"Hey Kiddo..." the man leaned over her, looking at the bunch of drawings spread across the living room floor.

"That's a cool fish..." he slurred, pointing to the blue scribbles to the right. The small girl rolled her eyes, grabbing the paper as if trying to hide it from him.

"That's a dolphin, Dad..." Her face scrunched up when she turned to him, the stench of his breath making her eyes water. The little girl squeezed her nose, pointing her tiny hands at the man behind her.

"You are so stinky..."

He laughed, cheeks going a bit pink at the remark. He scratched the back of his head, leaning away from his daughter as if to spare her from his condition.

"Sorry baby, daddy didn't brush his teeth today." He chuckled awkwardly, eyes darting away from his daughter's face. The smile on his daughter's face dimmed, her lips turning upside-down. She looked away from him, looking down at the floor.

"Mommy says you don't live here anymore..."

The man grimaced, putting his hands on her shoulders. He had some trouble with staying upright but his eyes were sincere as he spoke.

"I will always love you, baby... You and Ruth... Always..." His eyes were glassy, knuckles going pale as he squeezed her shoulders reassuringly.

"I... I have an idea... How about we g-go get something nice to eat? Hm? Just you and me?" he offered good-naturedly. The girl couldn't help but smile widely, the promise of some junk food  too good to decline.

"Alright, alright... Let's get you dressed up and we can go." Her father smiled, wobbling a bit as he stood up. He readjusted his jacket, flashing a smile at the girl before turning around, and walking shakily down the hallway and towards the door. The daughter followed him, passing the familiar long hallway and the staircase upstairs.

"We have to be quiet baby..." he chuckled, opening the front door. He turned around.

"Are you coming, sweetie?"

No... Wait... No...

"Rowan?"

She has to stop him. He can't get into that car.

"Dad, you have to stop..."

"What do you mean?"

"We can't go... Please stay..." she pleaded, trying to reach for his hand with her childlike hands. She was stuck in that body. She tried to come closer and yet the hallway seemed to stretch with every step she took towards David.

"Dad, please..."

"You don't want to come with me?"

"I do, but it's dangerous... Please stay..."

Sudden brightness blinded her, car reflectors shining into the hallway directly from outside. She had to squint, covering her eyes with one hand as she attempted to grab him once more.

"Dad, just give me your hand."

"You don't want to go with me, do you?" His right hand snapped. Reed let out a muffled scream, falling helplessly to the floor as she watched her father morph into a creature of nightmares. The wet squelching of bones rearranging filled the air, flesh tearing and blood dripping all over the threshold. She couldn't look away, her eyes stuck on the twisted figure before her. His head was hanging loose, neck broken and yet, David's eyes made contact with her own, a rasp echoing from his bloodied lips.

"R..Ruth?"

She woke up, eyes darting around the small room. Her lungs were on fire, gasping for the air felt painful. She sat up, heaving as if she had run a marathon. Her cot sheets were drenched in sweat, the shirt sticking to her back. She felt disoriented with nausea traveling up her throat. Her breathing was erratic, and her hands grabbed at whatever they could as if she was drowning.

The car...

I have to stop the car...

David?

David!

She slid down from the bed, immediately falling to the floor. Her legs were too weak to hold her up, the sudden change in blood flow assaulting her visions with dark spots. It didn't help that the room seemed to be spinning like a carousel. She tried standing up again, supporting on the cot herself while the room swayed left and right. Her heart was beating out of her chest, sweat dripping down the valley of her back.

"Dad?" she stuttered out, making her way towards the closest door, bumping into things on her way there. The room was dark, with only a sliver of moonlight lighting up the chamber through a round window. She could hear him... Whistling that goddamn toon behind the closed door. Her hands gripped the handle pulling it with force, her heart rate spiking with every passing second. Something was wrong, something was very wrong ...

She glanced back, her eyes widening at the sight behind her. There... Right there.... In the darkness of the room, there, peaking from underneath the cot laid a hand. Its fingers were curled in the post-mortem stiffness, skin torn and bloodied as if a wild animal had ripped it away from the rest of the body.

No. No. No. No. No... Open the door! Open the fucking door! Dad?!

She wrestled with the handle, wheezing out short breaths.

Please. Please. Please.

A sudden crack brought her eyes back to the abandoned limb. Chills run up her spine at the suddenly uncurled fingers, the hand laying now with its palm down. She could swear one of the fingers was twitching, tapping against the cheap carpet.

"N...N-N...No...." her mouth was dry, throat too tight to even whisper. Her fingers clung to the doorknob, rattling the metal object to no avail, the door staying shut.

No! No, please!

She couldn't shout. She couldn't breathe. The snapping of the old bones behind her grew louder and louder, accompanied by that haunting melody, each tune feeling like an icicle sliding across her back. Suddenly... She could feel the cold finger slide across her ankle, the digits caressing the shape of her hill. She croaked out a scream, falling against the door and therefore pushing them open. She fell forward, her elbows and knees connecting with the cold linoleum of the bathroom. A sudden brightness lit up her world, as the motion sensor turned the light on. She scrambled to her feet, ready to bolt in any direction, eyes wide open despite the pain due to the sudden change in brightness. She was ready to scream, to jump away from the phantom limb chasing her, but as she was turning around, her green eyes caught a glimpse of her reflection in the small mirror.

