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Before she pointed to it to indicate that’s where he should go, her gaze flicked down to the level below the bridge. The labs.

That’s where she could find the datachip. One of the last artifacts on her list. They could hit there first on their way up, and she could grab it quickly.

She heard a guttural moaning sound from somewhere close by and flinched. Time to go.

“Here, Kryxis.” She pointed, to the level below the bridge. This time Kryxis did hesitate. She looked up at him and saw him staring at the words on the map. “Kryxis?”

She might have imagined it, but she could have sworn she felt his hands shake beneath her. Slowly he moved again, turning for the main stairway.

He took the stairs three at a time, moving with that lithe quickness that reminded her so much of the predator she had thought him to be. When he got to the sixth floor where the labs were located, he slowed again, pausing as if uncertain whether he wanted to move forward. She could feel the tension in him with each step.

He took a passage that circled around a large inner chamber. Rows of windows would have allowed her to see inside if it wasn’t so dark. Kryxis came upon the main entrance leading into the labs and stopped.

“It’s through there, Kryxis,” Dani said, when he wouldn’t move farther. He held her closer than ever, like he was hugging her, not wanting to let her go. She tilted her head up to him, ready to ask why he wouldn’t go in.

He stared at the doors, his pupils as small as pinpoints. He was like a statue, so still save for his chest rising and falling.

She’d yet to see such a look on him. He looked…afraid.

“Hey…” Dani patted his chest. “Just a quick stop.”

He didn’t move. She peered back at the doors. Was there something lurking inside that even he was afraid of?

She tried to get his attention again, and he flinched, a soft hiss escaping him. He took a few steps back, shutting his eyes and shaking his head as if he were in pain.

“Kryxis, what’s wrong?”

“Niset…niset…” he hissed.

He was moving farther away from the doors. And she couldn’t stop him. Instead, she struggled in his grip, trying to get him to drop her.

“Kryxis, it’s all right. You can let me down.”

He didn’t at first, holding her tight.

Worried he might actually bolt, she took his face in her hands. “Kryxis look at me,” she said gently. “Hey.”

He opened his eyes and locked them with hers.

“Tell me what’s wrong?”

His expression softened as he gazed at her, but he struggled with his words. “Niset…labs…niset…go.”

“You can’t go in?”

He bowed his head.

“It’s dangerous?”

He didn’t answer. As if he wasn’t sure but knew that he couldn’t go on.

“Does something hide inside?”

He tilted his face upward as if to sniff the air then shook his head.

“Let me down, Kryxis, please.”

Reluctantly, he did. As she dropped to her feet, she readjusted her pack.