She decided to avoid the elevator, and instead peeked into the shaft and around the corners, searching for a maintenance ladder. She found one she could reach relatively easily, but she still had a moment of terrifying vertigo as she stretched out over the deep black pit. With her hands firmly on the metal rungs, she swung the rest of her body out into space, found the ladder with her feet, and began climbing down. Each floor was marked, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she climbed down past 1 and found A waiting below it. She kept going, stopping on Floor C, and searched for an exit. Next to the ladder was a maintenance door; she twisted the handle, and it opened smoothly.

The hallway beyond was brightly lit. The air was fresh and well circulated. Far away, a faint echo in the emptiness, she heard footsteps.

Kira’s heart caught in her throat, and she found herself suddenly paralyzed with fear. Was that Heron—was she already here? Or was it somebody else? Had they heard all the noise she’d made with the elevator? Was there one set of footsteps, or more? Were they coming or going? She didn’t know, and not knowing made her too afraid to move. After a moment she paused, forcing herself to think. No matter what it is, I should go through the door. I can’t just leave, and this could be my only chance to find out what I am. She hesitated, trying to psych herself up, wondering if there was a security system inside that would attack her. She hadn’t set off any alarms by opening the door. She took a deep breath and drew her handgun from where she’d hidden it in the back of her pants. She stepped through.

The hallway was bright, not just because of the lights, but because the walls and floors and ceiling were white, like a hospital. She could feel the faint hum of something through the floor, like the motor of the elevators but constant, like a background buzz. The power generator? she thought. Or an air circulator. There was definitely a faint breeze, neither hot nor cold but simply air in motion. She heard another cluster of footsteps, so small she thought it had to be just one person. She strained at the link, trying to see if it was Heron, but felt nothing. Kira fumbled in her waistband for her handgun, pulling it out and checking the chamber and magazine, making sure it was loaded and ready to go. She held it before her carefully, walking softly on the balls of her feet. She could hear somebody walking, but she was determined they wouldn’t hear her.