Eyes wide open, the circles under them prominent and pigmented.

The sheen of sweat glowed in the yellow light.

Her curly short hair stood up in all directions, revealing the prominent scar marking her temple.

Rowan Agatha Reed...

She stood there, eyes stuck on the reflection.

I am Rowan Agatha Reed.

I am thirty-two years old.

I am on a ship headed to the research facility.

A wave of nausea overcame her, the cold realisation of what just happened, paired with the gentle swaying of the ship, proved too much to handle for the scientist. Reed fell to her knees, fingers gripping the cold plastic as she retched and gagged. The stomach acid burned in her throat, eyes watered with every wave of liquid rising in her throat. It didn't take long for her to stop, just letting her face rest against the toilet seat, her breathing laboured.

Reed felt thinned out, like a rubber band that's been stretched way too long. In truth, she'd hoped the "shark accident" would be just a one-time occurrence, a mishap or perhaps a reminder of the past. A part of her knew she should have followed through with writing an email to Walsh, but the thought got somewhat lost in the events of the following week. It didn't feel important... It never did, which was also the reason for Reed's apparent dislike of therapy. In truth, even Walsh wasn't really sure what was wrong with her, stating multiple different diagnoses throughout the treatment, not to mention the visible doubt every time the news was delivered. The short version of Reed's predicament was that she'd been suffering from severe anxiety and potentially Post-traumatic stress disorder*, but that was the simplified version... The whole truth was that Reed had sustained a head injury during the car crash, one that potentially could have had an impact on her brain, according to some changes showing in the scans. The truth was that neither the Therapist nor a Neurosurgeon could tell what exactly was wrong, having stated multiple times throughout her life that her symptoms were just a guessing game. So Reed would see things from time to time, be plagued by nightmares, sometimes waking up believing she was still a little girl... The medication could only lessen the symptoms, but never truly erase them. As expected, Reed had grown wary of doctors...

She exhaled heavily, her mind travelling to the small prescription bottles, safely tucked away in one of the bags. She couldn't repurchase a prescription for longer than two months of dosage, therefore not a single pill could be taken on a whim, especially with the side effects that followed.

It was a nightmare... Just a nightmare...

She tried to reason with herself. Everybody had nightmares... If she would allow herself to take one, she would be one short when it would actually matter, not to mention the risk of addiction. Hell, she hadn't even started the job and there were already so many problems... Could it be just stress?

It went without saying that the project was important to her, a chance to restore her name on her terms with a superior who respects her. This job could change everything... Undo everything that had happened... It would prove to everybody who ever doubted her that she was capable... And the salary? Hell, even Diane would be impressed... It was important. It was way more important than the stress, the worrying hallucinations or her personal biases. If she were to lose it...

Reed shuddered, gripping the toilet bowl harder.

The shame... The sheer embarrassment she would have to go through... Her failure would prove every single person right. But in truth, it wasn't the worst part... The truth was that nobody thought of Reed lower than she did. Despite the hurt, the lies and the betrayal people like Bell or Cannan believed her to be a scholar, a true asset to the research, no matter the reputation... Even Diane, in some twisted way, believed her daughter to be extraordinary, if not a little naïve... But Reed? Reed knew herself, she knew that behind the façade of a quirky loner scientist, hid a weakling scared of making a mistake... Sacred of people, seeing judgment wherever she went despite knowing that most didn't pay attention... This research would convince Reed's biggest enemy that she was in fact worthy...

Nobody hates Rowan Reed more than Rowan Reed herself...

She stood up, the muscles of her calves screaming in agony upon sudden movement.

The woman wiped her mouth, her eyes buried with a challenge as she stared down her own reflection. This body was cumbersome, clumsy and too tight for her, causing more trouble than good.

But Rowan Reed doesn't go down without a fight.

The travel had been exhausting, to say the least. First Reed was forced to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport, then suffered through a two-hour flight with a screaming toddler sitting right next to her, only to be sent immediately to the other side of Faroe* Island to get on a boat. The perils of travel mixed with a rather hectic sleeping schedule were very much visible on Reed's face, as she waited for them to reach their final destination. The gentle breeze tussled her short hair, soothing the sores of the previous night. The open sea stretched out before her eyes, not a shore or cliff in sight... just an endless ocean with blue sky stretching over it. Reed had never been this far out into the sea before, only keeping to the shores or using the footage of the UUV. It felt... scary in a sense. Being a marine biologist unfortunately entailed awareness of the danger of the depths below the deck. Some would say that 20% of the oceans were explored, and some would argue that it's between 15%-10%, but in truth, human curiosity only managed to scratch the mere 5% of what was actually below, and the presence of the anomaly proved to be a grim reminder of that statistic. Reed had never been afraid of the ocean or drowning. She had never been afraid of sharks or squids, finding them rather fascinating. If she were to guess, she would say it was the "unknown" aspect, having to go against something science can't explain due to lack of data... But that fear brought excitement. For an average person, that kind of realisation could be paralysing, merely floating top creatures who could rival the Lovecraftian* monsters, but not for Reed. If she were to describe the feeling, the closest thing that came to mind was a rollercoaster ride, fast and making your stomach drop... and yet people continue to ride them. She had never called herself an adrenaline junky, but she supposed it took a special kind of crazy to be a scientist...

