“You couldn’t have picked better timing,” said the other voice. “A monster wave has just started. The kid will get torn apart. No evidence, no problem.”

Mr. Grimes popped open the trunk and grinned maliciously at Max.

“Wake up, Useless,” said Mr. Grimes.

The group manager turned to the other figure. It was a soldier, but the uniform he was wearing wasn’t a normal military outfit.

He must be a tower-zone guard. What was he doing interacting with Mr. Grimes?

The two men picked Max up by either side.

“Let me go,” said Max, squirming between them. “Where are you taking me!?”

They carried him over to a gateway.

Mr. Grimes snickered. “You wanted to enter the tower-zone so badly, well, here you go, Useless.”

With that, they swung him forward into the dangerous world beyond the wall.

3

Max watched as a metal door slid shut in front of him.

His whole body ached. For the second time that day he could taste blood in his mouth. He spat it out, then coughed.

Holy smokes.

They’d just thrown him beyond the wall. He was no longer in the outer-rim of Zestiris, but the tower-zone. Since receiving his sister’s mysterious letter a year ago, all he had wanted was to enter the tower-zone.

But never like this.

And what had that guard meant when he said, monster wave? That didn’t sound good.

Max blinked. He had to make a plan and make one fast.

He tilted his head and took in his surroundings.

He was on a paved road. Across the street was a park—lots of green trees, grass, benches, and lampposts.

Okay new plan, thought Max. Get off this road. Head to the park. Find someone to help him and then go get Mr. Grimes arrested.

Max dragged himself forward across the road. His whole body ached as he did so. He gritted his teeth and winced at the pain.

He stretched his arms and chest then dragged his lower body forward.

He gasped in exhaustion when he finally got his body fully on the grass of the park.

He looked around and contemplated screaming for help. No one was in sight though and he needed to conserve his energy.

He was slightly perplexed by the park he was in. It was like any normal park in the outer-rim. He wasn’t expecting something so, normal.

KABOOM!

A massive force of energy rippled across the park and shot Max’s hair back.

What the heck was that?

It sounded like an explosion from deeper in the city. No wonder no one was around in the park. It sounded like there was a city wide emergency going on.

Max had to rethink his plan. He would have to drag himself through this park and get to the nearest tower-zone police station.

He dragged himself forward.

His body slid across the grass, his clothing getting tainted and damp with dirt.

Rustle, rustle.

Max stopped.