Chapter 1 - Cindy

I slowly pushed the safety goggles onto my head, wiping at the sweat on my brows. The lab was cool, but I wasn't. My nerves were shot as I had just completed my first project, and the results, according to me, were phenomenal. I wanted to share them immediately.

Glancing around, I realized the lab was empty. Even Kiera's office light was off. I was so immersed in reading the results before me that I hadn't noticed everyone leaving. Looking at the large clock on the wall before me, I saw it was almost midnight.

My task included examining the body fluid specimen. I had to determine if there were any malignancies or microorganisms present. The first three days of the week, I spent every waking hour I could examining blood samples. These contained trace elements of a new strand of virus. Yesterday, I was given these fluid specimens to compare.

They contained the same trace elements I discovered in the blood. Yet, they were all from different hospitals. This was my eureka moment, and there was no one to share it with. I found the common denominator between the samples, which was scary and exciting at the same time. Yet, if my findings were correct, a new virus was loose in the city.

It was the end of my first week here at Cognit Science. The week had been long, but my desire to please Kiera, the head scientist, was stronger than the aches in my body. Standing, I stretched my hands up and twisted my middle, trying to reduce the stiffness I felt. Pain shot up through my back, and I let out a moan as I leaned down, touching my toes.

Friday evenings used to be about relaxation and spending time with friends just barely a month ago. However, after graduating top of my class in chemical science, I was accepted as an intern here. It still felt like a dream come true. Turning in a circle, I admired the lab. It was my ideal job, and I couldn't be more excited to be here. Especially now that I had successfully completed my first assignment.

Placing my goggles on the table and checking that all samples were secure, I headed out of the lab and into the long hallway to find the breakroom. I desperately needed some coffee and anything sweet to nibble on while I finished the separation of chemicals assigned to me.

If I could isolate the strain and its origin, Kiera would surely see the potential I had. I was determined to conclude my work before heading home. Once I was done, I would leave the results on Kiara's desk.

Exiting the lab, I headed down the passage to the stairs to the bathroom. The hallway was dark, and I felt a cool breeze come from somewhere. It sent a shiver down my spine. Entering the bathroom, I passed some of the night cleaners on their way out.

I greeted them with a gentle nod, and they were out of sight in a jiffy. The bathroom reeked of cleaning materials, making my nose itch. After relieving myself, I rinsed my hands and patted my face with cold water.

"Yes, you are now fully awake again," I said, giggling to the woman staring back at me in the mirror. Pointing a finger at my reflection, I grinned as I continued. "You got this." I smoothed my light brown hair on the sides where they were making curves from the goggles before leaving the bathroom. I turned down the hallway, walking away from the lab, searching for something to snack on and coffee.

I hadn't been to the breakroom more than three times this week but felt sure I would find it on my own. Kiera had taken me this way on the first day, and I knew it was about four floors down. The twenty-story building was quite impressive and had three breakrooms as far as I could remember. Each floor held numerous labs working on a selection of projects.

After about half an hour of strolling through the long, dark passages, I was no longer sure where I was. It seemed I had gotten myself engulfed by the building. My mind topping on the repercussions of the virus and not focused on where I was heading.

"Crap, crap, crap," I uttered to the darkness surrounding me as I turned down another long corridor.

There was no stairway or elevator in sight. Thinking about it, I had not seen one in a bit, either. The hallway seemed darker than the others and clammy as I moved forward. In the distance appeared to be a gentle glow. It had to be a light. It could even be the elevator, I thought, speeding up. Glancing back, I felt a tremble running down my spine. This part of the building felt mysterious, and the rooms on either side of the passage were sealed off.

It was strange as I couldn't recall ever seeing this section of the building. Glancing through two of the round glass windows that sat center in the steel doors, I couldn't see anything inside. They didn't even appear to have windows; they were in total blackness.

Suddenly feeling a bit out of place, fear started creeping in. My mind brought up images of evil science projects. Shaking my head, I vowed never to watch a science horror movie again. These images were all due to those movies, I was sure of it.

