Species Unknown [Book 2: Pisces)

17. THE RETURN

I WAS AlREADY driving towards the compound before the sun rose on the Monday of the new week. The whole morning I was a mess. I could barely choke down some tea before I grabbed my access badge and took off. I was so anxious about what I would find when I returned. I had no idea what to expect. With Flip gone, and the creature captured, I wasn't sure what I would be walking into.

However, regardless of what was awaiting me, I couldn't abandon the creature. I knew that it was there, somewhere inside the compound. Though, I had no doubt that Dr. Grant had the creature completely locked up in the deepest darkest place of the compound. Someplace as far away from me as possible. But just because it would be hard, doesn't mean it was not worth doing. It was my fault the creature was recaptured, and I had a debt to repay.

And now, I also had a personal vendetta against Dr. Grant. Which I would settle one way or another.

I tightened my hands on the steering wheel as I drove up to the compound. Pulling into the parking lot, I was surprised to see that there were no black vans or burly men to kidnap or attack me. The lot was empty aside from a parked few cars I recognized as belonging to employees. It looked as if nothing had changed, that nothing had even happened. Either way, I refused to let my guard down. Dr. Grant seemed overly fond of attacking when I least expected it.

Stepping out of my car, I slipped my hand into the pocket of my black slacks, fingering the pepper spray bottle that I bought the night before after I had ended the call with my father. It wasn't much, but after all the pain Dr. Grant and his men had caused me and the creature, somebody deserved to get a taste of their own medicine.

I walked past the stoic guards with ease and scanned myself inside the compound, entering the elevator. With a ding, the elevator doors opened indicating my arrival.

I was immediately greeted with the sound of shouting. Looking around, I saw a cluster of people standing in the center of the floor, arguing.

"You were fired! You can't be here!" I heard Noah shout at someone standing behind him, just out of my sight. I rushed over only to see two men holding Noah by the arms, keeping him away from whoever he was so angry at.

Please don't be Dr. Grant...I thought quickly as I approached.

Coming up beside Noah, my eyes widened. Standing in front of Noah was perhaps the one person I hated as much as Dr. Grant. There in the compound stood Hunter, dressed in a lab coat and with a new access badge hanging on a lanyard loosely around his pudgy neck.

"Yes, I was fired. By Philip, who if you can't tell, is no longer with us." Hunter sneered at Noah before glancing over at me. I almost gagged when our eyes made contact.

"What's going on?" I asked, looking over at Noah whose eyes widened in shock as if just noticing I was there.

"Lani, what are you doing here?!" Noah exclaimed, yanking himself from the two men to stride over to me. Noah stopped in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders. His eyes were wide, frantic, and...afraid? I had seen Noah angry, sad, and happy, but never afraid.

"Perfect timing Miss Hawaii." I heard Hunter chime from behind Noah. I felt Noah's grip tighten on my shoulders at Hunter's mocking tone, but we ignored him.

Noah leaned in close, "I didn't think you would come back." He said softly in my ear.

I pulled back and gave him a small smile, "I did last time didn't I?" I said, referring to when I had returned to work the morning after Hunter had attempted to drown me.

Noah's eyes met mine as he smiled back, revealing his dimples.

"I'm not someone you should be ignoring so comfortably." Hunter snapped, capturing my attention. I looked away from Noah to Hunter, who stood watching us with an unpleasant frown.