“Warning to all research teams and military personnel, according to reports from the mainland there is a high probability that we may encounter a hurricane in the next two to five hours. All personnel who are rotating back to the mainland are to leave for the docks immediately. All transport services are to be shut down in one hour, after that the facility shall undergo emergency lock down procedures. That is all.” After the announcement everything went quiet before the halls filled with soldiers and many researches carrying bags.

Nearly two hundred people had packed up and quickly made their way to the docks.

Leola had been in one of the many training areas when the announcement went off. After listening to it she decided to leave and get something to eat. As she wandered the halls she would run into nurses and soldiers who had decided to stay. “So this place is located on an island huh? Obviously it was to make sure nothing could escape to populated areas.” She muttered while entering the cafeteria.

After a quick meal Leola went back to her quarters while wondering how large the island was and where it was located. Since Dr. Grantt had some errands to run she assumed that the island wasn’t too far from the mainland. “Perhaps it might take a hour or two to get there.” She said with a quick nod then entered her room. When she walked in the lights were off and there was a rather pleasant smell filling the room. “Doctor, are you in here?” she called softly while making her way to the bed.

“Doctor yes, but not Dr. Grantt. I am Dr. Merkin” The voice was soon given a face as the lights came back on. “Do not be worried Leola, I mean you no harm. I am a close friend of Dr. Grantt; I merely wanted to meet the daughter of my Lilith.” Jake said as he looked Leola over and smiled while closing his eyes for a moment.

At first Leola was startled by the male voice but when the lights came back on she nearly rushed to subdue the man, hearing he was a friend of Karen and that he knew of Lilith she figured that she could at least hear what the guy wanted before kicking his ass out of her quarters. “You knew my mother?” she asked softly before looking at him and tilting her head slightly. To be honest she thought the guy could use a shave and some time away from this place due to his pale skin and scruffy beard.

“Yes I knew her very well. I was her caretaker, friend and even her lover for a short time. But I don’t think you need to learn about the latter. So my being here is merely to see how you have matured and to understand more about your mental and physical abilities. I will be the one to monitor and conduct your more extensive experimentations. I do not condone what I have been assigned to do with you nor would I wish to do you harm. But as you very well know the higher ups must learn about you in every way possible. In all honesty on my part I believe it would be better to see how you would handle yourself in the real world. How would you react to civilians in a small town or in a massive city? How would you survive in a barren desert or trapped on an uninhabited tropical island? This is what we need to study. Not your abilities to better suit the military’s secret agenda. Ah but I’m getting ahead of myself here. Well now it’s your turn, ask me what you will and I might have an answer for you, but I won’t promise much.”

Leola thought for a moment, she had many questions that needed answering, most of which being about her mothers. She wanted to know what they were like from his perspective and not just some report, she also wanted to know how she was able to retail some of their memories.

The containment alarms sounded in the facility, shortly followed by a warning announcement. ‘Containment breach in level 12. All security personnel are to followed code yellow 827 protocol and lock down all research labs. If standard capture methods become inadequate deadly force is authorized. Repeat all security personal code yellow 827 lockdown in progress.’

“Well it seems one of the pets has escaped their cage, shall we go and assist the good soldiers in capturing it?” Leola said as she turned to the Doctor.

“No. Stay here and do not leave this room no matter what you hear. And I mean it Leola; this alert isn’t something that needs you. Please stay here and wait for me to return.” Jake Merkin said as he rushed out the door only to come back a second later. “Lock the door and hide.” he said then took off down the hall.

Not long after Leola locked the door and took refuge by her bed where she kept a container of liquid meant to give her shifting powers more prowess. Something the good doctor Grantt had come up with after the events of three months ago. She sat in silence, trying to listen to any noise that might indicate that everything was ok and that she could help the soldiers and research staff who actually thought of her as a friend and comrade. The silence continued for another hour or so, but it was then shattered as screams of terror and gunfire echoed throughout the halls. Soldiers were ordering reinforcements with heavy weapons and gas rounds to neutralize the threat.

As terrifying as all that was, the thing that made Leola feel like a scared child hiding under the bed was the sound of its voice. It was not human; it was nothing she could not have imagined in all her life or through the flashes of Lilith’s memories that plagued her dreams. This thing outside her room was nothing short of a monstrosity hungry for blood and seeking a suitable mate.