She is insane...

It was best not to dwell on those things, especially on days like this. Reed could see the black surfaces of a large ship on the horizon. Suddenly, she felt a strange feeling overcome her as if her back was burning... A familiar feeling of being watched by somebody. She glanced behind her, catching the tall burly man in the act. He merely looked away, face indifferent as if he hadn't been caught staring for what felt like the hundredth time today.

His name was Aksel Andersen, a Danish scientist who'd also been recruited to join the GOI Research. They had met at the Airport, both having flown to Faroe. They didn't talk really, both being the quiet types, however when he did exchange pleasantries with her and the coordinator, he seemed to be very articulate, only the accent betraying him while he spoke.

Speaking of which, the coordinator Shawn Powell, scrambled out of the navigation room, the cartoonish smile on his face reminding Reed of Super Hero comics. His blonde hair shone in the afternoon sun, and blue eyes scanned the deck for the two scientists.

"Hello!" he shouted, briskly approaching the two while readjusting his tie. Reed couldn't begin to understand how the man could sport such an expensive-looking suit while travelling, but his gelled hair paired with the ridiculous moustache hinted at Shawn being a bit vain.

"Doctor Andersen, Doctor Reed, I am glad to see you all packed and ready for transfer." He announced, grinning at the two despite lacking an enthusiastic response. Reed tried to muster a small smile, feeling a tad guilty. Shaw seemed like a people person, yet he'd ended up with seemingly the two least talkative people on the planet.

Aksel on the other hand simply nodded at the newly arrived companion, his black eyes once again glancing at Reed. In all honesty, Aksel was intimidating, sending chills down Reed's spine whenever he was nearby. She hadn't paid much attention to him on the day they arrived at Faroe but ever since this morning, Reed would catch him stealing glances at her and she could tell they weren't the flattering kind...

"Since we will be soon boarding Nereus," Shawn pointed at the ship.

"I would like to point out a couple of things before we do. Firstly..." He made a dramatic pause.

"As you might know the project is highly confidential, our team is trying to keep any unwanted guests out as we speak, therefore upon your arrival, I would kindly ask you to give up your phones along with your baggage. They will be of course returned to you in the evening, but due to sensitive data on the meetings today, the GOI would rather you didn't have them while working."

Reed could feel the weight of her phone in her pocket. Yes, she'd been made aware of the confidentiality policy, however, nobody mentioned anything about confiscating their phones. The instinctual anxiety of giving up a device you're so used to having felt like an itch she couldn't scratch.

"I wasn't aware we are to give up our phones, neither do I believe we were informed about it in the agreement." Aksel voiced her concerns before she could even begin to form a sentence. Shaw adjusted his collar, clearly a nervous habit, while he peered at the Towering figure of the Dane.

"Yes, the contract discloses the rules of participation, salary and many more, including the confidentiality policy, however, it is just a precaution for today. Your phones will be returned after the debrief with Mr Cannan is over. We have been working to keep the situation under wraps until a thorough investigation is made, which means keeping the journalists out. For now, the world knows this operation as an ecological catastrophe, an oil rig leakage and the GOI would like it to stay that way." Shawn recited as if he'd learned the explanation beforehand. Reed assumed the question had been either asked before or the corny representative actually had a script for every conversation he'd had with them.

Aksel nodded, black eyes glancing at Reed once again before he completely looked away.

"Fine by me..."

Soon both Reed and Aksel walked down the ramp and onto the small metal elevator, the platform bringing them upwards and onto the deck of the Nereus. The ship was huge, looking more like a part of a war fleet rather than a humble research ship. The deck was long, with containers and boxes stacked on top of each other. There was a small crane, folded over what looked like a locked trap door, people in uniforms moving about in all directions. Some carried things, some hung around the cargo smoking, while the others operated the elevator. The air smelled of salt and cigarettes, with a tangy scent of sweat as the crew worked.

"Welcome to Nereus!" a shout echoed through the deck, a tall slender man approached from the other side along with who Reed assumed was his secretary, following him like a shadowy figure across the deck.

Doctor Cannan reached them within seconds, shaking both of their hands, visibly ecstatic at their arrival.

"Doctor Reed, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." He turned away to shake Aksel's hand, offering a similar greeting.

"I trust Shawn did everything to make your travel as comfortable as possible?" He laughed, glancing at the man standing behind them. Shawn released a nervous chuckle, nodding at Cannan's words. The scientist turned to his right exposing the woman looming behind him. She was petite and short, her brown hair tied in an immaculate bun. Her blue eyes glared from behind the thick-rimmed glasses, everything about the woman screaming "polished" and "calculated".

