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Chapter 7
Breaking into a sprint I headed straight for the lift, typing the access code into the panel, calling the lift back.
"Come on!" I shouted impatiently. The lift doors opened and I jumped inside. My mind was racing and I began to feel dizzy and sick, clutching the railing, I pressed fumbled for the lobby button, sighing in relief as the lift doors slid shut and I began my descent. I couldn't work out what was more scary, being caught by the Lycan or being caught by Dr Lane. They were probably on par.
As soon as the elevator doors opened I was delved into chaos. Lab assistants, receptionists, phone operators and even janitors had gathered in the lobby. There was one big blurry sound of voice shouting over voice. The security guards were trying to ease the situation with the help of some of the senior scientists. I stepped off the lift to find Dr Stevenson, head of floor nine, to my right. He was on the phone, and unusually completely calm. He glared at me as I tip toed passed him hoping to evade the pitch forking crowd, my hands shaking like they were being electrocuted.
"Yes sir," He mumbled down the phone behind me.
"Victoria!" Olivia shouted, waving for me. She was at the back of the mob with Trisha stood beside her, shaken and confused. Meekly, I scurried over to join them, keeping my eyes on the exit doors.
"Where have you been?! Did you not hear that racket?!" Olivia exclaimed.
"No- Well yeah, I've been in the ladies, what's going on?" I lied, glancing around at the commotion. I couldn't spot Quint.
"We think something has escaped the facility, we heard the windows smash, and saw something dark jump out!" She sobbed.
"They won't let us leave until they inspect the affected floor," Trisha added. Looks like I left just in time.
"What if it comes back, what if other things escaped too and are wandering the building?! We are just sitting ducks!" Olivia cried, covering her horrified mouth with a quivering hand.
"Listen up everybody!" Dr Stevenson shouted, climbing on top of one of the plush arm chairs in the waiting section of the lobby. Everyone turned to listen. "Quieten down!" He yelled, the buzzing of voices began to diminish. "There were reports of a subject escaping; we have sent our security team up through every floor of the building and we can confirm there has been no escape," Bullshit. I saw it with my very own eyes! "We have found that there was a small gas leak in the labs on floor eight, causing a small explosion, shattering the windows and breaking equipment," Dr Stevenson explained, it sounded so genuine I almost wanted to believe him. "Due to their being no subjects kept on floor eight, we are one hundred percent certain that they are all still contained to the highest level of security," Dr Stevenson finished. The crowd began whispering among themselves, lapping up the doctors lies. "Now, due to us having the highest regard to staff safety, you are all dismissed until further notice so we can prevent accidents like these from happening in the future,"
"I feel somewhat silly now," Olivia laughed at herself, "We're still lucky it wasn't a massive explosion though, our offices sit just above!" She exclaimed, nudging Trisha in the arm.
"Yeah I guess we're lucky, at least we get an early finish," She smiled, slipping her bag over her shoulder.
"We going then?" Olivia asked, already following the crowd towards the exit.
"My stuff is still upstairs, I didn't have time to grab it," I winced, stepping back towards the elevator.
"Okay, stay safe, I'll probably see you tomorrow then chick," Trisha smiled, following in Olivia's footsteps. I headed back towards the lifts nervously, smacking myself mentally for not going to get my things earlier. If it wasn't for the apartment keys in my handbag I probably would have just left them there and gone with the others.
"Are you okay Miss Newgate, they look painful," Dr Stevenson asked as he stepped beside me.
"Huh?" I asked, completely dazed and still in shock.
"Your hands and knee's they're grazed and cut," He said simply.
"Oh yeah… carpet burn," I half smiled. "I'm too clumsy for my own good,"
"Well perhaps try to be less clumsy in the future perhaps? We have an image to uphold after all," I gritted my teeth; he wasn't even my boss to be giving me a telling off.
"Of course sir," I smiled, stepping in the elevator once again as it arrived. Dr Stevenson stepped in after me. I pressed my floor.
"What floor sir?" I asked politely, hovering over the numbers.
"Eight please Victoria," He smiled devilishly. I pressed the glowing eight, and stepped back, a nervous smile plastered on my face. The lift slowed as it approached the eighth floor, and Dr Stevenson stepped forwards to type in the code. He glanced at me, causing me to avert my eyes to something superbly interesting on the floor. The doors slid open at Dr Stevenson disembarked.
