WE HEAD THROUGH the communal areas into the back halls of the main building. I’ve never been to one, but I’ve heard the Guild Hall likened to a college campus on more than one occasion, presumably because it’s a collection of buildings littered around and connected by outdoor walkways. There are the obvious gyms and other training facilities one would expect, but much like a school the Guild occasionally hosts seminars led by veteran Climbers.

It’s mostly just people sharing their experiences and tips they’ve earned over the years, but that kinda stuff is invaluable information for beginners. Maybe more people would survive if they actually attended those. A certain pair of gun-toting dopes come to mind.

We pass by plenty of other Climbers going about their business, using the back rooms to gather before missions or hold strategy meetings. Thanks to Tower Gear being superior in most respects to the equipment normal people have access to, almost everyone is decked out in colorful ensembles straying relatively far from what’s considered fashionable.

Climber fashion is kind of its own thing, though. It’s generally accepted most are going to wear whatever Gear is of the highest quality, so it’s a point of pride to Climb long enough to assemble a wardrobe that doesn’t look utterly ridiculous. Case in point, we pass a guy wearing a normal outfit save for the honest-to-god wizard hat on his head. When he notices us, he tips his hat in Perry’s direction and gives her a saucy wink, which sends her into a fit of giggles.

We stop by the staff area so I can grab a couple written exams, before picking an empty room and heading inside. It’s laid out like a lecture hall with rows of tiered seating and long desks spanning the length of the room. I leave the door open so the other applicant can find us.

“Take a seat,” I say, motioning toward the desks. I sit at the front and make myself look busy pretending to go over the exam. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Perry fidgeting in her seat. Her head swivels around to take in the room, and settles on me.

“So… are you a part-time instructor?” Perry asks, breaking the silence mere moments after it graces us.

“Pretty much,” I shrug.

“Oh. Cool. What kinda things do you teach?”

“Not much actual teaching involved; I mostly do evaluations like this, or the occasional personal training for anyone smart enough to pay for it.”

“As in… training inside the Tower?”

I nod. “It’s far from safe, but having an experienced Climber show you the ropes dramatically increases your odds of survival.”

“Ah…” Perry looks down. “Is it… expensive?”

“Nah,” I shake my head. “I give people rates they can afford. The Guild takes some off the top, but otherwise I’m free to do as I please.”

“That’s kind of you,” she smiles. Things are quiet for a few minutes before she speaks up again. “It’s emptier than I thought it’d be.”

I look back up from the exam I’m not reading. “That ought to tell you something about the job you’re applying for.”

“Is it… that bad?” Perry frowns.

“Depends on how much you like breathing.”

Alright, so maybe I’m laying it on a bit thick, but this girl just looks so… out of place. Climbing really is dangerous, especially for a naive teenager. Maybe that’s too harsh a judgment to pass on a girl I don’t know, but getting a better idea of her character is one of the reasons I agreed to do this in the first place.

Ten more minutes pass, in which Perry presumably decides she’s had enough of my personality. She sits quietly at her desk, staring at the wall or picking at her fingers. It strikes me as odd she hasn’t pulled out her phone yet, though there isn’t really anywhere for her to be hiding one either; she doesn’t carry a purse, and there’s no way her yoga pants came equipped with pockets.

Finally, the telltale sound of boots slapping vinyl flooring echoes through the hall. The girl dressed in black soon stands in the doorway, glaring daggers at me.

“Lucille Walker?”

Her face pinches up as if she’s swallowed something sour. “Lucy.”

“You’re late, Lucy.”

She actually scowls at me as she enters the room and takes a seat. “I got lost.”

I decide not to needle her about it since it’s partially my fault, and instead move into my spiel. “Let’s get started. My name is Wren, and I’ll be the one administering your written exam. Well, they call it an exam, but it’s not a test of knowledge or memorization. Honestly, it’s more like one of those job interview questionnaires, proof you can read and follow directions. I hold up the written exams, and make a show of tossing them in the trash.

“It’s Guild policy to administer these tests, but I think there are better ways to evaluate someone’s character. So here’s what we’ll do; I’ll ask you each a couple of questions, and you’ll answer however you like. If I find your answers satisfactory, you get full marks. If not, you fail.”

Both girls look at me with wide eyes, perhaps taken aback by the impromptu shift in curriculum.

“First question. Perry, why are you here?”

Perry seems startled by the sudden attention, and quickly straightens in her chair. “Oh! Um, I want to explore the Tower. I’ve always been fascinated by it.”

“Is that your final answer?”

“Yes…?”

“Alright.” I sweep my gaze over to the other girl, noting the absurd contrast in their outfits and demeanors. Where Perry is a sporty ball of sunshine, Lucy looks more like an angry commando… who also happens to be a vampire.

“Lucy, why are you here?”

Her expression changes as she mulls over the question, trying to come up with the correct answer. Finally, she decides on one. “I want to discover the secrets of the Tower’s technology to further the progress of mankind.”

I almost laugh. “A noble goal,” I say, instead. “Now, I’m going to ask you both just one more question. Bear in mind your certification is riding on this one.” I look them both in the eye, one after another, stressing the importance of this final question.

