Species Unknown [Book 2: Pisces)

11. STUPID IDEAS

I WAS CERTAIN that my shadow savior was the very same creature that had escaped. The same creature that Dr. Grant requested, and would most likely tear apart the compound to find.

I wondered if the creature knew that Dr. Grant was coming. Is that what it was trying to warn me of? Or was it something else? Something worse?

Whatever it was, it wouldn't be good.

In my panic, I ran through the compound. Fortunately, nobody paid me any mind since everyone was already scrambling around, preparing for Dr. Grant's impending arrival.

In my rush, I didn't see Noah walk around the corner and I slammed into him, knocking his black tablet out of his hands and sending it crashing to the ground.

"Woah!" Noah breathed, holding my shoulders to steady me.

"Sorry." I said quickly, and began to try to move around Noah. But Noah held onto my shoulders, not letting me go.

"Lani, are you alright?" Noah asked, searching my face.

"Yes. I-I am fine, I just need some fresh air." I answered, hoping that would be enough. I still didn't trust Noah enough to tell him about the creature.

Noah looked at me in understanding, "It's Dr. Grant isn't it." Noah said, his voice lowered.

I nodded.

Noah sighed, "I can talk to Flip to see if you can take tomorrow off if you'd like." Noah offered, watching my face.

I shook my head, "No it's alright, I just want to get some fresh air for a minute and I'll be back." I quipped, for some reason I wanted to be here. I wanted to see Dr. Grant in person, and find out more about him.

Noah nodded, "Alright, but then at least take the rest of today off." Noah pleaded, looking at me with a worried expression.

Before I could answer, I heard Flip yell for us across the hall. His hair bounced as he scrambled over to us. He caught up quickly, breathing heavily once he stopped in front of Noah and I.

"What has gotten into you Lani?" Flip wheezed, resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

"She's nervous about Dr. Grant's arrival. I think we all are." Noah responded quickly, glancing between Flip and I.

Flip nodded, "That's understandable, but don't go running off like that again." Flip scolded, frowning at me.

I mumbled and apology and looked at Noah.

Noah spoke first, "I thought it would be a good idea for her to take the rest of the day off, to recover for tomorrow."

Flip looked between Noah and I and then pushed up his glasses. "That's fine, just take it easy Lani. I'm sure everything will be alright tomorrow." Flip said with a smile, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

I swallowed, "Thanks." I said finally, waving goodbye to Noah and Flip before continuing my path out of the compound.

As soon as I was out, I rushed to my car and immediately drove to the beach. It was just before noon and the beach was relatively empty, with the occasional runner passing by. This part of Monterey was so far away from the main city that people rarely came here. After working at C.R.O.S.S. for a while, I realized that this location was most likely an intentional choice by the enigmatic Dr. Grant himself.

Either way, I hoped it would be quiet enough for the creature to appear. It didn't appear this morning, but this time I was determined. I would not leave until I had a chance to speak with it again.

Parking my car, I rushed down to the water, taking my shoes off and setting my phone down on the sand with them. With a quick glance around me to make sure nobody was looking, I began wading into the water.

One foot after another I waded, deeper and deeper into the cool blue water. The water was still chilly, completely soaking my dress slacks and white blouse, but it was not as cold as it was the previous night.

I waded until the water reached my neck, and then I waited. Glancing around, I saw no movement in the water, and I was far enough out that I was sure my head looked like a piece of driftwood to passing runners on the beach.

I waited for a while, gently wading back and forth through the water, waiting. I've never had to call the creature to me before, it just appeared. I wasn't sure what I could do to get it to come out, but I knew it was watching. I could practically feel it's eyes on me, watching from the beneath the waves. The danger of the whole situation made a delicious chill run down my spine. The adrenaline of the unknown was something I used to crave as a surfer, but it was a feeling long forgotten after the death of my mother. When I realized risks had consequences.

Suddenly, I had an idea. A stupidly dangerous idea, but one that might just work.

Carefully I waded further, until my feet could no longer touch the sand. Then, I swam.

I swam further out into the water, far away from shore that I doubted anyone would even be able to recognize me as a person anymore. I just kept swimming until I could no longer see the bottom of the ocean, until there was just a pit of never ending darkness beneath my paddling feet. And then, I let go.

I stopped swimming and let out my breath. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself sink below the waves. The water rushed around me, crushing my body in a tight hold as my body sank, deeper and deeper into the ocean.

If I wasn't so certain the creature was watching me, I would have been terrified. Feeling the suffocating pressure of the water crushing my lungs was unbearable, but I knew I wasn't alone.

Somewhere in the water, eyes followed me, observing my actions with a fierce intensity.

It wasn't long until I felt the water shift around me. A current of water brushed past me and I froze, waiting. Part of me feared for the worst, that perhaps it wasn't my creature at all. That it was a shark or something more malicious.

My lungs burned from a lack of air, but I refused to move. If it didn't want to come out, then it could sit back and watch me die.

Just then, the water shifted behind me and suddenly I felt two cold arms firmly wrap themselves around my waist and begin hoisting me up. With inhuman speed, I was back up at the surface, coughing out salty water and gasping for breath.

All the while, something held me patiently from behind as I expelled the water from my lungs. Once I could breathe normally again, I looked down to see what was holding me above the water.

Looking down, I saw two pale arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

"I told you to leave." A chilly, yet familiar voice sounded behind me. It's surprisingly warm breath brushed across my ear, making me shiver.

"Why did you save me?" I asked, surprised at how breathless I sounded.

It was silent for a moment, until the creature finally responded. "I don't know." It said lowly, imperceptibly tightening its grip around my waist. The creature shifted behind me, leaning close enough for its long white hair to brush against my cheek, leaving my skin tingling from the contact.

"I need answers." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

I could hear the creature let out a breath, but it said nothing more. Instead, it shifted closer until I could feel the cool ridges of it's muscled chest press firmly against my back.

I swallowed. "You said it's not safe..." I began slowly, "...then why haven't you left?" I asked finally.

I felt the creature pull back slightly at my question. "I can not..." It said solemnly, the deep timber of it's voice rumbling against me.

"Why? Like you said it's not safe, Dr. Grant..." I started saying before the creature cut me off with a sharp hiss. Suddenly the creature let go of me, and I struggled to swim, just barely keeping myself above the water. I looked around, just in time to see a the tips of white hair disappearing beneath the waves.

"It's not safe! Dr. Grant's coming!" I shouted to the empty water, but no response came.