Page 53 of Mercy Written in Blood

"Then keep me standing."

Something struck the wall behind them. A blade scraping through the narrow opening. The Unveiled were inside. Haruki heard no shouted pursuit, no hurried breaths — only footsteps. Steady. Patient.

The passage opened into a circular junction. Three routes split ahead. Minamoto stopped.

"Which way?" Haruki asked.

The professor turned slowly.

"I don't know."

"You said there was an exit."

"I said there may be."

Haruki looked at the walls. Each passage was identical — dark stone, timber supports, no markings. The footsteps behind them grew louder. Takeda's breathing quickened.

"Choose."

Minamoto lifted his light towards the ceiling.

"There."

A faded white lotus had been painted above the left passage. Almost invisible. Haruki did not hesitate.

"Left."

They moved. The passage climbed steeply. Haruki's strength began to leave him — not gradually. One moment he was carrying Jun. The next his knees struck the ground. Jun fell beside him. Takeda dropped with them.

"Haruki."

"I'm fine."

"You are not fine."

He tried to stand. His body refused. The wound beneath his ribs had stopped feeling hot. Now it felt cold. That frightened him.

Minamoto crouched nearby.

"We can't carry both of them."

Takeda looked at him.

"Don't."

"I am stating the problem."

"We are not leaving either."

"The attackers will catch us."

Haruki looked back along the passage. No movement yet. Only darkness. He reached into his coat. His hand found no pistol — lost in the chamber. He had a small folding knife in his inner pocket. Almost useless. Still, he drew it.

"Take Jun."

Takeda shook her head.

"No."