The Tunnel (Part 3 of 4)

So many of my colleagues were terrified of what Paul became. Once word got around about his transformation, no one knew how to react. Quite a few of us tried to convince the boss to not speak with him, but he wouldn't listen to anybody. He was set on what he wanted to do, and the determination in his eyes told me we were fucked. 

I felt dread seize up upon my chest, as we entered the room where Paul was being held. Whatever the hell he was now. His dirty blonde hair hid his eyes, and I could see them moving back and forth as he looked between me and the boss. There was no recognition in his eyes for either of us. 

I was at least thankful his new tongue didn't flick out. I would have gone against my professionalism and run out of there screaming. There were two chairs waiting for us, but the boss chose to stand. I sat down, because I didn't want Paul to see that my legs were slightly trembling. I couldn't remember the last time I felt fear like this. 

The boss crossed his arms in front of Paul, who was still strapped to the gurney. The scientists who lingered in the room insisted we use chains, and I'm glad the boss listened to that part. Two soldiers were standing by the door, in case something were to go wrong. 

The boss smiled at Paul, and began his line of questions. 

"Hello Paul. Do you remember me?"

Paul stared at the boss. He did not reply. 

A muscle twitched underneath one of the boss' eyes. Irritation was already kicking in. 

"Alright. So, you don't remember me. What do you remember?"

"I remember you waving at me before I went inside the tunnel," Paul said. 

The boss smiled. "So you do remember me."

Paul smiled back. "How could I forget you? You're all I could think about after our last conversation. You were the last human I saw before it went inside of me."

The boss stepped closer, his eyes not leaving Paul's.

"What went inside of you? What did you see?"

"You're full of shit, sir. You lied to us all. The world you saw does not exist. You opened a different way. Everyone died. Except for me. I was chosen. How sad you were not."

The scientists all kept their eyes away from the conversation taking place, but I think we all knew the boss had been full of it since the beginning. But the boss truly believed his delusion. I could see his tongue pressing against the side of his mouth, his eyes full of fury. 

"How dare you mock me. I am the reason you were…picked. You ungrateful piece of shit."

Paul threw back his head to laugh. "Ungrateful? I'm thrilled. I feel powerful. I can feel it moving through me."

"Feel what?," the boss asked. 

"The hunger."

The vine suddenly shot out of Paul's mouth. The vine wrapped around the bosses' neck, and he cried out, trying to yank away the vine. Scientists were scrambling to save him, and the soldiers burst into the room, guns drawn. I did not move. I sat there, watching everything. What could I do? Whatever Paul had become, we had no control. 

The scientists were trying to save the boss, but they were too afraid to go near Paul. The soldiers gave up on their guns, using batons or knives to try and cut through the vine. One of the scientists pulled the alarm, alerting more soldiers. The vine shoved itself through the bosses' mouth, and heard a ripping sound. 

His tongue had been ripped out. 

The vine dragged the piece of flesh back into his mouth, and Paul sucked greedily on the flesh, his teeth struggling to consume it. One man started screaming, while the boss was on the ground, covering his mouth, blood spilling like a fountain through his fingers. 

I simply stood up, crossed over to the boss, and helped him get back on his feet as the chaos around us never stopped. I led him away, and Paul finally gave up, spitting out the tongue onto the floor. He lied his head back, a satisfied smile on his face. 

"Thanks, boss! I really needed that!"

Paul burst out laughing. He laughed and laughed, even when one of the soldiers started beating him across the face with the baton. Every injury that Paul received, would start to heal on its own. The boss turned around to see what was going on, his other hand attempting to reach out to stop the beating, but he obviously could not speak. 

I shoved him to the ground. The boss landed on his side, his eyes wide with surprise and pain. He looked up at me, reaching out for me. The soldiers arrived, running over to aid the boss. I walked away from the sight, and the panic around me never stopped. No one tried to question why I pushed the boss, but everyone was preoccupied with the monster. 

I did not stop until I reached the portal, where it all began. Scientists were also in a panic over here, not knowing what the hell was going on. I merely took out a cigarette and a lighter from my coat pocket. I flicked on the light, and lit the cigar. One scientist that I somewhat knew, was standing in front of me, watching me. 

I believe his name was Rash, but I could be wrong. 

"Do you have anymore?"

I took out another, and gave one to him. I lit the cigarette for him too. 

He took a drag, watching the chaos enfold. 

"We're all going to die," he said. 

I took a drag of my own. 

"Yes. It appears that way."

Gunshots echoed down the hallway, where the monster was located. 

It appears my death was going to happen much sooner than I thought. 

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Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn