Simon had his fourth coffee. The lack of sleep from their short night had to be countered by something and coffee was all he had. Helena had spend some time in the bathroom, before she came out and sat in her seat again. Her mobile had rested all the time on the table in front of him.

„How long have you been doing this?“ She asked. Simon looked up.

„Brockmann did this for decades.“ He said, leaving out the part where he had a break of a few of those decades. „So does our partner in Hamburg. I am rather new. Brought a little zeitgeist to the whole operation, you know?“ He smiled.

„I can imagine.“ Helena said. „You know this will not last forever, do you?“ She then asked.

„What?“ Simon asked and blinked.

„What you do. Breaking into government building, burning them down. Killing infected mass murderers.“ She said.

„I did not know he was infected.“ Simon said. „Just knew he killed kids.“

Helena nodded. „My point is, you guys will not get away with this forever, no matter how careful you are and you are not very careful. If I do not turn you in, you will be caught eventually.“ Helena said. Simon nodded. The thought had appeared to him, too. This mission made them cross so many lines, there would eventually be a price to pay for that.

„I know.“ He said. „Then again, these guys did it for a long time. A long, long time. So maybe we will at least finish what we started.“ Simon sighed.

„What you started? how many of these creatures are out there?“ Helena asked.

„Not as many as used to be. From what I understand they are nearly extinct. Yet, lately there were a few it seems.“ Simon actually wondered what this here meant for them. There was no connection to their first case. No dark power behind the lines orchestrating this. So if this happened just like this, did it mean it would happen again? Suddenly scanning those newspapers for weeks made a lot more sense.

„So how many of you are there?“ She asked.

„More than enough.“ Simon dodged the question. Helena looked at him and probably sensed the lie.

„O am still not sure if you are not simply crazy guys. Either that or you are the bravest man I have ever known.“ She smiled at him. Simon smiled back.

„Well, I think maybe a bit of both.“ He said. Helena laughed at him. Then she stopped and held her chest for a second.

„Are you all right?“ Simon asked as he saw she had some sort of pain.

„Yes, the wound I guess. I feel like a truck hit me ever since ) I got shot.“ She stood up and stretched. „I will be alright, the Doc said.“ With another smile she nodded to the fridge. „Should we not check on it?“ She asked. Simon looked.

„Yeah, maybe we should.“ He stood up, went over to the fridge and opened it slightly. Then he opened it fully. The worm lay on the bottom of the sealed glass. Simon tipped against it, but there was no reaction.

„I think it is dead.“ He said.

„Good. One less of those things.“ She said. He nodded.

„Guess so.“ He finally said.

„So how did you end up with him?“ She asked and he was surprised how close suddenly her voice was. She stood right behind him.

„Actually by accident. Someone who meant a lot to me died. My Ex, actually. I forced myself on him to find out what did it and then stocked around as I found out about all of this.“ Simon said. He turned and indeed stood right there.

„Could I join you?“ She asked. Simon raised his brows.

„Just curious. This is all a little too much for me, but if what youi say is true ... not sure how I can return to my normal life as if nothing happened.“ She said. Simon had not thought about it, but he knew the feeling.

„Yeah, I know what you mean. Was the same for me.“ He said. „You are a trained cop, maybe they got use for you. I can talk to them, if you want to.“ He said, unsure how well this would go down its Brockmann.

„Maybe. Let me think on it.“ She said. „My career goers nowhere, you know? I am not doing well in exams. Not smart enough I suppose.“ She smiled.

„You seem pretty smart to me.“ Simon said.

„Thanks, but that is probably a bit of a subjective view. I really never did good in school.“ She said. „I guess I will stay patrol officer for years, until they move me to some in house desk job. I won‘t go to the fancy parts of police. No criminal investigation unit will take me. So I thought about doing something else for quite some time.“ She sighed.

„Like monster hunting.“ Simon asked and grinned.

„Yeah, that or open a coffee shop.“ She answered and they both laughed. Then she grew serious again. „It ist be lonely.“

Simon looked at him. „What we do? Yes, very. You cannot talk about it to anyone. I am only in this game for a short time and I feel it. I have no idea how Brockmann could do this for years, decades even.“

„Well, now he got you.“ She said.

