Under Loch and Key

by Kathryn Cockrill

  After a few seconds, I heard a click as a door lock disengaged. Looking to my right, I saw that the plywood door was now swinging back and forth on its hinges. Giving myself a self-five, and glad that no one else was around to see it, I made my way to the door, pausing a couple of seconds to see if the alarm for the electricity was going to sound. It didn’t. Hoping I wasn’t about to become bacon bits, I pushed the door away from me and walked through. The inside of this room was even muggier, the lack of windows and ventilation creating a choking atmosphere. I sucked in a couple of deep breaths, trying to get some kind of oxygen into my system and glanced around. This room looked more like the one from the industrial estate, a large metal table taking up most of the middle of the room. Thankfully this one was not stained a rust colour. I let out the breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding. A couple of microscopes were set up along the far wall, along with some test tubes and Petri dishes. The only other thing in the room was a computer, the first I’d actually seen. I guess computers made it easy to track their movements and, for what appeared to be a secret company, that wasn’t high on the priority list. Booting it up, I tapped my fingers against the keyboard as I waited for the screen to load. The blue screen suddenly sprang to life, asking me for a password.

  Um. 1234?

  I looked around the room, hoping that maybe something would jump out at me. When it didn’t, I rested my head on my hands, trying to come up with some options.

  GAI2017

  A large error messages binged up in front of me. It was worth a shot.

  RickLaws

  Nope. Another error message. As I tried to come up with another attempt, a thought occurred to me. If this was the only computer in the building, it was probably used by pretty much every member of staff. I doubted they would all be able to remember the password perfectly, which meant they had probably written it down. I picked up the keyboard, smiling when a yellow Post-It note fluttered onto the desk. Turning it over, I started typing,

  BLU201ACAR2017

  Not as complicated as I had been expecting. A green tick appeared on the screen in front of me and the system began logging in. Soon enough, a grey home screen appeared with the GAI logo emblazoned across it. They weren’t very imaginative. It was GAI in big letters, the G in grey, the A in red and the I in teal. I clicked on the file explorer and cringed as the fan immediately roared to life like a plane taking off; the computer was slow, lagging and I wondered how old this thing actually was. Eventually the file explorer opened up, revealing a whole host of folders, most with the same codes on as the cage switches. I opened the one named OTT103ACAR. I wanted to know more about Pip. The only thing in there was a single document; loading that up, I was confronted with what seemed to be a profile.

  Name: OTT103ACAR

  Species: Otter hybrid. Otter base genome. Also used nursing shark DNA for gills and artic fox DNA for survival in harsh climates.

  Traits: Extremely friendly (not viable for further use). Intelligent. Advanced skills of communication; responds to stimuli (human) and evolved vocal responses. Echolocation.

  Appearance: Otter base with concealed gills (able to retract completely under fur) and thicker, double-layered fur with grey/white mottling.

  Additional Notes: Able to cope in fresh and marine water. 1.5 – 2km an hour swimming speed. 10-40 second dives.

  Alongside the fact sheet were some images, I presumed, taken throughout the growth. The first showed Pip barely a day old, in a glass cage. The next was dated a week later but he had grown to about half his adult size and had his eyes open. The third was taken two weeks after that and showed Pip as he was now. I looked between the pictures in astonishment. That must be the accelerated growth hormone my brother had been talking about. The ability to go from new-born to fully grown in a month was incredible, and definitely not natural. I closed down the document, not wanting to read any more. One of the files was marked BLU203ACAR and, without even thinking about it, I had opened that one too. Another profile appeared.

  Name: BLU203ACAR/ ‘Nessie’

  Species: Blue shark base genome. Thresher shark tail. Conger Eel head and neck. Coelacanth for added fins. Common octopus to change shape and colour. Sea mouse for iridescent setae.

  Traits: Predatory nature. Strong and fast swimmer. Can change colour and shape to a degree. Sea mouse genes reflect the colour of the water for camouflage.

