1.
When Emily recovered from the shock waves that had rippled through her body, she tried to speak. She was sprawled on the floor of the lab from the bolt of electricity that had been run through her system.
Making an effort to catch her breath, she said, "What..what do you want from me?" The assassin who was now watching her with a deadly intent was fixing some kind of mechanical device. Slowly coupling the instrument into place. She could only wonder what it would be used for.
She looked at him again, she could tell that the device was taking longer than it should have from the slight frustration that showed in his face. In a moment, his eyes had drifted from her for an instant. Emily used the split second to glance at the emergency button that was positioned beneath the counter top on the second row of laboratory tables. She wondered if she could reach it if she ran.
The assassin was murmuring something under his breath. It sounded like the lords prayer to her, but she was not certain.
The assassin moved in on her and pressed the device firmly on her chest. Emily tried to scream, but as she opened her mouth, she could only mutter a pitiful gasp as she rolled on the floor and passed out.
2.
The simple taser which the assassin had used on Emily was one that could easily be purchased online. The device which he was now coupling was a much more sophisticated device. One he had taken the pain of inventing himself. He looked at the body of the scientist which now sprawled on the floor in a mess of hair and lab coat and took a deep breath. He had bound her legs firmly using a very thin wire.
I don't want any surprises.He began dragging her by the hair towards the door which was marked private. When he got there, he searched her body for the passkey, found it and opened the door. The air that hung in the room was a mixture of pure oxygen and an inert gas.
The room which the assassin had entered was fairly large, consisting of interconnected giant tubes and tanks which took up most of the space in the room. The assassin maneuvered the body around several pods which lay side by side on the ground. Several of the pods had gases hissing out of them. When he got to a place which looked like some sort of cabinet he stopped.
He pushed the body roughly on the ground and pressed the device he had coupled in the lab into her body. The body jerked violently and the scientist eyes opened.
He looked down at the body, "Even you would marvel at the capabilities of this simple device. You are a scientist after all, you of all people can attest to the immense potential of science, am I right Emily?".
"What do you want?".
He hadn't expected an answer. "What was it that you discovered?"
"I don't know what you are talking about".
He looked down at the body with pity. "I think you would now". Flipping the device expertly and with precision he pressed a button on the device and pressed in firmly into her abdomen. The moments that followed was pure torture. Volts after volts of electricity soared through Emily's body. The device remained firm on her body as she pleaded.
"Please, make it stop, please, I'll tell you everything".
When the assassin withdrew the device, he was sure that Emily was going to talk. In the next ten minutes, he had extracted all the information he needed from her. He moved to the table which the scientist had talked about. He lifted the case up and placed it in front of her.
"Open it!", he commanded!
Emily hesitated, but seeing the look in the assassin's eyes she obeyed.
25374
The case sprung open. He snatched at the case and looked inside, his eyes bulging slightly.
"This is it?".
Emily nodded. He lifted one of the vial up and stared at the contents with a blank stare for a few seconds.
Sacrilege.
The assassin glanced at his watch again. Time was running out. As he replace the vial into a small case, The scientist began be plead.
"Please let me go, I have given you all the information", Emily begged. She was thinking of her husband and her five year old son Ethan.
Would I see them again? I promised to return. Oh God help me. I promise not to leave their sides again.
The assassin smiled as he grabbed her hair again and began pulling her towards a row of large and transparent tanks, "I wish it were that easy"
Each tank was half filled with a type of liquid and was illuminated from under by a soft green phosphorescent glow. The markings on the chambers were clear and as he dragged the pleading body, the creatures in each tank moved around. He read the labels as he dragged the body along.
Crab E021
Lizard E022
Giant squid E023.
Turtle E027
Black mamba E031
The labeling continued in this manner until he got to the tank marked E038. Indonesian needle-fish. He stopped and stared at the tank. He had read about these creatures somewhere before. The tiny fishes squished around in the tank peaceful.
He inserted the passkey and the top of the cylindrical tank slowly hissed open. When Emily realized what was about to happen she began to struggle. Tugging desperately at his hands, trying to free her hair.
The assassin pressed the device into her body again and the struggle stopped. He cut the wire he had used in binding her legs, lifted the body and climbed the short spiral steps until he reached the top of the tank.
"So long doctor", he said as he heaved the body into the open tank. The body gave a soft plump as it hit the liquid in the tank. The fishes began scurrying away from the body as it bounced around the surface of the liquid in the tank
The assassin walked down the stairs rapidly and using the passkey, closed the tank. Emily was now awake, moving about the tank. She banged on the tank, saying something which was inaudible to the assassin who now stared at her from outside the tank. He knew she was begging for her life.
