Ding. The elevator rumbled open as I swung around the corner into the room.

The light on the ceiling sputtered. Another door on the opposite side of the room crashed open. A high keening shivered up my shoulders from the hallway. Much too close. If that was how fast Saelis could move, I'd never make it. Even if they didn't see me, they would hear the doors crashing open and my pounding feet across the titanium floor.

Exhaustion weighted my limbs, but I couldn't dare ...