"I am safe; I am at work, and we don't do evil experiments here," I tried convincing myself as I moved further down the passage.

I stopped dead in my tracks as I heard what sounded like a scream coming from somewhere ahead of me. Swallowing hard, I rubbed the back of my neck with a shaking hand and listened.

"It's all in your mind," I whispered to myself, glancing up and down the passage. Should I continue forward or go back? I considered my options while trying to calm my nerves.

Looking behind me the passage appeared darker than before. Before me, it was also dark, but the flickering of light in the distance brought some form of hope. Swallowing the lump that appeared out of nowhere, I bent my knees and leaned slightly forward. Not only were my hands shaking, but my legs felt numb as I breathed in slow and deep.

My chest burned as if the air I inhaled was filled with toxins, but I knew it was my mind playing tricks. This company didn't experiment on toxins. They were a prominent and well-known company working closely with the medical field. They manufactured cures here, not poisons. All of these thoughts and feelings were due to hunger and sleep deprivation.

This is what happens when you over-exert yourself, dear. Standing up straight and grinning at myself, I could just hear my nanna saying something like that. Shaking out my limbs, I pushed the fear out of my mind.

Deciding to move towards the light, I plodded slowly and quietly as I heard voices coming from that direction. I wouldn't say that I was a scared person; in fact, I was always up for watching horror movies, taking tours through graveyards at midnight, and such things. I loved challenges and dares. But something felt off as I got closer. The air seemed to thin and grow colder as I neared the flickering.

It was another room and a dead-end by the looks of it. The passage stopped right before the half-closed door. Inside, I noticed a figure moving. Standing beside the door, I leaned closer, touching the glass window to see better. It felt like the blood instantly drained from my face once my eyes adjusted to the dimness.

Inside was a man tied to a chair and a figure hovering over it, wearing what appeared to be a large pair of sheers.

Gasping as I stood back against the wall with my hands over my mouth, I could only hope the shadow inside didn't see me. I dared not look again but was sure something terrible was happening in that room.

This isn't right! I thought, taking a deep breath.

Placing my hands on the wall beside me, the iciness startled me slightly as it collided with my warm, sweaty palms. I knew I had to get out of there quickly but quietly. Moving step by step against the wall, I headed back into the darkness of the long hallway.

Then I heard a scream coming from the other side of the door. I had to fight the urge to run. The man in the chair was clearly in excruciating pain. Remembering the large sheers, I tried to swallow the lump again, but it was stuck.

After a few steps, I extracted my phone to call the police. Glancing at the bright screen, I felt my heart racing, clawing at my ribcage, trying to escape. I had no signal. Closing the screen with my other hand, I glanced at the door, hoping the figure inside didn't see the light.

I need to call the police. A man was being tortured, and my life depended on it.

Panic pulsed through me, closing my airways and numbing my body.

Get a grip, woman. I shouted in my mind.

Confident I was far enough into the dark not to be seen, I turned up and started walking a bit faster. I was still not sure how to get out, but I would keep going. I heard a creaking sound from behind as I took my second step. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the shadow standing in the open doorway with the shimmering light behind it.

It was time to run; he had seen me. Taking off at full speed with my heart in my throat and my mind blaring, I almost collided with the wall up ahead. Turning right into the next hallway, I heard him calling out.

"Hey, you, stop. I just want to talk."

The voice was deep and low, but I knew stopping wasn't a wise thing to do. My legs felt like lead as I moved up the dark corridor and into the next one. Taking a left, I found the glass doors leading up to the lobby. I reached out to grab the handle, panting like a dog, my lungs on fire. As my fingers touched the cold steel of the handle, I felt a strong hand close around my arm, jerking me backward.

"No," I screamed, my voice echoing, but it was too late.

The shadowy figure had pulled me into his embrace. I felt his warm hand wrapping around my waist as he held me to his big physique, and the other covered my mouth. My feet dangled in the air as he lifted me from the ground. Turning, he started back toward the clammy darkness of the room at the end of the passage.

