Even Eva could hear the hum of the glider’s engine shut off. “We can’t go out the main entryway,” she said.

“How did you escape before?” Rovender asked.

“Back to the kitchen exhaust vent,” Muthr said, taking Eva by the hand. The robot led them out of the generator room. “Let us go!”

As they dashed through the robot’s control room, Eva glanced up and saw a shadow darken the top of the stairwell.

“Come! Come! Come!” Rovender hopped behind them, shoving Eva and Muthr into the main hub. “We must hurry!”

“Hold on!” Eva yelled, halting in front of the scorched kitchen doorway. “This way won’t work. Muthr can’t go up the shaft.”

“Eva, dear,” Muthr said. “It is all right. I—”

“It’s not all right,” Eva barked. “We came back for you, and you’re leaving with us!”

“Whichever path we choose, we need to choose it in a hurry.” Rovender’s tone was antsy as he looked over his shoulder into the control room. Dark gray claws grabbed the half-open door of the room. With tremendous strength they pried it open, revealing the sinister, predatory face of Besteel.

“Ruzender Keet,” he hissed in a heavy accent. “You has something that beelongz to me!”

“This way!” Eva yanked Muthr into the storage room. “Into the next Sanctuary!”

“Wait, do you need more provisions before exiting?” Muthr asked as she was pulled through the maze of overturned shelves and spilled supplies. Rovender followed, limping fast with his walking stick.

Eva turned to see Besteel bound across the main hub.

“Rovee! Hit the red button!” she yelled, standing in the doorway of the secret hallway. Rovender banged the door’s manual pad with the bottom of his stick as he hopped by. The damaged doors creaked as they attempted to shut, but they could not close all the way. Once more Besteel wriggled his clawed hands into the gap between the doors and began wrenching them apart.

“Come on!” Eva ushered Muthr through the back door hatch while Rovender hobbled closer. Behind him, Besteel’s immense arm groped about for the control panel of the half-open doors. Then he withdrew his arm and replaced it with the bulbous muzzle of his rifle. The distinct hum of the charging weapon vibrated in Eva’s ears.

“Let’s go!” She pushed Rovender inside the secret hallway.

“Sanctuary, please lock down sibling corridor hatch,” Muthr commanded. Her amber eyes glowed in the dark hallway. The door slid shut behind them and locked into place. Beyond it Eva could hear the hum of Besteel’s rifle rising higher and higher in pitch.

“Go! Go! Go!” Rovender pushed them down the hallway.

Besteel fired his rifle. The intense sonic wave battered the back wall of the supply room. Dust and rubble pelted Eva, followed by a low, straining creak.

“What’s that?” She looked up from her cowering position in the darkness.