Telling myself that I can do this, that I’m strong enough to handle this, I step forward until I’m directly in front of the secret wall exit. Last time I was here, I needed Pandora’s infused glove and glasses to trick the touch screen as well as to access the elevator at the end of the corridor. Today, I don’t have those. But I don’t need them.

“Open,” I say again, my intent clear. And with a flash, the wall hisses open.

I look at Cami and see her swallow before a determined glint enters her eyes and she strides forward with purpose.

We move quickly down the declining path, the walls darkening steadily to charcoal as we approach the elevator. Once there, we enter the small metallic space.

Unlike the secret door in Falon’s office, Speaking a command to the elevator is more complicated. Last time, after scanning the infused glove and glasses, all I had to do was hit the “Up” button. The elevator itself did the rest, coming to a stop all on its own. Today, however, I’m going to have to consider my intent very carefully.

“What are we waiting for?” Cami asks impatiently.

“Give me a second,” I reply. Seeing that she’s about to object, I add, “Unless you want me to squash us like bugs when we crash into the top of the shaft.”

She closes her mouth quickly, her features softening. “Sorry,” she says quietly. “I’m just—”

“I get it,” I cut her off quietly. “Believe me, I do.”

She draws in a shaky breath and nods, indicating she’ll remain silent while I concentrate.

I close my eyes and think about what I want the elevator to do—how I want it to go up and up and up and then stop at the floor leading to Vanik’s lab. The problem is, I don’t know what floor that is, or even if there are other floors in between. There are no numbers on the panel, just the “Up” button. If I overshoot us, or undershoot us, we’ll be stuck wasting minutes, perhaps hours, with me moving the elevator to new heights in search of an exit.

Unless …

A thought comes to me, something much simpler than me trying to control the mechanics of the elevator.

I stare at the panel and, having no idea if this will work, I say, “Accept Rick Falon’s ID.”

Light flares from my Spoken command, and then a second light flashes on the access panel, showing that Falon’s ID is accepted.

I release an amazed breath and quickly hit the “Up” button, the elevator now doing all the work on its own.

Cami smiles at me. “Well done.”

I smile back, almost giddy with disbelief. “Let’s hope our luck continues.”