Just then, Future-Mitchell contacted him from outside. ‘You got him?’

‘Yeah, I got him,’ Jeff replied. ‘You sure all that shit in the back of the van is wired up right?’

‘Who are you talking to?’ mumbled Present-Mitchell, hearing only Jeff’s side of the conversation.

‘You,’ Jeff replied curtly.

‘It’s wired up just fine,’ Future-Mitchell assured him. ‘Do you want me to send the van in now?’

‘In a couple of minutes,’ Jeff replied, then cut the connection.

‘Hey,’ Present-Mitchell seemed suddenly more alert, ‘what’s going on?’

‘We’re getting you out of here, remember?’

Present-Mitchell grabbed one of Jeff’s hands. ‘First you tell me where the fuck we are, Jeff. Then you tell me what’s going on.’

‘I’m here to rescue you, you dumb bucket of shit,’ Jeff snapped. ‘They brought you here all the way from Site 17 and, unless you do what I say, they’re either going to keep you in here for ever or cut you open to try and figure out how you survived. Now, come on.’

This time, Present-Mitchell didn’t resist as Jeff dragged him out into the corridor. But an alarm began to wail, the sound of it loud and abrasive, before they were even halfway to the elevator.

Jeff felt his insides turn to ice water. That was it. They were screwed.

‘I can walk,’ Present-Mitchell slurred, trying to push him away.

‘No, you can’t,’ Jeff snapped. ‘But just try and stay awake.’

He hauled him inside the elevator, the sound of the alarm becoming more muted once the doors closed and the car began to rise. He then pushed the semi-comatose man against one wall, holding him upright.

‘I’m fine,’ Present-Mitchell mumbled. Jeff peered into his eyes and saw that he did, in fact, look a little more awake than just a few moments before. He stepped away and this time Present-Mitchell managed to stay upright without any help.

The doors slid open and Jeff found himself staring down the barrels of three Cobras aimed at their heads. He reached out to hit the close button, but one of the three guards stepped forward, jamming his boot against the door before it could slide all the way shut.

The next minute passed in a blur. One of the guads reached inside and grabbed Jeff by the shoulder, before dragging him out of the elevator and pushing him face-first down against the polished marble floor. As his arms were wrenched behind his back, he was conscious of the alarm still braying discordantly. Jeff glanced to one side to see another guard securing Present-Mitchell similarly, while the third one kept his Cobra trained on them both.

Light flickered across the polished marble, and Jeff lifted his head slightly to glance at the glass doors at the main entrance. He saw Future-Mitchell’s van accelerating straight towards them, flames billowing out of its open windows.