Afterhours Part 1
It had been a long day. Saturday’s were always hell at the store. Annabelle sighed heavily as she walked to the front of the store. She walked to the entrance and took a rod from within the wall. She reached up with the rod and pulled down the metal gate, finally closing the store. She dropped down to the floor and locked the gate. She pulled on the gate, ensuring it was locked. Her boss had been complaining that the gate had been left unlock and was threatening her job if she didn’t ensure it was locked.
Annabelle rose from the floor and set the rod back within the wall. She walked back to the register and pulled the till. She pulled the money from the till and secured it in a small pouch. She placed the till back into the register and walked into the back of the store. She set the pouch on the desk and picked up her purse. She strung her purse over her shoulder and headed for the back door.
Annabelle slipped into the back hallway of the shopping center. She only used it afterhours and after she locked the front gate. The hall was quiet, empty, like it always was. She walked through the hall toward the exit. She looked up at the cameras and waved to the security boys.
Suddenly a gust of air caught her attention. Annabelle turned from the cameras. It was too early in the year to have the air conditioning on in the center. Annabelle frowned and followed the air around one of the side hallways. She turned the corner and stopped. In the middle of the hallway was a large glowing sphere. The light was incredibly bright. Annabelle had never seen anything like it before. She took a step toward it for a better look. The sphere almost looked like a gem or some sort, only it was moving in midair.
“Impossible.” Annabelle whispered.
A low growl caught Annabelle’s attention. Her heart stopped in her chest. She turned slowly, looking back toward the hallways junction. Her eyes widened as she beheld a creature standing in her path. It crouched low to the ground, eyeing her hungrily. Annabelle gasped in fear, taking a step backwards. Another growl came from behind her. She turned quickly, finding another creature behind her. She was trapped.
----------------------------------
To say it had been the strangest car ride Jess Parker had ever given would be the biggest understatement of the year. She kept her eyes on the road and off the passenger seat, which held Captain Becker. It had been uncomfortably quiet since they’d left the Arc, even with the radio station playing quietly.
Becker’s vehicle had been unable to start in the garage at the ARC. And despite all his attempts to restart his vehicle, Becker finally gave and opted to spend the night at the office. Jess, however, wouldn’t have any of it, and offered to take him to his flat. It wouldn’t have been so uncomfortable if Connor weren’t eyeing them back and forth since they’d left.
The awkward silence was ceased by Becker’s phone blaring in the car. Everyone jumped, including Becker. He pulled his phone from his pocket and flipped it open.
“Becker.” He said.
Jess focused on the turn up ahead until Becker grabbed her wrist. He motioned her from the turn, back onto the main road.
“We’re on our way there.” Becker said. He closed his phone.
“What’s going on?” Jess asked
“Anomaly opened in a shopping center just down the road from here. Matt’s already on his way there.” Becker explained.
Jess nodded. “Abby, Connor, EMD’s are in the back along with the comms.”
Abby reached back for the cases.
Connor leaned forward. “You keep EMD’s in your car?”
Jess shrugged. “What? Like I’m the only one who does?”
“That’s actually very scary to think about.” Connor said.
“Then don’t think about it. Here.” Abby said. She passed Connor an EMD and comm. She reached forward and passed the comms to Jess and Becker.
Jess managed to slip her comma into her ear with one hand while she directed the car toward the shopping center. She slipped into the empty parking structure. She drove up down beneath the street and spotted Matt’s vehicle. Jess pulled up alongside and shut off her engine. Matt was leaning against his vehicle, waiting. He noticed the EMD”s but said nothing.
“What’s the situation?” Becker asked.
“Anomaly’s been located on the fifth floor of the center. No creature sightings yet, but let’s not hold our breath.” Matt explained.
Becker nodded. “Right. Jess, head back to base.”
Jess’ brows shot up. “Excuse me? I’m here I might as well help.”
“You’re not trained for field work.” Becker replied.
“So, I’m already here. Besides, when this is over, you’re going to need a ride home and not all of you can fit in Matt’s truck. Besides, it’ll take me twice as long to get back to the ARC.” Jess replied.
Matt frowned. “She’s right. She’d be more useful to us here.”
Becker turned to Matt. HE couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “You’re actually fine with this?”
“No I’m not. But Jess isn’t any good to us stuck in traffic when we need her on the cameras. She can come secure the center with me while you, Connor, and Abby seal the anomaly.” Matt said.
Becker shook his head. “She stays with me.”
“Fine.” Matt replied.
“Wait, don’t I get a say?” Jess asked.
“No.” Becker snapped.
Connor turned to Jess. “I don’t suppose you have another pair of shoes in your car?”
Jess looked down at her bright orange heels. “Oh, right. I suppose these won’t do.”
Becker turned back to Matt. “And she’ snot even properly dressed for this mission.”