"This is my assistant Jeannie Dawson, my most trusted employee and a brilliant woman. If you have any questions, feel free to ask her if I am unavailable." He introduced her, hand landing on her shoulder. Jeannie didn't seem impressed or friendly, her cold eyes scanning the newly arrived. She readjusted her board, unclipping a single zip lock bag before handing it to them.

"Please hand over your phones." She said curtly, extending the plastic towards them. Aksel took out his phone, sliding it into the plastic bag. Reed followed his suit, extending her Samsung toward the bag. A shiver went up her spine, Jeannie's baby blues staring daggers at her. She smiled palely, unsure how to react to such a blatant display of dislike, despite having met for the first time. Cannan seemed to catch onto the tension between the two women, eyes jumping between them.

"Jeannie, please arrange that our guest's baggage is delivered to their cabins." He offered. She nodded, not saying a word before she turned around walking towards the entrance under the deck.

"I apologise for her, she can be a bit of an ice queen at times... Now, If you don't mind, please leave your baggage here. I am sure you are starving, hence I thought maybe a good way to break the ice within the team would be a shared lunch before we get down to business. I hear today's curry is truly scrumptious." Cannan glanced at the man behind them.

"Unfortunately I won't be able to join you for lunch, but I guarantee we will meet later on the debriefing. Shawn, would you be so kind as to show our guests the cafeteria?" He smiled.

Shawn beckoned them to follow him, already heading towards the small entrance leading inside the ship. Reed glanced at Aksel, who conveniently turned his head around, leaving all of his belongings as he followed their employer.

Reed didn't have much of a choice, following the men as they entered the narrow corridors and rooms of Nereus, her eyes scanning the dark surfaces, containers and countless doors stretching before them. Shawn was chatting Aksel's ear off, telling him all about the Nereus and the GOI funding, but Reed couldn't help but be distracted by her surroundings. This was the first time Reed had been on a ship that big, only having seen those in documentaries and movies. The steel monster groaned and croaked, the waves crashing against the sides of the ship while they walked down and down, the harsh white lighting shining above their heads. The only pop of colour Reed could see, were the colourful lines painted on the walls, indicating the directions for specific chambers.

After two sets of stairs, they reached what looked like a small cafeteria. Shawn pushed the glass door open, revealing rows of metal tables glinting in the artificial light. There, by the kitchen sat three other people carrying a hushed conversation over their food. Their heads turned at the sound of footsteps, conversation dying down. Reed felt the tension in the air, the eyes of the three scrutinising them as the group approached.

On the seat closer to the path between the rows sat two guys. The man on the left was burly, biceps bulging through the tight khaki shirt he was wearing. His blonde hair was cut short, making him look akin to a military recruit than a biologist. His companion on the other hand was tall and lanky, sitting awkwardly at a clearly at a too low table for him. He seemed nervous, glancing at the newly arrived with the corner of his eye. Opposite them sat a short tanned woman, her curly black hair put up in a ponytail. She was rather pretty, her face round with full lips and long natural eyelashes. She was the only one who hadn't looked up, simply pushing around the rice on her plate as if Reed and the others hadn't arrived at all.

"Hello Everyone! I have brought our guests." Shawn announced, enthusiasm dripping from his tone. The blonde buzzcut stood up, offering his hand to Reed.

"Alexander Roberts" he smiled, flashing his dimples at her. His grip was strong, almost crashing Reed's small hand in his massive pale one, before Moving on to Aksel. The tall man who was sitting next to Alex also stood up, mimicking his bench mate.

"Ryan Woods."

"Nice to meet you..." Reed mumbled awkwardly. The only person who didn't stand up was the woman, who was just leaning back and observing the crowd with a laconic smile.

"And there she is!" Shawn exclaimed, smiling at the Latina woman.

"The shining star of the Institute, Isabella Maria Cruz."

"I was beginning to worry you wouldn't introduce me, Mr Powell." She quipped, remaining seated while she smiled sweetly at the guests. There was something artificial about her smile, her lips going thin while her dark eyes bore holes in Reed's forehead. Reed only smiled awkwardly, trying to mask the discomfort Isabella was causing her. It wasn't long before Shawn prompted the two foreign scientists to sit, insisting on arranging some food and drinks for them so that they could bond before the official debrief.

The team of scientists fell into an awkward silence as soon as he left, Reed sitting stiffly between Isabella and Aksel. She could have sworn that the woman grimaced while she sat down, but she wasn't about to bring that up. In truth, meeting new people was terrifying enough and Reed desperately wanted to make a good impression. She hadn't seen other scientists, aside from the Salthill crew, in ages, especially ones who she assumed had the same specialisation as her. The little girl inside her wanted to seem approachable or at least respectable...

And not crazy...

Her leg began to bounce unconsciously.

It was Alex who had decided to break the silence, clearing his throat before speaking.

"So... have you guys been on a ship like this before?"

"I have been on my fair share of cargo ships, but I have never seen any like this one... Is it a military ship?" Aksel asked, saving Reed the embarrassment of trying to string a sentence with Isabella doing everything in her power to make Reed feel like a squirming worm.

