Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

upon a small concrete hut under an enormous casuarina tree.
“I think this is it. It’s some sort of pump room,” Nick said, trying to peer in through the
darkened windows.
Suddenly a dark figure darted out from behind the tree.
“Pontianak!” Colin yelled, dropping his iPhone in panic.
“Sorry, it’s just me,” a female voice said.
Nick flashed his iPhone in the direction of the figure and suddenly before them,
illuminated in the white blue light, appeared Astrid in an audaciously large Vetements
hoodie with super-long sleeves and tight camouflage pants.
“Jesus, Astrid! I almost shit myself!” Colin exclaimed.
“Sorry! I was scared for a moment when you first walked up, and then I realized it was
you guys,” Astrid said.
Nick smiled in relief. “I’m assuming you got the same note I did about seeing Ah Ma?”
“Yes! It was all rather mysterious. I was at my parents’ watching Cassian swim in the
pool. I must have dozed off in my deck chair for a moment, because when I got up, there
was a tray of iced tea and pandan cake by my side, and the envelope was under the cake.
Cassian swears he didn’t see who put it there.”
“How curious. Are you okay?” Nick asked.
“I’m fine. It didn’t really spook me.” Just as Astrid said this, a light came on inside the
pump room and the three of them jumped a little in shock. The steel door could be heard
being unlocked from the inside, and as it opened with a loud rusty creak, a turbaned
silhouette could be seen peeking out.
“Vikram!” Nick said excitedly.
“Come quickly,” Vikram instructed, ushering them all in.
“What is this place?” Astrid asked.
“This is the pump room that controls the intake for the two ponds,” Vikram said as he
led them toward the back of the space, which was cramped with machinery. Behind a
large round pipe going into the ground, a barely discernable panel opened to reveal a dark
gaping void. “This is where we’re going. Each of you take turns—there are ladder rungs
against the inner wall of this pipe.”
“Is this what I think it is?” Nick said in astonishment.
Vikram smiled. “Come on, Nicky, you go first.”
Nick hauled himself into the small crawl space and climbed down what seemed like a
dozen or so rungs. After landing on solid ground, he helped Astrid find her footing as she
descended the steps. When the four of them finally made it down, they found themselves
in a small steel-walled vestibule. An old sign nailed against one wall read in English,
Chinese, and Malay:
DANGER! NO OUTLET!
CHAMBER WILL FLOOD DURING VALVE RELEASE!