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Line in the Sand

After Drayton’s thinly veiled threat hung in the air like a dark cloud, I sat in stunned silence, staring down at the table. The briefing room emptied around me as the other scientists filed out, their whispers barely audible. I was left alone with my thoughts, grappling with the reality of what lay ahead. The Creature was in their hands now, and I was caught in a web I hadn’t signed up for.

I glanced up to find Drayton still watching me from the doorway, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might say something more, but he simply called out, “Corporal, escort Dr. Adams to the service quarters. She’ll be staying there for the duration of her research.”

A soldier stepped forward—a young man, mid-twenties, with a warm but guarded smile. His face was open and friendly, a stark contrast to Drayton’s hardened exterior. He stood at attention, waiting for me to follow. I exhaled, feeling the weight of fatigue settle on my shoulders. A place to rest, to gather my thoughts—that was all I needed right now.

“Come on, ma’am,” he said gently. “I’ll take you to your quarters.” His voice was kind, without the brusqueness I’d come to expect from this place. He caught my weary gaze and offered a small, reassuring smile. “Name’s Corporal Ben Carter.”

“Thank you, Corporal Carter,” I murmured, stepping out of the room and falling into step beside him.

“Please, just call me Ben,” he replied, a touch of warmth in his voice.

We walked through the stark, fluorescent-lit corridors of the compound in silence, the distant hum of machinery filling the void. The hallway stretched endlessly, sterile and uninviting, each step echoing faintly. After everything that had just happened, the reality of my isolation hit me fully. This facility wasn’t designed for people to feel welcome or at home. It was a fortress, built to contain secrets—and, it seemed, to protect the interests of Aetheris Biotech.

“Long day, huh?” Ben said quietly, glancing at me as we walked.

I managed a weary smile. “You could say that. It’s been a lot to take in.”

He nodded sympathetically. “It’s not exactly a cozy place, is it? They don’t make things easy on newcomers, especially civilian ones.”

I chuckled despite myself. “You’re telling me.”

Ben slowed as we reached a heavy metal door labeled Service Quarters. He tapped in a code, and the door clicked open, revealing a modest room with a narrow bed, a simple desk, and a small adjoining bathroom. It wasn’t much, but the sight of the bed and the thought of a hot shower made my exhaustion feel tenfold heavier.

“Here we are,” he said, gesturing for me to step inside. “It’s not much, but at least it’s private. You should have everything you need.”

I turned to him, genuine gratitude in my eyes. “This is perfect. Really, thank you, Ben.”

He paused for a moment, his face softening. “I know Drayton can be... intense. Don’t let him intimidate you. He has his orders, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise what you believe in.”

I was taken aback by his words, the warmth and sincerity in them a balm against the cold reality of the facility. It felt like an acknowledgment, an encouragement to stay true to myself, even in a place like this.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “That means a lot.”

He nodded, lingering a moment longer as if he wanted to say something else. Instead, he simply offered a small smile. “If you need anything, I’ll be around. Just ask for Ben, okay?”

“Okay.”

With that, he left, the heavy door closing behind him with a soft click. I leaned against it, letting out a long, shaky breath. The silence felt suffocating now, filling the small room like an unwanted guest. I pushed myself away from the door and crossed to the bed, sinking down onto it. The thin mattress creaked under my weight, but it was solid and real—a small comfort in a sea of unknowns.

I pulled off my soaked jacket, the chill of the fabric biting into my skin as it peeled away. Every inch of me ached, both from the physical exhaustion and the emotional toll of the day. All I could think about was that shower, the promise of warmth and cleanliness washing away the grime and stress.

The bathroom was small, with only the basics: a shower, a sink, and a mirror above it. I caught my reflection, the dark circles under my eyes standing out starkly against my pale skin, my damp hair hanging limply around my face. I barely recognized myself. It was as if the events of the day had stripped away every mask I’d ever worn, leaving only raw, vulnerable exhaustion.

I turned on the shower, the pipes groaning before the water sputtered to life. Hot steam filled the tiny room, and I stepped under the spray, letting it cascade over me, washing away the salt, the cold, and the memory of Drayton’s cutting words. My mind wandered back to the Creature—the fear and understanding in his eyes as he was dragged away. The helplessness I’d felt watching it happen, knowing I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

For a few moments, I let myself break, the weight of it all pressing down on me as the water poured over my shoulders. Tears that had been threatening all day slipped free, mixing with the water, dissolving into nothing. I pressed my palms against the cold tile walls of the shower, my body heaving as silent sobs wracked through me. The weight of everything hit me like a wave: The Creature's fate hanging in the balance, the sterile emptiness of this place, the icy indifference of Drayton’s warning.

Every step I took in this facility felt like I was sinking deeper into something I couldn’t escape.

