When I could finally see, I was stunned by the sight of a crazy, big facility, bustling with scientists in white lab coats. Dozens of honeycombed labs were sectioned off with glass, all connected by thin roads buzzing with gleaming golf carts.
‘I’m totally disappointed,’ I said struggling to talk over the heartbeat in my throat. ‘I really thought St. James Industries’ secret lab would be underwater. Or at the very least, have one of those volcanos with a skull carved into it.’
Jenny let out a small laugh. ‘Well, hold off your judgment a little longer. You haven’t seen the dungeons yet.’
‘Seriously?’ I asked, wide-eyed. She smiled bigger.
‘Not funny.’
‘Come on,’ she said, walking ahead. ‘We’re up here.’ I followed my sister down one of the pathways between honeycombs, staring into the small labs. It all looked very normal and science-y, but I was totally expecting, any minute, we’d come across a lab with a mermaid in a tank or a chained werewolf. It had that kind of vibe.
I jogged a few steps to catch up to Jenny. ‘Um, do you think that maybe you could fill me in on why I’m here now?’ I asked, while mentally rehearsing the route we were taking.
Her face tensed. ‘He wants to talk to you.’ I so hoped this conversation didn’t involve a straightjacket and something in a syringe. ‘I’m not going to let him hurt you,’ Jenny said. ‘Trust me.’
She led me into a hexagonal-shaped room, larger than the others, and teeming with scientists. A few stopped to look as we entered, and I did not like the expression on their faces. Anticipation. A few were practically drooling.
‘Why are they staring at me like that?’ I whispered to Jenny.
‘I think it’s that you’re fresh blood, like, literally,’ she said, grimacing a little in commiseration. ‘You’ve got my DNA written all over you.’
I looked back around at all the scientists. Well, I refused to be intimidated. I hopped up on one of the long white counters and cleared my throat loudly. ‘You’re all going to die horribly. You know that, right?’
They froze.
‘If James Bond doesn’t kill you, your fearless leader will.’ I pointed at a photo of my father mounted on the wall. ‘It will be some demonstration like, Oh, look at my new laser pen that turns people into petrified mummies or something, and then he’ll fire it at … you!’ I said, pointing at a random scientist. The young man startled a wee bit.
‘… Just to be all cool and evil.’ I finished with some warning jazz hands.
The group stayed frozen. Well, maybe not completely frozen. A few were giving me the slow blink.
‘Mark my words. That’s how it will go down.’ I stopped to pick at a fingernail. ‘You should probably run while you still have the chance.’
Nobody ran. So frustrating. They were just as bad as the Bremy-lemmings back at the float. I sighed. I couldn’t save anybody.
‘Brianna.’ The voice sent chills down my spine. ‘Please, stop scaring the help.’