"Yes, it is a ship originally owned by the army, but it was converted to a research facility." Alex seemed pleased with the question. His hazel eyes turned to Reed.

"And what about you Doctor Reed?"

"Erm... No, not really."

"Can't say that I am surprised," Isabella added quietly, her face graced with an innocent-looking smile.

"You seem nervous." Her smile was not reaching her eyes, leaving them cold and dark.

"Yeah... I guess I am..." Reed admitted, scratching the back of her head. Sometimes playing stupid is easier than confrontation, and Reed wasn't about to give the Latina the satisfaction of getting the better of her. She looked in the direction of the kitchen, sighing relieved at the sight of Shawn carrying some food for her and Aksel.

Oh boy...

In the end, the shared lunch wasn't as beneficial for the team as Cannan had promised. The group had spent most of it sitting in silence with only Alex or Shawn provoking some form of conversation. Reed had learned that Alex had been in fact a marine for a short period and had been an avid gym enthusiast. Both he and Ryan had known each other before, having studied at the same university and later come to join the GOI. Ryan wasn't really keen on talking, more being forced to by Alex, while he shared some bits and pieces about himself, such as having an engineering degree. During the lunch, Reed had also learned that Aksel and Alex didn't mix well, their strong personalities clashing while they discussed the technicalities of rock climbing. Isabella had stayed silent the whole time, much like Reed, only observing the conversation with mild interest while she dug in her already cold rice.

Reed felt relieved having been permitted to retire to her cabin after, even if only for a moment. She would lay on the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling while she debated taking one of the pills. It was one thing to be nervous and one thing to be clearly taunted. If something were to happen Reed could potentially suffer from hallucination if not worse.

No... No, you can handle it... Stay Strong Rowan...

It felt as if the break ended way too quickly, with the knock on the door announcing it was time to leave. She'd left the room, following Shawn along with the rest of the research crew down the corridor. After a couple of turns, the stairs up they have finally reached a chamber labelled the "conference room". The room was small, a space for only about ten people if not less, plastic chairs unfolded before a projector and a desk. As expected, Doctor Cannan had been waiting for them, already set up and ready to give a presentation. The second they all sat up, the room went dark, only the light of the projector illuminating the chamber with a gentle light.

"Welcome everybody! I am really happy to see all of you have made it to our humble research facility in one piece." Cannan joked, earning a snort from one of the men.

"As you might know, we are all here to investigate and classify the anomaly, before a word is announced to the public. There are a couple of topics I would like to go over with you before we are all set to work. I would ask you to hold on to your questions for the time of the presentation and ask them once it's finished. Well then, without further ado..."

He went to the next slide, and a bunch of text popped up.

"The confidentiality agreement. You have all signed it along with your contracts, but it's a matter that I would like to discuss regardless. The confidentiality agreement forbids you to share any information regarding your research, the location or the data about the company. We are really determined to keep this phenomenon hidden for the sake of not spreading panic. The US government, which is also one of our patrons, is aware of the situation and has tasked us with the mission of uncovering the truth about this creature. I understand that some of you are not US citizens, however, bound by a contract you will be answering to the US government for the time being.

So what does exactly confidentiality entail? Well, any form of data collected during the research cannot be shared without the GOI's permission. For the next few months, you will quite literally vanish into thin air. You will be provided with GOI's equipment, including computers and communicators you can work with, instead of your own. Of course, contact with family is permitted, however, the research facility has limited data access, therefore calls will not be possible as often as you would like. You are permitted to write emails, and record messages that will later be passed to your loved ones by the GOI.

Breaking the agreement will be followed by immediate expulsion from the team, confiscation of the data gathered by the culprit, as well as their name being excluded from the research once it goes public, not to mention legal action. My advice is to simply abide by the contract."

Reed nodded, the thought of having to fight the US Government attorneys made her want to read through the contract again, just to make sure she understood everything.

Cannan proceeded with the presentation, the screen going dark as the picture of the anomaly popped up.

"Let's address the elephant in the room. I am aware all of you had agreed to participate most likely due to the importance and prestige of the project. After all, it's not often that a project like this comes up. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present to you... Ingens Noctis, also referred to as the Shadow. Of course, this is a temporary name and it is in your hands to classify it upon concluding the research. We have quite a vast database about this creature so far, therefore I will only go over the most important points, while the rest will be delivered to you in the form of documents tomorrow. What we know about the Shadow so far, is that it has a heat signature, a heartbeat and that it seems to be a collection of cells. We have not found any orifices, ocular structures or limbs. We do not know its species, origin, habits or even whether it's male or female. Your job here is to find out as much as you can about it. Now... The team management."

Another slide popped out.

"I imagine you got to know each other a little bit better during the lunch, but now I would like to formally introduce everybody, as well as talk about the structuring of the teamwork. Let's begin with me, as you might know, I am Doctor John Dae Cannan, a Korean-American biologist. I have graduated from Harvard, have multiple PhDs and I will be the supervisor of this project. Unfortunately, I cannot join you in the lab, due to responsibilities at the Institute, however I am your superior. You will be answering directly to me. I will be in charge of monitoring the progress, filing reports as well as representing the team. On behalf of GOI, we have selected the three most brilliant scientists from our Institute."

