Crawlers

9:48pm

For a moment there was silence in the room. It was true. Of the three squashed crawlers that Jasmine had been examining, now only two remained. 

'But... where is it?' asked Robert, in a voice that was dangerously quiet. 

Ben noticed that Lisa too had suddenly drawn both her legs up off the floor, and had wrapped her arms around them, hugging herself. 

'It was dead...' he said, looking at Jasmine. 'Right?' 

'Of course it was dead,' Jasmine snapped. 'I mean,' she added more kindly, 'it was squashed, right? So someone must have taken it. And I bet I know who.' 

'Listen,' said Samantha, 'I've been sitting here all the time. So even if I wanted to, which I don't, how could I have taken it without you noticing?' 

'You just waited until I wasn't looking. Or if it wasn't you, then it was your lapdog.' 

'What?' said Lauren, realising everyone's attention was now on her. 'No! What would I want with one of them things?' 

'Let me guess,' scoffed Jasmine. 'You're going to dangle it in someone's face, or something equally hilarious.' 

'I wouldn't touch them.' Lauren shuddered. 'No way. They're horrible!' 

'Look, there were three crawlers before,' said Jasmine. 'Now there are two. Someone in this room must have taken one.' 

'Or maybe,' Samantha pointed out, 'it went off by itself.' 

There was a pause. 

'Well, OK,' said Ben, getting up. 'I guess we'd better search the room. Jasmine, maybe you'd better take the board and go stand over there by the sink. We don't want the other two disappearing. The rest of you' - he shrugged - 'wherever you are now, that's your corner. Search every bit of it as carefully as you can.' 

Everyone did as he said, to Ben's surprise. The room wasn't big, and it had six people in it. Ben's spot wasn't much bigger than he was: he felt stupid checking under neighbouring chairs and groping around the carpet with his hands, and he felt sure he wasn't the only one. But at that moment the door to the monitor room opened and Josh emerged. Everyone turned. 

Josh looked noticeably paler than before, like he'd just had some kind of shock. He stared blankly at the expectant faces for a moment, then said: 'What are you doing?' 

'One of the dead crawlers is missing,' Ben explained dutifully. 

'What do you mean, missing?' 

'We've just searched the room,' said Ben. He looked around. Everyone shook their heads. 'No sign so far.' 

Josh frowned. 'Well it can't have vanished into thin air. What do you think's happened to it?' 

'Someone's taken it,' said Jasmine, from her spot by the sink. 

'Really?' asked Josh. 'What for?' 

'For a joke,' said Jasmine. 'Or-' She stopped. 

'Or what?' asked Josh. 

'Samantha thought it might have come back to life, or something,' said Ben. 

'Good grief,' said Josh. 'Well... never mind that for now.' 

Ben stared at him. 

'I've got news,' he went on. 'Just a few minutes ago two more police cars arrived at the main entrance.' 

'All right!' said Lauren. 'We're saved!' 

'Erm,' said Josh, 'don't get too excited just yet.' 

'Why not?' asked Lauren. 

'What happened?' asked Jasmine. 

Josh hesitated, then said: 'They... didn't all get captured this time. That's the main thing. One of the police was wounded-' 

'Wounded?' Everyone was starting to react now. 'What? How?' 

'But he managed to escape!' said Josh, making 'calm down' gestures with his hands. 'He got out before they could reach him, so he didn't get bitten and you can bet he'll be calling for backup right now. The secret's out, people,' he added with an enthusiasm that, to Ben, was belied by the sickly look on his face. 'I'm sure more police will be along soon, together with the army and... and everybody. So until then, all we've got to do is stay here and wait.' 

'That's what you said before,' said a voice - Samantha's. When Josh turned and saw the look she was giving him he faltered and, for once, was at a loss for a reply. 

Jasmine took a step towards Josh. 'Was it very bad?' she asked quietly. 

'It was so... quick,' Josh admitted. 'The way the bitten people lured the police in and got them so easily. It... did rather take me by surprise. Yes.' 

'Do you and Hugo want to take a break from watching the cameras?' Jasmine suggested. 

'Thank you,' said Josh. 'But-' 

'Ben and I could take a turn,' said Jasmine quickly. 'Couldn't we, Ben?' 

'Er... sure,' said Ben, surprised. 'I mean, yes, definitely.' 

'It's settled then.' 

Before Josh could draw breath to protest Jasmine had already passed him and opened the door. 

Hugo was sitting hunched in front of the screen. At the sound of the door he sniffed heavily before turning: his eyes were red and his face, like Josh's, was pale. Whatever they'd just seen had obviously hit both boys hard. 

'We've come to give you some time off,' said Jasmine, smiling sweetly. 

Hugo blinked, dubious. 'OK,' he said finally. He sniffed again and looked hard at Ben. 'But don't touch anything.' 

When the door had closed behind him, Jasmine sat down on the chair and leaned back. 'Ben,' she said, 'we have to talk.'