„I do think he does not always appreciate that.“ Simon said.

„Yes he does.“ Helena answered. „I could see it. He cares about you.“

Simon nodded, but not necessary in agreement. It was more acknowledging the fact she had perceived it like this.

„You do not know him like I do. All he cares about is getting his job done. No matter what. I think I have been helpful and he probably appreciates that.“ Simon sighed deeply. „If necessary he would not hesitate a second to put a bullet through my head, though.“ Simon said.

„That sounds like he is a very dangerous man.“ Helena said.

„Worse even, he would expect me to do the same to him. I am not sure I could do it, if I needed to.“ Simon turned to her and she got even closer.

„That sounds like you are indeed lonely.“ She said and her voice now was almost a whisper. „I can relate to that.“ She said. „I am lonely too.“ Her head raised and she looked at him with her large blue eyes.

Simon was not an expert on women, but her eyes told him she was attracted to him. He leaned slightly forward, almost kissing her. Then he remembered what he was here for. What he had tro do if it came to it. He could probably not do it.This would make it only harder. He turned his head and laughed. A shy, almost desperate laughter.

„I could have another of those excellent coffees.“ He said. Helena kept on looking at him for a long moment and then gave him a shy smile, lowering her eyes again. She looked incredibly attractive when she did that.

„Sure.“ She said and stepped over to the coffee machine. Simon‘s eyes followed her. The thought that she could not make any calls while heckler with her crossed his mind. It would be a way to fulfill his mission. Brockmann would probably approve even. Yet, he was not sure if he was that kind of man. As she put another capsule into the machine had closed the fridge and walked to the single large window she had. Outside the city was moving along all those people as if nothing was happening to it. How many people would die if the worm spread? He saw a young mother yelling at her crying child and he smiled. If she knew how grateful she should be. Helena stepped next to him and put the cup on the window sill. He felt her body close to his now.

„Crazy is it? Yesterday two dozen kids died and the city goes on as if nothing has happened. As if it did not really matter.“ Helena whispered.

„Brockmann would say in the great picture it did not.“ Simon said. „People die, all the time.“

„What would you say?“ Helena asked and put a hand on his back. He allowed the gesture, feeling a shiver run down his spine.

„that a piece is missing. Futures who will never come to pass. Stories never tracking place. Those kids will never grow up, never laugh and love, never have kids of their own and never spend days and weeks on social networks, planning their future or next party Saturday night.“ Simon said. „The city closes over the gap they left like the body heals from a wound. It is still a wound though.“ He said.

„You got a poets heart.“ Helena said.

Simon did not turn around, because he was not so sure he would be able to resist the urge to kiss her. He was not even sure he should. So he kept oink looking out, taking the coffee and taking a sip of it. Still hot, he burned his lip. „Dammit, good but hot.“ He said.

„I need to go to the bathroom.“ Helena said suddenly with a seriousness that took him out of the situation. She was gone as he returned around, as she made it there with swifter steps.

„Everything alright?“ He asked.

„Yes, everything perfect.“ She said and locked the door. He heard her cough and wondered if she was lying. Something did not feel right, actually.

His eyes went to her mobile, She had left it, which was a relief. If she had taken it he wondered if he had to kick in the door and wrestle it form her hands, as she cried for help. Then again she did not appear to cry for help. She appeared to have something else in mind.

Surprising, how she could even think about something like this. He had once read stress and crisis made men more attractive to men. Especially if the men were in the position of protectors. But this was a bit faster and more intense then he expected it to happen. She coughed again. Simon went over to her phone and saw his coat on the coach. The coat which ad his gun in it. He wanted not to use it to keep her at check. He certainly did not wanted to use it against her, yet that was the reason why Brockmann had given it to him.

Helena came back from the bathroom. „I think I am gonna lie down for a bit. I think I do not take the anti-biopics they gave me to well. Again blood poisoning, you know?“ She smiled as shy smile.

