What Rachel had heard paralyzed her. She didn't wait. She didn't need to. She ran; ran out of Ashley's office as though it was a building on fire and she was trying to save herself.

A burning building with thick, dark sooth burning her lungs and suffocating her.

Rachel's heart was in her mouth. Her mind was a mess. The hairs in her skin stood on end.

She rushed out of the office building and gasped for air, inhaling sharply, gulping air as though it was her last.

But even the air outside ...