Cry to Me

2.

It was a few days into the winter semester when she got the message. The research project she and four of her team members had submitted was getting attention from the science community, and there was talk of publishing a research paper. Although their project had ended the previous semester, David was still their team lead and was helping them through the process towards becoming published. By the end of January, he had helped them organize the paper and set up a rough draft based on their work. The five of them worked on the paper with all of their spare time, sometimes together but mostly separate as their clinical schedules were busy and at all different times of the day. It was sometime in February when Taylor was working on one of the computers in the research lab and, losing track of time, was surprised when David walked into the room to lock up for the night. He was also taken by surprise.

David: Oh, sorry – didn't mean to scare you. I didn't realize anyone was still here... don't you have clinical tomorrow?

Taylor: Yeah... I mean yes, but it's not until later in the day, and I really wanted to get my parts finished. Sorry, I didn't realize it was already eleven...

David: No worries... hey, how's it coming along anyways? You guys were doing awesome the last time I looked at it.

Taylor: It's kinda fun, actually. I hate the stats, but at least I know how to do them now thanks to you and google. I think we'll actually get it done by our deadline.

David: Can't wait. You know, you're only the third group I've ever had who've been invited to publish their research. It'll look awesome on your CV, and you'll be able to brag about it for years to come. I still brag about the papers I had published in grad school – of course, people start avoiding eye contact with me after I talk about it too much, probably because they don't want to hear me talk about my papers anymore. Hmmm, on second thought, maybe don't do that.

Taylor laughed. He looked at her with a glint in his eye, but catching himself, looked away.

David: I can leave the lab open if you like.

Taylor: That's okay, but thanks. I should probably go to bed early anyways.

David: Young people. Nine's early for me these days.

As they both smiled, there was a sudden unfamiliar and loud banging sound from outside. David looked up for a few seconds with a focused look on his face, clearly trying to decipher the sounds.

David: What was that?

He turned and walked out of the room. As he looked over the railing down into the lobby, there was a quick flash of a moving object. Perplexed at first, he began to hear low grunting sounds that were animalistic and wild, followed by more movement. Then there were screams from below. Taylor slowly walked up beside him and looked over the railing as well.

Taylor: What is it?

David: I... I don't know. Maybe some kind of animal got in...

Taylor: Look, there's another one. What the hell is that?

They suddenly heard a growling sound coming from the side, and both of them slowly looked over. A dark object on four legs was drooling and making the grunting sounds they had heard earlier. They could see its slow and steady breaths, its three glassy eyes staring at them, and its jaw clenched tightly. The creature then slowly and ominously began to move up onto two legs, and at its full height must have been at least 10 feet in the air. It began to make an unfamiliar hissing sound and, without thinking, David suddenly grabbed Taylor's arm and pulled her back into the research lab, closing and locking the door with a loud bang.

They both listened to the apparent silence on the other end of the door, waiting for any indication of what was happening. It did not take long before they heard another sound and saw the wall shake, as if the creature had started ramming itself into the door trying to get through to them. David grabbed the edge of a nearby desk and began pulling it in front of the door. It took Taylor a while before she realized he was attempting to form a barricade, and trying to control her shaking arms and legs, she carefully got up and began to help. The creature continued to slam against the door, until suddenly there was silence once more. They both froze in place, still listening.