Christopher and the others moved faster now through the sixth-floor hallways, no longer keeping that earlier careful pace.
They were still checking angles, still keeping weapons ready, but the priority had shifted. Regrouping mattered more now. Ryan had split them for a reason, and Christopher understood exactly why he had done it. Ryan had wanted the others off the direct path of whatever might be waiting near Zakthar. He had probably guessed trouble at the top would be worse than anything below.
That did not stop Christopher from worrying.
If Ryan and the others had run into the kind of danger he had been expecting, then the smartest thing now was to get back to them fast.
He kept his rifle raised as they hurried down the corridor, Rachel and Cindy close behind, Ivy at the rear.
Then, just as they neared the staircase leading to the seventh floor, Rachel stopped so suddenly she nearly made Cindy bump into her.
"W-Wait."
Christopher turned at once.
