Chapter 1
The Ninth Floor
“RIIIING”
“Okay people thats the bell it’s time for chemistry. Get those experiments started, and ask if you need help don't just take a guess, that’s how you end up blowing stuff up.”
“You know my aunt use to take me to her chem lab all the time. Man, that place gave me the creeps.”
“Then why did you go?”
“Because it was awesome she let me blow stuff up sometimes in the controlled substance room, but it was the 9th floor that really freaked me out. Aunt Fay would never let me go check it out, and every time you heard something out of the ordinary. The people who worked there would just whisper. “9th floor”, And they would all look really serious and nod at each other agreeing.”
K.C chuckled. “And you actually believed that crap?”
“Hey man, I Was like 8...so ya! Stop laughing.” Ariana nudged him in the arm.
“Okay, Okay. Come on let's finish up this lab and get out of here.”
“Ariana time to get up, your Auntie Fay will be here soon”
Ariana rush down the stairs in her pinker than pink rain boots. That no one, no matter how hard, could get her to stop wearing. Her long black curly hair made into two braids, She wore a red t-shirt and blue jeans with flowers on them.
Ariana’s mom packed her lunch still in her morning robe, Her green eyes staring at Ariana with concern and wonder, with a slight smile on her face. The sun shined on her dark black hair making it glow red. Ariana sat down to her bowl of oatmeal and stuffed her mouth full.
“I’ve been ready for half an hour now you know,” Ariana said with a mouth full
“Of course you have”
“Knock knock knock”
“She’s here”
Ariana ran to the door her big brown eyes wide with excitement and swung it open.
“Hey my little scientist in the making!”
Her blond hair parted evenly and slicked back into a bun at the back of her head not a hair out of place. Ariana couldn’t even imagine her aunt not wearing her classic grey pantsuit and a white buttoned up shirt, her eyes matched Ariana’s mothers in every way.
“Gulp”Auntie Fay!”
She hugged Ariana tight as Ariana did the same.
“ Hello Faya.”
“Hey Mar, so are we ready to go or…”
“Almost but first we need to talk, Ariana go up stairs and get ready.”
“But…”
“I know, I know you're already ready. Just go up stairs for a sec will ya kid?”
“Sure mom.”
Ariana ran to the top of the stairs but then hesitated going any further when she overheard the conversation going on down stairs.
“I don’t think I can allow Ariana to go with you to the lab anymore.” Ariana sat at the top of the stairs to listen when she heard those words.
“Marcey how many times do we have to talk about this? She is perfectly safe at the lab I make sure she doesn’t leave my side and she knows the rules and repercussions.”
“It’s not that, it’s her school work. She is falling behind and I think if she spent more time working on her school work and less time at that lab with you…”
“But do you know how smart that kid is she’s going to do great things when she’s older I just want to teach her everything I know.”
“Well if she doesn’t get her grades up she won’t be able to go anymore. I'm sorry but school’s first.” Ariana could feel the anger building in her chest as she heard those words come from her mother’s mouth.
“ Aw come on, how about if we bring her homework with us to the lab so she could do it there. So then, when she gets finished she can continue helping me”
“I guess that would be ok as long as all and I mean all of her work gets done.”
“Deal.”
“I'll go get her” Ariana heard her mom walking towards the stairs and darted to her room grabbed a book and hopped on her bed.
“Hey so I’m guessing you heard the conversation down stairs.”
“What would make you think that?”
“Well because your my daughter and also that book is upside down.”
“Mom I’m going to miss out on a lot if I have to do my homework at the lab.”
“Well, I don’t want you to miss out on any opportunities in your future and I know you can get that homework done right and fast enfasis on RIGHT. Your smart enough to fit in perfectly at that big fancy science lad. You can get it done.”
“Fine fast.”
“And well.”
“Yes and well. So I can go?!”
“Yes and oh don’t forget your backpack.” Ariana grabed her backpack off of her desk chair and heads out to her aunt Fay’s car. Before Fay heads out the door she turns to her sister standing at the top of the stairs.
“Everything will workout fine Marcey. I’ll have her home soon.”
On the drive to the lad Ariana thought about all she will miss out on because she has to do her homework. They just had a breakthrough on there studies, and although they’ve had a lot of breakthroughs in the past, lately there has been more disappointments and alot less breakthroughs.
Finally they reach the facility grounds of the lab a sign reads F.O.I.B. Labs on the left of the road. They take a right headed down a road with beautiful thick green forest on either side, Ariana could never grows tired of that view. The lab grows into their sight now.
“So when we get to the lab you're going to what?”
Ariana Sighed “Do my homework?”
They pull into the lot and get out of the car the building towers over us aunt Fay hands her keys to the valet and they walk into the building. The floor is a beautiful white marble the ceiling is so high the light seem to hang, for what seems to be miles, from the ceiling itself. Leisa sits at the front desk as always Ariana starting to think she actually lives here.
“Hey Leisa did you even go home last night?”
“Why would I got everything I need right here kid.”
“Right.” Ariana said sarcastically.
There are four glass elevator right behind Leisa leveled like one of those Dracula pianos and guards big scary guards guarding the halls to the elevator on each side of Leisa’s desk they scan Aunt Fay’s ID and I pull out my visitors ID to show them.
