bottom of the barr

nst the linoleum, rolling to a stop near Huston's heavy combat boots

chin lifted, defying t

. Two seco

king her voice shrill. "It's cle

e hammer

hing noise in her ears, like a jet engine starting up i

ame th

t started in her chest and exploded outward

lurching thud against her ribs, then another, faster, harder. It

king underwater. He grinned, a slow, predatory stretching

iotic. It wasn't e

lethal dose of something desi

etal windowsill. The pain was distant, irr

n say. "She's going to be fun for the

r system. The drug was amplifying every

the floor. A scalpel had slid

knees. Not to beg,

reached

ashed

ed through the fabric of the guard's uniform, drawing a thi

p was

hed herself

h her shoulder, burs

ere bending, breathing. The lights overhead were too bright

creamed the comm

spri

She was moving faster than she ever had in her life, the sti

Huston roare

g into the wall, bouncing off. She needed to get up. Up was where

button, but her finger slipped. She couldn't f

st

door of the stairwell. It swung open, and

rted to

ht. Two

sternum, a trapped bird desperate to escape. Her breath came in ragg

lammed open again. Heavy boo

echoed, bouncing off the walls, sounding

s. Her vision was tunneling. Red spots danced in t

8. L

e Deck. The

the handle. It was locked? No, just heavy. She pu

le

he engines, the ventila

o it. The air here was cool, conditioned to a p

rned through her reserves. The heat in her body was unbearable

help. She

ike an infinite tunnel, lined with dark mahogany

ed. The sound was

he door she had just co

where left to run, bitch. This is a

ed herself

very end of the hall,

d out. Golde

in the doorway. Tall.

a glass of amber liquid, watching the scene unfolding in hi

a trembling hand

" she wh

she felt was the plush carpet against her cheek, and the last thing she smelled, c

Frozen