CHAPTER
8

Aria sat at her lab station, barely hearing the hum of machines around her. She'd devised a plan that should, in theory, give her access to Specimen X's cell without setting off any alerts or drawing attention from Dr. Hamill's watchful eye. But her scheme hinged on timing, precision, and a distraction long enough to allow her to slip through undetected.

Her eyes scanned the digital blueprint of the facility on her screen, which she'd memorized over the years. A faint outline of a secondary maintenance duct connected her lab to the corridor outside Specimen X's cell. This ventilation duct, she realized, was rarely used but large enough for a person to pass through. If she could gain access and keep Grayson occupied somewhere else, her path to Specimen X would be clear.

Just as her confidence solidified, her focus was shattered by a familiar voice from the doorway.

"Aria," Dr. Grayson greeted, his tone far too casual, even bordering on warm. "Hard at work, as always?"

She blinked, her hands momentarily pausing over her keyboard. Dr. Grayson leaned against the doorframe with his usual, borderline smug smile, clearly trying to be charming. For most of the other scientists, his attempts at small talk might come across as friendly, even pleasant. But Aria found herself irritated, her mind scrambling to keep track of her plan as his presence loomed.

"Yes," she replied curtly, her eyes returning to her screen. One word was often enough for her, though it rarely seemed enough for Grayson.

He chuckled. "You know, you're a hard woman to get to know, Aria. You always have your nose to the grindstone."

She glanced up, a polite but clearly forced smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Work is important." Her tone was cool, almost robotic. Small talk was a puzzle she'd never cared to solve, especially not now when her mind was a hundred miles ahead of him, locked on her impending objective.

Dr. Grayson laughed, though the sound was faintly awkward, as if he'd hoped for a little more response from her. "Well, that's certainly true. But sometimes it's good to take a break, don't you think? Recharge a little?"

Aria nodded, keeping her responses minimal. She could sense his interest, something that barely registered on her radar most days but which now felt like a glaring obstacle. She didn't have the time or patience to decipher his intentions, let alone indulge them.

"I'm fine," she said, eyes still on her screen as she pretended to study the data. The single-minded focus often worked as a deterrent, but today, Grayson seemed oblivious.

There was a slight pause, the kind that stretched uncomfortably in the air.

"So," he began again, clearing his throat, "I hear you're making headway with Specimen X. Pretty fascinating stuff, isn't it?" His eyes lingered on her face, waiting for her to reciprocate the interest.

Aria resisted the urge to sigh. "Yes," she replied, short and simple. Her gaze darted to the lab's clock—if she didn't find a way to redirect him, she'd lose her window of opportunity.

And then, an idea sparked, a clever twist that would buy her the time she needed. She slid her chair back and stood up, facing him with a look of determination. "Actually, Dr. Grayson, there's a new piece of equipment in the storage lab that I could use a second opinion on."

He looked intrigued, a spark of curiosity lighting his eyes. "Oh? What is it?"

"A cellular stabilizer prototype. It's been acting strange, and I think a second set of eyes could help," she said, hoping her tone sounded sincere enough to entice him. Her fingers crossed mentally, hoping he wouldn't dig too deeply into the details.

"Sure, I'd be happy to take a look." His eyes lingered on her with an eagerness that was hard to miss.

She nodded, keeping her expression neutral as she motioned him to follow her. As they exited her lab, she felt a prickling sensation at the back of her neck—the awareness that time was slipping past. They reached the storage lab at the end of the hall, a room rarely used for anything besides excess equipment.

She unlocked the door, gesturing for him to enter first. "I'll just pull up the equipment's diagnostic file on my tablet," she said, stepping back as he walked into the storage room. "It's over in that corner," she added, motioning toward a cluster of machines at the far end of the room.

As Dr. Grayson moved deeper into the room, she took one swift step back and closed the door, pressing a code on the keypad that would lock it from the outside. She knew he'd eventually find his way out, but the lock was timed to delay anyone inside for at least ten minutes—a safeguard put in place after a past incident involving a lost researcher and a broken lock. It would give her enough time to execute her plan.

Turning on her heel, Aria moved quickly, her mind sharp with focus. She slipped back into her lab, double-checking that the corridor was clear before she approached the access panel at the far end of her workspace. She knew the duct would be cramped, uncomfortable, and likely a far cry from the sterile environment she preferred, but she'd take any risk necessary to reach Specimen X.

Once she removed the access cover, she pushed her way into the narrow ventilation shaft, feeling the cold metal press against her as she crawled forward. The path was straightforward, but every creak and shift echoed ominously, heightening her awareness of the facility's quiet. After several tense minutes of maneuvering, she reached the grate that opened into Specimen X's holding cell.

Peering through the slats, she saw him sitting against the far wall, his silver eyes distant as he stared at some point beyond the room's cold, sterile interior. He hadn't noticed her yet. She gently eased the grate aside, stepping carefully down into the cell, her feet touching the cold floor with a soft echo.

Specimen X turned his head, his gaze landing on her with a look of calm intrigue, as if he'd sensed her coming. "Dr. Voss," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.

She swallowed, a knot forming in her throat as she took a cautious step forward. She'd been in his cell before, but it was different now, the weight of her secrecy pressing down like a physical force. Her plan had worked, but only if she could keep Grayson and the rest of the team none the wiser.

"I need answers," she said, her voice firm, though she felt a flicker of nerves under his steady gaze. She reminded herself that she was here for a purpose, one that outweighed her discomfort.