Suddenly passport photos of the three GOI scientists popped up.

"Alexander Roberts, deep-sea giantism*, cephalopod* expert with both underwater operation experience." Cannan pointed to the picture of Ryan.

"Ryan August Woods, one of our best and long-term employees, is brilliant in terms of deep-sea microorganisms and has a degree in underwater engineering. Next up is, our newest and perhaps brightest star, Isabella Maria Cruz, with multiple degrees in marine biology and veterinary, not to mention vast research experience."

Cannan paused, switching the pictures to Aksel and Reed. She cringed inwardly, seeing the old picture from the Oxford Database. She used to have a fringe to cover up the scar on her forehead. The picture made her gut twist uncomfortably, having remembered that days after the picture was taken she'd suffer her final mental break.

"Now, dear GOI crew, let me introduce our consultants who will accompany you in the research. Doctor Aksel Andersen, a Danish specialist in the northern deep-sea biomes and a professor at Copenhagen University."

Reed could feel the eyes of the rest dig into her back as her turn came.

"Doctor Rowan Agatha Reed, one of the most famous British-Irish marine biologists out there. You might have stumbled upon her work regarding microbiomes, and invertebrates of the deep-sea. Doctor Reed had been involved in another confidential project before, the infamous "Sound Maria" discovery."

Sound Maria... Reed didn't like talking about it, the memory too bitter to engage in it. Sound Maria creature was supposed to be a breakthrough, grant her entrance to the elites of her field in Oxford... Until it hadn't been decided that the board would welcome somebody like Marcus Dean instead of her. It's never been fully explained why it happened, most just assigning her contribution to Dean or deeming him more suitable to present their findings, but in truth, Reed had a suspicion it was the Dean Family status that was at play that day. An old family with generations of professors, and scientists with multiple estates spread out across London. If it was anybody else, Reed would maybe question her judgement, but having worked with Dean she knew, that not even a single word in his speech was written by him, let alone the research he was presenting.

"As I won't be present on the site, I would like to appoint a coordinator, who will be delivering reports and will have some decision-making power in terms of how the team is functioning, since I can't be present all the time. I understand that appointing a team leader at this moment would be inappropriate and biased, therefore I have decided to delay that decision until next week. Throughout the first week, you will be assessed based on your performance and then appointed."

Reed could see the others exchange looks, Isabella glancing in her direction before her eyes landed back on Cannan.

"When it comes to the facility..."

The board showed a complex of rooms.

"You will be stationed in a state-of-the-art underwater facility. Before anybody raises concerns, the facility was tested and is completely safe at the depth it was deposited. As you can see, each of you will have a separate room but will have to share the laboratory, bathrooms and common areas. We have put a lot of thought into designing an environment where you can both work and live in comfort. There is a small gym and a common room where you can both eat and use the forms of entertainment we have provided.

There are a couple of important things I have to mention..." He pointed at one of the rooms.

"This is the generator that powers the whole station using heat energy from the thermal vents in the area. In case of an emergency, which is very unlikely, the generator will prioritise oxygen production above all else, as well as send us an emergency signal. The generator has also a backup battery, which powers an escape pod at the very back of the facility, by the rooms. For other security measures, we have wall enforcement, flood gates, emergency lights as well as repair tools and manuals. Moving on, the food situation... The storage room is supplied for five months of food for each of you. The cold lockers are electronic and will deposit the breakfast, lunch and dinner at certain hours to prevent the food from depleting faster than we estimated. I assure you that the meals are nutritious and will be served with supplements to ensure your good health. In five months starting tomorrow, the GOI will resupply the food. In case there is an emergency and our Institute is unable to reach you, there will be emergency storage outside of the facility. The water is unlimited and comes from the filtration station, one of the newest inventions. It will purify the ocean water and turn it into drinkable mineral water we all know.

The station is equipped with two UUVs, as well as the exo-suits, that will allow you to walk on the ocean floor, as long as you remain in the range of depth they were designed for. Everything will be explained tomorrow when you transfer.

And last but not least, the Internet availability... There will be weak reception down there. The facility is situated at a peak, about 500m below the sea level and about 1km away from the Shadow. Communication with the HQ, aka GOI Nereus, will be possible through written messages and radio calls. I would advise you to call your families tonight because from tomorrow it will be no longer possible. Any questions so far?"

The room went silent, all participants mulling over what they'd just heard.

"Also... Almost slipped my mind... This is one of the first underwater facility projects, so I would kindly request that you keep records of your well-being while stationed there... A sort of diary, if you catch my drift..."

Aksel raised his hand.

"Yes, Doctor Andersen?"

"What does judging the performance entail when it comes to selecting the leader?"

Cannan scratched his chin.

"Well, the facility is equipped with cameras in the common areas as a precaution. I would say that factors like teamwork, work ethic, findings and handling pressure will be taken into account. You will find out who will be the head of the team on the same day next week, via the radio."

