Chapter 9 · Deep Lab Nightmares

"Don't move!" Vera's blade was already at my throat while the floor dropped out from under us.

"I'm not moving! You're the one stabbing me!"

"Shut up and hold on!" She grabbed my stitched forearm and yanked me sideways as we hit the bottom.

We slammed into wet concrete. Hard. My shoulder took it, her weight crashed right on top of me. Chest to chest. Her breath hot on my face. Her knife still right there, shaking.

"Get off," I snarled.

"Get off you? You're the monster that dragged me down here!"

"I didn't drag you! The trap did!" I shoved her knee off my ribs. "And put that thing away before you cut my throat for real!"

She didn't. She pressed closer. Her eyes locked on mine, wide and pissed. "You blinked. Monsters don't blink like that. Who are you?"

"Wrong question. Wrong time." I grabbed her wrist. Her skin was cold. Mine was too hot. "Look behind you."

She froze. Then slowly turned her head.

The Deep Lab breathed around us. Red emergency lights pulsed. Tanks cracked open. Fluid leaking everywhere. And in the middle of it, something else woke up.

"Oh, hell no," Vera whispered.

"Yeah.