Who's the real Monster?

Ignoring my instincts entirely I went down to the sub-basement. All the while repeating my granddad's saying, "Every enemy has a weakness." Creeping out of the vents it was easy to stay hidden here. The hall was barely lit. Up ahead it split into two corridors. Moving to the right there was a window at waist height that almost reached the ceiling. Carefully taking a peek I saw a ring of lights keeping something big inside of it. Whatever was inside looked to be an animal made of shadows that didn't have a true shape that appeared to be resting. My blood ran cold once the realization hit me. No fucking way. That's It, that's the Thing that attacked me. Unable to look away I watched as It rose from the floor to look right at me. Those red piercing eyes. Just like mine now.

Feeling It trying to dig into my very soul I heard Eric yell in my head GODDAMN IT Z GET OUT OF THERE!! With a jolt I was finally able to look away. Pressing my body against the floor to calm my nerves I did everything I could to keep from having an anxiety attack. When I was able to think clearly I said to Eric Thanks. He replied You need to leave now it's not safe. Non of us have been safe since that night. We are in a war Eric. We need all the knowledge we can get. This is our only chance I told him.

When he didn't argue I moved toward the first door I saw to my right all the while staying under the window's view. I could still feel that Thing's eyes on me. Moving under the door I saw more labs and heard scientists talking to each other or out loud.

"Where's my sample?"

"Have you seen the latest results?"

"Have you tested the other inmates against the sample we took from Inmate Zero?"

One spoke up, "I think we made a breakthrough. Inmate Zero and Project Omega's samples are combatable."

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks to crowd the last one who spoke. Each of them took turns looking at the sample under a microscope. "We have to alert the Director", the same one commented. Another responded, "On it."

Fuck. Hearing that revelation about me and that Thing filled me with rage. It took every fiber in my being not to do anything that would alert anyone that I was here. If the samples or research mysteriously went missing I'd be sent here in a heartbeat. I couldn't attack the scientists or destroy the lab, at least not yet. Leaving the room quickly I went straight for the next door I saw.

This one seemed to be a testing ground with black body suits lined against the wall. The weird thing about them is that there was a metallic circular device that stretched out to the limbs. Off to one side there were dummies which were almost completely destroyed. From the looks of it by force if not from electricity. Odd. Taking a closer look at the suits I saw that it didn't end at the ankles and wrists. Taking a wild guess it looks like the scientist are trying to make suits for the guards so they won't have to use the clickers on us anymore. These suits were being made to match our durability and force, maybe even speed based on the feet.

Moving onto the last door I saw that it was on the other side of the corridor. Finding out that it was a room for the crew to relax almost left me disappointed until I saw someone filling their papers away. Prefect. Rushing to the filling cabinet I almost got caught by a tired scientist trying to store their paperwork. The blinked a few times as I hid myself well between the files. They were probably overworked and thought they were seeing things. They obviously haven't heard the news yet.

With the cabinet closed I sifted through the files to find the blueprints of this entire building. Already knowing about the floors above and what they held I studied the one about the subbasement attentively. The area where they keep that Thing had two adjoining halls to it. It appears that they have to feed it daily, either with live stock, detainees, or other. I didn't like that 'other' option that they feed that Thing with. I'll look into it later. There's also a roof panel that opens up into the Yellow area. It has an assigned room that opens when It hunts at night. That's why It has been right outside my door for the past few nights. That's how it's been able to attack anyone that gets a Code Black on their ass. Holy shit this is huge.

Reading some more to see that the suits are meant to enhance the guards physical abilities. They've been trying without success to enhance the guards with our abilities by blood transfusion. Everyone who has gone under the treatment has died. That would explain why they write 'other' as an option to feed It. Now that they know that Thing and I are combatable by blood what does that mean for me. Things just got worse. The riot has to be within a day, two by the latest. No matter what I can't let those scientists use those samples against me or the others.

Knowing that Eric was listening I thought to him I'm leaving now if things go sideways find a way to wake me up. Hearing the reluctance in his thoughts Got it. Leaving the room I was heading for the air vents when the sound of two familiar voices caught my attention.

"Colonel I've told you many times before, I'm surprised as much as you that Project Omega had such a negative reaction when Inmate Zero was being interrogated by Nurse Ratchet", Aunt Patty herself. Watching from above I saw Armstrong tense just the slightest bit. "The real question is, how the Hell did that Thing make a dent in tungsten?", Armstrong countered. Aunt Patty had to poke the bear to make a point, "That's where you and I differ Colonel the question shouldn't be 'how' instead 'why'." "Would you cut the shit Anderson it's just us now. We both know why that Thing did what it did and what it wants", Armstrong replied with a clipped tone. "What are you insinuating Armstrong? That we should have a Code Black for Inmate Zero?", she asked without a hint of emotion. My stomach dropped as she considered my life worthless. Continuing to listened my lung begged for air that I didn't know I needed. "While that is an option and would bring justice to the men we lost on the way of capturing Inmate Zero. I would rather figure out how she stayed hidden for so long and why that light only affects both her and that Thing", Armstrong replied. 'Men we lost' my ass they pushed me to it. I did what I had to do to survive and nothing else.

"Nurse Ratchet said Inmate Zero was close to breaking had it not been for that Thing trying to get out", Aunt Patty said. Keeping my eyes on both of them Armstrong looked to the mirror to ask, "Do you think this Thing understands us? After all this time It was bound to pick up a few words." Aunt Patty took a moment before replying, "I think It knows what and who we are talking about. It's obviously stronger than anything on this planet let alone smarter than any of us could imagen." Armstrong turned fully to that Thing before saying, "I've been told stories about you from my father. He fought in Nam. Of course at the time he thought what he saw was all in his head or a chemical Charlie used against him and his platoon. When he came back home he knew with every fiber of his being that he saw something other worldly over there. When you attacked us back 2015 I found the men who were in that platoon and made them talk. Never thought an alien would have a type."

I almost said out loud Holy fucking shit. My granddad was in Vietnam. I don't remember him talking about an alien. Not even on his deathbed back in 2010 did he mention any of that. Maybe he was in a different platoon. I hope for his sake that he was.

Huh I never thought in all my life that I would be happy that died. Not a day went by that I didn't think of him or my grandma. She held out for a year before it was her time. They were good people and I still missed them. Just like I missed my own folks. Maybe even more.

Steeling my nerves I looked down from the ceiling to take a good look past the mirror to see the lights keeping that Thing in check. A very unpleasant memory came to mind. Years ago I almost got caught by men who had used that light against me. It would've left a nasty scar had I not taken care of it quickly or was able to heal faster than any human should be able to. Looking up was a mistake. My vision landed on those red eyes staring at me. I heard that same voice that wasn't Eric's speak to me again Soon.