Something buzzed.

Jacob groaned. There was actually no way in hell it was 3:30am already.

He reached a blind arm out, feeling around the night-table like some sightless insect, and grabbed his phone. He cracked an eye open.

It wasn't 3:30am. It wasn't his alarm.

It was Camilla, calling him.

Sudden, striking angst jolted him awake. He put the phone up to his ear.

"Jacob!" Camilla's voice was layered with tension. "Meet me in the Prod Building. It's happening!"

Click.

Jacob threw off the covers and leapt out of bed. He glanced over at Blake's bed. It was empty. He must have still been at the library. It was only 11:30pm. Jacob flicked the light on, winced, and threw on the grey uniform he'd worn in the tournament, which he'd already planned on. He slipped on his shoes and left.

He raced over to the Prod Building, heart pounding high up in his throat. The night chilled him, raising goosebumps along his flesh, but he barely felt it.

Holy fuck, it's happening. Holy fuck it's happening.

How long had it taken Camilla to sense it? Had she called Tanaka too? Was it at the Prod Building or somewhere else? They had no time to lose!

He wasn't moving fast enough. He flexed his magic, casting strength and perception. It would be a good warmup anyway. The dark campus flashed past him. The lines of glowing orbs above the paths blended into a river of light.

Was it actually the killer? It had to be. Christ, was he ready to fight? Well, this was what they were training for, wasn't it? This was what the tournament prepared them for; what all of Tisdale was aiming them towards.

The distant lights of the three type buildings rushed towards him, the door of the Prod building suddenly filling his vision. Camilla stood outside. Tanaka was already there, clad in the black fatigues he'd worn to the morgue. Camilla was dressed all in black as well, with the leather jacket she'd worn when Jacob and her had fought the Dream Tiger a lifetime ago.

Jacob ground to a halt and let the spells drop. "Where?"

Camilla reached in her jacket and pulled out the medallion. It twinkled in the light.

It snapped instantly out to one side, quivering in the air, pointing through the Prod Building.

"I checked it," Tanaka said. "It's a pocket dimension."

"How long ago did you sense it?" Jacob asked.

"Five minutes," Camilla said.

"Is it in there?" Jacob gestured to the Prod Building.

Camilla shook her head. "On the other side. You ready? Let's go."

They all cast light strength and perception. Camilla held out the medallion and let it pull her along. They rounded the three type buildings and crossed onto the grass beyond them.

Jacob surveyed their surroundings, whipping his head back and forth at every shadow, every rustle of the wind. They passed into a small wooded area like the one where they'd encountered the pocket dimension a few weeks before. A small animal rustled in the undergrowth. Jacob was breathing heavily. There were too many of these secluded spots on campus. Perfect for the killer.

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But the medallion led them on. They emerged from the copse onto a common. Several paths criss-crossed ahead of them, the glowing orbs suddenly bright.

Where was the medallion leading them? The only thing on this part of the campus was...

The stadium.

It loomed in the distance against the sky, a black mass in the night. They ran across the common, quick and low, to the wall. The nearest entrance was closed. They sidled up against the wall out of sight of the glass doors, fearful of hidden eyes within.

"It's in there," Camilla said. "Gotta be."

"Do we go in?" Jacob asked.

Tanaka had his phone out. The bright screen illuminated his face. He typed something, then put it away. "I just told Brother Bondar where we are."

"What?" Jacob didn't even know Tanaka had the Enforcer's number.

"Backup," Tanaka said.

"We don't have time to wait for him," Camilla said.

"I know, but someone needs to know where we are," Tanaka said. "Let's go. Camilla, save your energy. I'll take point from here."

Camilla handed him the medallion.

"Follow me. Jacob, watch our backs," Tanaka cast divination, then moved up to the door. He tried it, but it didn't budge. He placed his hand on the smooth surface. Decomp flickered out from him, and the door opened.

They moved in.

The stadium undercroft was pitch black. Faint light from the night spilled in the door, silhouetting them, sending their elongated shadows across the floor. Jacob could just make out the dull reds and yellows of the popcorn and snack stands, lingering there in the darkness like a child's forgotten toys.

They moved through the entrance area and into one of the long hallways. Jacob tread as lightly as he could, but still their footsteps echoed back to them like faint murmurs.

"I can't see shit," Tanaka said. He'd come to a halt in the middle of the hall.

Jacob looked back. The entrance was only a faint suggestion of light.

"I can cast a light."

"We sure?" Jacob said.

"It's pitch black. We have to."

Camilla cast. A little, red-tinted magical orb floated up and to one side of her.

"Let's go."

They moved quicker. The light followed Camilla, illuminating the bare hallway.

Jacob flicked glances back behind them. He'd lost his night vision, and couldn't see very far. The darkness seemed to chase the tail end of the orb's light. His nerves were fraying. He kept expecting something to jump out at them, or for Tanaka to stumble onto the killer, waiting for them, ready and eager and insane.

They followed the medallion around a corner, and down towards the arena.

"Kill the light!" Tanaka hissed.

It winked out, plunging them back into darkness. Ahead, faint light came in from the arena. They crept forward, hugging the edges of the hall.

The seating area was empty, the arena flat and silent.

"It's down in the arena," Tanaka said.

Jacob looked over that unbroken clay expanse. He couldn't see anything, but that was to be expected, right?

"We don't have time to backtrack down to the arena entrances," Jacob said.

"We jump," Camilla said. She went up to the railing, her Consumption flaring, and vaulted over it.

Jacob's eyes widened. He launched himself after her.

Camilla stuck the landing, bowing into a deep squat before springing back straight. She made it look facile. Jacob fell through the air for an eternity. He hit the ground, stumbled, and fell to all fours.

Tanaka landed smoothly a moment later. "You two are crazy," he whispered.

They followed the medallion out to the centre of the arena. Jacob couldn't help but feel they were being watched, but the seating areas were empty.

The medallion dropped near the centre of the arena.

"It's here," Tanaka said. He pocketed the medallion, the divination disappearing.

"I can feel it," Camilla said. "You two ready?"

"Always," Tanaka said.

"Yes," Jacob said. He could feel it too. Yellowy Production layered in the air.

Camilla reached her hand out. The air in front of her shimmered, rippled like sunlight seen from underwater.

Jacob flexed his magic. They were crazy. They were all crazy and there was no way they should be doing this and they were idiots not to have handed it over to the faculty before this, even if one of them was the killer.

A blue-white chasm opened up in front of Camilla, clawing back against reality until its jagged surfaces were as wide as a door.

"Let's go!" Camilla threw herself at the portal.

Tanaka was right behind her, and Jacob right behind him.

The world vanished.