Fruitless. The struggle of a dying prey
He began fumbling with the case he had retrieved from Emily, "Now let us see if your invention works". Taking out a vial containing a green liquid he pressed a combination of buttons on the simple interface on which was present on each tank. A small tube which ran from a side of the tank to forming an L shape opened up and he poured the contents of the vial into the tube.
As the liquid began moving down the tube into the main tank, Emily began banging furiously on the tank.
The assassin pulled out his phone and stood watching with the camera of his phone pointed at tank. As the green liquid from the vial finally made contact with the liquid in the tank, the little fishes which were moving about peacefully slowly began to move around in a hazardous manner as if being threatened. One by one as if it had been previously rehearsed, the little fishes began flying through the tank. Emily screamed in pain as needle after needle pierced her body. The assassin sighed and began walking away.
May the lord accept the soul of the lamb.
Dr. Harris was looking puzzled as he discussed with the guard who had contacted him about forty minuted ago."Wait, you haven't seen him? He went in about forty minutes ago"Dr. Harris was becoming irritated, "I haven't seen anyone Philip". "A moment please", the guard said. He began barking orders into the device in his hands."Maybe he got lost somewhere, I've asked officer Hernandez to locate him, just be patient Dr.", the guard smiled. This Godforsaken complex that was built like a maze he wondered, even the architect who drew this design was bound to get lost.The device on the guard's belt buzzed and he lifted it calmly."Any news?""Negative sir. Err should we search the security feed?", the officer on the other line inquired. Officer Philip was reluctant to blow a case of a missing scientist out of proportion. He responded, "I don't think that will be necessary yet". Then an idea popped into his head. He walked to place Dr. Harris had moved to. He was talking with another sci
The resulting pandemonium that followed, happened rapidly. Officer Philip ordered all exit shut down and placed the complex on red alert. My God, I hope this man is truly the person he claims to be, but even he knew he was lying to himself. Two officers who had just finished their shifts and was about to depart the complex caught his eyes."State of emergency boys", officer Philip called out as he hurried towards them. The two men looked puzzled."What you saying cap?"Officer Philip repeated himself, this time with a sense of urgency, "There's been a development boys, I need all hands on deck. A rouge has somehow found his way into the complex. I need all the hands I can get". The two men didn't seem too pleased to be giving up their sleep time. Philip did not care less."Dammit", he muttered and reached for his intercom. He had forgotten to ask officer Hernandez to begin checking the security feed. He blurted out a series of rapid instructions. "Yes cap", The person on the other
Dr. Alexis Monroe's lab was an intricate dance of stainless steel and humming machinery, a testament to the boundaries she pushed in the realm of genetic engineering. Under the sterile glow of overhead lights, Alexis meticulously worked on her latest creation – a crocodile-snake hybrid, its sleek scales blending seamlessly with the crocodilian armor. From beneath the razor sharp teeth, the two forked reptilian tongue of a snake curled in and out in a hissing fashion.The creature, nestled in a secure enclosure, moving with a sinuous grace that defied the traditional boundaries of the animal kingdom.Her colleague, Dr. Mark Thompson, a fellow genetic engineer, observed the captivating blend between biology and technology from across the lab. Mark's eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity as Alexis adjusted the parameters on a control panel, fine-tuning the genetic composition of the hybrid."Alexis, this is incredible. The intricacy of the genetic splicing is beyond an
Monte Pizzaro sat on his hotel bed, his eyes glued to the television. He had been praying since he had returned, and now after taking a bath, probably to wash away any stench which he had picked up in the hunt, he sat now waited for the hour news.Surely something of this magnitude could not be swept under the carpet. He turned to the bed side table and lifted out one of the vials carefully, examining its contents.This was what Emily Turner had died for. Science was a gift given to mankind by God, but man had began to misuse such gifts. From guns, to bombs and now this. Fifteen years ago, as Monte could recall his wife and kids had been killed in a bio-terror attack. The attacker, a young scientist had carried in his bag, a modified strain of the Ebola virus; a much more deadlier strain.Apparently, this stupid researcher had thought it wise to move a level four risk virus without adequate protection. There was a leak and every human who was exposed to the deadly virus had died gruso
Officer Philip was looking dejected. In one night, he has made two very costly mistakes. Not one, but two! In the world of security, it was completely unacceptable. How on earth did a seasoned officer like him allow a man pass through him twice in one night.The only redeeming feature about this night was the fact that he had discovered the body of the scientist trapped in her own experimental tank. Whether the strange man was responsible for this, Philip could not tell, although he suspected that the man might be involved somehow.Oh Lord, may she survive, prayed silently. It was very clear that his job depended on that outcome. The police department had swooped in as soon as news of the incidence had gotten out and the chief himself had rushed down to the facility. This was a very high profile mess. A journalist was now walking towards him."Oh, well, can this night not get any worse", he thought within himself. Anything but the pressure of the press was what he needed right now."A
