Finally, we reach the end of the tunnel, where an old wooden ladder rests against the wall. I can’t see where it leads, the passage having opened up considerably, with plenty of space now above our heads.

“I’m assuming we can touch this without catching our imminent death?” I ask, indicating the ladder.

“Guess we’ll see,” Arryn says, but there’s a teasing glint in her eyes. It’s unexpected, but not unwelcome.

Just like when we reached the cave-in, she hands me the flashlight, gesturing for me to shine it up the ladder. When I do, she starts upward, the solid rungs bearing her weight with ease. I don’t allow myself to consider how long the ladder might have been down here, nor how rotten the wood might be. I just wait my turn as Arryn, then Cami, both disappear from sight.

Fumbling with the flashlight, I end up placing it between my teeth as I follow my two companions, up, up, up. I soon reach a hole dug into the earth, with Cami helping me out onto the surface, while Arryn replaces a metal grate over the empty space. It’s amazing how quickly the tunnel is hidden—if I didn’t know the ladder was beneath the grate, I would never think it was anything more than a ventilation shaft or a manhole leading to a sewage system.

“Come on,” Arryn says, rising and dusting off her jeans. “If we hurry, we can catch the next ferry. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait another hour.”

I need no further motivation, scurrying after her down a gentle grassy slope until we reach a dirt road that continues downhill. We pass a few old buildings as we go—we’re in the isolation precinct, Cami tells us, pointing out the second-class quarters as we continue along another road leading to the hospital precinct. My friend gives a shudder as we pass what she claims is the morgue, but her lips also twitch with humor. That humor disappears when we pass two large buildings close together.

“That’s the medical ward,” Cami says, pointing to the one on the left. “Our guide made us sit on the old beds and told us some freaky stories about the ghost-nurses when we were in there.” She shudders again, not saying more.

“And the other building?” I ask about the one on the right. It looks more modern than everything else we’ve passed.

“I’m not sure,” Cami admits. “I don’t remember it being there.”