The Science of Fear//Book Three

Chapter 7~ Darkness And Drugs

Teddy's P.O.V

The brightness of the light seemed to burn my vision away. With a small hiss of pain I turned my head away from the source of the light but it's damage was already done. Squinting, all I could see was white. I couldn't even see John but I could feel his hand gripping mine.

Then, suddenly, his hand was gone. It took me a moment to realize why. The load cries of an alarm rang shrill in the lab, echoing and piercing and causing me to swear. I blocked my own ears, grimacing in pain and confusion. What was this? What was happening? Two of my senses were down! My eyes felt like they were burning while my ears felt like they were bleeding! Why was this happening?

I felt John bang into me. Above all the noise I heard him call:

"Get to the elevator!"

With narrowed eyes I stumbled blindly towards the elevator, bumping into John several times. John pulled out his I.D card and swiped it. Instead of the doors opening, the reader flashed the words 'ACCESS DENIED' with a beep. John tried again but there was no change. The light and noise was really beginning to get to me and with a groan I pulled out my card.

"Let me try," I called over the alarm, swiping it through the reader.

ACCESS DENIED.

"For God's sake!" I snarled.

Then the lights and the noise disappeared. The lab was now dimly lit with small red lights and as silent as a ghost town.

"What the f..." John breathed.

As he searched for his flashlight I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of my spotty vision, to no avail.

"Hello?" John called. He received no answer.

"Should I try my card again?" I asked, blinking rapidly. The weakness of my voice shocked me. I didn't realize how shaken I was. John didn't answer. Instead he peered into the dark, a confused look on his face.

It was quiet. I was sure that John could hear my heartbeat in the silence that surrounded us. It was calm, like the calm before the storm-

To our right something rattled.

"Was that...?"

I stood next to John, letting my sentence trail off. It couldn't be.... No, I was just getting in over my head. Gently, John took my hand and together we walked towards the source of the noise which was around the sheet-covered cages. The rattling sound came again.

"Maybe it's the monkey?" I suggested as John checked the first cage.

"We'll see," he replied, moving away the cloth over the monkey's cage. Again the monkey screeched, sending shivers up my spine. In the lab the sound resonated all around, chilling me to the core. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening...

"It's just a malfunction," I said softly, trying to calm myself. I could feel my pulse rising. My breathing was coming out in ragged and harsh gasps. John and I headed towards the last cage, his flashlight shining on it. At the bottom of the cage the bars had been bent outwards. My breath caught in my throat. It looked like something incredibly strong had managed to get out.

"Oh, God," I wheezed, gripping John's hand as he searched the lab with his flashlight. "Oh, my God."

"Come on, back to the lab, the smaller on with the pipes," John whispered and together we moved swiftly to the door. John swiped his card and I prayed for a miracle.

ACCESS DENIED.

"Oh shit," I groaned as John tried again. His attempt failed.

"No, come on," he murmured, but with a grimace he gave up.