„Sure, I am gonna be here if you need me.“ He said. Helena nodded and passed the living room as wquickly as possible, closing the door behind her as she entered then bedroom. Simon wondered if he had done something wrong. Then he shook his head. Not the time to let his insecurities about romantic endeavors rule his thinking. He went back to his coffee and oushed it down his throat with one move,. The caffeine was not having the desired effect anymore. Too much of it. Like when he was writing papers for his studies At some point he felt the effects of coffee no more.

He sat down and took out his mobile. Maybe it was time to do some research. for a moment he collected his thoughts and then he opened the browser.

MONSTER WORMS

He put this into the search field.

The first result was a film to rent online. He skipped it. Second one was something called the MONGOLIAN DEATH WORM. Simon raised his brows and opened the encyclopedia link to it. Seemingly this worm was an urban legend about a worm so poisonous it killed people who only touched it. Several expeditions had searched for it in Mongolia and had never found any of it. It did not sound like their worm problem, yet Simon made a mental note to ask Brockmann if those things were real. He returned to the search field. He got table top figures, novels, more entries on a movie called that name and an entry on a classic movie from the eighties that had spawned several sequels. He had seen it, actually. Kevin Bacon was in it, if he recalled it right. A B-movie, about giant worms hunting people in the desert. All in all this was not helpful. So this worm was large. If it‘s clearly more dangerous aspects had not been accounted for, maybe the size of it brought some result.

GIANT WORMS

This brought forth several entires. he began to read about an earthworm in Australia, which seemed to be rather big, but perfectly harmless. Then he satumbled upon an article in the National Geographic. Giant predatory seaworthy fossils. They had found fossils of giant predatory seaworms that had hunted fish and God knows what else. The entry was farther fresh. Simon wondered if that might be connected. The worm did not sound like their example, but maybe this was a different branch of evolution. Had there been a time when a breed of worms had been the apex predators on this planet? Yes, possibly. It also did not help them with their practical problems, but it was at least an interesting fact. Simon had so far considered this thing to be ... supernatural. Now he realized it might be the result of an evolutionary process. A cryptic. He had read about cryptic a lot when they had hunted the Hamburg monster. That one had turned out to be something else entirely. So he opened the old website he had still in his favourites and logged in again. There were no messages. Not even from this mysterious source of information he had back then tackled to. The Nevadasphinx212. he opened a new topic and wrote.

GIANT PREDATORY WORMS IN EUROPE. ANYBODY KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT THEM?

He leaned back nad decided to get a response he needed to give them a little something. He stood up, went to the fridge and opened it. Quickly he made a photo of the thing with his mobile and posted it with the question. This worm was certainly large enough to get some attention. Then he sat back into the couch and kinda regretted it, as he felt his tiredness taking hold again immeditely. Exhaustion. He should have got another coffee. He chewed the forum, but no news so quickly. Most people on it had been Americans and those guys were still sleeping.

Simon sighed deeply and looked at the mobile. He took it and put it under one of the pillows on the couch. Then he lay down his head on the pillow. A few moments of sleep would make thinking so much more easy, he thought. uJust closing his eyes for a moment ...

****

„I want you.“ The words were a whisper, but he felt Helenas body on his, as he woke up. His eyes snapped open and she was above him, grinning. „I want you.“ She repeated and leaned forward. He felt her warm body on his. She was wearing only a shirt and panties. He felt her skin. Her mouth opened, as she came closer to him. Simon gasped from arousal, as he was overwhelmed by her.

Yet, something inside his brain registered ... that something was not right. He did not close his eyes as she leaned in for the kiss.

Then he screamed out and shoved her off him violently. she crashed into her table, which could not take her weight and collapsed. Out of her mouth a single small worm curled itself.

„No!“ Simon gasped as she turned and got on all fours. Her hand wiped her mouth and the worm slowly crawled down her face. Simon felt his heart pound so hard he heard it in his head. Helena looked different. Pale. Her mouth wide open now as if she gave a silent scream, but her eyes had a feverish glow. Yet, her features seemed strangely indifferent. Unaware of the strangeness of her behavior. Unaware of everything. Simon had seen this before.

