Chapter 9 · The Fake Door

The stairwell kept going down.

Kade's boots slapped wet stone. His ribs hurt where the bolt had hit him. The black rune under his shirt was still warm, still humming, and he could feel it pulling at the edges of his thoughts like it wanted him to stop thinking and just move.

Mira was half a flight ahead, one hand on the rail, the other gripping her baton. Her hair had come loose from its tie and stuck to her neck. She hadn't looked back since they dropped through the emergency hatch.

He caught up at the next landing. The air down here tasted like rust and old smoke.

"How far does this go?" he asked.

She didn't slow. "Don't know. Tower plans only show three sublevels. We're past that."

"Great."

"You saw her."

He nodded even though she wasn't looking. "Yeah."

"And you're still going."

"She told me not to."

Mira finally stopped. Turned. Her face was pale under the dim wardlight strips running along the ceiling. "Kade. If Drake showed you that, it's because he wants you down there."

"I know."

"So we turn around."

He met her eyes. "You can."

She stared at him.