Westvale

VI

VI

While reminiscing about past times and memories through the streets of the very silent and ominous town, the two made it to the lab. As she had always done, Clara entered the code to the basement door, which allowed them to make their way down the stairs and into the lab, although when they did do so, something seemed off. Charlie Barnet's 'Scotch and Soda' was on, at the loudest possible volume. They stepped foot in the lab, only to discover emptiness.

"What is going on? Where is Denny?" yelled Clara.

"What? All I can hear are saxophones and what I think are trombones" returned Ben, unable to hear her.

"I can't hear you."

Clara moved further into the lab with caution, closer to the desk with the dozens of computer screens, only to encounter yet another gruesome, but also very gory sight.

"Ben! Ben!" howled Clara yet considering the fact that Ben probably couldn't hear her over the jazz and swing jumble being blasted at their poor ear drums, she waved her arms vigorously as to signal him. Noticing her desperate look, he jogged his way over. Upon arriving, he turned his head away from the sight and puked over some beakers. In front of the computer desks lied the body of a man in his 40's, in a pool of his own blood. It was more than just a regular cadaver. His head had almost been split into two, to the point where the brain could be clearly seen.

"Clara, we need to call someone!"

"Who? The cops? Good luck!"

The song had ended, making it much easier to be heard.

"Denny! Are you in here?" shouted Clara once again, turning her head around in order to make sure she had checked all the angles and corners of the massive lab.

"Clara?" called Denny softly, in a tone of uncertainty.

They both turned their heads to a row of shelves housing metal containers, as they heard Clara's name being softly uttered from somewhere afar in the lab.

"Denny? Is that you?"

"Yes! Oh my God. I'm so relieved you're here" answered Denny.

The two watched him come out from under one of the shelves, quivering out of fear, with what looked like a gun.

"Denny, please provide me with an adequate explanation for the presence of that corpse that has its head split into two."

"They came after me. They definitely know I'm lurking around their confidential information. I went back to try to fix my mistake, but I only made it worse. I have done a very poor job at covering my tracks. The software they use was different than what I was expecting which confused me and blew my cover. They were able to track my location, and that jolly joker showed up. They're up to totally up to something."
"Why are we being dragged into this?" questioned Clara, starting to break down. Ben quickly came over to hug and recomfort her. She continued, only breaking down even more.

"It keeps getting worse. First, we can't leave, then we get shot at, next thing we know we're killing people."

"Clara, I only killed him because I was trying not to die myself. And to protect all the progress I've been making to figure this out."

"I know Denny, I know. I just don't want the violence and the action and the drama. In the span of two days everyone's life has to gone to hell."

Ben took over, redirecting the conversation to the body.

"Denny, how exactly did he make his way in if you have that huge metal door of yours at the front?"
"It was open. I went outside for a while and left the basement door open. My mistake."