Page 163 of Stay Scared

“He has been trying to separate me from all three of you since the first corridor.”

“And now you’re helping him.”

Ash looks between us.

Cade catches him. “Do not start agreeing with her because she is holding your mask.”

Ash steps around the table. “I was about to tell her the center chamber has two concealed service entries.”

“Fantastic. Even more places for him to come from.”

Owen lifts the camera out of the case. “He can enter through either one whether Salem goes inside or not.”

Cade turns on him. “You want her in there because the camera works better if Rook gets close.”

“I want him recorded somewhere he can’t replace the footage afterward.”

“You two are doing an excellent job making this plan worse.”

I put my palm over the map. “Enough of this.”

Cade stares at me, already leaning forward like every part of him wants to close the distance. His hand opens at his side and stays there.

“Tell me where you need me.”

The words come through clenched teeth.

I touch the false exit. “Here.”

Cade looks at the narrow release passage. “How close does he get before I move?”

“You don’t move because he gets close.”

“Salem.”

“You wait until I cross the maintenance rope.”

“And if he grabs you before that?”

“Then you keep looking at me.”

His good hand lands flat against the table. “You’re asking me to stand there and watch him put his hands on you.”

“I am asking you not to turn one trap into two.”

Cade leans closer. “If he hurts you, I’m going through that wall.”

“Then make sure I am on your side of it first.”

He says nothing for several seconds. The muscles in his forearm stay rigid beside the map.

Finally, he looks at the false exit again. “Put the rope somewhere I can’t miss it.”

“I will.”

Owen has already begun checking the analog cable. Ash reaches toward the founder key hanging against my shirt.

His fingers stop before touching it.