Earlier that morning, as Rev. Father Marco, who was adorned in immaculate vestments, stood in the confessional booth, which was a sanctum of whispered confessions and hushed absolutions, his mind was heavy.The morning sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of the church, casting kaleidoscopic patterns on the wooden pew. Father Marco felt the weight of a secret gnawing at the sanctity of his thoughts."Is this the will of God?", he thought.The morning mass had just been concluded and Father Marco sat in the confessional, the worn wood beneath him a familiar comfort amidst the turmoil churning within. As he waited, the soft rustle of footsteps approached, and a parishioner entered the adjoining booth, their silhouette obscured by the wooden screen that separated penitent from confessor.The voice that emerged from the other side was tentative, and just beyond a whisper that carried the weight of unspoken sins. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," the parishioner began, their
Emily Turner's frantic gasps echoed in the tank, her pulse racing in tandem with the alarming thrum of the needlefish tank's filters. She'd been inadvertently locked in, left isolated among the piscine inhabitants that soon turned aggressors."These fishes are naturally peaceful", she thought as she struggled. "This aggressive behavior have been induced". The Indonesian needlefish, now looking sleek and menacing, darted around her, their silvery bodies catching the glint of the lab's artificial lights.Emily's panicked screams reverberated, but her calls for help remained unheard, swallowed by the sterile walls of the sealed tank in the laboratory.Minutes stretched endlessly, each passing second etching terror deeper into her being. She fought to fend off the relentless assault of needle-like snouts, the piercing bites scoring her skin as she struggled against the relentless onslaught. With every lash of their razor-sharp beaks, pain exploded in waves through her body."God please sa
The person who lay on the hospital bed in the city central hospital when James entered, looked nothing like his wife Emily Turner. Emily who was attacked by multiple modified Indonesian needlefish endured numerous puncture wounds, potentially deeper and more widespread compared to a single normal needlefish attack.On the hospital bed, post operation where Emily lay, she was displayed in a series of stitched and bandaged wounds across her body, especially around her limbs and torso. The overall effect gave off the idea of a badly mutilated rag doll. The kind of thing you might read about or see in a horror movie, but this was no movie, this was the city's central hospital and James was struggling to process the image of the damaged figure he was looking at.Just a few weeks ago, Ethan their son had been excited about the prospect of his mother finally returning home. The house was just not the same without his mother and although his dad performed his fatherly duties to a fault,
Monte Pizzaro wrapped the black rosary gently in his palm and made the sign of the cross. He had been watching the designated window for an hour now. He sucked air into his nostrils in a controlled manner and exhaled after holding for a few seconds.This was a part of his preparation routine. Monte recalled how the events of the night had panned out. Not so bad he reasoned, except the prey had somehow found a way to survive despite the skills of the predator. He pulled his sleeves up and studied the engraving on his watch."If we are not monsters, then we are food"Tonight however, Monte knew he was no food. He remembered the numerous times in his past life when he had been weak. The times when he had been food to the hungry predators of the world."Not tonight", he thought, "Not forever".Science had to go. Science had been responsible for the loss of his young family. Science had made him weak, it had made him vulnerable, but not anymore. He looked around him at the unsuspecting pas
Toby was seated on a small chair just outside the security check office, waiting for officer Philip who was still talking to another officer.He wondered why he was still being held in the complex when all he wanted to do was be in the hospital. He had to see Emily and seating here waiting, was making him nervous.The news tonight had exploded like as bomb in his head , much like everyone else. Toby had fixed a date this night with a girl he had met at karaoke a few weeks ago, after several rescheduling due to the gruelling demands of working with Emily Turner."This work will change the course of history", he could still recall Emily saying to him. She had made him, or rather he had sacrificed those date nights in order to help her in the laboratory, and now this?Sometimes Toby wondered if he was in-love with the researcher. For Eight long months he had come into the Lab at awkward hours at the request of Emily. "Toby, I know how much of your life you have given up for me. Not that
Roooooooooooar!!!The animal in chains was tugging dangerously at the extra heavy iron chains that secured it neck and feet. This was 900 pound lion-gorrila hybrid. A gorilla with the head of an African lion. The beast pounded its chest angrily and roared again.Earlier that day, and about seven hours before Monte Pizarro had began stalking Emily Turner, Dr. Palmer had been facing this monster of an animal.This special hydrid had been shipped to England by Alexis Monroe. This was one of the flagship of Alexis research work over the years. The use of genetically engineered animals was nothing new at all. For ten years now, certain animals have been engineered to perform certain functions to near perfection.Certain species of worker bees had been modified to produce pure honey in very large quantities in factories, almost without the interference of humans. In Africa, wall geckos twice their normal size had been modified to feed mostly on mosquitoes. This had eliminated the need for t
