Page 52 of Mercy Written in Blood

"No."

"Haruki, put him down."

The engineer's weight dragged against his wounded side. Every step sent fresh pain beneath Haruki's ribs. He could feel blood filling his shoe. He did not know which wound it came from.

"Find the exit," he said.

Takeda stared at him.

"Now."

Minamoto moved ahead. The stone door closed fully behind them. The firelight disappeared. Darkness swallowed thepassage. For several seconds, the only sounds were breathing and the engineer's broken attempts not to cry out.

Then came a dull impact from the other side of the wall. The attackers had reached the hidden door.

"They'll open it," Takeda whispered.

"Can they?"

"If Minamoto knew—"

"They know more than I do," the professor called from ahead. "Assume they can."

Haruki adjusted the engineer's arm across his shoulders.

"What's your name?"

The man struggled to answer.

"Jun."

"Stay with me, Jun."

"My leg—"

"I know."

"I can't feel it."

"That is probably helping."

A laugh escaped Jun. It became a groan. Haruki kept moving.

The passage sloped down before turning sharply upward. The floor was uneven, slick with centuries of moisture. Roots pushed through cracks in the ceiling. Behind them, stone ground against stone. The door was opening.

"Faster," Minamoto said.

Takeda moved behind Haruki and supported Jun's other side. Together they dragged him forward. The passage narrowed. Jun's injured leg struck the wall. He screamed. Haruki nearly fell. Takeda caught his shoulder. Her hand came away wet with blood.

"You're bleeding badly."

"I'm aware."

"You need pressure on the wound."

"I need both hands."

"You'll collapse."