Damien and I walked to the cafeteria, the place seeming to be busier than it usually was. Everyone had shifts that ended at completely different hours of the day, which made the lunch hall empty for most of the day. Today it was like more than half the people that worked here had come down for lunch.

"What's going on?" I asked Damien as I skimmed over today's menu. Oh! Sushi and hotpot dumplings.

People made way for us as we walked by because Damien had to be the most important person in the hall as a Head Scientist. With him, I even got to cut through the long line and order first. I got those delicious hotpot dumplings and some crispy and tangy pork ribs with extra marinade. I was starving, but when have I never been hungry?

Damien got a chicken strip salad, grilled chicken and a bun with sesame seeds sprinkled on it. He also took a peach. We walked through the cafeteria in search of a good place to sit and we spotted Mica and Sharlene sitting together and laughing about something. Damien started walking to them with me following behind. I haven't seen them in a while. Now I knew why, they were busy doing the nasty behind closed doors.

"Hey guys," The Head Scientist greeted, making them both greet back. I also greeted, looking straight at Sharlene. She couldn't even make eye contact with me and that irritated me. This isn't highschool for heaven's sake.

"Heyyyy, long time no see, stranger." Mica said to me. I literally saw him two days ago.

"I wonder why." I said, looking between him and Sharlene with a smirk. He looked a bit confused at that but kept his mouth shut. The others started making conversation while I simply devoured the amazing meal in front of me. The dumplings were so warm and soft and they had beef inside that just melted right in my mouth. I closed my eyes and tried to enjoy this moment between me and the dumplings as much as I could, while listening to the others talk.

"It's pretty rare for all of us to be gathered here like this." Sharlene finally spoke, "I wonder what the special occasion is."

"I know right? I haven't seen Becky in three months. I thought she was dead or something yet there she is..." Mica said.

"... looking dead." Damien finished his sentence, making all of us burst out into laughter. How rude! I opened my eyes and slapped his arm since I was sitting next to him, making him gently nudge me with his elbow. We smiled at each other and quickly turned our attention back to the others. Look into his eyes long enough, and you'll fall in love.

I stared at Sharlene, noticing that she was staring between me and Damien with a blank expression. She picked up her banana and peeled it, looking straight at Damien. I looked away, pretending like I was talking to Mica by asking him about his day. At the corner of my eye, I could see her dipping the banana in plain yoghurt and then putting the whole thing in her mouth.

She didn't bite the banana, she took it in as it was, slowly going deeper down her throat. Her eyes were only on Damien as she did this, making me realize that she was flirting with him. Damien smirked at her, to my surprise, and picked up his peach, licking it seductively.

Are you kidding me?

I immediately lost my appetite, also feeling bad for Mica and Damien's fiancé. I thought things were going good between Mica and Sharlene. Why would she sleep with him just to flirt with Damien... Oh and Damien, I thought he stopped all of this and decided to focus on his fiancé. Turns out that he didn't stop, he just stopped doing it with me.

Are there more women in this building he's been sleeping with?

"May I have your attention, everyone." A voice spoke through a microphone, making everyone quieten down and turn to the source of the sound. Of course, who else would it be but him?

Mr Hughes stood by the entrance of the lunch hall, still surrounded by a couple of bodyguards. He walked further inside, people moving out of his way. "Please may you all sit down. I have a very exciting announcement to make."

I know that exciting to this man means dangerous to others.

People started mumbling to themselves and to others while moving around for places to sit. After a few minutes, they were all seated, taking up the exact amount of seats in the cafeteria. No one was standing except for Hughes and his men.

"Tonight, as most of you have heard, a total of fifty government troops are going to be searching the nearby woods for an unknown creature caught on camera. This is possibly bigger than the case of subject MM2077(Sei). If we do capture this animal, we may have to let him go." He said, his bright smile never fading.

Let Sei go? But then that would mean I'll have to go back to dissecting frogs! And they can't let him go. He may not be what we were looking for but he's also something we've never known in humankind. His hair, eyes, strength! Are they just going to ignore all of that because of a bigger, more eye-catching animal?

Sounds just like something the government would do now that I think of it.

"The footage would not exist if it wasn't for the amazing Akielia Rutherford!" He announced, catching me off guard. People clapped their hands, turning to look at me with looks of thanks and excitement. I smiled awkwardly, waving at them. "And because of this footage we used as proof, the mayor allowed us to use his resources to look deeper into the matter."

