CHAPTER 48Comprised of heavy planks of gray wood bound together at the top and bottom with rusted bands of metal, the door looked primed for a loud creak when Mara lifted the latch and tentatively pushed. It gave way with surprisingly little effort and absolutely no sound. Crooking a finger around the door’s edge, she guided it open enough to peek through without exposing herself to whatever lay on the far side. She clicked off the flashlight and leaned through the opening. It was dark but not completely. Ambient light filtered in from somewhere, and she could make out a flight of stairs straight ahead less than three feet away. Pushing forward, she stepped through the door, still holding on to it to reduce the risk of noise, and found herself standing in a narrow alcove just large enough
