Chapter 13 47Th Floor

• Maverick let out a muted sigh of irritation, the faint sound of air escaping his lips almost lost amidst the oppressive silence. His joints popped and cracked as he stretched, loosening the stiffness in his body. Without wasting time, he slipped off the bag slung over his shoulder and rummaged through it, pulling out a bottle of water. Unscrewing the cap, he poured the cool liquid over his arms, scrubbing off the dark, sticky blood that clung to his skin.
• The idea of radiation seeping into his bloodstream and triggering some grotesque mutation was not something he intended to gamble with. As the water trickled down and splashed onto the floor, Maverick’s expression remained impassive. Once finished, he capped the bottle and slid it back into his bag before adjusting its straps.
• Next. He moved to the stairwell of the 47th. Each step was measured, his senses sharpened despite the lingering ringing in his ears from the earlier explosion. As he descended, Maverick paused abruptly, his gaze fixed on the red-glassed fire axe case mounted to the wall. Without hesitation, he drove his elbow into the casing, shattering the glass with a satisfying crunch.