All the shops had been closed for the evening. The gates were locked to the ground and the lights were all off. Matt slowly walked through the first level of the center. Becker and Jess had taken the third and fourth, leaving him with the first and second. Matt didn't mind, it gave him a chance to focus without sensing Becker's death glare on his back the entire time.

He peeked into each gate, scanning the shop with his eyes and weapon. His light cut into the dark shops around him as he strolled through the lit corridors. Matt didn't understand the structure of so many shops in one building. In cases like these, the structure was a nuisance. There were far too many corridors to memorize, far too many shops the creatures could hide in, and far too public for this emergency.

Matt reached the far end of the first floor. He pressed his earpiece. "Becker, west wing of the first floor is clear. No sign of creature incursions. I'm heading to the east."

"Copy that. Jess and I are still sweeping the west section of the third floor. No sign of incursion." Becker replied.

"Copy that." Matt said. He turned back around and started retracing his steps. A strange feeling was slowly welling inside him. They were being watched- no stalked. This was a giant maze, and they were the prey.

Abby and Connor stepped out of the elevator onto the fifth floor. They had remained in the elevator after Becker and Jess had reached the third floor. They looked around cautiously. Connor looked down at the portable detection device in his hand. He looked up and pointed down the hall.

"That way." He said.

Abby took lead, walking down the open corridor.

"You gettin'a feelin' of Déjà vu?" Connor asked.

Abby arched one of her brows. "What do you mean?

"Shoppin' center, anomaly, all that's missin' is the raptors." Connor finished.

Abby turned, smirking slightly. "You know Connor, you've probably just jinxed the mission."

Connor's eyes grew wide. "Oh, right. I'm just…I'm gonna-"

"Shut up?" Abby asked.

Connor nodded. "Yep."

Abby smirked and looked ahead of them. She loved messing with Connor but she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her. Connor was right though, this was a little too much like déjà vu. The center, Abby could handle, but she wasn't so sure if she could handle another raptor encounter, especially if Connor shot her with an EMD. Abby pulled herself from that painful memory and focused herself.

They walked through the halls of the shopping center. It was quiet, save for the humming of the ventilation system above their heads. The vents rattle with activity, giving Abby an even further uneasy feeling. Every few meters Connor would look down at the device and alter their route to the anomaly site.

"Hey Abby." Connor said.

"Yeah?"

"Did you see Becker's face when Jess told him she was stayin'?" Connor asked.

Abby smirked lightly. "Yeah."

"I haven't anybody stand up to him like that before, not the way Jess did." Connor said.

Abby shook his head. "Poor man met his match tonight."

Connor chuckled and looked down at the device. He stopped. "Abby, this way."

Abby turned. Connor was pointing down one of the less used halls of the center. They were usually used by authorized people, shop workers or janitorial staff. Connor grabbed the door handle and readied himself. Abby nodded and he opened the door. Abby entered moved through the door and checked one end of the hall. Connor entered behind her and checked the second half.

"Clear." Abby said.

"Clear." Connor replied.

"Which way?"

"Your way. Take the first left." Connor explained.

They walked down the back corridors of the shopping center. The walls were a bluish grey, very dull. The horrible lights hung above them, flickering occasionally.

"You feel that?" Abby asked.

Connor frowned. He felt a drafted in the hallway. "Vent system?"

"Cool air in the winter?" Abby asked.

Connor shrugged. "Maybe their cheap?"

Abby rolled her eyes.

The corner Connor had mentioned was only few meters ahead of them. Abby took the turn first. She found herself face to face with an anomaly…and more. Abby gasped and stepped back from the corner. Connor peeked round and saw what Abby was strayed from. The grey floor was covered in blood, flesh, and strips of clothing. Connor looked away quickly, worried for his stomachs reaction.

"Matt, we've located the anomaly." Abby said.

"Good work, seal it up."

"There's more. We have a creature loose in the center. We found a body. I can't make our gender or size, but it was definitely a creature attack." Abby explained.

"Copy that." Matt said.

"Let's get this closed." Connor said.

so from here on out, it'll focus on Becker and Jess. short i know. sorry