Beautiful (W.I.P)

Intruder

The green of the lush forest was disturbed by the passing of unwanted visitors. There were no lights on outside or inside the tall, concrete facility created by Dr. Guzman. The metallic mesh of a dome covering the tops of the trees, the fortified walls overrun by vines, and palm trees trying to hide it from every angle made his research lab look like an abandoned castle in the wilderness. It screamed out to potential trespassers that there was something of value inside.

Dr. Guzman had retired to his bed. The barricaded offices and his living quarters lied behind a myriad of fences, and juxtaposed on the side of the massive fortress, jutting out into the wilderness. On the other side, not even a camera stood to try and evade somebody sneaking by.

In the darkness, two figures and one unruly pit bull traversed the darkened paths. Palm trees now providing shade from the moon, they were as dark as shadow as they approached the far wall.

"This is the place." One of them chuckled, lighting a cigarette. "I heard there are some real exotic birds in that place. Wonder how much they'll sell for..."

"Put that out." The other hushed. "Unless you want to get caught by a smoke detector, start a wildfire, or both. We're trying to be stealthy and you can't even store the cigarros for one night?"

The first inhaled on the toxic stick and exhaled smoke from his mouth. "They help with the nerves is all."

Stepping into proximity, they scanned the walls of the facility. As they searched for openings in the wall, the dog wandered off and investigated a pile of cow bones, attracted by the smell. 

"Think they have livestock in there too?"

"I only heard about the birds. The cows? Who knows why they show up here. They roll up real sickly ones twice a week or so."

"Maybe they do disease research on the side."

"If they do, they're really bad at it then. Negro is all over that pile there."

Negro, upon hearing his name, trotted back to his two compadres. They'd be paying him well tonight. A good chunk of cash would be going towards his food if he managed a good haul as well.

"Here we go. I found a way to get in." Whispered the first crook to his companion. He motioned the other over to what looked like an emergency exit door. It was painted over to blend with the outside walls, and would have been completely hidden if not for the rust that was starting to peel away at the outer casing of the door. It was a standard, solid lock, built directly into the door. No handle was present, as a key would be the only handle one would need.

The second pulled out a lock-smith's box out of his bag. Skilled at opening whatever lock he was presented, this mere door would be no problem to him. No security, no codes, just a simple lock. It was almost too simple. 

The door took little effort to open, and slowly swung out to meet them. It was as green inside the walls as it was outside. The smell of tropical plants leapt at them from the doorway, but was overpowered by the smell of cigarette smoke that was layers thick.

"No time to lose. We're in and out of here as fast as we can go. If we can take at least two, we'll be filthy rich." Cigarette chuckled as he loaded up a tranquilizer gun. Locksmith pulled a net from his pack, and prodded Negro through the door. The three delved into the darkness as quietly as they came.

"Rayos." Cigarette spat angrily. "We forgot flashlights."

"I wonder who's fault that is." Locksmith retorted.

"It's stinking dark in this place. Those metal bars on the top are blocking all of the light that would fall in here. It's just spotty. Can't even see the rocks..."

"But look what we can see." Locksmith nudged his companion in the arm, nearly startling him. Focusing on a particular pillar of light, feathers that were strewn across the ground. They were vibrant, glimmering of reddish-pink, chalky blues, and faded white. Above them was a set of eyes, glimmering from the trees. Watching meticulously their every movement.

"Jackpot." Cigarette whispered as he aimed for the eyes. Looking straight down the nose of his gun, he made sure that this would be an easy shot.

Suddenly, Negro started barking loudly, interrupting the stillness of the moment. The eyes from the trees fled, the sound of feathers rustling against the trees. 

"Stupid dog... won't you shut up?!" Cigarette growled aggressively. Negro only barked louder.

"Maybe somebody is awake after all." Locksmith mumbled under his breath. "We should get out of here then, before we're spotted."

"Not without at least one of these birds, you fool!" Cigarette hissed, rushing through the foliage towards Negro. Locksmith rolled his eyes and made his way to the door. He was going to leave. The door was already wide open and expecting him. Light trickled in from the outside moon, taking his mind off of the need for stealth.

At the same time, Cigarette bumbled over to the sound of Negro's barking. Negro had gotten pretty far, it seemed. Cigarette started slowly, throwing insults through the air about Negro's incompetence, but started to hasten his pace as Negro grew more and more pained, more and more panicked. Negro was no longer barking, but squealing. Horrible sounds of pain were escaping at every possible moment, and at every gasp of air that the dog could take in right until it went silent. 

Cigarette's eyes grew wide, scanning from left to right. To kill a dog like that? Somebody was serious about protecting the birds. He wasn't about to figure out if they would likely kill a person too. He was out. He turned to run, and booked it towards the door. Footsteps followed him. Heavy footsteps that were very fast. Gaining on him. Cigarette was weighed down not only by his pack, but by the fear of the unknown being chasing him down.

He tripped on a rock. Flopping onto his face, but pulling himself up in a rush of adrenaline, he mustered all the power he could to not stumble again. Catching up to the wall, which had seemed forever away, he frantically searched for the door, the light from the outside failing to shine through what was a previously open invitation to safety. Hands against the cold and unforgiving wall, he ran alongside the barrier between the uncertainty of the inside and the release of the door. The footsteps did not cease. There were more of them now. At last Cigarette reached the door. With all his might, he bolted into it and bounced right off of the steel frame.

It was shut. Locked once more.

"HEY!" Cigarette shouted. "This is no time for games! Open the door! What are you doing?!" He pounded his fists on the sturdy steel, the sound resonating throughout the cursed chamber. No response. No words. Nothing. The footsteps had stopped. His heartbeat seemed to stop. The breeze even seemed to not be blowing.

Cigarette clutched his tranquilizer gun with all his might and force. Rapidly devising a plan of escape, he was prepared to take down at least three people if needed. He could tranquilize them until he made a safe escape. Light from the moon began to trickle down into the darkened enclosure.

There were the feathers again. Exotic feathers. Taunting him. Taunting his foolish and reckless charge into an unknown room. Cigarette looked up into the trees again, catching sight of those same eyes. Observing him. 

"I'll teach you to stare!" He shouted out. He fired the tranquilizer at the staring eyes, but nothing changed. Another dart. The eyes did not move. Another dart. The tree did not rustle. Another dart. Mere feathers fell to the ground.

Cigarette, on the verge of madness, reached his shaky hands into his pocket, fiddling for another few darts. Now there were more eyes in the trees. All were focused on him. All were looking at him. Observing him. His hands couldn't hold the darts properly and they spilled onto the dirt. He dared not look down, yet fumbled for the darts anyways.

There was no time to react as a silent mass leaped from the plants and latched onto Cigarette. Then a second. Then a third. There was no time to even scream. No time to curse the eager eyes from the trees who hadn't moved this whole time.