And beneath all of it, the old insecurities and fears clawed their way up from the depths. What if I wasn’t strong enough to stand up to them? What if I couldn’t make a difference?

I shut my eyes, and memories of home, of my friends, drifted through my mind, hazy and warm. It had been so long since I’d felt truly close to anyone. Not in the way that counted. I missed the easy laughter, the sense of belonging, the feeling that there were people who knew me, who understood my quirks and believed in me without question. I missed the security of those bonds that felt like family—bonds I’d spent so much of my life building because, deep down, I’d needed them.

A sharp sob escaped me, and I bit down on my lip, tasting salt and metal. I’d never let myself admit it before, but I was tired—tired of carrying the weight of everything on my own, of always being the one to hold it all together. I’d had to learn how to do that too young. Far too young.

When I was twelve, I was already cooking, cleaning, taking care of everything. My mom was always lying in bed, too weak to move most days, her health a fragile thread that held us all together in a fragile, unpredictable way. My siblings, just seven and five at the time, looked to me for everything—dinner, homework help, even comfort on stormy nights when the lights flickered and they’d crawl into bed with me, their small bodies clinging to me for warmth and safety.

I never had a choice. My childhood was something I never really got to keep.

With a shuddering breath, I let myself remember those nights spent at the kitchen table, piecing together my homework by dim light after everyone else was asleep. I’d still be cleaning up messes and folding clothes, trying to figure out how to make it look like we were a “normal” family when my teachers came to visit. I remembered the way my mother’s breaths grew shallower as her illnesses took more and more of her, and I would hold her hand through it, willing myself to be strong enough for her, for my siblings, for everyone.

And then there was my father. Gone before I could even really remember his face. My mother would tell me, in the quiet, soft moments, that he’d died in the line of duty, a police officer killed trying to protect others. I think that was her way of making sense of it all. Of finding some reason, some meaning, behind the loss. But he was just a distant, heroic figure to me, a ghost I’d never know. In his absence, I’d had to become both the nurturer and the protector.

Maybe that’s where this sense of justice, this drive to do the right thing, had come from. I felt it in my bones, like it was sewn into the very fiber of who I was. The idea that you don’t walk away from people in need. You don’t turn your back. But here I was, in a place where those values seemed to mean nothing. I was trying to stand up against forces bigger and darker than I could comprehend, and I wasn’t sure I was strong enough.

The water poured down, hot against my skin, like it could somehow wash away the memories, the responsibilities, the doubts. But they clung to me stubbornly, reminders of all the times I’d failed to protect the ones I loved, of all the nights I’d lain awake wondering if I’d ever be free of the weight.

But deep down, I knew I couldn’t change. Those responsibilities, those values—they were woven into my being, inseparable from the woman I’d become. The thought of giving up, of letting someone else take control, was foreign and repellent to me. My father may have died protecting strangers, but I’d spent my life protecting the people I loved.

I pushed myself away from the wall, standing straighter, letting the water stream down my face as the last of my tears disappeared.

My father might have given me a sense of duty, but my childhood—the years of carrying a family on my shoulders—had given me the strength to survive it

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

I turned off the shower, the steam dissipating as I stepped out and dried off, feeling a renewed clarity settle over me. I dressed in the clean clothes that had been left inside the room's wardrobe, pulling on a plain t-shirt and a pair black slacks. Practical, comfortable—clothes I could move in, clothes that didn’t feel like armor. I felt lighter, more grounded.

Back in the room, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the walls that surrounded me. This space was bare, stripped of any warmth or comfort. Yet, in a strange way, it felt like a sanctuary—a place where I could gather my thoughts, plan my next move. My mind drifted back to Ben’s words, the quiet reassurance in his tone. He was a friendly face in a sea of cold indifference, a reminder that not everyone here was an enemy.

I needed allies. People who believed in what the creature represented, who understood that science and ethics didn’t have to be at odds. Ben might be my first connection, a bridge into this fortress I hadn’t anticipated.

A knock on the door broke the silence, and I stood, opening it to find Ben there once more, a thermos in his hand.

“Thought you might want something warm,” he said, holding it out. “It’s just coffee, but it’ll help take the edge off.”

I accepted the thermos gratefully, feeling the warmth seep into my hands. “You’re a lifesaver, Ben. Really.”

He shrugged, smiling. “It’s nothing. Just... you seem like you could use it.” He paused, glancing away for a moment. “You’re doing something good here, Dr. Adams. A lot of us see that, even if Drayton doesn’t.”

His words hit home, bringing a small spark of hope. “Thank you,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion. “I needed to hear that.”

We stood in silence for a moment, an unspoken understanding passing between us. He nodded, as if reassuring me once more, then turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the quiet of the room.

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