Chapter 25 · Into the Core

"Don't you dare let go of me!" Evelyn slammed both hands against Nolan's chest as the reactor floor split under their boots.

His arm locked around her waist. Heat punched through her jacket. Below them, white fire churned inside the broken core, close enough to turn the metal rail red.

"I'm not letting go," Nolan said.

"You're looking at the fire. That's not reassuring."

"I'm looking for a way down."

"Down is the fire!"

The crack raced across the platform. Bolts snapped loose and shot into the pit. Nolan dragged her backward, but the section beneath his left foot dropped two inches.

His jaw tightened.

Evelyn saw it. "No. Don't even think about it."

"We need the lower access ring."

"We need the part of the floor that isn't trying to kill us."

"That ring leads to the core controls."

"And the purge switch."

"And the only route to Mika's pod."

That stopped her for half a second.

Half a second was enough for the platform to tilt.

Nolan shoved her toward the intact side. Evelyn caught a cable with one hand. The cable jerked hard, wrenching her shoulder.