It stank. It smelled of rotten fish and eggs smushed together in one tank. Mars yowled and ran back out. Oh, right, heightened smell.
I hadn't activated that yet, so it was more tolerable for me. I fiddled in my pockets, drew out my handkerchief that I learned to carry with me at all times, and covered my face.
I pulled out my tiny bottle of cologne and sprayed a few times on the cloth. Hey, you never know when you need to smell good. Women like nice-smelling guys.
I returned my cologne and observed the room. There were many broken jars with (censor) and (censor). It was very gross.
Luckily, I was used to bloody things so I didn't throw up. I explored the room, looking for the stairs that YunHee growled at me before she left.
I love ladies, but boy, is she sullen.
I glanced through some papers when a document caught my eye. The date was thirty years ago, just a few weeks before the facility closed.
Subject 2498: Failure
Species: Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)
Virus was injected on October 24th 1994.
Antibodies are administered an hour after injection.
Reaction: Stable for two days before collapsing.
Status: Progressing but no breakthrough.
I flipped through another document.
Subject 2474: FAILURE
Species: Dog (Canis Lupus Familiaris)
Virus was injected on August 15th 1994.
Antibodies are administered an hour after injection.
Reaction: Stable for three hours before collapsing.
Status: No progress.
'So it was just as they were making progress that they were shut down. How stupid,' I sighed and returned the documents.
As I turned around, I saw something that just didn't fit my style—a wandering spirit. I sniffed. "Oh, so that's where the smell comes from," I uttered.
I flipped my hand through my hair. "How's it going these days?" I asked with an awkward laugh. Instead of answering, the ghost snarled.
Wouldn't you just know it? A giant, seven-foot-tall black monster of a dog was standing right in front of me, and it was furious.
Its entire presence gave off a stench, but its expression made up for it entirely. It didn't resemble it exactly, but it reminded me of a Great Dane.
It had sharp red claws, pitch-black evil eyes, and stank. I couldn't help but keep waving my hand in front of my face, even though it had no effect. But it did make the dog angry.
"You're very patient, huh? You know, it's during these times that I wish I had fighting abilities. I told Mars, but he kept saying-" GROWL.
I fled. "Mars! Help me!"
The monster chased me, barking and howling as his paws clawed at the floor. I activated my leaping skill and jumped as far as I could.
The dog, looking confused, twisted his head as he followed my parkour jump. An idea popped into my head, and I jumped faster.
Even though the monster dog was moving through objects, he seemed unable to fly so he had to keep running after me.
As I hopped from one place to another, landing on tables, hanging on the lights and even pausing on the wall in quick succession, the dog kept twisting around trying to follow me.
It stopped snarling and was now panting heavily. I was feeling dizzy myself, but heck no I wasn't going to stop. And where was that stupid cat?
He better not be watching this like it was some show again.
"Come on doggie. Here I am. Phht phht," I taunted. The monster dog was standing in the middle of the floor but perked its ears when it heard me whistle.
When turning it tripped and fell hard. It gave a loud yelp and I heard something break. Uh oh.
I jumped from the table where I was standing and slid closer.
The dog's body shuddered and then shrank. I watched in amazement as the giant body split into several tiny bodies.
Before I could comprehend what I was seeing, I heard Mars' voice beside me.
"They're the malevolent spirits of the experimented animals in this facility. They weren't very powerful individually so they fused to create a strong entity," Mars stated knowingly.
I didn't listen, however, as I glared at Mars. "I called for help. Where were you?" He froze. "I uh, cough, cough. I was patrolling outside."
"You're lying."
"Let's just say I was busy." I smoulder as Mars' whiskers twitched in guilt. We looked at the bunch of animals in front of us.
Dogs, cats, bunnies, and mice looked despondent as they crouched on the floor.
I removed the handkerchief with relief after the stench disappeared. "How do we deal with them? I've never dealt with animals before."
Mars strode forward importantly and said, "Leave them to me. You go look for those stairs. I'll catch up after I'm finished here."
"You better. Also, we need to talk," I replied with determination. Mars just nodded and I left without another glance.
