Through the next hallway, there were four more people they had to help: one woman and three men. Madison effectively unhooked them with a minimal amount of help from Cameron. He held the tubes steady while she dislodged them from people's brains and throats. "God, I do not get how you can do that," Justin said, less green the first few times but still somewhat green. "Perks of the trade," she said without a glance as she pulled out the last tube."I do not get how you're fine when I lose an arm, but you can't handle a little bit of brain juice. That's like people who would prefer to clean up vomit than piss," Cameron thought."Because I've encountered blood before. I can honestly say I never thought I'd be seeing brain fluid," Justin had a good point."Stop talking and help me. We have to get these last few people through here," Madison pointed to another hallway. "Justin, are you able to stay behind and talk to them when they wake up?""Yeah, I guess so." He walked over to Cameron

"I think that's the cheesiest thing you've ever said to me, Cameron," Madison laughed. "Well, it's true." She put her hand on top of his and kissed it. "Let's get you looked at real quick. Lay back." She peeled his shirt up and inspected his torso. It was bloody, but it didn't look like anything serious, nothing more than bruises. She was mostly concerned about his teeth and how bloody they were. At least one was definitely gone. That guard did a number on him, but she was sad to say they didn't have the time to go fixing those right now. They had to keep going. Cameron argued after a moment, "Come on, Mads. Let's just go. I'm fine." "Well, nothing looks life-threatening, so we'll look at it later after we get out of here. Right now, yes, we need to go." ***** Carly was forced to push down the fears that she had killed all of them. If I'd just gotten here sooner, maybe they-- no, Carly. You can't think like that.

"Madison! Please come back with me. They don't need Carly and Justin, which means we do." Cameron pointed out the obvious. "Clearly, them being here would mess up the project, otherwise they wouldn't have even bothered. Would they? They'd have just killed them and gotten it over with."Madison turned around, eyes wider than he'd ever seen them. "They're needed for something else.""Is there something bigger than Project Invidia?" Cameron pinched his nose. "Damn," he muttered."There has to be, otherwise like you said, they'd have just killed them off already.""Shit, you're right. We need to find them." Cameron started backtracking."Cam, we fell through the floor. How exactly do you expect us to find them?" Madison put her hands on her hips."Good point. Madison van Buren," he put his hands on her shoulders, steadying them both at the same time, "you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I want you to know that. I want you to know if it weren't for you, I probably woul

"Wait, wait, wait." Madison said. "Hold on. How does he steal all of their oxygen? And how does he know that what he's doing works?""I don't know, but I have an idea who might." Cameron said."Who would that be?""My professor at San Vanjay's, the one who was writing about biomolecular physics.""And how do we know we can trust him?" Madison asked.Cameron gulped, "We don't, but what other choice do we have?"*****"How exactly did they wipe themselves out?" Carly asked the little girl."They made themselves known too quickly.""In what way?"Adalia gave a smile, "Have you ever heard of the Beginning?"Justin worked hard to keep his face as straight as possible. "I think I might have heard it somewhere. Why?""They were the ones who put me here, gave me a chance at becoming a part of the Project."Carly piped up this time, "And was that your choice, to leave?"She smiled sadly at the ground, "Not at first, no. I did not want to leave my mother and my father, but they understood. The

Rock, plaster, and dust covered everything in a thick layer of ick. Justin coughed and spit on the floor, and Carly snapped at him for being gross.During the ceiling falling, and their chests becoming engulfed in choking clouds of dust, neither of them noticed the giant man that fell with the ceiling. The man was gargantuan, with a hooked nose and a scruffy beard, no hair on his head, and his breath was the scent of spoiled milk. He landed softly on the ground, noiselessly, and stalked away down the corridor. The only thing he left behind were footprints settled on the sooty ground."God, what was up with that?" Justin finally finished coughing."I don't know, but look," Carly pointed to the footprints of what had to have been at least a size 14 foot."Geez, who is that? Bigfoot?" Justin followed them, walking carefully so his own footprints did not disturb them.It didn't take long for them to catch up with the beast. He was large, but what he made up for in size, he lacked in speed