The person who lay on the hospital bed in the city central hospital when James entered, looked nothing like his wife Emily Turner. Emily who was attacked by multiple modified Indonesian needlefish endured numerous puncture wounds, potentially deeper and more widespread compared to a single normal needlefish attack.On the hospital bed, post operation where Emily lay, she was displayed in a series of stitched and bandaged wounds across her body, especially around her limbs and torso. The overall effect gave off the idea of a badly mutilated rag doll. The kind of thing you might read about or see in a horror movie, but this was no movie, this was the city's central hospital and James was struggling to process the image of the damaged figure he was looking at.Just a few weeks ago, Ethan their son had been excited about the prospect of his mother finally returning home. The house was just not the same without his mother and although his dad performed his fatherly duties to a fault,
Emily Turner's frantic gasps echoed in the tank, her pulse racing in tandem with the alarming thrum of the needlefish tank's filters. She'd been inadvertently locked in, left isolated among the piscine inhabitants that soon turned aggressors."These fishes are naturally peaceful", she thought as she struggled. "This aggressive behavior have been induced". The Indonesian needlefish, now looking sleek and menacing, darted around her, their silvery bodies catching the glint of the lab's artificial lights.Emily's panicked screams reverberated, but her calls for help remained unheard, swallowed by the sterile walls of the sealed tank in the laboratory.Minutes stretched endlessly, each passing second etching terror deeper into her being. She fought to fend off the relentless assault of needle-like snouts, the piercing bites scoring her skin as she struggled against the relentless onslaught. With every lash of their razor-sharp beaks, pain exploded in waves through her body."God please sa
Earlier that morning, as Rev. Father Marco, who was adorned in immaculate vestments, stood in the confessional booth, which was a sanctum of whispered confessions and hushed absolutions, his mind was heavy.The morning sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of the church, casting kaleidoscopic patterns on the wooden pew. Father Marco felt the weight of a secret gnawing at the sanctity of his thoughts."Is this the will of God?", he thought.The morning mass had just been concluded and Father Marco sat in the confessional, the worn wood beneath him a familiar comfort amidst the turmoil churning within. As he waited, the soft rustle of footsteps approached, and a parishioner entered the adjoining booth, their silhouette obscured by the wooden screen that separated penitent from confessor.The voice that emerged from the other side was tentative, and just beyond a whisper that carried the weight of unspoken sins. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," the parishioner began, their
Officer Philip was looking dejected. In one night, he has made two very costly mistakes. Not one, but two! In the world of security, it was completely unacceptable. How on earth did a seasoned officer like him allow a man pass through him twice in one night.The only redeeming feature about this night was the fact that he had discovered the body of the scientist trapped in her own experimental tank. Whether the strange man was responsible for this, Philip could not tell, although he suspected that the man might be involved somehow.Oh Lord, may she survive, prayed silently. It was very clear that his job depended on that outcome. The police department had swooped in as soon as news of the incidence had gotten out and the chief himself had rushed down to the facility. This was a very high profile mess. A journalist was now walking towards him."Oh, well, can this night not get any worse", he thought within himself. Anything but the pressure of the press was what he needed right now."A
Monte Pizzaro sat on his hotel bed, his eyes glued to the television. He had been praying since he had returned, and now after taking a bath, probably to wash away any stench which he had picked up in the hunt, he sat now waited for the hour news.Surely something of this magnitude could not be swept under the carpet. He turned to the bed side table and lifted out one of the vials carefully, examining its contents.This was what Emily Turner had died for. Science was a gift given to mankind by God, but man had began to misuse such gifts. From guns, to bombs and now this. Fifteen years ago, as Monte could recall his wife and kids had been killed in a bio-terror attack. The attacker, a young scientist had carried in his bag, a modified strain of the Ebola virus; a much more deadlier strain.Apparently, this stupid researcher had thought it wise to move a level four risk virus without adequate protection. There was a leak and every human who was exposed to the deadly virus had died gruso
Dr. Alexis Monroe's lab was an intricate dance of stainless steel and humming machinery, a testament to the boundaries she pushed in the realm of genetic engineering. Under the sterile glow of overhead lights, Alexis meticulously worked on her latest creation – a crocodile-snake hybrid, its sleek scales blending seamlessly with the crocodilian armor. From beneath the razor sharp teeth, the two forked reptilian tongue of a snake curled in and out in a hissing fashion.The creature, nestled in a secure enclosure, moving with a sinuous grace that defied the traditional boundaries of the animal kingdom.Her colleague, Dr. Mark Thompson, a fellow genetic engineer, observed the captivating blend between biology and technology from across the lab. Mark's eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity as Alexis adjusted the parameters on a control panel, fine-tuning the genetic composition of the hybrid."Alexis, this is incredible. The intricacy of the genetic splicing is beyond an