"Over here, on the right," Blue gasps through the stitch in her side, gesturing them down an alley that actually goes behind High Gate. There are these creepy sentinels in front of the real door; the back way is easier.

"Just -- aw, shit."

The thing's blocked off, and she slams her back against the chain-link fence that's locked itself across their path, in frustration and to give herself a moment to catch her breath. "The roads do this sometimes at night," she says, frowning, and sighs, shaky and out of breath.

"I think you saved my life back there," she admits, looking up at her in thanks. "Are you okay?"