Janet and I searched the corridor until we ended up in a large section filled with mechanical equipment. Steel platforms gave way to multiple paths, with one leading upstairs to the fourth floor. Unfortunately for us, that same path was blocked off by a flock of defenders, who clustered together and aimed their guns at us.

“Idiots never learn their lesson,” Janet scoffed.

“Systems are back online,” the leading guard announced. “Activate the sprinklers.”

On command, the entire area was showered with water that should’ve put us at a disadvantage, but in the rain burned a sphere of fire that couldn’t be doused. Inside of it stood Janet, who cackled at the guards as she retaliated with a stream of flames, this time leaving no existence of her opposition.

She was turning into a monster.

“Janet, I know we have to defend ourselves,” I started, “but what’s happening to you isn’t good. You have to stop killing everyone.”

She turned away and watched the drops of water bounce off the steel floor. It wasn’t until the drizzle subsided that she spoke.

“I can’t stop now, Aliyah. Not until this is over. Let’s go.”

I followed her to the upper level, where we stepped into a giant, empty white chamber with only one door at the other end of the room. Standing in front of it was none other than Alvin, who wore a sleeveless tuxedo as red as the demon’s eyes that stood beside him.

“Hello, Aliyah. I see you brought a friend. A familiar one, even. Now how could a pyromaniac stay hidden under my nose for so long?”

“You.” Janet gritted her teeth and conjured a fireball in her left palm. “I am going to kill you.”

“I’m afraid I cannot allow you to do that. You see, I’ve been chosen by a higher power to rule over the new world. After millennia of slow progression, humankind has finally reached an era of true proficiency. The new world is upon us, and I will let no one stop our evolution.”

“Can’t you see that thing next to you is making you crazier?” I asked him. “You were insane the first time we met, but never like this.”

His next action left me stunned. Somehow, someway, he pressed his hand against the demon’s gigantic, shadowy body and replied, “You mean this thing?”

“Y-you can see it?”

“Yes. I must admit, I never believed you or anyone else who claimed to witness the monsters born from sin. But after you entered the laboratory, I gained the ability to see them for myself. I have to say, it is much better to view the demon I’ve made a pact with than only hearing its voice in my head.”

At the mentioning of a pact, I stepped forward and observed him, seeing what I feared most on his wrist: the Mark of Sin. It was the same S scar embedded into the skin of Cassandra Blackwood.

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“What the hell is he rambling on about?” Janet asked.

“He has the Mark of Sin, which gives him extra power. Not to mention his desire is to have the abilities of every Dreamer in the laboratory. Yours and mine included.”

She stood unfazed by his aspiration. “It doesn’t matter. This man’s a murderer.”

“Oh?” He appeared intrigued. “And who have I killed to send you into such a chaotic frenzy?”

“My parents. Earl and Mariah Jones.”

For the first time, I saw an expression of weakness from Alvin. His eyes dropped to the white floor, his cocky smile fading as he replied, “My condolences. What a sad case of irony. Your parents were helpful subordinates of mine until they plotted to reveal the virus to the world. That is why I hired Obsidian’s top hitman to kill them. What a coincidence that their daughter happened to be obsessed with the very combustion that ended their lives. I cannot fathom the incrimination you mistakenly placed on yourself.”

Janet unleashed a battle cry before shoving me away and creating a cage of flames around herself and Alvin. I couldn’t see through the inferno, but the words she yelled out were loud and clear.

“Go, Aliyah. Free the Dreamers.”

Sizing the opportunity, I ran to the door at the other end of the white chamber and opened it to continue my mission. The captive Dreamers in the next room began pounding on the glass tubes in reaction to my presence.

“Just hold on,” I shouted to all of them. “I’m gonna get you all out.”

Scanning through the many hostages, I caught sight of Valeria and Tyler in tubes next to each other and rushed over to them. “Val, Ty, I’m here to save you.” I placed my hands on the unbreakable cages that separated us.

Valeria smiled as Tyler pointed to a computer inside the room. I walked over to it and asked him, “Is this the one that opens the tubes?” His nod gave me the confirmation I needed to begin analyzing the screen.

Though I had access to the machine that could free the Dreamers, my lack of knowledge on how to work the damn thing terminated their hopes of escape. I struggled to figure out the numerical code on display and grew more frustrated with each passing second. Any chance of freedom would have been lost had my cell phone not rung.

“Ray,” I exulted in relief. “Thank God.”

“Hey, I had some trouble out here,” he revealed with heavy breaths. “How’s everything on your side? I see you’re still alive.”

“Not so good right now. I’m at the computer that could set everyone free, but I don’t know how the controls work. It’s just a bunch of numbers and a box I can type in.”

“Hang on a sec.” There was silence on the other end before he muttered, “Dammit. Okay, remember when I told you there’s one folder with files I couldn’t crack into? Well, that folder is stored on that computer. Inside of it must be the passwords required to access the controls in that room, but the folder is protected behind a code that’s crazy hard to decipher.”

“You have to try,” I begged, spotting a stairway that leads to the floors below. “There’s even an exit path right here in this room, so if you can get these glass tubes lifted, the Dreamers should be able to get out of the lab safely. You’re the only one who can do it.”

A sudden boom shook the room, reverberating to the displeasure of everyone inside. It was no doubt in my mind that the source of the alarming sound came from the battlefield next door. Were they now getting serious? Or had I just heard the finishing blow?

If so, who was the victor?

“Ray, Janet might be in trouble. I need to go help her, so can you please—”

“Yeah, yeah. Alright, I’ll try to crack the code from here,” he said. “If I can get into the system, I’ll get the Dreamers out of there.”

“Thank you. Good luck.”

I ended the call and walked back to Valeria and Tyler. “My friend is working on freeing everyone. Just wait a little longer, I promise.”

There was no security behind that promise. Whoever was standing in the room next door would determine our fate. For better, or worse.