The sound of a door echoes in the enclosed space, and then another voice -- and a crash of body against concrete. Rashad starts yet again before he can school himself into calmness.

"It did not sound like a threat," Janan murmurs into his ear, but he is already burning brighter, already hurrying down the stairs to where he can thrust his head and a burning hand at the ready over the railing and peer down to the next flight to see --

"Johnny," he observes.