The Monarch Effect

Chapter 4: Site of Fire

Chapter 4

Black Site Entrance

I'd rather not talk about how much roadkill I've made up to this point.

I mentally sob as I see that the front of my car now has the entire color spectrum's worth of blood on it. It looks like I hit a unicorn...

Actually, I'm pretty sure that was a unicorn.

Luckily, things are quieter as I drive off the gravel path and up to the entrance.

After slamming the car into park, my hand reaches for the door handle but freezes just before opening it.

Prim's words ring in my head as I slowly retract my hand and look toward the glove compartment.

Prim has taken me to the shooting range only once, and that was only because I lost a bet to her. But the risk of not having a gun in this situation outweighs the risk of me having next to no experience, right?

"Pull yourself together, Monarch," I say to myself after releasing a long and heavy sigh.

My hand trembles as I reach for the glove compartment.

Inside is a black box just barely hanging on for its life. I carefully remove the box and open it, revealing a pistol and a fully loaded mag next to it. A note on the gun reads in Prim's handwriting: "Always count your shots!"

I ensure the pistol is clear, insert the mag, and chamber the round.

... I should probably keep the safety on until I actually need to shoot. Hopefully, it won't come to that...

Finally exiting the car, I practice trigger discipline as I make my way towards the entrance to the hill, only to slow down when I notice something off...

...The doors are wide open.

That should... never happen at a black site, right?

My breath becomes shaky as my grip on the pistol tightens.

I begin to weigh my options on whether to enter the site or not.

1. Prim DID ask me to come here, and she is the one person I REALLY want to be with in this situation...

2. I don't want to think about the amount of gas I burned getting here. Who knows how far my car will actually go? Plus, that would mean leaving Prim...

3. The alternative is running around the woods with 12 bullets with god knows what's lurking. I don't know if twelve shots will be enough to take down an angry wyvern, and I don't plan on being the one to find out.

I take out my phone.

37% battery left.

I head to recent and call Prim. No answer.

Sigh

Steadying my breathing, I look at the flickering lights in the titanium-plated hallway.

...

...

...

A few pieces of aimless paper drift by me as the gentle yet chilling breeze blows in from the hallways, causing my eyes to dart at any movement to perceive if it's a threat. A soft low rumbling can be heard as the air and water systems are still operating. The sound of short, jagged breaths and slow steps echo back at me as I press deeper into the place. The fire alarm system occasionally strobes light flashes, briefly illuminating some office areas.

The computers at the cubicles are still on and are displaying governmental alerts urging employees to take their emergency kits, seal off areas, and await security.