She pocketed her phone and took a few more careful steps up. By the time she was at the top of the landing and reaching for the door that would open back up to the third floor, it was almost back to normal. There were a few stubborn black stars cascading across her vision and she felt like she had a minor case of vertigo but that was all.

Thats all? she told herself. Dont you dare forget about that pain. You can still feel it in your stomach, cant you? It took your breath. And its getting worse every single time it happens. Dont you dare ign

She opened the door and stepped out into the third-floor hallway. The lights seemed impossibly bright at first and the flurry of motion that came in the presence of moving people made that slight dizziness a bit worse for a moment. But she stood still, allowing herself just a moment to let her body recalibrate. She then stepped forward, and then took another step. When she trusted her legs and feet to carry her, she hurried to the place in the hallway where shed taken the left beforewhich was now a right from her point of viewshe heard a slight commotion from up ahead. This included a familiar voice that made no sense at first. But as she hurried to the corner and took the turn back towards room 36C, she saw the face that matched the voice, and an instant swarm of relief came over her.

It was Jack. He was speaking in a near-shout to a pair of people behind the nurses station on the right-hand wall in the center of the hallway. …and can take it up with the police Captain, but right now, I need you to shut down the place! We have a potential killer and

It was then that he saw Rachel. She was heading in his direction but already angling for room 36C. Jack…go…no time!

He hurried over to her, concern on his face. Rachel, what the hell is wrong? Youre sweating and pale. Are you

He was here, she said I saw him and he

An abrupt curse word from up ahead interrupted her. It was soft and muffled, coming from behind the closed door of 36C. Without another word exchanged between them, they went for the door. Jack took the lead, entering the room slowly. His gun was drawn but his stride was slow, unsure of what to expect. Rachel followed close behind. She did not draw her Glock just yet but had her hand hovering over the butt.