I heard a lot of barking and meowing, squeaking and yowling and despite my curiosity, I didn't turn around.
It was Mars' job, not mine this time.
After some digging, I finally found a steel door hidden behind debris.
I had a feeling someone had tried to hide this door as debris was piled there neatly.
I pushed with all my strength and opened a path. See?
Going to the gym does wonders for the body. Now I just need to eat more healthily and stop consuming so much chocolate. No, not a chance.
Brushing myself off I gleefully took out the key and inserted it into the lock. Click. The door swung open and there in front of me I saw the stairs we'd been looking for.
After staggering up I saw an amazing sight. Rows upon rows of documents and stacks of tubes labelled. I picked one up and read B-1. I don't get it.
I picked up another one. D-5. Huh? After returning it I shifted through each. M-76, C-2346, D-238 and H-1.
What is all this about?
I shrugged. I was paid to find only one tube and it was supposed to stand by itself. Searching I noticed a tiny tube far out of reach. Is that it?
Great. Standing on tiptoe I grabbed it.
Reading the label it said H-35. It didn't make sense to me but I shrugged it off. We got what we came for, it was time to leave.
As I came out of the room, I saw Mars sitting in the middle of the room and licking his paws. I held up the vial. "Got it. Now let's get out of this place."
So Mars, with me following, whipped out of there as fast as we could. The sun was just rising, so it was just in time.
All our jobs have to be done before sunrise, or I'm screwed.
We ran until we got safely to the main road. I put the tube in my coat.
"Let's go have some breakfast at Burger King today. I'm famished for some reason," I suggested breathlessly.
"I want a tuna burger." Do they have tuna burgers?
The next day, YunHee showed up to receive the tube. She inspected the liquid as if suspecting me of scamming her. How rude. I would never!
I'm too good-looking to wear an orange jumpsuit.
"It changes colour depending on how the light catches it, just like he said. I'm impressed."
She replied, satisfied, "I will send your money by the end of the day."
"Oh good. Do you know how much trouble-Ouch! Cough cough. Thank you, Ms. Park. I hope this will give your father some peace. Have a lovely day," I grinned uncomfortably.
The stupid cat bit me again. I waved goodbye as YunHee left in her car.
"Okay, Mars. I want to learn CLAW. I need to defend myself in case something like last night happens again," I confronted Mars.
He ignored me.
"Mars!"
He yelped at my shout. "Not so loud. My ears are sensitive. Sigh. I promised your parents not to teach you until you learn-"
"I have to. Besides, I don't think my parents will be happy to learn their son died due to their promise, right?"
"Well…"
"Come on?" I begged with stars in my eyes, if that was possible. Mars groaned, "All right fine. I'll teach you on the condition that you stop flirting with women all the time." Say what now?
"Don't you have a report to write?" Mars reminded me, annoyed. Oh, right.
It was my report to my parents. One of my duties as an Otherworld Inspector was to chronicle my cases. It was my grandfather's idea.
Our experience, he thought, might help the next generation. So far my parents' experience hasn't helped me at all.
*
Once YunHee Park drove far enough out of sight she could finally relax her shoulders. She once again gazed at the vial, this time with more greed. H-35.
She pressed her touchscreen and dialled a number. After the dial tone, a gruff voice answered. "Did he get it?" the voice demanded. She sneered. "It's in my hand right now."
She held up the glass container in the light, her eyes shining. "Well done. Bring it in quickly before anything goes wrong. I'll give them a heads-up so you won't be bothered when you return."
The line clicked off and YunHee leaned back. 'If that detective only knew what H stood for he probably would have never given it to me,' she thought gleefully.
H-35, human experiment number thirty-five.
It was the truth when she said that her father wanted to create a cure for rabies, but the employer she worked for had other plans for this vial.
Hurriedly, she put it back in her purse, started her car, and drove on the highway to her employer's main headquarters.
However, she wondered.
It was rumoured that the research lab was haunted by a monster, and many got injured and even died when exploring the building, so how did he return unscathed?