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He didn’t say a word, and the danger soon passed.

Then they were off again, traveling along the dusty, smoky corridors. It seemed to take forever, and several times, they had to make a detour to avoid blocked tunnels or stay out of the way of other Siblet who were racing out of the mine.

“This is it.” The Siblet pointed at a mound of rock and dirt. “That’s the only way into the staff area.”

“There’s no other way in?” Sloane’s heart raced. There was a gap at the top of the rubble she could use to get through.

“This is it.”

“Do you know where the prisoner was being kept?”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about. This is the staff area. You wanted to come here.” His gaze flicked around the corridor as a rumbling noise filled the air. “It won’t be long before this corridor collapses, too.”

Sloane focused on the rubble. Was she too late to save Dallin? Was he buried somewhere behind this rock?

The Siblet turned and raced off.

Brutus growled and bounded after him.

“No, let him go,” Sloane called out. “He’s no use to us now. We need to search for Dallin.”

She scrambled over the rubble, landing with a grunt on the other side of the uneven ground. The place seemed deserted, part of the roof was missing, and a wall had caved in. There was a thin blanket of smoke in the air.

Brutus dropped beside her and whined, pressing against her leg.

“I know, it’s scary. But the sooner we find Dallin, the sooner we can get out of here.” Sloane looked in several rooms, but found no sign of her Apexian. She did find a couple of dead Siblet who’d been crushed under a roof caving. She hurried along, all too aware of how unstable this place was. Mini explosions kept happening nearby, and occasionally she heard muffled voices or running feet.

“Dallin,” she called out. “Are you in here?”

There was no reply.

Sloane continued creeping along the corridor, the Siblet weapon in her hand.

Brutus stuck close to her side as if sensing her concern.

“We have to find Dallin,” she whispered. “Then I’m giving him a serious talking to about blowing things up while he’s still inside.”

Sloane stopped at the sound of footsteps up ahead. She backed away, but there was nowhere to hide.

She raised her weapon, just as two Siblet appeared in front of her.