The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 48 The Price of Trust

"This is a residential neighborhood."
I pointed out as we crept along through the shadows, keeping well away from the street lights.

"Yes, and your point is?"
Duncan asked in a nearly exasperated tone.

Apparently this fellow didn't like me very much. He could get in line.

"Why is there a lab in a residential neighborhood?"
I clarified.

"It's the perfect cover, hardly anyone would know it's here."
Fritz replied.

We came to the end of the street and Crista pointed at the quaint looking two-story house on the corner.

"That's it."

I raised my eyebrows, feeling skeptical. The four of us scurried across the street and ascended the cement stairs that led up to the door.

"I don't see any fancy tattoo scanner."
I whispered.

"Well, they aren't going to leave it out in the open for anyone to see. This is only the first door."
Crista explained.

She withdrew a small, narrow, length of metal which she then inserted into the lock.

"Huh. I've always wanted to know how to pick a lock."

"What do you need it for? I heard you can walk through walls."
Duncan snorted.

That was actually a good point, I kept forgetting I could do that. There was a soft click as the lock released and Crista straightened triumphantly.

"One of you boys keep a lookout here. Hoot thrice like a horned owl if there's trouble."

"I'll do it."
Duncan offered.

"You know how to hoot like a horned owl?"
I questioned.

"Definitely not. Crista just likes to give us absurd warning cues. I'll rap on the door if someone's coming and Fritz can pass along the message."

Crista rolled her eyes at him before pushing the door inwards. I half expected a normal living room based on the looks of the outside of the house. Instead, we came into what appeared to be an oversized glass box that was tinted so we couldn't see beyond it. Likely invisible steel. Directly in front of us lay a door with a scanner to the left of it that was glowing neon red.

"Would you do the honors?"
Crista motioned towards the scanner.

"How do I do it?"

"Just roll up your sleeve and hold your arm up to the scanner."

I did as instructed, holding my breath in anticipation of what was about to happen.

"Access Granted."
A computerized voice chirped out of nowhere.

The light on the scanner turned green and there was a click, followed by a whoosh as the tinted door swung open on its own accord.

"Yes!"
Crista pumped her fist in the air with a quiet exclamation of triumph.

"Let's do this."

Us two girls stepped through the doorway, coming into the strangest looking room I had ever been in. Instead of having two stories, it was actually one open floor with exceptionally high ceilings. A glance at the front windows told me you could see out while no one could see in. They were solid invisible steel, unable to be opened. The floors were a white tile that reflected the pale turquoise light coming from several refrigerated cases in the center of the room.

"Oh my, I wish I had time to look through those."
Crista muttered in a wistful tone, staring at enormous bookcases full of science compendiums.