Aksel nodded, relaxing back into his chair. It didn't take long for another hand to shoot towards the ceiling.

"How will the research look like? What can we expect?" Alex asked.

"The schedule will be updated each week since I make the final calls. You can expect sample analysis and testing, ventures with the UUV, different sets of trails and exposing the Shadow to external stimuli. Of course, each of you has a bit different specialisation, therefore will have a tad different tasks. Everything will be handed out tomorrow, but I can already tell you that those whose specialisations align will work closer together."

"Erm... What does the emergency procedure look like?" Aksel asked again.

"You have mentioned that this solution had been tested but it's the first official time for an actual use..."

Cannan readjusted his collar, deep in thought before answering.

"The only emergencies that I can imagine at the moment are power shortage or a ruptured hull. In case of a power shortage, there are emergency batteries. They should be enough to power oxygen production and the emergency pod. In case of a rapture, which is unlikely due to the materials we used for the hull, some floodgates will close, separating the damaged section. Depending on the severity of the damage, the leakage can be repaired and water drained due to protocols in the facility's software. In case of an evacuation, there is the evacuation pod waiting for you. Tomorrow, you will get a tour and in-depth instructions on emergency procedures."

Reed couldn't help but feel a pinprick of suspicion. The longer she thought about the realities of living in a closed-off facility the more uncomfortable she would get. She would be stuck with people she doesn't know, forced to coexist with somebody as hostile as Isabella under the same roof with no place to hide. And she couldn't just simply leave also... This whole situation was dangerous. No doubt the pressure down there would be impacting their health and mood. She didn't even want to think what would happen if the hull got raptured. Reed, a land-dwelling creature unable to breathe underwater would be stuck at the bottom of the ocean with an unknown creature that could be hostile.

Yes, Investigating the shadow sounded intriguing, but nobody had said anything about the underwater facilities. In truth, Reed had believed Nereus to be the facility... And how come Cannan didn't have to be there? Did everybody else have the same doubts as her? Should she address them? What if it will make her look stupid? Then her reputation would be damaged from the very start of the project.

"Um... I was under the impression you were the head scientist in the project... How come you will not be present at the facility?"

Before Cannan could answer Reed caught Isabella turn to her, glaring at the other woman.

"Excuse me Doctor Reed. I believe it is a bit impolite to ask such a personal question of your employer, especially that-"

"No, Doctor Cruz, please... Doctor Reed has a valid point. Indeed I should be present at the facility, however, due to my recent promotion I have simply too many responsibilities in the Institute to join you. I am in charge of two more projects, as well as keeping this operation as quiet as possible."

Reed nodded, not fully convinced but unwilling to press the issue. Cannan looked genuine, however for a split second Reed could have sworn his eyes went wide.

"Any more questions?" Cannan asked but was met with silence. It wasn't so much about not having questions, Reed was sure everybody had at least a couple, but after the awkwardness that followed the dispute, nobody seemed willing to indulge their curiosity.

"Alright then... The plan for tomorrow is fairly simple. The day starts at seven, you will submerge in one of our vehicles and transfer to the facility. There you will have a tour with the engineer behind the design, get to know the protocols and get your rooms assigned, as well as receive a schedule and your responsibilities. If there are no more questions, you are all officially dismissed..."

Reed had been laying on the cot for what felt like hours. The ship swayed slightly with the waves of the night, the drizzle outside rattling against the metal walls.

Call your loved ones...

Reed had debated it... Calling Diane. She even opened the phone, leaving the contact glowing in the dark but she never pressed the call button. Diane would surely laugh seeing her like that, taunting her that she is scared of rejection. But that was the truth. Reed had grown up having many contradicting feelings. She had loved her mother but hated her at the same with every fibre of her being. She wanted to be independent, and make her own decisions and yet she would always run to Diane for approval knowing she would not receive it. Reed was scared. Scared to call her, because she knew she couldn't lie to her and saying the truth would anger the woman. Showing any form of doubt would prompt Diane to berate her and she didn't want to hear it. Instead, she'd sent a text to her, saying everything was good. No details, because the details would ignite conflict. Reed didn't know whether she was scared her mother would call her a fool for falling for the GOI or a coward who couldn't take on the challenge, maybe both. In truth, Reed had wanted to leave the second Cannan started talking about the facility, all of it looking like a bit of a stretch, but she felt she was too deep to turn around. And what if the operation had proven to be a success? Then she would lose the chance to prove herself. To prove to everybody who doubted her that she could do it. That she is sane and successful.

She could prove to Diane she was capable.

It might come as a surprise, but Diane wasn't the only person on Reed's mind that night. Reed had grabbed her phone, opened her social media and typed out a name she'd known by heart.

Anne Clark-Collins

It was all too easy, too practised to find her page. She'd aged over the years, but Reed could have recognised her just about anywhere.

The woman who'd saved my life.

