Chapter 25 · What now?

He moved first.

Mara climbed behind him, one hand on the ladder and one locked around his belt. The shaft walls scraped her shoulders. The black fog spilled down from above, cold enough to sting her eyes.

Halfway up, Rhys stopped.

"What now?" Mara whispered.

"Listen."

Voices came through the broken gate.

"Calder is below. Confirmed."

"And the girl?"

"Both marked. Command says recover the stabilizer and terminate the pair."

Mara's grip tightened on Rhys's belt. "They called us a pair again."

"Focus."

"They are going to terminate us."

"I heard them."

"You sound calm."

"I am thinking."

"Think faster."

A voice above shouted, "Calder! Step away from Voss and surrender!"

Rhys glanced down at her. "Stay behind me."

"There is nowhere to stay."

"Then stay close."

"You say that like I have a choice."

"You do not."

He climbed faster.

Mara followed, boots slipping on the wet metal. A shot cracked above them. The bullet struck the ladder two inches from Rhys's hand.

"Move!" he barked.

They reached the top at the same time. Rhys hauled Mara over the edge and rolled with her behind a concrete support.

Three recovery agents stood beyond the gate. Black armor. Corporate seals.