  Appearance: Large, streamlined body. Three pairs of pectoral fins. Whip-like tail. Long neck and rounded head.

  Notes: This run was closest to the plesiosaur/Pistosaurus in appearance. Becoming increasingly adept at using setae for crypsis. Conditioning training has progressed suitably using fish as response to stimulus. Acclimatised to conditions of the Loch after a number of hours.

  The same trio of images accompanied the profile. The first was labelled ‘New-born’, although I don’t think any of these animals were ‘born’. In it, ‘Nessie’ was about as large as my torso, curled in a small tank, eyes closed. The next image was labelled ‘Juvenile’, showing ‘Nessie’ about the size of a bottlenose dolphin. The final image was taken from the glass window, showing ‘Nessie’ feeding by the glass, labelled ‘Adult’. There were no dates on these ones but going by the progression in Eli’s journal, it hadn’t taken long for ‘Nessie’ to reach the adult stage of development. I clicked the x in the top right-hand corner, going back to the main files. I opened another one or two, again all of them containing the same profile for different creatures. Not that I’d seen anymore living creatures here.

  A couple of the descriptions caught my eye, sending a shiver down my spine. Under the file marked PAN308DCAR was the image of a snarling panther. As far as I could see nothing was different about it but as I read further, it became clear that they had modified the animal to be able to hunt more effectively than it already did. Similar to BLU203ACAR, they had added common octopus and sea mouse genes which would help it camouflage. I shook that terrifying image out of my head and kept scrolling down until I came to a file simply entitled ‘Stage 3’. It was the only one not containing a creature code. I double-clicked, waiting for the document to open up. It seemed to take an age, the mouse spinning as it loaded. Eventually, a white page appeared in front of me. In the centre it had ‘Stage 3’ underlined. I scrolled down and reams of text suddenly appeared; scanning the text quickly, my eyes settling on one paragraph as I caught sight of Eli’s name.

  Successful completion of Stage 2 (the ‘Nessie’ Project) has allowed for commencement of Stage 3. The initial stages will focus predominantly on the release of the ‘Nessie’ Project into the designated release sites. Following this, our teams will continue to monitor the released subjects via tracking chips. The process has already begun to buy property near the release sites in order to build docking stations. We expect this to be completed within the month. Therefore, we are now looking to relocate the current team to the newest project site, where our lead scientist Elliott Farrow will begin research. We have prioritised the ‘Lycan’ Project. Our research shows that the best site for the newest lab is just outside Freiburg. Project commencement will begin once we have successfully transferred all assets to the new site and released subjects from the ‘Nessie’ Project.

  Freiburg.

  At least I had a name. I had no idea where it was, but I had access to the internet, so it wasn’t going to take me long. A few minutes of searching told me that it was a town in the Black Forest in Germany. I had no idea how far outside Freiburg they were planning to set up, but I had somewhere to start. Elation ran through me and I backed away from the computer, grinning, quickly turning it off and exiting out into the control room. Everything seemed the same as when I had gone into the room. I glanced over towards the stairs and the door, but I couldn’t see Pip. If he had come down, I was sure he would have found me, so I shrugged, telling myself he had probably curled up somewhere in the lab. I wasn’t sure if he was going to stick with me once we got outside. Part of me hoped he did, but I wasn’t g
oing to force him to. I’d be no better than them.

  As far as this crazy nightmare has gone, this was pretty easy.

  As I stepped out of the control room and pulled the door shut behind me, I was struck with a strange feeling. I froze, noting the tingling that was arching across my shoulders and my spine. Slowly, I pivoted on my heel, eyes scanning for whatever could have caused the sensation. It wasn’t so much something in the air, but this feeling of being watched again. As I scanned the far end of the room, I realised the air was colder than it had been when I’d entered the plywood box. At the left-hand side of the room, between the two walls of cages, I could see movement in the plants and the whiteboards. Carefully, I made my way towards them. As I reached eye level, I saw that there had been a door in between the cages, a door which was now open.