Ever since the accident, Reed couldn't help but idolise the stranger, thinking of her as her guardian angel. Sometimes Reed would be all too tempted to write her, to say that she was that little girl she'd found on the side of the road, but she never had. She'd sometimes fantasized about telling the woman all of the things, how she had been, who she grew up to be. Did Anne think about Reed while she watched her daughter grow up? She didn't know, moreover, she felt guilty for even thinking that. Reed had already had a mother, but the small child within her still longed for that kind stranger, hoping one day she would show up on their doorstep to take Reed away. Of course, she never had... Anne had lived her own life, married her fiancé, John Collins, and eventually adopted a daughter... There was no space for Reed in her life. Even now, despite that year had passed she still longed for contact, debating whether to shoot her a message about participating in such an important project.

Ultimately, Reed hadn't sent anything, turning the phone off and letting it rest on the bedside table. She tried shutting her eyes, counting down from a hundred until she fell into the arms of Morpheus*, but no matter how much time had passed sleep wouldn't come. She would toss and turn, checking her phone at least ten times before she sat up in defeat. Reed had a habit of sleeping in panties and a t-shirt, however, she couldn't just walk out dressed like that. She slid the tracksuit pants on, dragging her feet while she approached the door. She tried to be as quiet as possible, realising how late it was. She pushed the door open, squeezing through the small crack, The corridor was dark, only the red emergency light along the floor showing Reed where to go. The cold metal of the floor bit the soles of her feet, sending chills up her spine. Her toes would surely freeze before she would make it there.

Her skin crawled while she walked in the darkness, the creaking and groaning of metal all around her putting her on the edge. Just as she was about to enter the bathroom, she heard a whisper somewhere in the corridor. Reed froze, goosebumps rising on her arms. This wasn't happening. Not again. She looked around, praying she wouldn't see anything in the dark. She listened attentively, trying to fish for the noise and there it was again... A hushed male voice, only... It wasn't coming from the corridor, but rather from the door closest to the female bathroom. The longer she listened to it, the clearer it became that it was not in fact a hallucination but rather somebody having a conversation behind closed doors. At first, Reed wanted to ignore it, just move on and do her business and go to bed, but for some reason, her legs remained glued to the spot she was standing at. It was late, so it was very unlikely somebody was having a phone call.

Please no... Don't be like that...

Reed didn't listen, curiosity winning her over as she approached the door quietly. It was quiet for a second, before a male voice spoke up, no longer muffled.

"...I... I need it to go well..." There was a muffled hum that followed.

"It will... I know it will..."

She knew that voice.

Excuse me Doctor Reed!

"I just can't afford to fail, not with this project. My life depends on it..." Isabella muttered, her voice soft.

"Hey... I am going to do whatever I can to make it a success..."

"You can't guarantee something like that."

"Look at me..." there was a pause. At first, Reed thought it was just silent, but the longer she listened the more she picked up an odd sound. It was wet and smacking, a noise Reed couldn't pinpoint. She moved closer to the door, trying to hear better. She still couldn't decipher what was happening, but suddenly the ship swayed a little harder, causing her to lose balance momentarily. The two on the other side went quiet.

"Did you hear that?" the man asked, some rustling followed. Reed's eyes went wide as she heard bare feet slap against the floor. She looked around desperate to find a place to hide, before leaping for the bathroom. She pulled the door almost all the way shut before Isabella's door opened. A tall man sporting only sweatpants appeared in the doorway, looking around the hallway. The red light wasn't bright enough for Reed to make out his features, but the second he spoke up Reed could immediately tell who the voice belonged to.

"I swear I heard something..." Cannan muttered. He stepped more into the light, the dim red accentuating the edges of his toned chest. There was some rustling behind him before a pair of hands wrapped around his torso.

"There is no one here... Come back to bed, John..." Isabelle whispered tenderly. Cannan looked around the hallway, his hands resting on Isabella's before he finally spoke.

"I think I will go...It's late..."

Isabelle let out a disappointed huff, as he unwrapped her hands.

"C'mon..."

"I am sorry Belle, but I have to go... It's a big day tomorrow, remember?" He cooed. Isabella came forward, the red light bouncing off of her skin. Reed could feel her cheeks flare up at the sight of them. Isabella was very naked... Although the dim light didn't allow Reed to see them in full view, she could still see the outline of Isabella's bare breasts and waist.

"A goodbye kiss at least?" she muttered before both of them joined in a passionate kiss. If Reed hadn't been ashamed of herself before, she was now... Walking in on a clearly private moment and seeing something that was not for her eyes. And yet she kept looking... Cannan's hand travelled up Isabelle's body, visibly squeezing one of her curves and making her gasp.

"Good luck tomorrow..." he whispered into her lips before he pulled away, walking down the corridor in the direction from which Reed came.

Even though the two lovers had long since come back to their rooms, Reed still stood there, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her cheeks were burning, her heart fluttering like a caged bird.

What did I get myself into?

------------------------

* PTSD/ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event

*Faroe Island- Danish Island

*Lovecraft- American horror writer, known for otherworldly creatures and dark fantasy.

*Deep-sea Giantism- Tendencies in species of deep-sea creatures to be larger than their shallow water cousins.

*Cephalopod – Family of marine creatures also known as squids, octopuses or cuttlefishes

*Morpheus- Greek God of Sleep and dreams