Chapter 15 · The File Beneath

"You sure this is it?" Mark squeezed the bolt cutters until the handles creaked. "Because if that thing sent us into another death trap, I'm blaming you."

"Blame the demon after we find it." Daniel shoved the cutters aside and pulled the broken chain from the gate. "Move."

The chain snapped. The echo rolled down the stairwell, followed by a second sound from below—a scrape of metal against concrete.

Amy flinched. Her right hand closed over the scar at her hip. Two hours ago, claws had torn out of that wound. The skin still twitched under her palm.

"Did you hear that?" she asked.

"Yeah." Mark lifted his phone. Its flashlight barely reached the first landing. "Nobody goes alone."

Daniel pushed through the gate before him. "Stay behind me."

"You don't get to order me around," Amy said.

"Then stay behind me because you enjoy being alive."

She gave him a hard look but followed. Her shoulder brushed Mark's as they entered the stairwell. Her skin was cold through her jacket.

Lucas came last, hands buried in his pockets. "This is insane. We should've called the cops."

"And told them what?" Amy snapped.