Cook, carrying Gu Ning on his back, ran into a building and stopped at the entrance of a pitch-black stairwell.
Gu Ning gazed down the staircase. 'This is the place.' She jumped off Cook's back and drew the gun strapped to her thigh.
Cook paced for a moment, looked at Gu Ning hesitantly, and whined softly at her.
Gu Ning wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her forehead against his. Encouraging him, and herself, she said, "Cyril and the others are holding Kuinan back. Don't be afraid."
Cook licked her face, then picked her up and headed down.
After a few flights of stairs, a half-open door appeared before them.
A sliver of light seeped from behind the door, illuminating the space before them.
The area was quiet. Aside from Cook's footsteps and the thumping of her own heart, Gu Ning couldn't hear anything else.
