Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

He was out of options. With no other choice, he made a quick call and had the headstone moved to this side.

Once he hung up, Simon dialed Walter.

"Grandpa, while I was burying Mom, I suddenly remembered a few old friends of ours who are buried here. I want to visit them, but the left hill needs special permission. The guard said I should let you know."

Walter frowned, surprised by the request. Why did Simon suddenly want to go to the left hill? That spot was unusual, and it was true-some elders who'd watched Simon grow up were buried there. Visits required a booking, though, and hardly anyone ever went.

He made a call to the person in charge, and soon enough, the guard at the gate got the message and let Simon through.

Simon's heart pounded with excitement, his whole body buzzing. If Dylan was hiding someone out here, it had to be on the left hill. He needed to see for himself what was really going on.

The left hill was massive. From the entrance, electrified fences circled the area, and on the far side, it bordered a government base-security was crazy tight.

Simon took the escalator up, passing through carefully designed layers of terraces and paths. The closer he got, the more it felt like he was about to uncover a huge secret. But as the escalator reached a spot near the top, it stopped.

Another layer of security.

ready to explain that he had permission, but the guard beat

only people registered in the system can

a huge, solid door that looked like it could withstand a tank. The area behind it—about two thousand square meters-was completely walled off, like a prison. The rest of the

had never heard of anything like a

the door, unable to stop himself from asking, "Who counts as registered in

rifle slung across his chest, answered coolly, "If you don't

Simon practically shook with

He circled the area over and over, checking the walls for any kind of gap or weakness, but there was nothing. Eventually, he sat

was way too clever. Flat ground all

climb, no way to

impossible, and if he had to keep asking Grandpa for help, Walter

clear: If Dylan was hiding a kid, it had to be in this prison-like place right in