NINE

JANA

The elevator opened at the lobby floor where Billy was heading. It was the floor two stops before my Engineering floor.

I was not ready for what met me.

Two of the passengers lunged toward me. Growling and hunkered over, their eyes had turned black and pupil-less. "What's going on?" I yelled. I tapped my communication device by my side to call Thomas. "Thomas! They're Monsters. Lobby area. I'm surrounded."

Thomas answered back, "I'm almost there. Get back into the elevator and go to another floor."

"But what about you?" I asked, kicking out to the two passengers to push them back before I closed the elevator doors.

"I'm in the staircase. I'm tracking you. Take care of yourself, Jana. I'll find you."

As the doors closed, I pressed the button for the Engineering floor. My tablet was still beeping. Something was wrong and it didn't register on the screen what. I tapped my device to talk to Thomas. "Thomas, Engineering floor. Must check out the Red Alert there."

Thomas didn't answer.

I pressed the device again and said, "Thomas? Thomas?"

He didn't answer. I tapped my device again, "Dr. Herbert? Where are you?"

The voice sounded like it was coming through a tunnel, as Dr. Herbert answered my call. "Jana! The Monsters! The Captain's Deck. One of them attacked a crewmember, and then the rest. I ran."

"Keep yourself safe, Dr. Herbert. Fight your fears."

"I'm trying, but seeing the Monster materialize into physical beings was terrifying. On Earth, they were just invisible or black mist, but now…"

"They're taking the form of people they possess. They're inhabiting people's bodies. Don't let them take over yours," I said, just as the elevator reached the Engineering floor.

"Oh, no," Dr. Herbert's voice called out in terror. "One's in here with me. Thought I was safe in my medical quarter but… oh no…"

"I'll get over there now! Where's Thomas?" I asked.

"No, don't come. Keep yourself safe. Thomas went to find you. Both of you stay alive. Your baby is the future. Stay alive." There was an earth-shattering scream before a deathly silence followed.

I knew Dr. Herbert was gone. Who else? Thomas?

EVIE

"Mom," I said. "Reading your journal and everything you've been through with Dad on Red Genesis just makes me remember how brave you are. I really miss you," I sighed.

"You're advancing quickly," Sally said. "But you don't have the luxury of time anymore. Hear that?"

I stopped and listened. There was banging. "Where is it coming from?"

"Outside," Sally said, "The Monsters. But it looks like they are breaking their way in."

"Is there a way out of here? What should we do?"

"I'm thinking," Sally said. "But finish the journal. There may be a clue in there on what to do."

"Okay," I said, "I'm going to read as fast as I can now…"