Chapter 21 · The Kill Clock

"Don't move." Kane's hand clamped around my ankle and yanked me back.

Metal screamed under my knees. The whole vent shuddered.

"Let go," I hissed. "You're gonna drop us straight onto them."

"And you're gonna kick us straight through the floor if you keep crawling like that," he said. His voice was right against my calf. Low. Tight. "Freeze. They have thermals."

Below us, through the slats, the cleanup crew swept the corridor. Three red dots. Then six. Scanning. Slow.

I went flat on my stomach. My cheek hit hot metal. I could taste rust and sweat.

Kane's chest pressed to the back of my legs. He was too close. He was always too close in here. Two meters wide, my ass. This thing was a coffin with screws.

"How long?" I whispered.

"Thirty seconds till they pass," he said.

"Not them. The clock."

His hand flexed around my ankle. Didn't let go.

"It's not counting down anymore," he said.

"What?"

"Look."

I twisted. Bad idea. The vent groaned again. My shoulder jammed against his ribs and his face was suddenly six inches from mine. Sweat on his forehead. Eyes black in the dark.