Quill ceased her pounding when she heard a door slam open above them and a moment later the Dementor cry out. She moved out from the door to look up the shaft only to see the Dementor in full retreat upward.

What? Cautiously but quickly, the veteran witch ascended the stairs, keeping a close eye for both the Dementor and her Patronus. She caught only flashes of silver gossamer and tattered black web, but there! A woman's voice. By the time Quill reached Zelda, the Dementor was gone.

At first, Quill feared the worst. The witch was laid out on the steps, barely moving, and looked for all the world like a victim of a Dementor's kiss. But when Quill touched her, she moved, turned to look at her.

She seemed about her own age, looked dreadfully ill, wore patients' robes but otherwise was unharmed.

"Are you alright? Can you move? Did the Dementor...?"

The woman replied, "I'm ... fine. No, I'm okay. I need to get of here."

Quill helped the woman up. "My name is Quill. Here, let me help. We're going out."

It was instinct, really. The basement was locked for all she knew and for whatever reason the Dementor had moved on - it could have had this un-wanded witch if it had wanted. And judging by their strange behavior, she trusted her Patronus to deter any others they'd encounter.

A placard on the wall showed them at the first story, so one more flight down and they could be in the lobby. It was slow going - the witch had no strength of her own, but soon Zelda was resting in a chair under mediwix care.

This wraps up for Zelda and Quill, unless anyone wants to engage further!

The corridor quickly devolved into chaos as the Dementor descended upon them. The lift had yet to arrive and the sick and fleeing patients were being forced down the stairs. Lexus could only imagine how difficult that would be for most of them but she was at the back of the pack and unable to help filter them through.

Their charge however seemed to have awoken and Kurby made quick work of her restraints. Lexus exchanged a concerned look with the werewolf hunter, only mildly aware of the sudden burst of energy the coma patient had as she pushed through the crowd to get to the stairwell.

She tightened her grip on her wand and commanded her Patronus from the spot on her back to stand guard in front of them, joining the minuscule hummingbird. She looked to Kurby again, placing her free hand on his shoulder as he seemed lost in his own nightmares, "might be a good time for your spider friend to join us."