A scream escaped her mouth, an inhuman scream. Simon felt the adrenaline rush into his body again, as he realized she was infected and that meant she was about to kill him. One powerful kick send her reeling back as Simon grabbed his coat and began searching for the pocket with the gun. The pain seemed not to affect Helena at all. She was back up immeditely and leaped forward and onto him. All Simion could think of was where the damned worm was. He rolled aside, bringing her down under him and his hand clenched into a fist. She looked upo at him, still indifferent as he brought it down. Again she seemed not to feel the pain. She pulled her knee up and hit Simon directly between his legs. Gasping in pain he felt his vision turn red as he rolled aside. Helena was above him immediately, grabbing his face and jaw so hard his nose almost broke. He tried not to open his mouth as he saw with wide opened mouth the worm crawl down her arm towards his face. He grabbed something, a leg of the broken table and in one last desperate move he hit her hard with it. She did not even flinch. It seemed not to matter to her. The worm began to curl, almost as if it was enjoying anticipation of entering him.

Simon did not recognize the loud noise was a cracking door, but he recognized the shot. Inside rooms shots were incredibly loud. Glass shattered and Helena was finally showing any human reaction. She looked up and her muscles relaxed just a little. Enough for Simon to shove her finally away. He still felt the pain between his legs crawling all the way into his body to his stomach. Desperation allowed him to crawl away from Helena though. Away from the worm. A second shot rang through the flat and from the corner of his eyes Simon saw Brockmann, who had smashed through the door and held his revolver. He forced himself up.

„Out of the way!“ Brockmann hissed and Simon turned around to see what he meant. Holding her side, where a red spot quickly spread on her shirt, she crawled toward the window with it‘s splintered glass where Brockmann had fired his first shot and had missed. Simon turned to Brockmann and realized his partner would execute her.

„Wait, Helena, don‘t!“ He yelled, reaching out to her. The hand was left as a helpless gesture as she leaped forward and through the window. Third level? Second? Simon wished he recalled.

„On the floor!“ Brockman yelled, while Simon was still looking at the broken window. Simon looked down and the worm was crawling towards him at a speed not expected from a worm. Simon stepped on it. An unceremoniously way to kill a monster, but it worked. A cracking sound was accompanied with a splash and he felt the remains under his shoe. He turned to Brockmann and nodded grateful. The older man passed him and looked down onto the pavement below, where Helena was laying now. Brockmann caught his breath and nodded.

„I think she is dead.“ He said and felt little satisfaction in it. Simon was surprised. „Too many people down there, we need to contain her. The worm will be alive ...“ Brockmann breathed through.

„Yeah, got it.“ Simon said and nodded. „Thanks.“

Brockmann gave him another of his grunts and waved him away to go, as he leaned forward. His hand resting on his own knee. He had run all the way up here.

Simin turned and grabbed his coat on the way out. The gun was still there. He took two stairs at once with every step and quickly made it out of the house. Two levels she had fallen. How had he not recognized? The kiss. It had tried to infect him. At some point it had taken over. Invisibly, unregistered Helena had become someone else. Until she was the screaming thing that had jumped out of the window.

He stepped outside and stopped immediately. An ambulance was there. How quick had these guys been? Helena had a stabilized head, as she was pushed inside by the men. Simon tried to remember their faces.

„Where do you bring her?“ He yelled and pushed his way through the spectators who gathered now.

„Are you next of kin?“ The ambulance driver asked. Simon nodded.

„I am her brother. Where do you bring her?“ Simon looked at him.

„Charité.“ The driver said and got into his ambulance. They were clearly worried about her. They were clearly worried she iaht die. Simon had liked her, but now he was only concerned she had not died. He took out his mobile.

„Come down. She is alive, they bring her to the Charité.“ He hissed.

„On my way.“ Brockmann only replied. Simon started running to get their car. He knew they had to follow her.

****

Simon was not a good shot and not a professional monster hunter, but he could drive and he did. Taking every short cut available they rushed after the ambulance which had a good five minutes head start and the horns to speed up traffic.

„Where were you?“ Simon asked.

„Vladimir Boyka, a scientist who has researched our little friend for the last four decades.“ Brockmann out the old fashioned cassette recorder on the fittings.

„Can he help?“ Simon asked.

