Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is related to House of the Dead. (It's obvious...)

Chapter 8

"Please understand, dear one

All the things I've done

It is all for you...

I really missed you two..."

Year:1994

This was the biggest and most advance facility. EFI Research Facility... Many DBR researchers worked here day and night, almost without resting, thanks to Dr. Curien. Anthony yawned. He couldn't remember when was the last time he slept. This stupid work was killing him. Lance and Carl were checking the status of experiment F-t0028 when Stephen and Sarah came in to the lab. Anthony was already asleep on the desk.

"Guys, good news and bad news." Stephen spoke up. "Good news...we're leaving this lab and let other researchers take our place." "Oh, thank goodness. I'm getting sick of all these test subjects. Seriously, I wondered where did they get all of these sloths anyway?" Lance threw away the result papers. Carl still looked at Stephen with suspicious expression. "What's the bad news?" he asked. Sarah sighed and showed them their new job. "We're working double time in Priority Alpha Section." That woke Anthony up from his beauty sleep. "What the-?! Double time?! What the heck is it this time?! An oversize rat with extra pair of eyes?!" "Uh, no. Here, have a look at this yourself." Sarah pointed at the paper that was in Carl's shaky hands. Carl looked a bit pale at the sight of their new 'subject'...

"...It's a child?" Carl gasped, eyes staring at the paper with shock. "Not just any child, Carl. That's his son." Stephen explained. Lance coughed...and faked a laugh. "Has he gone completely mad!? What does he want us to do with his son? Give him a new spine?" "No...we're assigned to...well, it says right there at the bottom of the page." Sarah pointed at the paper. Lance, Anthony and Carl looked closer. "WHAT?! We're researchers! Not doctors! Why the hell didn't he bring his son to a hospital or something?" Anthony blurted out. Stephen sighed. "From what I heard...the doctors said that his son won't recover so he...planned to help him." "Such a nice dad..." Anthony said sarcastically. "Anyway, we're needed down there now so let's go." Stephen rushed everyone and they went down to the basement level.

When they entered the room, panic filled the room. The staffs were running around getting the equipment. The lady researcher was going hysterical. Terrance was adjusting the oxygen mask over the still body on the table. He looked like he was going to faint any minute...Stephen looked around. "Mrs. Miller? What's going on?" the lady turned around and pointed to the boy... "Dr. Curien is coming! He's coming and we're-" she turned pale in shock.

"We're losing him!" she screamed. The pulse line went flat...and Dr. Curien entered the room...

'...BUSTED!' Stephen froze. What a bad timing...


"You always come back...

...like hungry wolf pack

You love to torment

without our consent..."

Year: 2000

"What time is it now?" Terrance nudged Allan. "Uh...Ten o nine. Don't tell me that you're hungry." Allan frowned. He grabbed the bag and looked inside. "Here, have the whole bag." he handed the bag to Terrance. "What? Only three pears left?" Terrance grumbled. "Better than nothing at all." Sarah sighed. Stephen tugged Sarah's sleeve. "Actually Sarah...that's our problem now." he pointed at the bag. "That's our last bag..."

"Oh, great. We'll all starve to death because Robert won't let us go out through the entrance anymore..." Lance sighed and leaned against the wall. "For our safety so I can't let you go out through that door." Robert gave Lance a glare. Lance wasn't afraid this time. "Safety?! How about for our 'survival'? I know you're a security guard but seriously...you won't even let us go out to the harvest room to get food?" Robert glowered...then pointed upward to the air vents. "Unless you can fit in that small air vent...I highly doubt that any of you can get through...or even open it since it was screwed tightly."

"Wait...air vents? It can get us there to the harvest room?" Terrance raised an eyebrow. Robert sighed. "Where do you think the plants get the air from? The metallic floor? The air circulates through the vents. I thought that you are smarter than this, Terrance. You're the man of science, not me." Lance and Anthony snickered. "I can try to get in there." Allan offered. Robert didn't look surprised. "Well, how do you expect to remove the cover? It was screwed tight." Robert inquired. Allan walked to the air vents and pulled out something metallic from his boot. With a swift movement, Allan managed to get the screws out and pulled the cover out...which surprised everyone in the room. He climbed up and went inside the vent. It was another surprise for everyone. He poked his head out of the air vent and smirked. Anthony made a face and pulled out his wallet and gave it to Sarah.

