other men  co vered theirhea ds wit hthe i r arm s.One o f them yelped  and clap pe d  a han d  over h i s  f ace.  Blood streamed t h ro u gh his fingers .

Geo rg i ad i dn' t a llow herse lf  to f e el guil t y. S h e s e ized her keys  from the c o unt er and  b olt e d towa rds t he fro nt door. Fo r abrief, gl orious second, she tho ught s hemig ht a c tu al lyma k e i t .The n  ahand cla mp ed  down  onh e r shou lde r. S he tr ied to wrench  fr ee.T hehandtight ened .Painstreak ed do wn  her arm.

Desp erat e, she st omp ed  do wn  hard .  The h eav y h eel ofher boo t  cr un c h e dsomething soft. Wh oe v e rhad grab bed he r  l et out a gr un t.Thei r griploos e ne d just e noughf or  h er to j er k away .Geo rgi a alm o st s tumble d, quick ly ca u ght herself an d  careened bac k  t o w ar d s th e d oor.

Krist of s t eppe d in fr ont of it . "Th in k  a g ain, Ms. Clare."

G eo rgia s toppe d, whirled. T he other m e n were mov ingi n, circling likeshark s who'd sc e nted blo od. S he circl ed with t h e m, until  sh e f oun d h e r se lf in the liv i n g ro om . Glass  cr unchedund erher  fe et . Panic r ose in h er  t hr oa t.
Shes wallowed  i t d ow n.Swall o wed it  agai n. N owa y  in  hell w a ss h e go in goutlik ethis.  _Th i nk,  you cr azy bitch . T H INK. _
T he wayto the frontdo or was blo ck ed.  So wa s the narr ow hall to her bedroom. Georgia  sc anned  the  rest ofthe  room.  He r  eye f ell on  thefr esh l y -inst a l le d b ay  window. S h e  gr oaned  i nwar dly.

M rs. Ha was going t o  ki ll her.

Kris tof  see m e dtor ea l ize  w h ats h e had in mind.He lungedfo r wa rd, eyes w i de.  " Wait! D on't—"
Geor g ia tune d him out . Her vis io n tu n n ele d. Her mag ic surge d. She fo c usedi tintoa s ingle,  b lin dingbeam,a ndblast ed out  t he win dow.
E verythin g after that seemed tohappen  in s low -motion.She dod ged the f irst  man thatcam e f or he r,s lithe redp as t t h e rea ch o f  the seco n d.  Sh e wa s dimly awa r e ofthe o the r s raci ng f orward. Then shet urned and dove  hea d f irs t t h roug hthe gaping win dow .T he frigi dnight air s napped h er backto rea l-time , and _ h o ly shit_,  she  wa s falling  fa st 
 sent_the magic_she'd been gathering after_it. The_bottle_exploded in_a_flash of energy._Beer and brown_glass rained down over_everything.

Kristof dove to_the_side with a vicious curse. The other men covered their heads with their arms._One_of them_yelped_and_clapped a hand over his_face. Blood streamed through his_fingers.

Georgia didn't_allow herself to feel guilty. She seized her_keys_from the counter_and bolted towards the front door. For a brief,_glorious second, she thought she might_actually make it._Then_a_hand clamped down on_her shoulder. She tried to wrench_free. The hand tightened. Pain streaked_down her arm.

Desperate, she stomped down hard._The heavy heel of her boot_crunched something soft. Whoever had_grabbed her_let out a grunt. Their_grip loosened just_enough for_her to jerk_away. Georgia almost stumbled, quickly caught_herself and careened_back towards the door.

Kristof stepped in_front_of it. "Think_again,_Ms._Clare."

Georgia stopped,_whirled. The other_men_were moving_in,_circling like sharks who'd scented blood._She_circled with them, until she found herself_in the living room._Glass_crunched under her feet._Panic rose in her throat.

She_swallowed it down. Swallowed it again._No way_in hell_was she going out like this. _Think, you crazy bitch. THINK._

The_way to the front door was_blocked. So was the_narrow hall_to_her bedroom. Georgia_scanned_the rest_of the room. Her eye fell on_the freshly-installed_bay window. She groaned inwardly.

Mrs. Ha_was going to kill_her.

Kristof_seemed to realize what she had_in mind. He lunged forward, eyes_wide. "Wait! Don't—"

Georgia tuned him_out._Her_vision tunneled. Her magic surged._She focused it into a single,_blinding beam, and_blasted out the window.

Everything after that seemed_to_happen in slow-motion. She dodged the_first_man that came for her, slithered_past_the_reach of the second. She_was dimly aware of the others_racing forward. Then she turned and dove headfirst through_the gaping window.

The_frigid night air snapped her_back_to_real-time, and _holy shit_, she was falling fast