„He already did. I got this from him.“ Brockmann took out a syringe. „A poison that kills the worm and leave the host alive.“

„Also when the host lost lots of blood, got shot and jumped out of a window?“ Simon asked.

„We will see.“ Brockmann just replied.

„What will we do when we are there?“ Simon asked. Brockmann looked ahead and even by his standards the look was dark and brooding.

„Whatever is necessary.“ Brockmann said. „It is a hospital. You realize what this means?“ He looked at Simon.

„If one of the people working there gets infected it might spread ...“ Simon sighed. „Really fast.“

Brockmann nodded. „When she dies the worm will look for a new host.“ Brockmann said.

„I thought they are infertile after the first generation?“ Simon asked and took the last turn.

„I seemed to have been misinformed.“ Brockmann said. „About a lot of things.“ He said. Simon stopped right in front of the exit and both men got out.

„Brockmann.“ Simon said as they entered the building. His partner stopped for a second and looked at him.

„We try to save her, right?“ Simon asked. Brockmann looked at him and then, after a pause that was a little too long to be comfortable for either of them, he nodded.

****

„We saved you.“ Doctor Boykas said to Brockmann, who was sitting in his chair in what appeared to be a rather luxurious hospital room. „It is dead. Still attached to your spine, I am afraid, but dead.“

Brockmann looked at the Doctor. He felt his back ache. He had always taken good care of his body. for a twenty year old he was at his prime of his physical abilities. Now he felt as if he was an old man. „You seem surprised.“ Brockmann said.

„Not at all.“ Boyka said and sat on the other chair opposite of Brockmann. „But we need something from you.“

„A little late to sign an agreement to the procedure, isn‘t it?“ He laughed. Boyka smiled at him.

„We lost our whole team here. Those men in the house were trained specialists in these kind of things.“ Boyka said.

„Richard was their back-up?“ Brockmann asked.

„Yes, exactly.“ Boyka said and smiled.

„The Black Star.“ Brockmann said and nodded.

„Oh you heard that. That alone would be reason to execute you, Mr. Brockmann.“

„Private Brockmann. I am a soldier. If you order me to keep your secret I will.“ Brockmann said, but he was not worried. If they wanted him dead, they could have changed any of the dozen injections he got with a poison and he would be dead.

„I know. You seem to be as good and talented soldier. Former border patrol I took from your file.“ Boyka sighed. „I am not a military man, I am the lead scientist on the project, Brockmann. This incident left me in command though and I have decided we must destroy the worm.“ He said. Brockman nodded.

„It is more than one.“ He said.

„No, not really. Those are spawns. Extension of the main creature that infects everyone and everything that can carry it‘s ... children.“ Boyka looked at him. „We call it the Wormking.“ He had a file with him and lay it on the desk between them now.

„What is this?“ Brockmann asked.

„Everything we know about this creature. It is imprisoned in the cellar of the building where you have been infected. Obviously it‘s containment had been breached. We have tested all the surrounding houses and found dozen of infected. the whole area is not closed. We told the people we found a bomb from the war.“ Boyka leaned forward.

„Why are you showing me this?“ Brockmann asked.

„Because I want you to know your enemy.“ Boyka smiled. „We need to destroy it. I want you to do it.“ Brockmann looked at him.

„Why me? Call a special task force.“ He asked.

„Because of the unique condition you are in. You got one of them inside of you and from what our tests imply that makes you immune. They will not try to infect you.“ Boyka explained.

„How did you find that one out?“ Brockmann asked. Boyka looked down. They ad tried to reinfect him. Probably when he was asleep.

„Science demands sacrifices. I am not proud of my methods, but I am proud of the results. We saved you because we did these experiments.“ Boyka looked at Brockmann. „Will you help us end this?“ He asked.

Brockmann sighed and took the file. „I need something for the pain.“ He only replied. Boyka nodded.

„Certainly.“ He said.

****

„I still think this is a terrible idea.“ Simon said to Brockmann, who was holding the two doctors and their three nurses at gunpoint within the surgery.

„If you got a better idea, I am all ears.“ Brockmann hissed. Simon sighed. he looked around in the room for anything that could help them. What he saw was a camera, attached to the wall in the right corner.

