Chapter 7 - Frank didn't know how much longer the boat could survive.The hull had three bullet holes.
The engine was coughing.
The windshield was cracked.
The steering wheel shook whenever he turned.
And Mina was swimming beside them like this was a perfectly normal Tuesday.
Joseph sat in the back.
He looked exhausted.
Frank glanced at him.
“You said you had plans.”
“I did.”
“What happened to them?”
“They involved dry clothes.”
Frank laughed.
Then his expression changed.
“How far to shore?”
“Twenty minutes.”
Frank nodded.
“Good.”
They continued.
The storm eventually weakened.
The lake became dark and quiet.
Too quiet.
Frank slowed the boat.
Joseph noticed.
“What?”
Frank pointed ahead.
A buoy floated in the water.
It was painted red.
Frank hadn't seen it before.
Joseph stared.
“Don't touch it.”
Frank frowned.
“Why?”
“Because there shouldn't be a buoy there.”
Frank turned.
Another red buoy appeared behind them.
Then another.
Soon there were dozens.
A perfect line.
Frank's eyes narrowed.
“Navigation markers?”
Joseph shook his head.
“No.”
“What then?”
“A fence.”
Frank stared.
“What?”
Joseph whispered:
“The lake has a perimeter.”
The buoys suddenly lit up.
Red.
One after another.
A low electric hum filled the air.
Mina stopped swimming.
Frank slowed the boat.
Joseph stood.
“We need to turn around.”
Frank looked behind them.
The path had already closed.
The buoys connected with an invisible electrical field.
Frank stared.
“They built a wall in the lake?”
Joseph nodded.
“And it wasn't designed to keep people out.”
Frank's stomach dropped.
“It was designed to keep something in.”
The water behind them erupted.
The giant creature surfaced.
Frank nearly stopped breathing.
Its enormous head rose from the darkness.
It looked directly at Mina.
Mina growled.
Joseph whispered:
“It's here.”
Frank gripped the controls.
“Can it cross the fence?”
Joseph didn't answer.
The creature struck the water.
Electricity flashed across the surface.
The animal screamed.
It recoiled.
Frank stared.
“The fence hurts it.”
“Yes.”
“Then why doesn't it leave?”
Joseph's face changed.
“Because it can't.”
Frank looked around.
The creature was trapped.
Joseph continued.
“Vale built the fence after the first escape.”
“First escape?”
“The creature tried to reach the open lake.”
Frank watched it.
“Why?”
Joseph said quietly:
“Because it knows what's outside.”
Frank looked at him.
“What's outside?”
Joseph didn't answer.
Mina suddenly moved.
She swam directly toward the giant creature.
Frank shouted:
“Mina!”
Joseph grabbed him.
“Wait.”
The two creatures faced each other.
The giant opened its mouth.
A strange clicking sound filled the night.
Mina responded.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Frank watched.
“They're talking.”
Joseph nodded.
Then the giant creature turned.
It struck the fence.
Electricity flashed.
The water erupted.
Frank understood.
“It wants out.”
Joseph said:
“It wants us to help it.”
Frank laughed.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
“So we have to break the fence?”
“Yes.”
Frank stared.
“You know how ridiculous that sounds?”
Joseph pointed toward the creature.
“You're fighting a genetically engineered fish in a rowboat.”
Frank paused.
“Fair.”
He looked at the controls.
Then at the fence.
Then at Mina.
“Fine.”
Joseph blinked.
“What are you doing?”
Frank smiled.
“Fishing.”
He grabbed the spare fuel tank.
Joseph looked confused.
Frank pulled the engine's emergency line.
“What if we overload the electric field?”
Joseph's eyes widened.
“You'd destroy the boat.”
“Probably.”
“You could electrocute yourself.”
“Probably.”
“You could kill Mina.”
Frank stopped.
Then he looked at her.
Mina stared back.
Frank exhaled.
“Then we need another way.”
Suddenly, something struck the bottom of the boat.
Not the giant creature.
Something smaller.
Frank froze.
Another strike.
Then another.
Joseph crouched.
“What was that?”
Frank looked over the side.
A small pale fish floated beneath them.
Then dozens appeared.
Then hundreds.
All staring upward.
Their eyes glowed red.
Joseph's face went white.
“Those are the failed specimens.”
Frank swallowed.
“Failed?”
“They were supposed to die.”
One fish rose to the surface.
It opened its mouth.
Inside was a tiny metal speaker.
A voice emerged.
Dr. Vale.
“Hello, Frank.”
Frank looked up.
Vale's voice came from every direction.
“You've always been difficult.”
Frank shouted:
“Show yourself!”
“Why?”
“You seem to like hiding.”
Vale laughed.
Then the water beneath them lit up.
A massive circular platform rose from the lake.
On top stood armed soldiers.
And in the center was a steel cage.
Inside the cage was a woman.
Frank stared.
He recognized her.
His daughter.
Emily.
Frank's blood turned cold.
“That's impossible.”
Joseph grabbed his shoulder.
“Frank.”
Frank ignored him.
Emily lifted her head.
She was terrified.
Vale spoke.
“You brought Mina.”
Frank stared at the cage.
Vale continued.
“Now bring her to me.”
Frank's hand trembled.
Emily looked directly at him.
Then she mouthed two words.
Don't trust Joseph.
Frank froze.
Joseph saw it.
May you like
His face collapsed.
And suddenly, Frank didn't know which person on the lake was lying.
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