The Aliens Inside

Part 1: The Start

Finally, I was here. I had worked so long just to get this job. I worked my entire life. I studied and I fought for this since I was a child. Why, then, was I numb today? I wondered this as I walked into the sleek, modern entrance.

"You're new." a receptionist greeted me. She grabbed a file and added, "Follow me. You're Allison, right?"

I nodded. She got up from the desk and ushered me towards her. As we wandered the white hallways, I peered around the rooms we walked past. Inside were rushing scientists, tubes, and flying paperwork. Why was it so busy today? Usually, everything was calm and neat here in the Endern Laboratory. At least, that's what I heard.

I stepped into a tiled, grey room. Inside was ten tables. On some of them, there were thick stacks of papers. On others were test tubes. Others had assorted medical equipment. One by the other end seemed to be an operating table. Blinding lights shined on it brightly.

"Allison Valentin. The new one. Welcome to Endern Laboratory."

I turned around to see a man with greying hair come out a door. He adjusted his tie and shook my hand.

"Hello," I put my things on a nearby table. "Who are you?"

"Your boss. My name is Gregory. Gregory Peter Wilkinson. Samantha, you can go now." he answered. I watched as she passed on the file and quickly left the room, shutting the door behind her.

"I've heard a lot about you. You're a bright girl." Gregory said. I winced at the use of the word 'girl'. "I've read your file. Born in the Philipines. Born in poverty. Mother was a janitor. Father was a drunk."

"Yes, but I graduated high school at fourteen."

Suddenly, he spun towards me and stalked closer. Sticking a finger in my face, he whispered so quietly it barely made it past my own ears, "Speak when asked. You'll find that soon you are not welcome here."

I gasped. This was my boss? And I was going to work with him until I retired, which was going to be quite a long time. What did he mean by I wasn't welcome here? I was approached to come here. They said they needed me.

"I know what you're thinking. You think you're important. You think you're needed. Understand me now so you aren't broken later." He breathed in closer, "You can be replaced now. Right now. Even that stupid Samantha could replace you with enough training."

I grumbled but kept my mouth shut. I knew it was better to be belittled for a minute instead of losing the best job a scientist could hope for. Still, his words hurt. Mainly because I knew they were true. Yes, I knew I may have been the best they knew, but there were people who would do it for less and there were people who weren't discovered. I would have to pray they don't find that person because I knew they existed.

"I see you understand. Now, follow me." he spat.

I nodded politely and picked up my things. As I followed him, I noticed that the walls around us started slowly changed from neat white to a dirty grey. Random maroon spots were seemingly splattered along the walls. I didn't say anything, but the one, straight hallway we were following seemed to get smaller and tighter as we got closer to our destination. I wiped my sweaty hands on my skirt. It didn't help I was claustrophobic. When were we going to get there? This was taking forever. I didn't know how much longer this was going to take.

"Welcome," Gregory finally pushed a key in the keyhole of a short door, "To Testing Room 001."

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'Are you trying to break her?'

'That was what you asked.'

'Not exactly.'

'Technically.'

'The worst kind of right.'

'But still right.'

'Of course.'

'So now are you going to do? Isolate her? Destroy her? To make her, as you call it,"stronger"? Or what you're really going to make her: make her pliable, make her our own toy?'

'If that's what needed.'

'....'

'You know that it is.'

'Do I?'

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