"The murder and kidnapping crimes have only increased ever since we captured subject MM2077, which leads us to suspect they we've captured an innocent person."

Person? I scoffed, that is no person.

"We can't announce this to the public, they will simply go feral. Let's keep telling them that we have the right person, until we capture this creature and show it to them."

So Sei really didn't do all those things?

"It makes sense, only a wild animal is capable of having such a large body count, daily." Damien whispered to me. "I hate to say this, but maybe that Sei guy is innocent."

"But his eyes and hair..."

"We could've stumbled on some new disease. Perhaps a mutation too. We could hand him over to some other scientists to keep him."

I turned to look at Damien in shock. He wants to take away my case and give it to othe scientists? He looked at me with an understanding look and leaned closer to me. "We all have roles here. Yours isn't anything to do with diseases. You must focus on your role and that's the mammalian side of science."

I slumped back on my seat. He's right. If those hair samples come back and there's something strange in there, they'll have to take his blood. After taking his blood and it comes back with a virus, they'll take him away and I'll be back to testing rats and bugs while Sei unwillingly goes through a bunch of painful tests.

I hope he doesn't have any virus or mutation of some sort.

I looked back up at Mr Hughes and he started talking again. I hadn't heard what he said before this. I hope it wasn't anything important.

"I know you're all wondering why I'm telling you all of this. I've come to learn that this is the best laboratory we have in the country. Not because of it's technology or stunning results but because of it's scientists, all of you." People nodded at this with prideful looks. I agreed too, we were the best of the best.

"That is why I'm going to let ten scientists of my choice, the Head Scientist being one of them, join in on this night hunt."

Wait! What?

People burst out into conversation, some refusing to go and others eager to tag along. I was amongst those who were eager. I wanted to see that thing with my own eyes. I wanted to be with the people that would make history tonight.

"The area by the woods will be shut down an hour from now. People will be told that a group of prisoners escaped and were hiding in there... But we know what we're going to be there for." Mr Hughes said, looking like he was about to jump up and down in excitement.

"No lab coats, only military uniform. Any samples you find can be collected. There will be the necessary items for that in the pockets of your uniform." He said. He was looking around, probably for people to choose. I really hope I get chosen for this.

"May the Head Scientist come up please, we have a lot of chosing to do." Damien stood up and walked off, everyone in the hall kept chatting in hushed tones.

I turned to Mica and Sharlene, my eyes wide from excitement. "This is actually pretty awesome." I said to them, making Mica chuckle. I looked at my hands, it's like they were about to start shaking from the excitement. "This is the thrill of science and I want in right now."

"Miracle, please come up." Damien announced through the microphone. Everyone started clapping for him. He was chosen! You go Micaaaa!

Mica stood up and went to them, scratching his head awkwardly. I see why they chose him. He's smart, creative and strong. He could be great help when dealing with stuff like this.

"Mannessah Cobbs, come over here."

A really tall guy stood up. I immediately recognized him to be one of the scientists I used to work with sometimes. He was also doing the environmental part of science, especially working with fossils.

"Felisha Wang."

"Kaiden Lamar."

"Helda Fishman."

"Nicolas Maduro."

"Chanel Spencer."

Two more names were called after that and Damien paused to pick the final person. Why couldn't he pick me? He knows I can do this task better than the others. Felisha Wang? Are you kidding me? She'd just trip over the beast's tail and apologize then walk away without realizing that it's what they were looking for. I turned to Sharlene, she was looking at Damien.

"Do you want to go?" I asked her. I knew that she was going to say no. She's terrified of these type of things. Reason why she didn't want to watch Sei.

She looked at me and frowned, shaking her head. "You know I don't."

"What's happening with our friendship?" I asked her, my face saddening. She looked down and shook her head.

"I just needed some space. Too much was happening around you." She said.

Too much was happening around me?

"You were keeping secrets. I thought we trusted each other?" She said again, shocking me. Is this about me and Damien? That's the only secret I kept from her and Mica. How did she find out?

"Sharlene Banks." Damien called the final name, making the both of us whip our heads to look at him. Sharlene took a deep breath and stood up, making her way through while trying to look as confident as the others were.

Over me? You picked Sharlene?

I crossed my arms and glared at him but he didn't look at me, instead, he was focused on Sharlene and the others. I shook my head, still in disbelief.

