Chapter 5
My body felt numb and I couldn’t move. Something around me made me feel uncomfortable. I flinched as I heard the sound of muffled talking. I couldn’t understand what they were talking about, and the language seemed unfamiliar and strange. I could hear two voices above me, a male and a female. Humans. I suddenly remembered. “It’s regaining consciousness!” shouted the female human. Scared by the sudden sound, I desperately flailed my tail around. There were tubes hooked to my gills that had water. I didn’t know what to do. I hissed and screamed but I only made a pathetic attempt to escape. I lay gasping for water on the floor. Then, the male human lifted me from the floor, and a piercing pain came and then all was black again.
***
I drummed my fingers on the car window. I took a look at my phone. It was 5:24, signaling that Melissa should have come back 20 minutes ago. The sun which was blocked by some clouds was already near the horizon. I unbuckled my seat belt, preparing to go into the lab, and then stopped, my heart beating with worry. 'Maybe the interview is delayed.' I thought. That couldn't be quite right. Bay-view Lab was a quiet place, with a small crumbly parking lot with a view of the sea. Not much could have delayed the interview.
The phone rang with the cheerful sound of birds chirping, but then, silence. Why wasn't she picking up my call? Did I ruin the interview? It couldn't be right. I stood up, opening the car door. I slammed it behind me and ran to the lab. Cracking open the door, warm air drifted from inside and I walked into the Bay-view Lab.
