Reaper by K. D. Mcentire

mother, were well used to handling Wendy by now. They knew how to combine their attacks, how to swarm and outnumber her, and most importantly, they had quickly learned that Wendy was weakest when dropping her physical body for the Lightbringer's spiritual shape. If they'd been normal Walkers, untouched by her mother, Wendy might have chanced a surprise attack—but these were trained Walkers. It was too risky. They'd be on her in an instant.
    Heartbeat tripling, Wendy slowly began walking again, forcing each foot to move in front of the other. The main stairs were behind her, she could double back and take them, but the elevator was the fastest way to the main floor and other living humans. She was also afraid that doubling back might rouse their suspicions.
    Then she spotted the fire stairs. Excellent!
    Passing the elevator at a brisk walk, Wendy chewed her lip and tried to sort out what to do next. Someone must have called for the elevator on a higher floor—it was going up again now, and the Walkers would still be on it when she hit the main floor. What were they doing here, and why were so many of them huddled in one group?
    As much as she hated to admit it, Wendy knew that she had to find out. Spying on them in the living lands wouldn't be easy—it was late, and Wendy obviously didn't work in the hospital. She'd stick out, but the sight of so many Walkers in one place, especially Walkers her mother had trained, was too much. She had to follow them.
    Wendy was halfway up the stairs when she felt the wave of cold eddying around her shins. Slowing at the turn of the staircase, Wendy glanced down and had to bite her tongue to keep from cursing aloud.
    The Walkers had left the elevator and were following her.
    What is going on here? Wendy wondered and then had to remind herself that to the Walkers, she was just some human. No one special. Right?
    Breathing shallowly, forcing herself to stay calm and keep walking up the stairs, albeit now at a much slower pace, Wendy inwardly chanted, Don't panic. They have no idea who I am. I haven't used the Light at all since the showdown with the White Lady; if I don't draw attention to myself, it's no big deal, right? I can do this .
    Her skin was clammy at her palms and temples; Wendy felt a bead of sweat slip between her shoulder blades and trickle down her back as she glanced around the narrow stairwell. No door except up at the top of the stairs, and that one was for Employees Only . She still had two flights to go before she'd reach the lobby. Plenty of time for the Walkers to catch up and overwhelm her if they wanted to.
    Up close, even separated by the thin veil of life from death, Wendy could smell the rank stink of the Walkers surround her like a fog. The stairwell doors closed, shutting her in. The Walkers rustled around her, their cold pressing against her cheeks and the back of her neck. They towered over her, filling the narrow passage to full with their rotten presence. The chill made her ribs ache.
    Screw this , Wendy berated herself, shivering. What are you, the Lightbringer or some sort of wimp?! This is ridiculous! You know what you have to do .
    She wasn't a novice at taking out the dead; she could gut all of them before they even had a chance to attack, right?
    Right. Glad to have made that decision, Wendy prepared to loosen her hold on the Light. But, just before she could blaze into glory, a memory of her mother's brusque, sharp voice made her pause…
    Pay attention to your surroundings, Wendy. We live in the land of the living and of the dead—you must never, ever forget that. Always , always, WATCH YOUR BACK .
    Crap. Wendy took a deep breath and glanced up at the corner of the stairwell— stupid, stupid, stupid , she thought. Sure enough, there it was: a security camera, blinking red. Even if she wanted to, Wendy couldn't change into the Lightbringer now.
    She could just imagine what it would look like for the security guard on duty. A teenage girl takes the