The warm yellow glow of the lamps died, leaving us in the cold blue light of the computer screen.

Then, the computer screen went black.

The hum of the hard drive stopped.

The house fell into a deep, absolute silence.

I reached out in the dark, my hand finding Damon’s damp wool coat.

“Damon,” I whispered.

“Stay behind me,” he whispered back.

I heard the distinct, metallic click of a drawer opening.

Then, the sound of metal sliding against metal.

He had a gun.

“Where is the backup generator?” I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

“It should have kicked in by now,” Damon said.

His voice was no longer calm.

It was sharp and tense.

A sudden noise echoed from the floor above us.

It was a dull, heavy thud, followed by the sound of glass shattering.

“Leo,” I gasped.

I didn’t wait for Damon.

I lunged toward the study door, my boots sliding on the polished hardwood floor.

“Nora, wait!” Damon hissed in the dark.

I pushed the heavy oak door open and stumbled into the hallway.