Chapter 31 · Iron Arena - Chapter 31: Run Through the Back Door

The wall came down in chunks of concrete and rebar dust. Lila hit the floor before Cole could push her. She rolled, came up in a crouch, and saw the silhouettes through the smoke—three, no, four—armored vests, respirators, shock batons already live and crackling blue.

"Take Varen," one of them said. Flat voice, like reading off a grocery list. "Take the girl."

Cole was already moving. He grabbed the edge of the cot and threw it sideways into the nearest guy. The frame hit knee-height and the man went down hard. Lila didn't wait. She kicked the folding chair at the second one, metal legs first, and ran for the gap in the wall they'd just blown open.

Somebody caught her jacket. She twisted, slammed her elbow back, felt it connect with something soft. The grip loosened. She ducked under a baton swing and stumbled through the smoke into the hallway.

Cole was right behind her. His hand landed on her shoulder, shoved her left. "Service stairs. Go."

She went.

The stairwell was narrow, bare concrete, lights flickering like they'd been about to die for years.