„Is this thing on?“ He asked and pointed at the cameras above.

„Probably.“ the Doctor said and breathed out heavily. „Listen, whoever you are. This woman is dying. I assume that is your work.“ The Doctor said.

„Yes, it is.“ Brockmann said.

„Purely self-defense.“ Simion added. „He shot her to save my life.“ He rolled his eyes at the statement of Brockmann. They called this a confession.

„With illegal ammunition I understand.“ The Doctor said.

„Yes.“ Brockmann said. „They are hard to stop.“

„Are they?“ The Doctor laughed. „And who are they? Aliens? Demons?“ He turned to the younger man. „Listren, you seem to be the more reasonable of you two ...“ Simon understood the man. He had a dying patient and two lunatics held him at gunpoint.

„I am sorry Doctor, but you have not seen what we have seen. Believe me we cannot let you operate her. It is for your own safety.“ Simon said. Helmer clenched his fists and his face became a cold mask of determination..

„I am tacking the risk. It’s my responsibility.“ He said.

„You have no idea of the consequences.“ Brockmann threw at him. That was hardly convincing the Doc to let her die, Simon knew. Locked in a surgery with a dying cop and five people. This was not going to end well.

„Do you? I mean this is a cop. I guess Someone around here has already informed security so they will be up here in a moment.“ The Doctor was still negotiating.

„I locked the door.“ Simon said. He had done as Brockmann had told him to. Locked and barricaded it as good as he could.

„I see. Then they will call the police. Hostages means the SEK will be here.“ The German SWAT would actually be here rather quickly, considering once off their own was involved.

„Yes, we are aware of the situation.“ Brockmann said. „So why do we not wait for them, you let her die and then you will see what we mean.“ The Doctor hissed now.

„No, I am not gonna let her die. I am gonna save her.“ the Doc answered. he was a good man, Simon could tell. Problem was Brockmann did not care.

„Then inject her this first, give it a minute to work and I let you operated her.“ Brockmann said and presented the syringe. The poison.

„WE DO NOT HAVE A MINUTE!“ The Doctor yelled.

„DAMMIT I TRY TO SAFE HER TOO!“ Brockmann yelled back. The two stared at each other for a moment, then the Doctor shrugged.

„Then shoot me. Shoot all of us. What do you think if you do this the Police will do to you, hm? They are gonna kill you too. So we all die, just to keep me from trying to stoop her internal bleeding? Really? Is whatever is in her worth that sacrifice?“ He asked.

Simon knew they had to convince him, or this would escalate. „All men have to die, do they? But yes, I am afraid it is. Believe us, please. Give her the injection. It will not be fatal for her.“ He pleaded.

„In her condition?“ The Doctor asked. Silent hissed a single curse and turned now fully to Brockmann.

„If we die here we will not have any chance to hunt it down. You know that. Maybe ...“ He looked at Brockmann.

„If it spreads we are done, Simon.“ Brockmann hissed back. Then he looked at the woman. That was the moment, as if his eyes had caused it, when a long beep informed everyone in the room her heart had stopped.

„She zeros!“ The Doctor yelled said and all the Doctor‘s woke from their freeze. „Oxygen, get the defibrillator and two ampules of ...“ Helmer was yelling. Simon stared at Brockmann and took the syringe from his hand.

„Oh my God what is that!“ A nurse gasped and leaped away from the table. Then the screaming began. They all screamed. Simon turned and saw what it was they were screaming about. Under her stomach the worm moved, clearly fighting to get out of his dying host it was clearly visible. As large as a hand now, it pressed against the skin and raised it.

„Out of here!“ Brockmann shouted and took aim. the Doctor screamed ow himself, as the four little arms broke through the skin of Helena. Everybody ran now to the room next door and Simon heard them pushing away the desk he had used to barricade the door. Simon had no time to do anything about it. He stepped between Helena and the Doctor and Brockmann and hoped his partner would not shoot through him. He raised the syringe and saw the skin curl away as the worm had cut through it. He pushed the syringe down, right through the skin and into the worm and pressed down the button to inject the poison directly into the creature. The Doctor stood next to him, just watching his patient. Simon dragged him a step back and the worm inside of Helenas made one last push, ripping through the skin and breaking free. Then it lost the tension in his body and slowly curled down on her, lying still.

