"We should take off our military garments," Rellik suggested. We tossed the uniforms into a nearby dumpster before stepping onto the nighttime streets in our normal civilian clothing.

  "Where's the hospital?"

  Rellik pointed toward a black metal barrier blocking the road. "That way, but it's blocked off."

  "We'll have to go around." My eyes traced the skyline of shorter buildings, noticing the walkways connecting them. "What about that?"

  "Those are just tenement buildings. They don't connect to the hospital."

  "We could use them to get there faster though."

  We approached one of the tenement doors. The handle refused to budge. Behind us, a siren wailed as a black armored jeep rolled up. Two soldiers jumped out and marched toward us.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Why are you out so late at night, citizens?" the first one demanded.

  "We were locked out," Rellik improvised.

  "Was ich sie nie auf der liste gesehen habe?" the second soldier muttered.

  "Sie müssen Teil der Neuank?mmlinge sein," the first responded.

  "Was ist, wenn es Rebellen gibt?"

  "Da sind keine Rebellen dumm, das Beta-Team hat gerade ihre Basis zerst?rt und den Rest von ihnen get?tet."

  "Here, take this." The first soldier handed Rellik a key before they returned to their jeep.

  "Let's stay out of trouble," he warned as he unlocked the door.

  The building's interior was stained and decrepit. An elderly man sat behind the reception desk. "Where's the stairs?" Rellik asked.

  "Stairs are out," the man replied, pointing to an elevator.

  We stepped inside, and tinny music played as we ascended. "What floor?" I asked.

  "Fifth floor."

  As we rode up, Rellik's voice grew distant. "I was a test subject on a similar island to you. I was with a metal heart super soldier... I was the only one that made it out alive."

  The doors creaked open to reveal the walkway. We crossed to the next building.

  "We're over it, let's go down," I said as we entered the second elevator. Rellik pressed the button.

  "Okay, hospital should be right outside of the—" His words cut off as the elevator suddenly plummeted.

  "Hold on!" I shouted.