Page 2 of Feral Mates
He glanced over his shoulder, crowding closer. “Did you hear the latest rumors? They can’t close the portal.”
Turning my head, I studied Carl’s eyes. He was serious. “You’re kidding me?” Now my tone held a hint of excitement. The modules pulsed vibrantly. I could swear the reaction was based on what they felt and heard.
“Nope,” he said, popping the ‘p.’ “But you didn’t hear that from me. Do you need anything before I take off? I don’t think there’s another soul here.”
At that moment we both heard footsteps and turned, knowing exactly who was left lurking in the building.
“Correction, Dr. Death is still here,” he said under his breath. When the owner of the lab walked by with precise footsteps, I found myself shivering. Marcus Blackwell was a brilliant scientist with an incredible reputation, and I was thrilled to be working with and for him, but the man was strange. He’d been one of my professors my freshman year in college, his tutelage luring me into expanding my career in science. “I swear that man is like a vampire. I never see him eat.”
I laughed. “You’ve been reading too many of your horror books.”
“Hey. We work with strange creatures from another world. What areyoutalking about?”
“Not proven. Now go home. Snuggle up with Stephen King.”
“At least I’m snuggling with someone.”
“You are such a terrible friend.”
“But you love me,” he grinned as he headed for the door.
As soon as he left, I returned my attention to the energy source. While I wasn’t privy to every aspect of the top-secret project, I sensed the team was onto something incredible.
A bit later, I checked my watch. Somehow another thirty minutes had gone by while I’d stood mesmerized. Sighing, I returned to the computer screens. The test had proveninconclusive. Damn it. I made a promise to myself that my work would continue. I’d prove my theory. One way or another.
After stretching my back, I realized almost every muscle was sore from so much tension. Maybe it was time to go home.
“Goodnight,” I whispered, as if there was a lifeform inside the colorful quantum strands that could hear me.
I took off my jacket and headed for my locker to grab my things. While I’d brought a change of clothes, I was too exhausted to bother. I’d enjoy relaxing with a nice glass of wine. The snuggling would be in my soft jammies.
Just before leaving the room, I took another look. Perhaps it was my imagination, but I could swear the field of energy was growing, more humanlike shapes forming. That was crazy. I laughed softly, my heels clicking on the tile as I headed for the exit.
The brisk air captured my breath as I walked to my car while stealing a quick glance at the full moon. While the parking lot was well lit, the bright orb gave me comfort since there was only one other vehicle left at the facility. The owner himself. I was beginning to think Dr. Blackwell slept at the lab.
After starting the engine, I was relieved. My poor little Cruze needed to get me through another full year before I could even think about purchasing another car. I pulled from the lot, flicking the switch on the satellite radio. The heavy metal music was exactly what I needed after a long day.
I headed down the only road leading from the laboratory where Blackwell Industries was located, the rural location in the middle of nowhere. While I knew there were supposed to be security guards watching over the property twenty-four/seven,I’d never seen one outside the building itself. They were armed, but their job was to protect the lab, not watch out for employees on their commute home.
With a nervous laugh, I flicked on the high beams, singing to my favorite song as I flew by the dark forest. The massive trees on both sides created an eerie atmosphere during the day, but at night, demons and monsters practically leapt from the shadows. The thought created shivers.
I had to remind myself that monsters didn’t exist. Not in this world anyway.
Clunk.
What was that?
Was the sound in the music?
Turning down the volume, I listened intently. After a few seconds of hearing nothing, I had my hand on the knob when I heard it again.
Louder this time.
Then the car was jerked slightly to the left.
“No. no, no, no!” This just couldn’t be happening. Not here. Not now.
Yet the clunk turned into ker-thunkety clunk, which morphed into the front end being somewhat unresponsive. Which led into the ugly realization I had a flat tire.
