()%The Thing Within #ONC2023

Chapter 2

We exchanged greetings before Sam looked around with a confused expression. "Thought there were supposed to be seven of us?"

"Lynn's not here yet," answered Danny.

"Who's Lynn?" I asked.

"She's a biomedical expert from the University. She'll be here alright."

"You said that before we cut the opening, which was almost two hours ago, and she still hasn't arrived," Oliver said, arching his eyebrows, which looked higher than normal through his clear protective helmet.

"You cut an opening—in the dome?" I asked, fingering the clasp on my helmet, making sure it was secure. Hasn't one already been cut?

"Yep! That was the order," Danny answered.

"From who?" Sam asked.

"The boss, after we visited last week," Danny replied. "Not even a fly can find its way from that previous opening into the dome. It led to a small chamber, sealed off from the rest of the place by a massive technologically advanced door, so advanced that not even our lead computer scientist here knows how to open it."

A technologically advanced door, not even Frigoria's leading computer scientist, could open! That explains why the squad met their deaths the day after.

Sam must have read my mind. "You've got your answer, Jen."

"Yes!" I said, trying to internalize my thoughts.

"Some type of anthrax-like organism leaked from the chamber that the men cut, and that's what's believed to have caused their instant deaths," Oliver said.

"Anthrax? Doesn't that take about five days before it kills you?" Sam asked.

"That's why I said anthrax-like. Part of its genome resembles the Bacillus anthracis, the anthrax bacteria. And the rest is a mystery," Oliver said.

"Lynn thinks we're dealing with more than one thing. A deadly virus, bad bacteria, and maybe another type of bio-leakage," Danny said.

Everyone grew quiet as they listened.

Danny shook his head and continued, his eagerness growing contagious. "Anyway, she'll be here soon. No need for us to wait. Let's do this thing!"

I needed to internalize what I was hearing. The crevice I'd seen had formed over a part of the dome that failed to serve me instant death. And yet the squad was so unfortunate as to open a can of worms that fatal day. My mind raced as I contemplated our upcoming exploration. So, we were actually going to explore inside the extensive bio-dome. What other dangers awaited us in there? And would I finally have proof that I wasn't imagining things when I claimed to have seen a most unlikely creature?

Meanwhile on Catherina Island

Aria

I couldn't have slept long, for I stirred at the sound of gunshots somewhere in the distance. The raiders had returned to continue their killing, or perhaps they never left. Keeping my eyes closed, I tried to block out the sounds, but it was useless. This time, it was the sound of voices that penetrated my brain, and they were inside. I peered out to see the guys huddled together by the light of a candle, discussing something, their faces besieged with bleakness.

Remembering my phone, I reached into my jeans pocket to retrieve it. I was lucky to have it. But the thought soon evaporated when I read the words no service atop the screen. I dialed my aunt's place, second-guessing my eyesight, and heard a loud beeping noise.