Wow, a whole ONE review. whoopee!! C'mon guys, do you like it, do you hate it, do you want me to stop writing completely? Gimme some feedback here, I'm working my ass off for this fic.
Chapter five
Talia dared to open her eyes. The sunlight coming through the windows was almost blinding. She sat up slowly, and after about a minute got up and stumbled towards the bathroom. She checked the mirror, and quickly wished she hadn't. She had rings under her eyes from sleeping in, and her red hair was frizzed and sticking out everywhere. She splashed some water in her face and smoothed out her hair. After a few minutes she walked into the other room and changed clothes, when she noticed the light breathing coming from under the covers. She peeled them back and found Dione sleeping. She was still unclothed, as she was the night before, and Talia smiled at the look of innocence on her face. She scribbled down a quick note to Dione that she was going to the library. After grabbing the journal and heading out the front door, Talia realized that she had absolutely no idea where the library was, or even if there was one. About an hour, and four pointing fingers later, she found a large building which she assumed was Theodin's library.
The building was enormous, and carved completely out of spotted marble, making it look as though it was brand new, when in reality, it was probably over fifty years old. She stepped inside, and was relieved to see a massive amount of books. The inside was beautiful, still carved completely out of marble. It had three floors full of shelves, and massive tables in open sections on each floor. She found an empty table and sat down to finally read the journal, and hopefully get some answers. She opened it up to the first page, and began reading.
1/12- We've completed construction on the Riptide facility. All of the lab equipment is being set up right now, and the specimen tanks are being moved into the innermost
Laboratory. Tomorrow we will begin gene therapy on the subjects.
1/22- Our first surviving specimen! Today's success is cause for celebration. All of the previous subjects had died within hours of the introduction of the gene serum.
Since it is our first success, subject 0 will be moved to a controlled environment free of outside influence.
2/4- Subject 0 has shown an increased growth rate, and is now conscious to the waking world.
2/6- We've removed subject 0 from it's containment tank, and have created an artificial environment for it to reside in. It seems to be growing more aware every day, and
our presence has been noticed.
2/12- Amazing! Not only has subject 0 grown fully articulable limbs, but has divided asexually. There are now two live subjects in the environmental chamber. They do not
appear to be bothered by each other's presence.
3/14- It's been a month, and there are now fourteen creatures, all originally spawned from subject 0. We have not been able to determine any actual gender, however
subject 0 appears to present itself as the "alpha male" if you will.
3/26- The slivers, as we have named them, show quite a liking to meat. In fact, they appear totally carniverous, not even paying heed to the assortment of vegetables
and fruits we have introduced to them.
4/2- Today is a sad day. We've had our first casualty. One of the handlers let his guard down and was swarmed by the slivers. When we returned to the lab, we found
nothing but blood stains and bits of shattered bone. We've decided to use automatons to deliver the sliver's their food from now on.
5/13- Complete chaos! The slivers have broken free from the environmental housing, and have run rampant, feeding on any living thing they find. They have no ocular
organs, and so we assume they attack based on the scent of blood.
5/15- We've managed to survive two days without the slivers finding us, but we're running short on supplies. Soon myself and the two others that are with me will have
to make a run for a supply room in the outside corridor. It's risky, but if we stay here, we will surely die. This may be my last entry, so...wish me luck.
5/16- I've been feeling ill all day. We decided to leave our locked room and attempt to make it to the supply closet. I am the only survivor. I did however, run across
one of the lab assistants who had apparently been knocked unconscious by a vicious blow to the head. She is barely breathing....I hope she'll be okay.
5/17- I'm counting the days till' the end. It seems hopeless. I believe the slivers have multiplied even more, and are using the natural blades on their arms to cut
through the building's support beams. They seem to be more intelligent than we first thought.
5/18- The sounds outside the door have ceased. I believe the slivers have left, but am still too afraid to check outside the door. I've been gravity feeding the girl
I found some water, but she still hasn't woken up. I fear she may be in a coma.
5/19- We've run out of supplies, and I'm about to leave the room and move to a different supply room on the other side of the compound. I haven't heard signs of movement in over a day, so I'm hoping that they have left in search of other food.
Talia found that the last entry was smeared with dried blood, rendering it illegible. She didn't care, she'd read enough. To think, that anyone would even consider playing god like that, and to what end? Death and destruction. Then she remembered. "My clothes...were...the same as the lab workers I saw dead in the corridor." She couldn't believe it. She had helped create those monsters. Why? What had possessed her to do such a thing? She laid her head on the table and burst into tears. A moment later she realized she was starting to attract attention. She stood up slowly and walked out, still crying soflty. By the time she made it to her room, Dione was just now beginning to take a morning bath. Talia was glad. She really wanted to be alone right now, at least for a little while. She sat on the bed holding the journal tightly to her chest and cried.
Fifteen minutes later, Dione had finished with her bath, and was just coming out when she saw Talia sobbing quietly on the edge of the bed. "What's the matter?" She asked. Talia jumped, then wiped her eyes and cracked a smile. "I...I remembered. I remember everything." She had lied. She didn't care. All she knew was that she had helped do something terrible, and didn't want to remember. Dione looked confused. "Forgive me, it's not my business." Dione walked out of the room and left Talia to her thoughts. Talia sought for any shred of evidence that didn't put her in the postition of creating those creatures. Even though the author of the journal never spoke her name, it all fit together. She could see no other way. She realized that she'd have to accept this as fact, and find a way to move on. But, one thing still bothered her. That hole in the wall at the Riptide facility, that...."Oh no.....oh god, please no." She stared at the journal for a long while, then simply stated. "They're.....free."