Chapter 61: Finally Belong

"Keep going!" Bailey yelled behind me. "I've got you!"

"I know," I said, climbing higher. "I was just worried about you." It was stupid to say because Bailey had to have been the mother of all bad*ss.

"Don't worry about me," she replied. Metal clanked as she climbed the rungs behind me. "Just keep going."

"Right." I looked up and kept climbing, one slat at a time, until we were close to a door.

"See if you can pry it open!" Bailey said behind me. "I'll hold your legs."

I nodded, feeling her hands on my calves, and then her body climbing higher and supporting my waist. "Don't let go."

"I won't."

Trying to move my lower body as little as possible, I shoved my fingers between the doors and pried it open just enough for us to get through. When suddenly, someone's hand appeared, reaching for me.

I had no idea who it was. I hoped and prayed it wasn't Nightshade, but at the moment, I had no choice.

All of a sudden, the lights came on, and Xander's face appeared through the doorway. "Reach