They ran down the short hall and stopped at the top of the other set of steps. Tiffany did not open the door. Instead, she reached up and twisted the edge of the molding. The wall beside them slid back revealing another flight of stairs going downward into the darkness.
“There"s a lantern up there. You can reach it better than I.” She pointed.
He tightened his grip and pulled her into him. The danger had erased the buzzing in his head and his movements were swift and sure.
“Where are the matches?”
“They"re in a matchbox right beside the lantern.” She pointed with her free hand. “Hurry!”
He used his free hand to bring down the lantern and handed it to her. Then he retrieved the matches. “You light it.” He kept his arm firmly around her middle.
Tiffany didn"t argue and lit the lantern.
