As the man stumbled through an unfamiliar doorway, one that had never been open before, he struggled to comprehend what was unfolding. He was actually being set free—finally released from his confines! However, the experience didn't feel quite right. It wasn't the euphoria he had imagined. Instead, fear gripped him, a profound and paralyzing dread.

Accompanied by their tall guide, the man, with the doctor trailing behind, traversed a series of unfamiliar rooms and corridors, each one foreign to him. Whenever they reached a door, the guide effortlessly opened it with a wave of his right arm. But then they reached a large door, different from the rest. Instead of opening, it emitted a beep when the guide gestured towards it. Reacting swiftly, the guide started typing on his strangely luminous arm, as if it housed a futuristic computer. A sudden realization struck the man—it was the year 2069; he had stepped into the future.

As if by magic, the massive door swung outward, revealing a scene bathed in an unusual sunlight. It was bright, but its hue was not the familiar color the man recalled. It had a reddish tint.

"Move." the guide urged.

Attempting to take a deep breath, the man was immediately overcome by a fit of coughing. Bent over, struggling for air, he tasted something peculiar in the atmosphere. Confusion and questions flooded his mind. Where was he?

An hour later, he found himself back indoors, away from the blinding light and the nearly unbreathable smog. The drive over had felt pleasant and comfortable, but this new environment felt more genuine, more tangible. He could trust his senses within these walls. However, comprehending what he had witnessed outside was challenging.

The room was teeming with people, an overwhelming crowd that filled the space with a cacophony of sound. Everyone and everything seemed to be in constant motion, a flurry of activity. The room itself was colossal, with a ceiling that reached heights beyond his imagination. Overwhelmed, the man stumbled and fell.

"Come on!" The doctor glanced at him, not unkindly, but made no move to help him up. It was as if the doctor was assessing him, evaluating his suitability for their facility. Perhaps he had doubts about the man being the right fit after all.

Eventually, they reached a counter where a large woman sat. Something about her, aside from her eccentric attire, felt off.

"Papers?" a surprisingly gruff voice demanded. It dawned on the man that the person behind the counter was not a woman but rather a man dressed in feminine clothes as if from an alternate 17th century. Confused, he handed over the binder he was holding.

"Jer...uh...meee...ah?"

"Jeremiah," the man answered. "Jerry. I go by Jerry."

After a brief perusal of the papers, the same voice continued in a monotone, "Jerry, I'm Pat. Welcome to Exit Facility 35. Everything seems to be in order," Pat said as he returned the binder. "Except you are missing your R.L.E. form."

"RLE form?" the man looked up at the doctor, who was engrossed in scribbling something on the interface of his arm. Apparently everyone had one...

"Remaining Life Expectancy," Pat was explaining impassively. "Only subjects with more than five years are allowed to..." His sentence was interrupted by a beep and a small flash.

Pat glanced at a display in front of him, smoothly resuming his statement. "...but I see it was already filed, so you are good to go!" He grinned at the doctor.

The man gathered his papers and turned to follow the doctor, who had already begun walking away. "Thank you, sir."

Abruptly, a piercing screech filled the air. The doctor froze, causing the man to nearly collide with him.

"What?" Pat snarled. "What did you say?"