"Well...that's...uh...unexpected." for the first time ever, Robert was stunned. "Bad news, Robert...You can't fit in here." Allan gestured to the vent. "We can see that, Mr. Obvious-pointer..." Lance rolled his eyes. "You need someone to go with you." Robert pointed out. Stephen nudged Sarah and gestured to Allan. She immediately shook her head. "No way. I'm not going in there. A lady with claustrophobia here." Terrance also shook his head. "I'm not going in there. I always get nervous when I'm in small places." 'Great...another guy with claustrophobia...' Robert sighed. "Is there anyone in this room who doesn't have this condition and can fit in that small vent?" he asked.

"...Hey, Daniel. Want to come with me?" Allan called out. The room went silent and everyone looked at Daniel. "Umm...sure." he stood up and walked to the air vent. No one was surprised when they saw that Daniel could get in the air vent. "We'll be back soon." Allan's voice echoed through the air vent. He went ahead of Daniel in to the dark vent. Daniel crawled after him. He couldn't see Allan clearly in the dark passage but at least he knew that he was ahead of him. "You know where to go there?" Daniel asked. "To tell you the truth, I don't really know." Allan answered. That...didn't make Daniel feel any better.

"But I do noticed that there are air vents in different places, including the harvest room. It is next to the power room. I think I could-" Allan suddenly stopped. "Allan? What's wrong?" Daniel tried to focus in the dark. In front of them were two paths. One of them would lead them to the harvest room...while the other...would lead to the unknown. "Uh, Daniel?..." Allan sounded nervous. "You pick...left or right." Daniel stared at Allan blankly. 'Is he serious?' he thought. Still, he had to choose one. "...right." Daniel finally answered.

"Right then." Allan went to the right and continued crawling forward until he hit the other opening. He peered through the holes of the vent and smiled. "Well, what do you know...you're right, Daniel. Great guess. This is the harvest room.' he congratulated Daniel. "I guess right is always 'right', right?" Allan laughed. "...Ok, let's get out of here." he reached in his boots..."What the-?!" he winced. "It's gone..." "What's gone?" Daniel asked. "My pocketknife... I must have dropped it somewhere back...never mind. Stay back, Daniel." Allan kicked the vent cover and it fell down on the floor. Both of them jumped out from the air vent.

-Meanwhile, back in the room...-

"...What's taking them so long? It's almost an hour since they left." Sarah glanced at her wristwatch and looked at the air vent. "I hope that they don't run in to anything dangerous..." Terrance muttered.

Anthony saw something shiny on the floor under the air vent. When he took a closer look, he saw a pristine pocketknife and he picked it up. He nudged Lance and showed it to him. Lance saw it and hid the pocketknife before Robert could see it.

-Back in the harvest room...-

"Okay, that should do it. Let's head back." Allan carried the bag in to the air vent and reached out his hand for Daniel. "Will that be enough?" Daniel asked. "Enough for tonight." Allan shrugged. "Unless you're dieting...there might be enough for the next morning." he joked. They headed back into the vent. However, something didn't feel right on the way back... The air inside became a bit hard to breathe. "Daniel, we have to go fast. Something's wrong here. Follow me!" he went on...a little too fast.

"Allan? Allan, wait!" Daniel called out. Allan was out of his sight now... "Allan?...Allan! Where are you?" Daniel called...only to hear his own voice echoed back to him...followed by a cold laughter... 'Oh, no... Not again...' Daniel looked back in the dark passage. Suddenly, the air turned cold. He shivered. It was getting colder. He crawled in to the dark. "Where are you going, dear?" the voice called out. "Anywhere away from you." Daniel muttered, still crawling back to the room.

"...Closer than you think...Don't you ever blink..." it sang with voice full of hatred. "I'm right next to you...I'll rip you in two!" Even in darkness, Daniel could see what looked like a thin trace of shadow from the side of the vent. The shadow came out from the wall, revealed to be a fierce looking animal claw and snatched Daniel's leg. "Aaah-" Daniel yelped but another claw came out from the other side muffled his mouth before he could scream. The claw sank in to his leg and he screamed...but all he could hear was the growling sound of an animal from the vents...

