Chain Reaction 2.89: You Were Right

Claire

     My husband is brilliant in his own way. He really should give himself more credit. I guess growing up with Emily as a little sister can make anyone feel like he has below average intelligence.

     He's been right about Malcolm Landgraab this whole time, and I'm going to get proof.

     I'm also here for work. The government is involved in MorcuCorp Industries in a sinister way, and I consider it my duty to let the public know.

     I have successfully followed a trio including Malcolm himself into what looks like a secret lab.

      "Here we are," the woman says. "Watch what happens when we inject the serum." She stands somewhat behind and to the side of Malcolm, pointing to what's in front of them.

      Malcolm sits in a chair in front of a window to a room. In the room, a man stands attached to a crazy-looking robot/machine thing. He screams, and I jump, gathering the curiosity of the third member of the group, the one I'm assuming is only here for security. It's he that I have to be careful of the most. He looks my way, and I duck out of sight. Still, what I hear makes me sick.

     "Fascinating! That was instantaneous!" Malcolm exclaims. "I believe we're ready to go forward."

     I put my hand over my mouth. I'd done some research and discovered that MorcuCorp had done experimentations on aliens. That's what I thought I'd find when I followed them down here. But that's not what it is. No. They're now doing this stuff on sims themselves. And something tells me these aren't willing subjects.

     The man breaks free of the machine, and the trio starts to panic. Their test subject has turned into a vicious tiger-sim! And he's trying to break through the glass. I dart around the machine I hide behind and see beyond the wall that a scientist subdues him with a kind of tranquilizer.

     "Then again, maybe not." Malcolm sits back down.

     The scientist that did the tranquilizing starts foaming at the mouth.

     I have to swallow a gasp when he starts showing signs of getting what the test subject had. This interests the female scientist standing next to Malcolm. She starts talking about similarities with toxoplasmosis.

     They decide to lock up one of their own for observation--just to see what will happen!

     "We have company," the man in all black says, looking right at me.

     Malcolm doesn't even turn around. "Take care of it."

     The woman laughs meanly. "Maybe we have a new test subject."

     Plum! I dash for the exit with the man closing in. My only hope is to lose him in the maze of buildings.

     It works. At least for now, I've lost him, but I doubt I know this place as well as he does.

     Worse: I end up lost myself.

      Pick up pick up pick up pick up pick up! Ethan isn't answering his phone! Oh, he'd be so furious with me to find out I'm here, especially considering he himself was in this same predicament. Please pick up! It goes to voicemail.

     I very quietly talk into my phone. "Ethan! You were right. MorcuCorp. You were right." I hear a noise. He's close! The man in black is going down the alleyway to my left. My blood runs cold when I hear his voice.

     "Red? Re-ed? Come out come out wherever you are! You can't hide forever."

     I quickly get up and move away from the direction of the voice, around another corner. No sooner do I do that when I hear him again.

     "You're headed for a dead end. Did you know?" He stops and listens. I don't dare so much as breathe. "As much as I love a good game of hide and seek, I don't have all night."

     I'm in trouble.

     I'm about to round another corner, trying to get away from the sound of his voice when I hear him just on the other side of it!

    "It's only a matter of time. I'm going to find you. Be a good girl and make my job a little easier."

    No. I decide to double back the way I came.

      I gasp, swallowing air as I almost smack into the very one pursuing me.

      "No! But..." I point where it is he should be.

      He smirks. "I love the acoustics here." He keeps advancing while I back up. "My boss would like a word with you."

      I turn around another corner, still backing up. "No. Please. Say you couldn't find me."

      He laughs. "He'd never believe that. I'm not paid so well by being incompetent." He pauses. "You wanted to see what was going on down there. Why not get a firsthand look?"

      "I'd rather not." I turn and make another run for it.

      I scream when he tackles me a few seconds later.

      "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear earlier," he growls while I try to fight him off.

      "I'm not going back down there! Let me go! I have three children!" In a last ditch effort, I throw my phone at him. It hits him in the face before clattering to the floor.

     "Then you should've stayed home with them instead of sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!" Furious now, he manages to roll me over onto my stomach. My hat falls off.

     The next voice I hear scares me even more. "Oh good. I knew I could count on you, Tony."

     "Remember our agreement."

     "Yes, yes. That's the reason I came to assist." He steps closer. "My, my. Claire Taylor."

     "I'm going to get out of this, Malcolm, and I'm going to blow this operation of yours wide open!"

     "I think not."

     "Poor Vane. She'll be disappointed, but I'm afraid we are not in need of more subjects."

     Pain erupts in my chest.