Quest’s voice boomed. “What was that? Rainbow, Sage. Check it out.”

“Run,” hissed Xander.

They ran to the stairwell. When they reached the doorway, they turned to look back. The doors to the morgue were open. A red-haired woman with a ragged jean jacket peered out. Behind her stood a stocky man with a bushy beard.

“The kids!” she shouted. “They’re back!”

The bearded man yelled, “Get them!”

A half dozen squatters poured into the hallway.

This time it was Priya who yelled, “Run!”

Chapter Nine

Xander ran past Li and Priya and vaulted up the stairs two at a time. Fear had given his legs fresh energy. He nearly grabbed the railing for support before he spotted the barbed wire coiled around it.

He scrambled to the main level and bolted through the doorway. Then he leaned against one of the large filing cabinets and tried to shove it toward the door. It wouldn’t budge.

“Give me a hand!” he yelled as Priya and Li burst out of the stairwell.

Priya slammed the door shut behind her while Li pressed her shoulder into the cabinet. It scraped against the tiled floor, screeching like fingernails on a chalkboard. Priya joined in. The filing cabinet lurched along until it was wedged up against the door.

Just in time. Thumps echoed on the blocked door as the squatters slammed against it. The door nudged open a crack.

Xander yelled, “We’ve got to push more stuff against the door!”

Priya and Li shoved another cabinet toward the door while Xander used his weight to keep the door from opening any wider. They slammed the second cabinet in place, knocking the door shut.

“That won’t hold them for long,” Priya said.

“It should buy us time to get out,” Xander replied.

“What about Omar?” Li cried.

More thumping against the door.

Xander looked from the door to Li and Priya. He couldn’t abandon Omar, but there was no way they were going to fight this many people. An idea dawned on him. He pulled the girls away from the door.

“Li, find a hiding spot. Priya and I will lead the squatters away. When you think it’s clear, go down and free Omar. When you’re safe, text us, and we’ll find a way out.”

“Okay. I just need a…” She headed to the overturned wooden chair that Xander had pulled apart for weapons. She unscrewed the last of its legs and slapped the makeshift club against her palm. “Ready.”

“Find a place to hide,” Xander whispered.

She slipped into one of the rooms near the stairwell while Xander and Priya navigated the obstacle course to the other end of the hall.

Priya snapped on her headlamp. “Turn yours on too, Xander, so they can see us.”

Xander switched on his light and climbed over the gurney blocking the end of the hallway.

The door finally squealed open, and the first of the squatters burst through. The woman spotted Priya immediately.

“Quest! I see them!” she yelled.