-Back in the room-

"Guys! I think they're back." Terrance stood up and went to the air vent. Others turned their attention to Terrance. "Hey, Allan, is that you?" Terrance called. A bag flew out and hit his face and Terrance fell back to the floor. Lance shook his head. Allan jumped out from the air vent. "Oops...Sorry, Terrance." he helped Terrance up on his feet. "...It's okay...I asked for food...and I got it right in the face..." Terrance murmured, still feeling dizzy. Allan chuckled and turned to the air vent. "Alright, Daniel, come out from there slowly and-" he stopped dead. "...Daniel?" he called. Silence. "Where is Daniel?" Stephen asked. Sarah and Robert stared at Allan. "He was right behind me!" Allan looked in to the dark vent. He saw no one.

...Deja vu...This could be the right word. Being brutally attacked in a dark place...with confined space this time. "I don't know how you managed to poisoned me, you little imp...but I couldn't risk for him to bring you back once I kill you...so after I hacked you in to million pieces, I'll dump your remains in the room with that tree!" the voice roared in rage. Daniel couldn't escape from the claws...he had to do something fast. Without second thought, he bit the claw hard and the voice howled in pain. He tried to escape but those claws got his body and sank its claws in deep. Daniel screamed.

The screamed echoed down the vent and finally reached the room where others are hiding. "Oh, God...Daniel!" Allan startled. Sarah, Stephen and Terrance looked at each other. Robert pushed Allan away from the air vent. "Allan! Step back! I'll close the vent-" "WHAT?!" Allan couldn't believe what he heard. "No! I'm going back in there!" Allan pushed Robert off his way and jumped inside the air vent. Robert caught Allan's leg. "You idiot! He's gone now. Don't be a fool! You'll get yourself killed."

Allan glanced at Robert. "I thought you us to be safe! All of us! Daniel's with us now and I won't let anything take him away!" with that, he kicked Robert right in his face and crawled inside the vent. Robert yelled in anger. "FINE! If that moron wants to die out there then so be it!" he picked up the air vent cover. Sarah turned pale. "No! Robert, wait-!" she shrieked. Robert slammed it on to the opening.

Daniel struggled to get those claws off his body but it was no use. It was stronger than him. Well, every creature in this facility is stronger than him anyway. It tried to rip him open...slowly and painfully. "Daniel! Daniel, where are you?!" Allan called out. The claws ripped itself off Daniel and disappeared in to darkness. Allan found Daniel unconscious. "C'mon, kid. Don't die on me." Allan slowly dragged him along. He finally reached the room but it was shut.

"What the-?! Why is this close?!" Allan kicked it...but it didn't fell off. Robert really close it tight...

"Robert?! ROBERT! Get us OUT!" Allan yelled. Nobody answered. "Guys? C'mon, guys! Don't do this!" he shouted. He heard Sarah saying something to Robert and he grunted. The cover shook a bit...then it came off. "Oh, thank-" Allan was pulled out from the vent and fell down on the floor hard. Robert got Daniel out and put him down on the floor. Stephen quickly covered Terrance's eyes. "Terrance, you might wanted to look away." he warned.

Allan got up on his feet but was slammed to the wall by Robert. Everybody jumped. "You are so DEAD for this!" Robert yelled. Allan could see why. On the side of Robert's face was red because of that kick he gave to Robert. Robert raised his giant fist in the air and punched...only to missed Allan and made a huge dent on the metallic wall instead. Allan went away from Robert. "Hey! What's wrong with you?! I didn't put anyone in here in trouble while I went back for Daniel!"

"When I tell you to stay here...I mean it! What if those creatures found you and followed you here?! We're stuck in the corner here and you're bringing more threats!" Robert bellowed right in Allan's face. That would scare everyone to death but Allan didn't even flinch. "Are you saying that you'll leave Daniel in there to die?" Allan said with a stern voice. "Open your eyes, Allan. That bastard brings nothing but trouble to us." Lance blurted out in spite. "Lance! Watch what you're saying!" Sarah reprimanded. "He's better off dead!" Lance shouted.

"Enough! All of you!" Robert banged the wall, staring at everyone. He pointed at the air vent. "Keep our eyes on that opening. We have no idea what will come out of there. Always be ready for anything." "We're not security guards..." Lance muttered. "I heard that!" Robert snapped.