"Good night Miss Newgate, safe journeys home," He looked back and smiled at me as the doors began to shut again. The pit deep in my stomach began to twist and turn, something didn't feel right, this week was far from normal, and it just seemed to keep going in a downwards spiral. I felt like I was on the brink of something, but I didn't know what, death maybe? I reached my floor and stepped off. A shiver ran down my spine, I'd never seen the office in the dark with no lights on at all; it was creepy, ghostly even. The only light source came from the sunset blasting it's way through the far windows.
Silently I headed towards my desk at the end of the hallway. I exhaled the breath I hadn't even realised I was holding when I saw my belongings exactly where I had placed them. I shut down my computer, popped my bag on my shoulder, and folded my coat over my arm. I was about to head back towards the elevator for one last ride to the lobby when something caught my eye. Through the window blinds I could see Dr Lane's computer screen lighting up his back wall. Strange, the lights were off. I knocked on the door quietly, making sure I wasn't disturbing any of his late night work, and tried the handle when there was no reply. To my shock the door was unlocked. Dr Lane always locked his office. I opened the door slowly, and stepped inside. There was no one there. I triple checked just in case, because knowing my luck there'd be something creeping in the dark. I shut down Dr Lane's computer, neatly stowing his keyboard and mouse in his drawer just the way he liked it.
"Should you be in here?" An authoritative voice spoke from the door way. I looked up through the falling hair to see a dark figure hogging the entrance way. I knew that voice. That voice made my heart stop in my chest.
"Should you be in here?" I quipped back. I couldn't see his arrogant smirk, but I knew it was there. I hated how Dr Lane always had his office so dark, the blinds always down, like a hermit, or a vampire. I clicked on the lamp to my left, revealing Quint's form in the doorway, and as I guessed, smirk on my face.
"What happened earlier?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes beginning to water a little, I'm not sure why.
"Earlier?" He asked, slowly sauntering towards me.
"The phone calls," I half whispered, "You were on floor eight…" I gulped. Quint came even closer still, causing me to travel around the desk.
"What about my phone calls from floor eight?" He asked, smirking. He knew the answers; he was just playing a game.
"You were there, and then suddenly there was a…" I trailed off, choosing which direction to go: Lycan or explosion. "There was an explosion in the lab," I quivered, backing up into large glass window, the only thing keeping me from falling one hundred and twenty foot down onto the concrete stairs outside the lobby doors. Quint advanced on me, I was scared, terrified, because deep down I knew what this all meant, and why this was all happening, I just didn't want to admit it.
"I think we both know there was no explosion Victoria." He said, stepping forward into the last light of sunset, revealing long, deadly sharp fingernails and black beady eyes. My eyes widened and I gulped. I knew this had been coming, it explained so much, but I couldn't believe my bosses' son was a Lycan, a twelve foot Lycan.
"You," I choked as he stepped only inches away from me, I was completely petrified, unable to move, unable to speak. They say we either have 'fight or flight' reflexes, I apparently have neither.
"Yes me," He smirked, lifting his taloned finger to my chin and lifting it so ours eyes could met. I tried to look away but he grasped me harder and harder until I looked into those onyx orbs, his gaze softened when our eyes finally met.
"I didn't want to have to do this Victoria, but you just couldn't keep your nose out," He murmured as tears began to run down my cheek.
"Please I won't-" I choked. I was abruptly cut off by his lips crashing down onto mine. It was a hungry desperate kiss, I managed to hold my ground for most of it, but eventually I found myself kissing him back.
"Don't beg Victoria," He hissed, pulling away and pushing me against the cold glass by my hip, "It will all be over soon," He cooed in my ear. I clasped my eyes shut, readying myself for what was to come. I'd been on the bring of death before, and I'd been lucky, but this must be my time that's up.
There was a hesitation, and then the most excruciating pain ripped through my shoulder, I could feel his deadly sharp teeth rip into my flesh. I wasn't ready for that. I screamed, reaching for my shoulder, reaching for him, trying to push him away. He grabbed both my arms, holding me back against the glass as he sunk his teeth in deeper. Blood dripped down my front and back, I could smell it in the air. I was losing a fair bit. The fight in me began to drain away and I slipped to the floor slowly as he released me, losing consciousness as I went.