“Oi, I have spare clothes.” Jess replied.
“Then change fast.” Matt ordered. He looked back to the others. “Alright, Connor, you and Abby seal the anomaly. Scanners reading the fifth floor. Becker, Jess, and I will search the center for any creature sightings. Check in once the site's been sealed.
Jess unlocked the trunk of her car. She pulled out a familiar case and passed it to Connor. “You’re going to need that.”
Connor looked down at the case and back up at Jess. “Okay, now I’m really scared.”
Jess shrugged and picked up an EMD. She walked to Becker’s side and checked her weapon. She could still sense his anger of her presence, but said nothing.
“Let’s move.” Matt ordered.
------------------------------
All the shops had been closed for the evening. The gates were locked to the ground and the lights were all off. Matt slowly walked through the first level of the center. Becker and Jess had taken the third and fourth, leaving him with the first and second. Matt didn’t mind, it gave him a chance to focus without sensing Becker’s death glare on his back the entire time.
He peeked into each gate, scanning the shop with his eyes and weapon. His light cut into the dark shops around him as he strolled through the lit corridors. Matt didn’t understand the structure of so many shops in one building. In cases like these, the structure was a nuisance. There were far too many corridors to memorize, far too many shops the creatures could hide in, and far too public for this emergency.
Matt reached the far end of the first floor. He pressed his earpiece. “Becker, west wing of the first floor is clear. No sign of creature incursions. I’m heading to the east.”
“Copy that. Jess and I are still sweeping the west section of the third floor. No sign of incursion.” Becker replied.
“Copy that.” Matt said. He turned back around and started retracing his steps. A strange feeling was slowly welling inside him. They were being watched- no stalked. This was a giant maze, and they were the prey.
---------------------------------
Abby and Connor stepped out of the elevator onto the fifth floor. They had remained in the elevator after Becker and Jess had reached the third floor. They looked around cautiously. Connor looked down at the portable detection device in his hand. He looked up and pointed down the hall.
“That way.” He said.
Abby took lead, walking down the open corridor.
“You gettin’a feelin’ of Déjà vu?” Connor asked.
Abby arched one of her brows. “What do you mean?
“Shoppin’ center, anomaly, all that’s missin’ is the raptors.” Connor finished.
Abby turned, smirking slightly. “You know Connor, you’ve probably just jinxed the mission.”
Connor’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, right. I’m just…I’m gonna-”
“Shut up?” Abby asked.
Connor nodded. “Yep.”
Abby smirked and looked ahead of them. She loved messing with Connor but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her. Connor was right though, this was a little too much like déjà vu. The center, Abby could handle, but she wasn’t so sure if she could handle another raptor encounter, especially if Connor shot her with an EMD. Abby pulled herself from that painful memory and focused herself.
They walked through the halls of the shopping center. It was quiet, save for the humming of the ventilation system above their heads. The vents rattle with activity, giving Abby an even further uneasy feeling. Every few meters Connor would look down at the device and alter their route to the anomaly site.
“Hey Abby.” Connor said.
“Yeah?”
“Did you see Becker’s face when Jess told him she was stayin’?” Connor asked.
Abby smirked lightly. “Yeah.”
“I haven’t anybody stand up to him like that before, not the way Jess did.” Connor said.
Abby shook his head. “Poor man met his match tonight.”
Connor chuckled and looked down at the device. He stopped. “Abby, this way.”
Abby turned. Connor was pointing down one of the less used halls of the center. They were usually used by authorized people, shop workers or janitorial staff. Connor grabbed the door handle and readied himself. Abby nodded and he opened the door. Abby entered moved through the door and checked one end of the hall. Connor entered behind her and checked the second half.
“Clear.” Abby said.
“Clear.” Connor replied.
“Which way?”
“Your way. Take the first left.” Connor explained.
They walked down the back corridors of the shopping center. The walls were a bluish grey, very dull. The horrible lights hung above them, flickering occasionally.
“You feel that?” Abby asked.
Connor frowned. He felt a drafted in the hallway. “Vent system?”
“Cool air in the winter?” Abby asked.
Connor shrugged. “Maybe their cheap?”
Abby rolled her eyes.
The corner Connor had mentioned was only few meters ahead of them. Abby took the turn first. She found herself face to face with an anomaly…and more. Abby gasped and stepped back from the corner. Connor peeked round and saw what Abby was strayed from. The grey floor was covered in blood, flesh, and strips of clothing. Connor looked away quickly, worried for his stomachs reaction.
“Matt, we’ve located the anomaly.” Abby said.
“Good work, seal it up.”
“There’s more. We have a creature loose in the center. We found a body. I can’t make our gender or size, but it was definitely a creature attack.” Abby explained.
“Copy that.” Matt said.
“Let’s get this closed.” Connor said.
---------------------------
end of part 1