Project HOOD [ON HOLD]

Chapter 2

Somewhere under New York City

1:43 a.m.

The four of them turned to see a character appear from behind the conference table. She was tall. Much taller than each of them. Her long red hair reached past her back. Her brown eyes were surrounded with thin framed glasses. She wore a tan trench coat over a black dress. She had on black pumps with a reasonable heel size.

Nevaeh watched in admiration as this woman approached. She looked older. Maybe a few years. She certainly acted older. Her posture was incredible and by the way the others reacted to her, it would seem that she had some sort of position of power.

"I see you all were successful in your mission," she greeted the others. They nodded. "You three should get some rest. I'll take it from here."

Without a second thought, the other three headed off into different directions. It almost looked like they disappeared through the walls. Apparently, there were more doors than Nevaeh could originally see. In every direction it looked as if anything could become a door in this place.

"I understand you have some questions," the woman stated, not even looking her in the eye.

"I do actually. I'll start with an easy one. Who are you?"

"That's not important. Follow me."

The red-haired woman quickly turned around and began to walk away. She didn't even check to see if the girl was behind her. The woman strutted past the conference table and to the wall under the big screen. She pulled out what looked like an I.D. card and she held it in front of a scanner device. A door suddenly appeared and slid open. She turned to see Nevaeh slowly making her way over.

"We don't have all day," she called to her, holding open the door.

"Sorry, I was just trying to take all of this i-"

"This way to the elevator," the woman interrupted. Nevaeh glared at her as she continued to strut down this dark hall to a door. Inside of that door was the aforementioned elevator. Both women entered and stood a few feet apart.

"Now before we depart, I want you to know that you do not yet have clearance to see any of this. I've chosen to show you anyways. Currently, you are inside of a top secret organization that not even our government is aware of. We lurk in the shadows and protect the innocent. Though some of our ways may seem unorthodox, we continue to be the great institute before you today. Now, all I ask if that you never mention this to anyone ever. Is that clear?" the woman asked. That was a lot of information to take in. She had to think about it for a second but the woman seemed impatient.

"Crystal," she finally uttered.

The red-haired woman nodded and sounds could be heard from all around. She didn't press any buttons. This freaked Nevaeh out when the elevator started moving. To top things off, it was moving sideways. Elevators don't normally do that.

"What the hell?" she queried, holding on to the side of the room.

"Now to your let you will see our weaponry lab," the woman pointed out.

"Weaponry lab?"

Over the next twenty minutes, the woman basically showed her around the entire building. Well, if it was a building. They did enter from the ground and this place had no cell service whatsoever. There was no telling where she was.

From what she was being shown, it was definitely a top secret place. Weaponry labs, high tech computer lab, rooms full of disguises. She was afraid of where she would be taken next.