Worked up as he is, Rashad has those basic lies down to the equivalent of muscle memory. "Rashad," he replies, gripping the other man's hand and shoulder too hard once he's stumbled up the stairs to join him. "It just came out of the ground," he explains, because that seems like the sort of justification for his fear that will pass muster. "Please," he says, trying to drag the man up the stairs. "Please, I don't want to stay down here!"

The rush is starting to ebb a little, but the urge to run remains for the moment.