赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“What?” Ashleigh asked with shock and confusion. “Human? How is that even possible?”

“They saw what worked with me and repeated the experiment,” Alice sighed. “You saw the files. There were supposed to be twice as many in this room.”

Ashleigh remembered seeing the children’s files and wondering what had happened to the rest.

“The conversion from human to wolf, even with the combined DNA, is still incredibly dangerous,” Alice said. “The last time I was here, I was locked in my mind. But I was awake long enough when I entered the room to recognize the conversion in process.”

Ashleigh stared at Alice in horror.

“I saw these children shifting for the first time and many more for the last time,” Alice said with a ripple of anger below the surface of her words. “That is the memory that brought me to you to come here and save the children that remained.”

“Alice…” Ashleigh whispered.

Ashleigh saw how her eyes shook, her jaw clenched, and her hand curled into a tight fist. Alice was witnessing the moment in her mind. Watching as those children died needlessly.

‘You don't know her…' Axel's voice echoed in Ashleigh's thoughts.

Ashleigh took a step toward Alice, but the blaring sound of an alarm drew both of their attention away.

“What the hell is that?” Ashleigh asked.

“No…” Alice whispered as she ran to the computer. Then, after pulling up a few screens, she growled. “Damn it!”

“What?”

“You need to go, now,” Alice said, suddenly typing in commands quickly. “I am locking down the upper floors, but security is already on its way.”

“What about the children? You said they still need time,” Ashleigh asked.

“I am going to raise the stimulant, they might be a bit groggy, but it'll have to do.”

“Ok,” Ashleigh nodded and turned toward the door.

“Ashleigh,” Alice called out.

Ashleigh looked back.

“Yea?”

“No matter what, you need to get all of these kids out of here.”

“That's the plan, isn't it?” Ashleigh asked with furrowed brows.

Alice swallowed and nodded.

“Just don't forget.”

Ashleigh felt there was something she was missing, something Alice wasn't saying, but she didn't have time to figure it out. Instead, she rushed through the door and headed for the stairs.

She was already two flights up and too far to hear when the elevator doors outside the lower lab opened.

***

Alice pushed the stimulants. It wouldn't hurt the children, only rush the process of waking them.

She sealed off the upper levels, and she could see that most of the labs were already cleared on the cameras. So they already knew she was here. Which meant there was no time to waste.

It would take at least fifteen minutes before the system-wide infiltration countermeasures were active. Her virus would take five minutes to gain access.

Alice pulled a flash drive from her pocket, attached it, and immediately started copying over all the files she could gain access to. Then, setting the virus to automatically launch once the files were copied, Alice closed the screen and hurried to the children.

The stimulants had already been pushed on the children. She needed to remove their IVs and ensure they were ready when Ashleigh returned.

Alice had already bandaged most of them when she heard the keypad sound. A loud buzz told her that the virus was working. It had already scrambled the codes to enter the room, but it would take longer to remove access through a badge.

She hurried her movements, removing the remaining lines and returning to the computer. Alice pulled the drive and put it in her pocket. The files had been copied, and the virus was already working.

A quick glance at the security monitors told her that Ashleigh was busy with her mission. However, the four security officers in the office were not her only concern. Four others had gotten to the lower levels before Alice sealed them off.

But Alice had no doubt that Ashleigh could handle them on her own.

She heard the clicking of the door opening. She knew he'd come. Alice quickly sent one last command to the system before closing the screen and turning to face him.

“Welcome home,” he smiled.

“Hi, dad,” she smiled.

“You aren't surprised to see me?” Holden smiled, “I should have known you would expect me.”

“You expected me. How could I not expect you?” she asked.

“True,” he nodded. “I did know that as soon as your memories started becoming clear, you would remember this place. And that heart of yours… you have always had a soft spot for children.”

“Didn't get that from you,” she replied.

“No,” he said with a raised brow and half-cocked grin. “You didn't.”

“What was her name?” Alice asked.

Holden smiled.

“I've never answered you before. So why would I now?” he asked.

“I remember her hair,” Alice said. “It was long and curly. It puffed up like a lion's mane whenever she let me brush it.”

Holden's smile did not falter, but he stepped toward her.

“She loved sunflowers. Her favorite dress was blue, and they were all over it,” Alice continued, swallowing. “She was wearing that the day you killed her.”

Holden stopped.

“What did you do to her, Holden?” Alice asked, anger seeping into her voice. “Did you cut her throat? There was a lot of blood. I remember that… her dress was soaked in it. Your hands… were covered in it as you picked me up and took me to the car.”

“Your mother…” Holden growled. “Tried to hide you from me, tried to keep a father and daughter from knowing each other.”

He took another step toward Alice.

The door opened abruptly.

“Alice, I–” Ashleigh began to speak, stopping with a growl when she laid eyes on Holden.

Holden had already adjusted his position to defend himself against Ashleigh. Nevertheless, Alice could see the slight shine of a hidden knife in his hand.

“They're waking up, Ashleigh!” Alice shouted.

Ashleigh looked at her with furrowed brows.

“No matter what, remember?” Alice said, holding Ashleigh's gaze.

‘She knew he would come,' Ashleigh thought silently. ‘That's why she said that. My job is to get the children out and leave him to her.'

‘It's a trick.'

‘Another lie!'

‘Don't trust her.'

The shadowed voices were crawling along the walls of her mind.

Ashleigh took a deep breath and then nodded at Alice. She turned to see that Alice wasn't wrong. Several of the children were sitting up in their beds.

Alice kept her eyes on Holden. He still watched Ashleigh. She could see he was calculating the risk, deciding what mattered more. Keeping the children or getting Alice back in his hands.

He slowly turned back to face her.

Alice was hardly surprised.

Ashleigh quietly whispered to the children. They were quick to listen and gathered together as she led them to the door, keeping her eyes on Holden with every step.

“Ashleigh,” Alice called out. “You have to take the stairs.”

“What?” Ashleigh asked. “But the elevators–“

“At this point, they are already filling with poison.”

Ashleigh's eyes widened.

Holden laughed.

“So, you know about the countermeasures,” he sighed. “Then you know there are less than ten minutes before–”

“I do know,” Alice smiled at Holden. “Ashleigh, go, quickly. I will keep him occupied.”