MEMELAND

The tunnel eventually ended at a metal door.

A rusted sign hung above it.

MAINTENANCE ACCESS.

Andre frowned.

"That's definitely not suspicious."

"It is suspicious."

"Exactly."

Eric examined the hinges.

"It wasn't part of the original plans."

Kai immediately looked at him.

"That's bad, right?"

"Usually."

Andre pushed the door open anyway.

The room beyond was dark.

Completely dark.

No lanterns.

No voices.

No movement.

Only silence.

The three slowly stepped inside.

The door creaked shut behind them.

Nobody spoke.

Something felt wrong.

Kai couldn't explain it.

But the pressure in the room felt different.

As if somebody was watching them.

Waiting.

The chamber was large.

Much larger than the tunnels outside.

Rows of maintenance lamps stretched across the ceiling.

All of them dark.

The trio moved carefully.

One step.

Then another.

Then—

CLICK.

A single lamp turned on.

Then another.

Then another.

Light spread across the chamber.

Revealing a lone figure.

A white plastic chair sat in the center of the room.

And upon it sat a man.

One leg crossed over the other.

Waiting.

Bald.

Muscular.

Completely relaxed.

As though he had been expecting guests.

Nobody moved.

The man slowly opened his eyes.

Then smiled.

"Congratulations."

His voice echoed through the chamber.

"You made it farther than expected."

Andre immediately pointed.

"Why are you sitting on a plastic chair?"

The man stared at him.

Several seconds passed.

Then he ignored the question entirely.

"My name is Fais."

He stood.

Metal gauntlets reflected the maintenance lights.

Silver on the left.

Gold on the right.

"I've been waiting for you."

Kai instinctively stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Fais..."

He replied.

Fais cracked his neck.

"And unfortunately."

His smile widened.

"You've become a problem."

CLANG.

The metal door behind them burst open.

Boots echoed throughout the chamber.

One cultist.

Five.

Ten.

Twenty.

Dozens poured into the room.

Weapons drawn.

Andre slowly looked back.

Then at Fais.

Then back at the cultists.

Then back at Fais.

"Okay."

He cracked his knuckles.

"Now that's suspicious."