„Good thinking.“ Brockmann said. He turned to the Doctor. „Now you can try to save her.“ He said. The Doctor seemed to have acted for permission to break out of his shock.

„Monica!“ He shouted and stepped forward, putting his hands on the chest of Helena and began pushing. The nurse returned. Simon would not have believed she would. The two began fighting for Helenas life, but Simon could see her pale body. The blood was everywhere. He knew she would not come back. He knew she had become another victim of the Wormking.

„Out. Now.“ Brockmann hissed and grabbed Simon‘s arm. Simon let him.

„She is dead.“ Simn said as they pushed through the half opened door. Outside people were quickly moving out of the corridor. Alarm was sounding. Someone had activated it.

„I know.“ Brockmann said and held his chest. Simon looked at him and Brockmann gave him an angry look back.

„They are over there in the eleven!“ Someone shouted. „They are armed.“ A woman yelled.

„Police.“ Simon said and grabbed Brockmann, dragging him to the stairs. „Must have been in the building.“

Brockmann coughed. „Simon. Wait.“ He said and Simon did not listen, but closed the door behind them, looking for an exit from the staircase to the outside.

„Wait!“ Brockmann yelled again. Simon followed the order this time. Brockmann leaned against the wall and breathed in heavily. „We will not make it out.“ He said. „They block the doors as we speak.“ He said.

„So what shall we do?“ Simon asked.

„Split.“ Brockmann said. „I will create a diversion and you will get out of here.“ He grabbed the syringes from his pockets and gave them to Simon. Quickly simon put away his gun and took them.

„What about you?“ Simon said.

„I will be okay.“ Brockmann said.

„Listen old man, this is not the time for hero bullshit. Let us go upstairs and try to escape from the first floor through a window.“ Simon suggested.

„No. I cannot make it.“ Brockmann said. „Actually this is exactly the time for hero bullshit.“ He hissed. „Listen, I can handle this. Okay? You need to get out of here. You need to get out of here and find the Wormking. You need to kill it.“ He stepped forward and took Simon‘s head between north his hands. Simon froze. He had never done anything like this before. „You understand?“ Brockmann hissed at him.

„Yes.“ Simon said.

„Say it.“ Brockmann demanded. Simon stared at him.

„Do not get killed. We get you out of this somehow.“ Simon said. How should he do this without Brockmann? How could he even find it?

„SAY IT!“ Brockmann yelled into his face.

„I am gonna find nad kill the Wormking.“ Simon gasped.

„Good.“ Brockmann sighed. „Now go.“ He let go of him.

Simon stared at him. „Brockmann, there must be another way ...“

„None with any likelihood of success.“ Brockmann said and went back to the door. „Go.“

Simon did not move. He just stared at Brockmann.

„What if I ...“ Simon could be the diversion. He could claim he had a breakdown from the shooting. He would have a bonus for aging those kids.

Brockmann shook his head. „No. I cannot figure this out alone. I will never find it.“ Brockmann said his face turned towards the door. „You can.“

Simon stared at him. From the outside he heard steps coming closer.

Brockmann looked at him one last time, turning his head.

„Go!“ He said and ripped the door open. Simon saw how he charged out. The two policemen stood with their backs to them in the corridor. Brockmann grabbed one from behind and the door slided back into the closed position cutting Simon‘s view off.

„No move or I blow his head out! Drop your gun! Drop it, damned!“ Brockmann‘s raspy voice hissed.

Simon finally realized this was truly happening. He turned and ran up to the upper floor. He had to escape now. Brockmann had a policeman as a hostage. Simon realized they would probably kill him, if they could. But Brockmann was not an easy man to kill. He knew that from experience. Running up he pushed the door on the first floor open. People were rushing through the corridors. Alarm was ringing everywhere. Simon looked around and saw a doctors coat lying on a bed nearby. He grabbed it and oushed it over, joining the fleeing medical personal. Maybe they had no time to check on them. Hell, they head a hostage situation here, they certainly had no chance to check them.