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Level-3.

They sprinted, dodging carts and low rails.

Over the chute hatch, a flickering status panel cycled.

Sterile Transit Engaged—00:45 Until Seal Cycle

“Once that hits zero, it locks down and floods with sterilant gas.” Kat grabbed the manual lever and yanked.

Nothing.

Leo shoved in beside her. Braced his feet and threw his weight into it.

The hatch groaned and separated.

Kat grabbed a broom from a nearby rack and wedged it in. The wood creaked but held.

She slid in first, shoulder scraping metal. The walls were slick with God-only knew-what. Her nose burned with the reek of heat-cured plastic and cleaning solvents. Leo followed, grunting behind her.

She scooted forward?—

The chute pitched sharply downward, launching her into a breathless free fall.

Kat hit the bottom hard on something lumpy and squishy. Her jaw throbbed from where she’d clipped it on the way down.

Leo landed next to her with a thud.

She pushed off a knotted refuse bag, gagging. “Jesus?—”

Something rustled beneath her, and an enormous rat screeched, its pink scaly tail lashing.

Fuck.

She scrambled back on her butt, desperately digging backward with her heels, her lungs locked against the rank air.

“You okay?” Leo secured one hand on her wrist, the other braced around her waist.

“I’m fine.” She pulled in a shaky breath, fighting the adrenaline surge.

He scanned the dim chamber. “Let’s get out of here before we discover it’s a trash compactor.”

They waded through knee-deep pink plastic bags and peered over the edge.

Ten feet ahead, there was a loading dock. A small truck was backed up to it, double doors open—half-loaded.

No driver in sight.

Leo vaulted over the refuse ledge first, then turned—his hands strong around her waist, hauling her over and setting her down with care.

His eyes searched hers. “You sure you’re good?”

She nodded. “Go.”

They ran low across the concrete to the truck’s cab. Leo yanked it open. He climbed in and reached under the dash. “Let’s hope they haven’t upgraded.”

Wires sparked.

The engine coughed—then roared to life.