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It’s not uncommon.
I turn from the elevator to the wall. It looks like every other panel, but I’m hoping this is what they described, since this is the only logical choice here. “I hope this is it.” I raise my hand hesitantly and press it to the wall. I can almost feel the warmth of the mechanics waking up, and then there’s a beep so loud, it makes me jump.
A green light makes me pull my hand away, and then a section of the panel swings inward. A door. I peer inside to see metal steps leading down. To the lab? Rolling my shoulders back when I smell the antiseptic, I step inside. Each step makes me braver as I feel more at home, more comfortable.
Electricity buzzes to live, lighting up the area as I cling to the metal railing. “Here we go,” I call to her, and I hear her torch click off. I spare her a look. She looks unsure, but I’m not.
This is the right place!
We made it!
I hurry down the metal stairs, navigating them with familiar, sure steps, unlike outside. The familiar, comforting feel of a lab makes me confident and strong. The lab is displayed before us, ready to be explored, and excitement fills me. Air-con blows over me, and I grin, almost laughing. I feel Aria watching me, but I leave her to it as I hurry to find the research, her warning about needing to be out of here by nightfall echoing in my head. Despite the fact that I itch to explore the sprawling lab and the secrets it holds, I focus on our mission.
I boot up the computer. It’s an older version, but it comes to life quickly enough. It should have every file I need to start with.
“How long?” Aria demands, her voice uncertain, and I blink, trying to pull myself from the computer as I flick through files and notes.
“Hmm? Oh I’m not sure.”
I focus back on my work, feeling her annoyance, but it fades in the face of excitement at what the files could hold. I follow my directions and take the vials I need, crosschecking their labels carefully with the data on the computer to make sure they correlate and are the correct ones. I pull the bag from under the desk and carefully pack them into the insulated interior, knowing they need to be kept cold. Hopefully, this will last until we get back. It’s all I have to work with.
I work as quickly as I can, mentally checking things off as I work through the cultures and fridges. I double- and triple-check everything, but the next thing on the list isn’t there, neither is the next and the next. I frown. Maybe it’s somewhere else?
But no, it should be here. So where is it?
“What is it?” Aria demands. I didn’t know she had been watching me so closely, but she must have been able to sense my confusion. Her eyes are uneasy where she stands on the stairs, as if she does not want to enter the lab, which makes me frown harder.
“Some of the samples are missing,” I admit.
“Did you double-check? Maybe they were put into a different fridge.”
I nod, hurrying to check anyway, meticulously opening everything to make sure. “No, they are definitely gone…but they should be here.” I crouch on the floor before turning to meet her eyes. There’s only one logical solution. They were taken. But why? By whom? “Who would sneak into the city and steal samples?”
“No one good,” she mutters, but then there’s a massive crash from upstairs. I jump to my feet, backing away in fear, but she only seems determined. “And that is our cue to go. Grab your shit. Now.”
I hesitate. There is so much more I need to grab. If I go back without it, I will lose all their support. “I still need collect data—”
She hurries to me. “No time.” She throws my bag at me and yanks me to my 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 me moving, because she’s right, and it’s more important we survive this than locate the missing samples. We can always come back. I follow her up the stairs, where she stops at the top. I swallow my fear at her stiff back. It’s not a monster, is it?
If it is, what do we do?
I want to ask, but I stay quiet, following her lead.
There’s another crash, and she turns to me with a finger pressed to her lips, telling me to stay silent. I nod, and she turns forward, stepping out. I follow as close as I can, not wanting to be left alone. I don’t see anything, but I spot something outside.
The sun is starting to set.
Oh my god.
We are going to die here!
My eyes drop to something moving outside, and I almost scream. Aria is focused on the sun with fear in her eyes—fear I’ve never seen in her before. “Aria,” I hiss.
“I know,” she mutters, but she’s not seeing what I am.
“No, look.” I point it out, my hand shaking. There, beyond the glass, is a fucking tiger, an animal I’ve only ever seen a clone of in the zoo, since most died out here in the city…or so we thought. It’s watching us, smashing into the glass as it keeps its eyes on us, searching for a way in. My heart pounds, and I’m sure it can hear it and taste my fear as it licks its fangs.
