Tina the Cyclops

Chapter 1

A clearing sat in the forest. Dark clouds rolled over the stony grey sky, marking the soon to be arrival of a storm. Thick foliage smothered the clearing protecting it from public view while tall trees, reaching towards the infinite heavens, towered over any mere mortals that dare cross their paths. Fallen logs sank into the soft earth, wasting away like rotting corpses. Any creature stupid enough to be out at this time soon scampered out of sight. Any creature except for one woman. Ariana Simons. She clambered over logs like she had been doing it her whole life, brushed past sharp branches like she couldn't feel pain and was unfazed by the incoming storm. She had worse things to worry about. With dark brown hair pinned into a tidy bun, unreadable peacock coloured eyes and an expression suggesting that she meant business, she reached the door of a wooden shack. After knocking in a peculiar pattern it quickly drifted open and she slid out of sight.

Upon arrival, she was greeted by a scruffy looking man. The two dressed in the same white coats that reached their ankles but were completely different in every other respect. He was unshaven and had dark circles surrounding his eyes but, despite appearing as though he hadn't slept for weeks, his demeanour suggested utter excitement. "I think we're ready" he spat out at last. But he was greeted with a concerned glance. "Are you sure this time?" came the eventual reply. "Positive"

"But what if it ends up like last time?"

She was cut off by the the phrase, "Dr Simons, who's running this project?" She was silent.

"Today is the day we make history, imagine how the public will react!"

It was his turn to be cut off.

"I'm sure most people won't be too pleased that you kidnapped three teenagers and government protected extraterrestrials"

"I thought you wanted to help me"

"I do, but we have to appreciate the consequences our actions may result in"

"You worry too much"

With that, he began walking down a flight of stairs. Dr Simons reluctantly followed.

"Dr Milton, please wait!"

But, he was too far gone. The experiment he had dedicated many sleepless nights to, was becoming a reality.

Eventually, they reached a door and, without hesitation, travelled through it. The room was illuminated by flickering rectangular lights which hardly saw a rest, there was a control panel complete with switches, buttons, dials and knobs but, most prominently, three giant cylinders filled with coloured liquid, two of which seemed to be filled with more than just that... "Who's this one?" Ariana questioned, gesturing towards the right cylinder. "Tina Hawthorne, 17" Came the reply. The man moved towards the panel of switches. "Matthew please wait!" The woman pleaded. "For what, the apocalypse? This is my life's work and I'm seeing it completed TODAY!" With that, Matthew Milton flipped a switch.