The Hollow City by Dan Wells Read Free Book Online Page A

says Devon, still walking calmly. “Remember? Jerry went home.”
    “But he still has a room,” says Steve. “He won’t like it if you give it away. Right? He won’t like it.”
    Devon smiles. “We already gave his room to Gordon,” he says, and Steve frowns.
    “Gordon? Which one’s Gordon?”
    “You know Gordon, Steve,” says Devon. “We have this conversation every week.”
    “You gave him Jerry’s room?”
    “A couple of months ago.”
    “Gordon!” shouts Steve, spinning around. He pauses a moment, scanning the room, then storms off. “Gordon, come here!”
    Devon chuckles. “Jerry left in February; guy can’t get it through his head.”
    “He’s been here that long?”
    “Five months,” says Devon. “Don’t worry, though, most people are in and out of here a lot quicker than that.”
    I nod. “Anything else I should know?”
    Devon looks around the room. “It’s pretty mellow in here, all things considered. That bald guy is Dwight; if he starts talking about ammonia, he’s about to get violent, so keep your ears open.”
    “I will.”
    “Here’s your room.” He opens a door and shows me in; it’s a pretty standard hospital room, with a raised bed and a wheeled table and a small dresser in the corner. There’s no TV, but there is a small clock radio bolted to the dresser. I don’t say anything about it.
    “Everything look good?” asks Devon.
    “Great,” I say, nodding. I need to get rid of that radio, but other than that it looks great.
    “You’re a little late for dinner, but I could probably rustle up a snack if you want one.”
    “No thanks,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m fine. I’ll see you later.”
    “I’m taking off soon,” says Devon, “but if you change your mind the night nurse can take care of you. Sorry you don’t get a window, but there’s only—”
    Suddenly I’m on the floor, gritting my teeth and clutching my head in agony. Devon buzzes, a low electronic hum, and he drops to his knee next to me.
    “Mike, are you okay, man?” He buzzes again.
    “Get away!” The pain is blinding—I feel like my head is swelling and compressing all at once, kneading my brain like bruised dough. Devon buzzes again and I shove him away, pushing myself back into the corner. “Don’t touch me!”
    My skull feels like it’s breaking apart, cracking open like an egg, and I grab it desperately, trying to hold the pieces together. The buzz comes again, stronger this time, and I scream to drown it out.
    “Come on, Mike,” says Devon, and then he leaves at a run. I stay in the corner, clutching my head until it feels normal again. Nothing’s broken. I hear a voice at the door.
    “New guy.”
    I look up. My door is closed.
    “Hey new guy, you awake?”
    “Who’s there?”
    “Not the best way to start your freedom, shoving a nurse.”
    “I didn’t mean to, he was…” He was buzzing. “He was attacking me.”
    “You’re acting like an idiot, and they don’t let idiots leave.”
    I raise my head. What was that guy’s name—the one from the hall? “Are you Steve?”
    “They are always watching us,” he says. “Always watching.”
    “The doctors?”
    His voice is a thin whisper. “The Faceless Men.”
    I scramble to the door, half crawling, slipping on the slick linoleum. Footsteps run away, pelting down the hall, and when I yank open the door the hallway’s empty.
    I whisper as loud as I can. “Steve!” There’s no answer. I poke my head out into the hallway and look down through the commons room to the TV on the far side; there’s a swarm of activity by the nurse’s station. I slide back into my room and push the door closed.
    Someone’s trying to warn me, which means I’m not the only one who knows. I don’t think it’s Steve. Is the hospital part of the Plan? Are they in on it, or just pawns? Whoever it was was right; the Faceless Men are here. Somehow, maybe in the MRI, they put something into my head that lets them control me, and