*Lucas* I wasn't kidding. A claw reached through a slit down the middle of the door. Time was not on our side. I ran to the window but found it was swelled shut in its frame. It was something that should have been replaced decades ago. A burning yellow eye and snapping jaws were now visible through a break in the door. I was going to have to break the window. “Do you trust me?" I asked Sasha, who was already holding a water pitcher to defend herself. “Yes," Sasha said, briefly looking over at me. “Put that down. Come over here," I barked. Sasha looked at me as though I'd lost my mind, but when the door finally blew right off its hinges, she dropped the pitcher and walked right into my embrace. “You'd better be sure about this," she warned. “I hope so." I dragged her over to the w