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“Some of the samples are missing,” she murmurs.
“Did you double-check? Maybe they were put into a different fridge,” I reply.
She nods before slowly checking every cupboard and fridge. “No, they are definitely gone…but they should be here.” Crouched on the floor, she turns to meet my eyes. “Who would sneak into the city and steal samples?”
“No one good,” I mutter, but then there’s a massive crash from upstairs. “And that is our cue to go. Grab your shit. Now.”
“I still need to collect data—”
“No time.” I throw her bag at her and yank her to her feet. “That could be anything or anyone, and I’m not sticking around to find out. This will be enough. We go now or we die.”
That gets her moving. She throws some papers into her bag and nods while I rush to the stairs and peek up. I see nothing, but there’s another huge crash, so I place my fingers to my lips to tell her to be quiet. She nods in fear as I slowly slide up the stairs, not lifting my feet so I remain silent. At the top, I peek around the door, searching for the source, but I see nothing. Maybe I’m overthinking it. I slowly move out into the reception area, Talia on my heels.
It’s still empty, but the daylight is almost gone.
Fuck.
It’s nearly dark, and in the dark, the monsters come out to play.
“Aria,” she whispers.
“I know,” I mutter.
“No, look.” She points, and I look in that direction, my eyes widening as my heart stops. A huge tiger stares at us from the other side of the glass farther down the way. I don’t move or speak, but it headbutts the glass—the source of the noise—before prowling along it, searching for a way in.
In this dead city, we just rang the fucking dinner bell for it.
And to think she was worried about monsters…
I turn to her and shake my head. “We move fast and silent now!” I hiss, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the door. I throw the tiger a look as I hurry across the square, hoping it will leave us alone, but I should have known better.
It’s starving and desperate.
A roar follows us.
“Run!” I yell, ignoring my own warnings. I know it won’t matter.
We run, but halfway across the square, something huge hits my back, knocking me to the ground. A second later, while I’m still disoriented, a sharp pain splinters through my body from my shoulder. I turn my head to see the tiger’s mouth clamped on my flesh, its fangs digging into my skin. It gnaws on it like a bone as blood pours from the wound.
Fuck.
Talia rushes over, and the tiger lets go before roaring at her, and she stumbles back.
“Go!” I scream, reaching for a large rock near my head, my injured arm making me hiss as the pain intensifies. I refuse to die like this.
Talia hesitates, so the tiger releases me and steps towards her.
I cry out at the pain before I bite my lip to stop myself. If I give into that agony, I’m dead.
Rolling to my knees, I sway as the blood loss and shock momentarily blind me, but then I hear her panicked yell.
It’s stalking her.
She won’t survive, but I can. I know this city, and I’m fast.
Winding back my arm, I meet her gaze. “Run!” I scream, giving her no choice as I throw the rock right at the tiger. It hits its head, making it turn as it bares its fangs at me. Talia still hesitates, not wanting to leave me.
The brave fool.