Sarah shook Daniel gently. He stirred and slowly came to. "Daniel, are you feeling alright?" she examined his body, looking for injuries. "Oh, you're fine." she looked relief. 'Fine?!' Daniel startled. He looked at his body...and found no trace of wounds on him. The bite mark on his shoulder was completely gone... Sarah noticed his behavior. "Daniel? Something's wrong?" she asked. 'Yeah. I think I was ripped in to two but when I came out, there were no wounds on me.' Daniel thought...but he decided not to tell her. He didn't want to startle anyone. "I'm...just glad that I'm okay...and everyone here is okay." Daniel told Sarah.

Sarah shrugged. "Oh, well...lucky to be alive." Allan sat down beside Stephen and whispered something that made Stephen shock. They came closer to Sarah, Terrance and Daniel. "Guys...I have something to tell you." Allan lowered his voice. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a cellphone. "What?! You have a cellphone this whole time?! Why didn't you call for help?!" Stephen hissed at Allan. "There's a small problem. There's no signal. That's why I can't call anybody." Allan explained. Terrance nudged Stephen and then whispered. "There's a satellite up on the roof top. I think he can get the signal from there."

"So, how do we go up there?" Sarah tilted her head. "I mean...Robert won't let us use the door anymore." "How about the air vent? It can lead anyone to anywhere, even to the rooftop, right?" Terrance whispered. That was when they turned to Allan...

"Allan..." Stephen spoke up. "Looks like you're going to have another chat with Robert..."


Year: 1995 [around late autumn...]

The outlook of Curien mansion had changed. It looked like it was abandoned. All the greenery around the mansion, especially the garden beside the fountain withered away. A black car stopped by the front gate and a man in brown suit stepped out from the car. He walked in the front yard and looked around. 'Holy-...what happened here?' he thought. "Who are you? What do you want?" a tired voice was heard behind the man's back. He turned around and saw... "...Roy?" Rogan gasped. "Wha...Thomas?" Dr. Curien was taken by surprised. The last time they saw each other was outside of that building filled with mutants. Agent Rogan...didn't changed a bit.

"Roy...What happened to you? You look...terrible." Rogan frowned slightly at the sight of Dr. Curien. "I...I just...have a situation at work but I got it under control..." Dr. Curien sighed heavily. "If this is a bad time...I can come back later." Rogan stepped back but stopped by Dr. Curien. "No...wait. I...I could use some company around here..." he spoke softly. Despair...it lingered in the air. Rogan could feel it. They have a small chat near the fountain. Rogan told Dr. Curien that after they parted ways, he got a new partner. A great partner. He also talked about his trip to Japan openly. Rogan hoped that by having a nice chat with a friend would lift his mood. It did a bit.

Soon, it was time for Rogan to leave. He walked to the gate but he tripped and fell down on the ground. "Thomas? Are you alright? Are you h-" Dr. Curien rushed to Rogan and helped him up. Rogan shook his head. "I'm fine. Well, that was embarrassing..." he dusted off the dirt from his suit. "Oh, man...I dropped it." Rogan sighed and bent down to get a small casket on the ground. "I hope it's still in a good shape..." Rogan opened the small casket...When Dr. Curien saw the object inside the casket, he thought he was going to die of shock. It was a very beautiful ring with topaz on top, glittering under the daylight. The same ring that he gave to Katherine years ago when he proposed to her...near the fountain in front of the mansion.

"Oh, Roy. Did I mention that I'm engaged to a woman? I planned to pro-" Rogan stopped when he saw Dr. Curien."Roy? What's wrong? Did I-" "Thanks for coming, Thomas." he blurted. "I-I'll go back inside now." he turned around and walked back to the mansion without saying another word, leaving Rogan to stand there, confused. Rogan put the casket back inside his pocket and headed to his car. He couldn't help but wonder whether he really saw tears in Curien's eyes before he left.

Author's notes: I hope everyone's eyes are still okay...and the University is still a pain in the rear... also...self correction can be funny sometimes...REAL funny...XP

Within the busiest week...I tried to type this...What? Some stuff are more fun than some of the subjects...

Thanks for the views, reviews and reading...