  Door 1 or 2 I’m guessing.

  From the damp, earthy smell, it seemed like it led outside. Nothing else was moving, but I still couldn’t shake this sensation of being watched. I spun on my heel, scanning the cages on the right-hand side of the door. I hadn’t looked at these cages earlier, so realistically I wouldn’t know if anything was wrong, but I checked anyway. Halfway down the cages, something had flopped through the bars; it looked like a paw but chunks of it were missing. As I went to move closer, it moved, and I stilled. The paw seemed to float up into the air and then, in a flash of white, another chunk of flesh was missing. I let out a small sound, caught somewhere between a squeak and a sob.

  Tell me it’s not invisible. Please.

  As the sound left my mouth, the paw dropped down to the floor. A low rumble snaked across the air towards me, curling around my feet. It was only when I really focused that I realised a pair of gold eyes were staring at me. The air around them seemed to move weirdly; the low rumble increased to a growl and the concrete and bars seemed to move to form the shape of a creature. It looked like a big cat of some kind.

  Like a panther maybe?

  My stomach dropped. The bars seemed to shimmer, the colour changing from a silvery grey into a deep black and within seconds I was staring at a large, very muscled, very angry panther.

  Surely this is taking camouflage to a new extreme? How did this thing even get out? I didn’t open any of the cage doors. Unless…

  I glanced back to the open door that I had assumed led outside,

  Maybe it didn’t get out. Maybe I let it in.

  Before I had much time to consider that fact, the panther began to get up from its sitting position.

  Okay. Time to move.

  I flicked my eyes to the side trying to find somewhere I could hide. My best bet would be Pips cage.

  Pip!

  My stomach sunk even further. The door to the main lab was open. As was the door to the cave. I was beginning to understand why they had the ability to lock every single door in this place from both sides. I guess, when you’re playing with predatory super animals, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If this thing got out, who knows how many people it would kill. No one would be able to catch it.

  Why the fuck did they make it?

  I needed to get to the door to the main lab before it did. Now, I was fast, but not outrun a supernatural panther fast. I needed some way to distract it, so I could at least make it out of this room and hopefully stop it from getting any further. I looked back at the panther as it stared at me, teeth covered in blood.

  Food.

  I was sure I looked incredibly tasty, but if I could give it something bigger and easier, hopefully it would go for that. Maybe if I could get to the control room, open the door to the wolf-polar hybrid’s cage and deactivate the electric shield the panther would go in there. It was worth a shot. I didn’t think the plywood room would take much of a beating, but it might give me enough time to get the doors open. Plus, it would probably be too distracted trying to get to me to notice the open door. Decision made, I took a split second to figure out how long I had to get to the control room before it caught me. Seconds. The fact that I was on the right side of the room was a bonus, but I’d shut the door behind me, so I’d lose any extra time there. The low growl came from its mouth again.

  Right. Go!

  Darting to the right, I took off at a dead sprint to the control room. I could hear the click of its nails on the stone as it scrambled after me. As soon as I was close enough to the door, my hand was out, reaching for the handle. I yanked it open and shimmied inside, just as the panther slammed into the plywood. The entire box shook. I hurried over to the control room, flinching every time the panther flung itself at the door. It began to scratch the wood, its claws making an awful sound as it chipped away at the door. I scanned the codes looking for the one that started with POL. I found it and flipped the switch. The familiar buzzing filled the room; as it started, the attack on the door momentarily stopped. I leant close to the window to see the panther stop and fall back, head cocked as it listened to the sound. My movement towards the window caught its attention and it launched itself at the plexiglass, hitting it with a thwomp.