My chest tightened as if it was being sucked inward by a tornado of fear which was draining my life.

What was going to happen to me?

My mind was filled with dark images of my body being found disfigured next to a dump bin.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing it was all a dream. Why did I have to be so stubborn and competitive? If I'd only gone home with everyone else. I placed myself in this situation. Even though his hands were dry, there was a distinct coppery odor mixed with a sweetness I couldn't discern. I knew the coppery odor was blood, but the sweetness was almost a flowery, minty odor.

Glancing down at the large hand holding me, I noticed the tattoo running over his hand and disappearing into his jacket. It looked like part of a scull covered in overgrown vines with tiny flowers. This man was surely not from the lab. I wondered if he was from a gang and what he could be wanting.

His grip was tight but didn't hurt, which was a bit confusing. If he was intent on getting rid of me, why bother to be gentle, I wondered. Maybe I still had a chance of getting out of this mess.

But no, my mind wouldn't allow me any slack as it brought forth the images of the man down the hall being tortured. I tried kicking again and pulling at the man's hand, but he was too strong. My feet didn't even touch the ground, and all my kicking only resulted in more panic.

I would have to accept my fate. But I was too young to die; at twenty-three, I still had my whole life before me. My eyes started burning and itching as the first tears rolled down my cheeks. Would I be missed, and would anyone even come looking for me? I wondered, feeling my heart slowing down. Both my parents passed away last year, and being an only child, there were no siblings.

With the long hours and moving away, even my handful of friends wouldn't miss me. My heart felt heavy, as if it was being crushed, as I realized I was all alone. Being so new here, I doubted if my co-workers would come looking.

If this was the end of the line for me, I would go down swinging, I vowed. As soon as he placed me down, I would turn and scratch his eyes out. I was trying hard to convince myself. Yet, anxiety was trying to get the upper hand as my body fought against the shocking numbness. I planned out every move in my mind, needing to feel some sort of control.

Entering the musty room, the stranger shoved the door closed behind us. I felt sure I recognized the man in the chair but couldn't recall his name. If my memory served me right, he worked on the sixteenth floor. My keycard only allowed access to the bottom five. I wondered what he had gotten himself into, seeing that he was being tortured.

His head hung against his chest, and his breathing was shallow. There was a streak of blood running along one side of his head, and I was sure his ear was missing. My body shook slightly as the sight of him filled me with dread. The bounds around his wrists were red from the blood, and next to him on the floor lay two fingers. The room reeked of that coppery metal smell of blood.

Feeling an overwhelming urge to vomit, I started to convulse in the stranger's arm. "No, don't you dare," he breathed over my shoulder as he turned around. Facing the other way, I saw a bag spread open on the table. It was filled with knives, strange instruments, and a gun. I swallowed hard, feeling a steady increase of sweat in the nape of my neck.

If he would just let me go, I felt sure, I would be able to get to the gun. But I wondered if I would be able to pull the trigger. Yet, I might not need to. Aiming it at him would surely be enough to get me out of there.

But the man was no idiot. He collected a rag from the table and pushed it into my mouth. Then he bound my arms behind me and placed a piece of tape over the gag so I couldn't push it out. He placed me down next to the table facing the wall. "Now, be a good girl, and I won't need to hurt you." He added before turning his attention back to the man in the chair.

Even though I was riddled with fear, I felt a strange sense of calm as well. His touch had been soft from the first moment as he pulled me into his arm. Even gagging and binding me, he worked with care, it seemed.

I pondered on what was happening in this room. Yes, I saw the blood, the fingers, and the tied-up man. Yet, the giant of a monster was gentle with me.

Scanning the wall before me, I noticed a faded red button slightly up on the wall behind the table. Glancing back, the man was standing with his back to me. Quietly and quickly, I pushed myself up against the table leg. If I could only get to the button on the wall before he noticed. I felt sure if it still worked, it would sound like some kind of alarm.