Page 152 of Blake

“What the hell happened?”

Devon doubled over, making another choking sound. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

The guard glanced at the overturned chair and spilled water. “What’d you do?”

“I’m sorry. I dropped it.” She made a show of swallowing hard. “Please. Something’s wrong.”

He looked toward the camera.

Someone’s definitely watching.

She forced herself to sway.

“Hey.” The guard stepped forward instinctively. “Sit down.”

“I can’t.”

She stumbled toward him, and he caught her elbow.

“Easy.”

Devon let her knees buckle. The young man cursed and grabbed her more firmly, preventing her from hitting the floor. For one brief second, his attention shifted entirely to keeping her upright.

Now.

Devon drove her knee upward. The guard grunted and doubled over. She shoved against his chest with both bound hands, sending him stumbling backward into the metal table.

He struck the edge hard.

Devon lunged toward the door.

“Hey!” He hollered after her.

She ran.

The hallway stretched in both directions, its pale walls broken by several closed doors. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead.

She turned right. Behind her, the guard shouted again.

“Stop!”

Not on your life, buddy!

Devon didn’t look back. Her bare feet slapped against the hard floor as she raced toward a stairwell sign at the end of the corridor.

She reached the door and shoved the handle. It opened, and she hurried inside.

The stairwell was narrow and dimly lit. A flight of concrete steps descended to the floor below.

Devon started down. Pain shot through her shoulder as she grabbed the railing, but she ignored it. Behind her, the door slammed open.

“There she is!”

A second voice answered.

“Get her!”

Devon practically threw herself down the remaining steps. She reached the bottom landing and grabbed the handle.