  My heart thudded in my chest, breath coming in short, sharp bursts. From this close I could see the sinew and muscle hanging between its teeth from whatever poor creature it had started to devour. Its black fur was dampened with blood, turning the already dark colour into a terrifying cabernet. The buzzing stopped and I watched with bated breath as the door clicked open, slowly pulling back. The sound of the door, the tinny metal whirring, attracted the attention of the panther as well and it dropped back down onto its haunches, spinning to stalk towards the door. Like Pip though, it didn’t step through. Instead it scented the air, eyes focussed on the carcass of the creature inside. The pause seemed to stretch on for hours, this weighted silence shattered only by my harsh breathing. Then, the alarm rang out across the room and the blue electric fizzed across the doorway. I couldn’t even cover my ears, my hands frozen to my side. The panther stalked back and forth in front of the door.

  It’s working!

  As soon as the electricity died away, it leapt into the cage, tearing a huge chunk out of the carcass’s shoulder. Leaning back to the switchboard, I flipped the switch back up, hoping that it would do the opposite and close the door. There was a short, sharp buzz and the open door disengaged from the wall, slowly, achingly slowly moving back across. I took my opportunity to move out of the control room, the panther still tearing chunks off of the carcass. Blood dripped from its open jaw and I forced myself to look away.

  Quietly, I edged around the side of the plywood box, the door almost closed. It hadn’t seemed to notice. As soon as I was clear of the box, I set off in a sprint, eyes focused on the stairs. I heard a roar behind me, my footsteps alerting the creature to the closing door and the resulting crash of metal. I didn’t look behind me. But I could imagine what had happened as I made my feet move faster across the uneven stone surface. There was a screeching sound, like metal being forced back, accompanied by another roar. I reached the steps and bolted up them, the rickety wood swaying from side to side. Launching myself from the last step, I landed in the lab, turning and kicking the stairs as hard as I could. Below I could see the panther forcing its way out of the cage. As I repeatedly kicked the stairs, the wood cracking under the force, it wriggled its way through and started racing towards me and the open door. One last kick sent the stairs tumbling to the side. I pressed the button on the control pad, the door sliding shut smoothly, and a lot faster than the animal cages. As the door clicked into place, there was another roar from behind the door, then a thud. I watched the door nervously, hoping it would hold.

  Silence.

  With a sigh of relief, I sank to the floor. There was a squeak behind me, and I turned to see Pip crawl out from underneath one of the tables, galloping over and launching himself into my lap. I hugged him close to my chest,

  “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re okay.” I murmured although I’m pretty sure we both knew that I was partially talking to myself and my still racing heart. Another roar sounded from be
low, making us both jump. Then the alarm sounded, and I heard a fizzing sound, followed by a pained scream. The smell of burned flesh rose up through the edge of the door and I wrinkled my nose.

  I mean, I can’t say I’m upset about it. I think we’re all better off without that creature roaming free.

  I leant my head back and closed my eyes already ready for this adventure to end.

  “Guess what Pip? We’re going to Germany!” I tried to sound excited, but I could feel my eyes closing.

  I guess a quick nap won’t hurt.

  I didn’t have much of a choice. Within seconds I’d given in to sleep, Pip still curled in my lap.

  Chapter 10

  I woke with a start, limbs jerking as I looked around. Slowly, the reality of where I was coming back to me and I relaxed back against the cold stone wall. Pip wasn’t in my lap, but had curled up next to me instead, nose tucked under his tail, making tiny snuffling noises. I smiled softly, concerned with how attached I’d grown to him after only a few hours. Stretching, I groaned, feeling the ache in my muscles; I was pretty sure I was going to have a lot of bruises under my clothes. The dryness of my throat caught up with me and I licked my lips to try and get some hydration. I had a bottle of water in my backpack, but it was over the other side of the room and nothing in me wanted to get up right now.

  It was only when I shifted and realised I also needed to pee that I huffed, bracing my hands on the floor to get up. Pip blinked at me from under his tail, but didn’t move, obviously satisfied I wasn’t about to run off. I hadn’t noticed any toilets in here but needs must. I darted back into the cave to do what I needed to do then grabbed my water bottle from my bag, taking long gulps to try and soothe my dry throat. I needed to get some more food and drink before jetting off to Germany. It would probably have to be once I got to the airport.