“Ariana we told you you don’t have to show us that piece of plastic. We for sure know who you are.”
The other guard yells across the hall. “Ya the kid practically lives here.”
Hey it’s the thought that counts and the only one I’m sure that lives hear is Leisa”
“Damn straight.”said Lesia.
Ariana and Aunt Fay get in to the first elevator it’s the only one that reaches the top three floors. Ariana could feel the pressure on her ears as the elevator race to the top floor it always makes Ariana giggle. The elevator had stopped on the on the 9th floor it never stopped on the 9th floor that floor got its own separate elevator Ariana stood... stuck.
Aunt Fay exited the elevator. “well are you going to stand there all day?’ She held out her hand. “come on.”
Ariana swallowed the lump of fear stuck in her throat and grabbed her hand. The floor was just like the others Ariana started to wonder what she had been so scared of.
Talia, Aunt Fay’s assistant hands her the same coffee she orders every morning like usual and then, like usual, rambles on about some experiment she wants to try and my aunt, after months of telling her no snaps.
“TALIA I AM TIRED OF THIS IT IS TO DANGEROUS WE ARE NOT TAKING THAT RISK!”
“BUT WE ARE SCIENTISTS I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE TAKE RISKS!”
“WELL THIS IS MY LAB AND YOU THOUGHT WRONG! “
Aunt Fay grabs Ariana's hand and rushes to the lab with rage. Ariana has to half run to keep up with her. Areana turn around and sticks out her tongue at Talia. She had been planning on getting back at her for ruining one of her experiments. Anyways she never saw Mr. Squeaks again after that day. Ariana hopped onto the stool across from the main lab table and pulled out her homework right away. She tried to be very calm and quiet acting as if her Aunt was a bomb about to go off. Fay caught her glancing over looking worried.
“Hey I’m sorry you had to see that” she said with a big smile “how about you do 15 more minutes of homework and then come help me.”
“Ya, Okay.”
10 minutes passed.
“ Hey I’m going to go get a couple more syringes and spin this ok I’ll be back don’t let anyone in, got that”
“Yup got it”
Aunt Fay leaves and as soon as she turn the corner out of site. Talia comes in a hurry around the opposite corner. She comes in to the lab and locks the door behind her.
“Hey Talia aunt Fay says I’m not supposed to let any one in soooo.. Get...Out! “
“ Hi, always nice to see you areana” little brat” Said Talia under her breath.
“I heard that you airhead!”
“ I’m sure she didn’t mean don’t let me in I’m her assistant that wouldn't make much sense now would it?” She said while looking through the cabinet pulling all kinds of things out.
“I guess? ya.”
“Uuuhhh so you just sit there and finish up that homework of yours, And stay out of my way”
She takes out 5 different syringes, filled with five different color liquids.
“Hey you took all the syringes!”
“Ya so.”
“Sooo give them back your not allowed to have all those any wa… wait are you doing your own experiment?!”
“Yes I am allowed to do that.
“You mean the one aunt Fay told you you couldn’t do?”
Ray walked in, One of the security guards. Great let’s just have a party why don’t we
“Ray will you get rid of this she devil.”
“Don’t listen to her I was actually told to watch this little ungrateful child.”
“NO YOU WEREN'T LIAR! GIVE ME THOSE
SYRINGES!”
“ NO! GET AWAY YOU LITTLE MENACE!”
Ariana got four of the syringes and held them tight in her fists. Talia grabbed Arianas hands and pulled.
“Let go now!”
“No!”
They pulled and they tugged.
Ray walked toward them “Ok ok girls that’s enough.”
“Hhhhhuuu” “NO!”
Liquid from all four syringes shot out right on Ray it got in his eyes and his mouth.
“Ray!” yelled Ariana.
He started to look sick and confused his face changed colors and his skin crold.
“a..are you ok” asked Talia nervously.
“Aaaaaaaahhhh!”
“Ariana go go go” Talia said rushing to the other side of the room.
Ray collapses to the floor liquids drip from his body.
Talia and Ariana headed to the exit quickly we opened the door and there stood another security guard.
“What’s going on in here?”
“Uuuuu” went Ariana and Talia.
“we should probably get out of here.” said Talia.
“AAAAAAAAHHHHH!”
A part man part animal looking thing had raised up from behind the lab table. Ariana turned around and Talia was gone. Ray charged at them and Ariana hopped onto the counter just in time. But Ray had attacked the other guard and was ripping him up Ariana could see the same thing that happened to Ray was happening to him he was Changing.
Blood went every.
Ariana screamed bloody murder then saw Ray was almost finished. She climbed in to the cabinet behind me the looked at me then charged She slammed the door shut they clawed and banged at the door. Ariana squeezed her eyes shut tight trying to almost wish them away.
“BANG BANG BANG!”
“Ariana Get up I am tired of you sleeping through my class! Ariana! Ariana!”
Ariana woke up in chem class
“Ya ya ya I’m up”
K.C.: “Ariana if you want to pass chem you're gonna half to get on Mr. Porsche’s good side I don’t think you can pull those panties any further up his butt without him losing his shit and your grade.”
“Uhg. What ever.”
She said as she slumps on to the desk.
“RIIIIING!”
