Ashley looked out of the peephole in her apartment but saw no one outside. She was sure she had heard a loud bang on the door. When she tried to open it to investigate, Xander stopped her. "I'll go," he said.

"I can handle it myself, Xander. I'm not a baby, and don't forget, I'm your boss," Ashley replied, turning to address the group. "Everyone else, stay put."

As she walked down the hallway, Ashley saw shadows of people running away from the apartment in the night sky, but she couldn't get a good look at them. Just as she was about to turn back, she bumped into Xander, who...