Lena

  "Minnie? What is the situation?" asked Lena's father.

  From a small loudspeaker, which was reminiscent of a gramophone, a tender child's voice sounded. "My sensors were damaged."

  "Can you still assess the situation?" Sofian asked further.

  Lena listened intently to the AI's answer.

  "The water is receding. I will open the protective door. Burgstadt will not perish. I can give little information about the damage. Levels 2 and 3 are the most affected. Major damage is to be expected. I can't name any losses. I can't say anything about Level 1", Minnie chirped. "Arrival at the isnd is expected in half an hour. I sent an emergency call. Help is on the way if Burgstat's engines are too damaged. We are currently at a standstill."

  The door of the shelter opened. Lena sighed. This was not the first attack, not the first storm, but never before had Burgstadt almost sunk. "And now?" she asked.

  Mr. Wang smiled tiredly. "Now it's time to clean up. I'll check on the staff!" With a short bow, he left the shelter. Meanwhile, Lena's bodyguard helped the old servant to his feet.

  "Rest!" Sofian told the man, who was still shaking with fear and shock. He had a few bruises and limped slightly when he tried to walk. "You should see a doctor!"

  "Of course, Sir", murmured the old man. Then he thanked the bodyguard and slowly left the room.

  "Sweetie?" Lena's father spread his arms. "Come here!"

  She did not hesitate long and threw herself into her father's arms. "That was terrible!" murmured Lena.

  "I know, little one. Come. Go to your room. Rest. I have to talk to the military." He kissed her forehead and pushed Lena out of the room. Her bodyguard followed the two silently. Just like the other bodyguard in the room.

  Flo

  The siren bred an all-clear through the streets of Level 4.

  Flo pressed himself against the wall, hugging his bag and wolf cat. The animal licked his cheek and whimpered softly. "It's over?" he asked.

  The Shadow nodded.

  "Thank you." Flo waited in vain for an answer. "What's your name?" he asked anyway.

  The Shadow turned his head towards him. He seemed to be thinking about the question, weighing up whether he wanted to answer. "Number 100", he finally answered quietly. "Are you injured?"

  "I don't think so."

  "Good."

  Instead of getting up and quickly leaving the pin, they remained seated for a while. Flo was grateful for that. The shock was still in his bones. And here, well hidden, he did not think he would be discovered quickly. And the Shadow didn't seem to want to push him either. Unlike Flo, he sat calmly and rexed next to him.

  The wolf cat whined again, so Flo patted it lovingly. "Now it's all right, Silverpaw", he whispered softly.

  "Your home is probably underwater", replied Number 100.

  "But I can't really stay here, can I?"

  "Right."

  "Funny..." Flo looked around again, even though here, in their hiding pce, there wasn't much to see of the Level. "I was born here. In the children's home, one of the nannies said it was Level 4. But... Everything is foreign here. So chic." He felt as if he had been thrown away. Like garbage.

  "Level 5."

  "What?"

  "I've checked your data. You were born on Level 5. Not here."

  "5?" That felt all the more overwhelming for Flo. So I'm the unwanted garbage of a rich family? "Wait... Why did you check my data?"

  "It seemed appropriate to me. Not much has been recorded about you." The Shadow stood up and held out his hand to Flo. "Come on. It's time."

  Number 100 brought Flo back the same way they had come. Arriving at Level 3, Flo shook his head. Some of the streets were still knee-deep underwater.

  He wanted to ask the shadow something more, thank him again, but when he turned to him, he was already gone.

  sasi