“Why are you here?”

Silence. Blank stares. Perry raises a tentative hand.

“Yes, Perry?”

“Isn’t that the same question…?”

“It is,” I nod.

“You aren’t satisfied with our answers,” Lucy states.

“I am not.”

Perry frowns. “But why?”

“Look at me,” I say, motioning toward myself. “I’m wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and I just threw your original exam in the trash. It should be obvious I’m not interested in toeing the company line. I want you to come up with a real answer.” I lean against the desk at the front of the room to wait. “This is your only chance to convince me, so think twice before you try to bullshit me again.”

The room falls into dead silence. While the girls consider my words, I do the same. Am I doing this for my own amusement? Do I just want knock them down a peg? I could just give them the test and walk away, but… I can’t get Ella out of my head. Maybe if her test administrator had tried… really tried… she might still be alive.

Perry meets my eyes, halting my train of thought. “Instructor Wren? I think I have my answer.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“I… um, it’s kind of embarrassing, but… I want to be my own woman. Independent.” She averts her eyes. “Mostly, I… I just don’t want to be anyone’s burden.”

I move to stand in front of her desk. “You could do that anywhere. There’s no need to throw your life away.”

“Maybe… But it’s my life to throw away.” Perry combs her hands through her blonde hair, unable to meet my gaze.

I don’t think her desire to be independent is a lie, but something in her voice makes me think it’s not the whole truth either. “Is that why you’re here, Perry? To die?” My voice comes out gentler than I intend.

Perry recoils, as if struck. “W-what? No… I just…” She paws at her eyes, wiping away a few unshed tears. “I want to be a Climber. I need to be strong.”

“…Alright,” I say, and walk back to the front of the room.

Lucy sits ramrod straight in her chair, eyes boring a hole through the desk in front of her. I don’t push her for an answer, and wait leaning on the front desk until she’s ready. It’s not long before she meets my gaze, eyes smoldering with that same intense look as before.

“You want to know why I’m here? Fine.” She rockets out of her seat. “That stupid Tower taunts me every second of every day, just daring me to crack it in half and see what’s inside, meanwhile I’m forced to pretend all this shit down here actually matters. It’s almost certainly the key to alien life, and holds secrets we can’t even fathom, and I’m supposed to care about studying?”

She shakes her head.

“That thing is our ticket to the intergalactic stage, and I want in. I’m here because this is the first step in the process of going from here to there, and if you fail me, I’ll just find another way. You’re delusional if you think this is anything more than a formality.” When she finishes, she slumps back in her seat with crossed arms and a challenge on her face.

Okay… once again, Lucy’s… fervor takes me be surprise. That fiery passion will either take her far or burn her out before she can even begin. She’s not wrong, though—entering the Tower isn’t illegal. Anyone can do it. If I fail her now, she may find another, potentially more dangerous way. I sigh, knowing I don’t have as much control over the situation as I’d like to believe. “This concludes the written portion of the exam.”

The girls come down to stand before me.

“And?” Lucy asks.

I look her in the eye. “I’m not convinced either of you know what you’re doing.”

Lucy’s eyes narrow, and for the second time today I get the feeling I’m in danger of being assaulted.

“But,” I add, “You’re right about one thing. I could deny you access to the Guild network, but as you so helpfully mentioned, I can’t stop you from Climbing alone. In light of that, I see no reason to withhold access to resources that might keep you alive.”

“Yes!” Perry’s face lights up, and she holds up a hand for Lucy to high-five. “We’re awesome!”

Lucy eyes the outstretched appendage as if it’s personally offended her. Perry is undeterred, wiggling her hand expectantly.

“What’s next?” Lucy asks, pretending not to see the other girl.

To her credit, Perry takes the snub like a champ, offering me a big smile as she gives up.

“You’ll need to sign some waivers stating the Climber’s Guild isn’t responsible for any accidents or injuries that occur in the Tower, but other than that it’s just a matter of putting you both in the system and getting your badges printed. However, there’s one small thing… This exam usually takes forever, so as thanks for streamlining the process, there’s something I’d like in return.”

Lucy’s trademark scowl is back in full force, but Perry takes a step back, hands flying up to wrap around herself. Her lips tremble, and tears stream down her cheeks. It reminds me of Ella, but this time I know the fear is directed at me.

“Perry…? Are you alright?” I ask, concerned.

She nods furiously. “M-mhm! W-what did you mean by… um, what did you want in return?”

I don’t know what I said to cause this behavior in such a cheerful girl, but I feel sick. “I’m… sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. All I’m asking is for both of you to accompany me on a Climb before you set off on your own. I… just want you to survive.”

Perry gives me a smile, but it’s so hollow it hurts. “Yeah. Yeah! O-of course. I knew it would be something like that.” She laughs, but can’t quite hide the quiver in her voice.

Lucy grabs Perry’s hand, startling us both.

“Lucy?” Perry asks, quietly.

“Just shut up and come with me,” Lucy says, dragging the girl toward the hall. She sends me a death glare on the way out. “You stay out of this.”

They leave me alone, giving me plenty of time to ponder how badly I’ve fucked up this time.