"Everyone, you're free to go home now. Thank you for your time. Please give one more hand to these brave scientists and wish them well." Mr Hughes said, moving back and giving the ten scientists the spotlight. Everyone clapped, even I clapped, though it was angry clapping. I shook my head again and stood up afterwards, deciding to leave.

I was angry. No, I was furious.

They should have at least chosen people that were way above me when it came to work and qualification. Maybe then I would've taken the defeat humbly. Felisha? Chanel? They'd mistake their plastic nails for lizard scales and send them back for testing!

How rude of Damien to not pick me.

I stomped past them and made my way out of the lunch hall, just wanting to go home and pack my things. I could hear Damien calling for me as I walked, his footsteps catching up behind me. I was pulled back when his hand grabbed my arms, pulling me towards him. "Hey, where are you going, I thought we were leaving together?" He asked me.

I pulled away from him and turned again, walking to the entrance of the building. "I know you're upset but I couldn't pick you. Benjamin told me not to."

"And why not?" I asked, still not stopping. I stepped out of the building and walked to the direction of my car. The sky was getting dark again. Looks like they'll be doing this hunt in the rain tonight.

"He said that the test results for the subject's hair sample are coming tonight and you need to be there to receive it as his caretaker."

I turned to look at Damien, feeling even more angry. "I'm supposed to work at night!? He decided that you should tell me instead of himself? What type of leader is that?" I snarled.

"I'm in charge of all my scientists, including you. Therefore, I'm the perfect person to tell you. Look, just go home and get your stuff, then drive to my house and then head back here. I unfortunately won't be home to introduce you to each other but she's expecting you."

As if I couldn't get any more furious. Now I'm supposed to go stay with his fiancé and play buddy-buddy with her, while he's out doing a job that I deserve!

"I'm staying in a hotel!" I said, storming off to my car.

"But Akielia..." He said, still chasing after me. I unlocked my car and opened the door, my head almost exploding when Damien pushed it shut, making it slam violently. My baby! I turned to face him, preparing my hand to slap him

"Do you know how much this car cost me for you to be slamming my doors like it's some cheap—"

I was immediately shut up by Damien's lips pressing against mine. He pushed me against the car and tightly wrapped his hand around my neck, slightly choking me. His lips were soft and warm, nothing like the ones I had felt last night.

But was it wrong for me to wish that they were the ones from last night?

Damien's lips didn't feel the same... Or maybe it was me who didn't want them anymore.

I pushed him away from me, making him let go of me in shock. He did not seem to understand if I had really pushed him or not because he came closer again but I held my hand up to stop him. "No more," I whispered, looking away from him.

He looked hurt, but he masked it up quickly and nodded. "Of course, just please consider going to my house. I'm not trying to make you upset, I just want you to be where I know you'll be safe."

"Fine, Damien. I'll go." I whispered, a tear of frustration rolling down my cheek. He lifted his hand up to wipe it but I quickly opened the door and went into my car, closing it before he could say or do anything. Damien stood outside the car for a few more seconds but ended up leaving.

I sniffed and wiped my tears away. I always cried whenever I was angry. I hated it because it made me feel even worse about myself. I know I have no reason to be upset but I couldn't stop them. They just never stopped flowing.

I leaned on my seat, taking deep breaths to try and calm myself down. It's okay, I'm okay, I told myself. I closed my eyes, my mind drifting back to my lab for some reason.

"Don't cry," I heard Sei's voice whispering. I tried opening my eyes but couldn't. Sei's voice was soft and kind, nothing like the way he was when he had been angry. "Sei doesn't like it when you cry."

It wasn't the angry Sei with the yinmin blue hair. It was the paler Sei, the one with blue-grey hair. The one that had fiddled with my dress and looked down shyly whenever I spoke to him. It was that Sei.

"Sei loves you, please smile for Sei-Sei."

My eyes snapped open, making me quickly look around me. I was back in my car, or maybe I had never even left it. His voice sounded so real, so close to me. It was like he could feel all of my frustration and was trying to comfort me. I felt my cheeks, the tears had stopped flowing and I wasn't feeling so angry anymore. I don't know where his voice came from. It couldn't have been that I was imagining it. I tried to open my eyes before but it was like they were glued together. Like he was forcing me to listen.

"Sei?" I asked, looking around. "Are you really here?"