Specimen X's gaze softened, his posture relaxed as he nodded. "Answers," he repeated, his tone laced with a hint of irony. "And what will you offer me in return, Aria?"

The question threw her off balance, a reminder of their previous deal. She'd brought him food, engaged with him, yet each step seemed to draw her further into an unknown territory that felt more personal, more charged.

"What do you want?" she asked cautiously.

He leaned forward slightly, the chains on his wrists clinking as he did. "I want to understand," he said slowly, his gaze unwavering. "I want to know what drives someone to risk everything for knowledge. To go against their own rules, their own people."

Aria blinked, his words resonating in her mind as she tried to piece together his intent. It was as if he were reading the very motivations she tried to keep hidden, the quiet desperation that fueled her quest.

"I... I need your help," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "Your genes. They're unique, unlike anything I've seen. I think..." She hesitated, knowing how close she was treading to the truth she'd been concealing. "I think they could hold the key to more than just my research."

He watched her, his expression inscrutable. "And if I give you this knowledge, will it satisfy you? Or will you return again, seeking more?"

Aria's heart raced, the reality of her situation crashing over her. She'd never felt this way, so off-kilter, her control slipping with each interaction. She swallowed, her mind whirling as she tried to form a coherent response.

"I'll do what it takes," she replied finally, meeting his gaze with a rare sincerity.

... ... ...

Specimen X watched Aria's every movement with intense focus, feeling a warmth spread through him as he took in the subtle expressions playing across her face. Despite her guarded demeanor, there was something compelling about her—the way her pale hair framed her face, the glint of intelligence in her eyes behind those dark glasses, and the tiny frown line that appeared whenever she was thinking. A human, he reminded himself, an entirely different species. And yet, the attraction simmering beneath his calm facade had become an undeniable distraction.

As she stepped closer, her presence stirred something within him, a hunger that was deeper than any of the physical needs she'd seen in him before. He shifted slightly, his body betraying him with a reaction he wasn't sure how to control. He felt a heat pooling in his lower abdomen, an ache that grew as he watched her, and he cursed under his breath, hoping she wouldn't notice.

But Aria was oblivious, her focus zeroed in on her purpose. She spoke with the same detached professionalism as before, though now it had an edge, a determination that both intrigued and frustrated him. She wanted something—answers, pieces of knowledge that only he held. And yet, he couldn't deny the satisfaction in knowing that, for once, she had to ask him for something. It shifted the power in the room, however subtly.

"Your genetic makeup..." she began, carefully choosing her words. "I need to understand the mechanism that allows it to change so seamlessly. Is it a survival trait, a form of adaptation? Or does it serve another purpose entirely?"

Specimen X met her gaze, feeling the warmth spread further through his body as she continued. He found himself wanting to keep her attention, to make her linger here, longer than she'd intended. Perhaps it was the confinement or the fact that she was the first real being he'd had contact with in this place, but whatever the reason, he wasn't willing to let her leave just yet. And so, he gave her a slow, infuriating smile.

"I'm not one to give away answers so easily, Dr. Voss," he said, his voice carrying a hint of a taunt. "You've been so... generous with your questions. But I find myself wanting something more meaningful in return."

She blinked, clearly thrown by his response. The usual cool detachment on her face faltered, replaced by a slight look of confusion as she tried to process his words. "What... do you mean by that?" she asked cautiously, crossing her arms.

He shifted, trying to ignore the growing ache as he leaned back, adopting a relaxed posture that, to him, felt deceptively natural, though he was far from calm. "I've given you answers before, small tokens to satisfy your curiosity. But this time..." His gaze slid over her, taking in the way she stood there, her body tense, trying to decipher him like one of her experiments. "This time, I want something that's worth my time."

Her brow furrowed as she studied him, and he found himself enjoying the way her mind seemed to work, the gears visibly turning as she tried to anticipate what he would ask for. He knew she expected something straightforward, something easily within her control to provide. But he had no intention of making it that easy.

"What do you want?" she finally asked, her tone cautious, guarded.

His smile deepened, his gaze unwavering as he let the words hang in the air for a moment. "I want... to know more about you, Dr. Voss."

He watched as her expression shifted, confusion and a hint of irritation flashing across her face. It was clear she hadn't expected this answer, and that was exactly why he'd chosen it.

"You already know my name," she replied, her voice laced with impatience. "What more could you possibly want to know?"

"Oh, a great many things," he said, keeping his tone casual, even though the heat between them had become almost palpable. He leaned forward, chains clinking softly as he moved closer to her. "You see, I have a theory about you, I think you're here for more than scientific curiosity."

She stiffened, her arms tightening over her chest. "My work is my only concern here," she replied, though her voice had a slight edge to it.

"Your work, yes," he mused, letting his gaze linger on her a beat longer than necessary. "But I see something else. A restlessness, an ambition that goes beyond simple research. You're here to find something... personal."

She shot him a sharp look, as though trying to decide if he was baiting her or if he'd truly seen through to her hidden intentions. He knew he was treading dangerous ground, but he couldn't resist the chance to unearth whatever secrets she held beneath that icy exterior.

"You know nothing about me," she replied, her voice firm, though he could see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Then tell me. Enlighten me, if you think I'm so mistaken."

She hesitated, clearly torn between keeping her secrets and pressing for the answers she'd come here to obtain. He could see her mind working, calculating whether indulging him would give her what she needed or if it would only waste her time.

"Fine," she said after a long pause, her voice curt. "What do you want to know?"

His gaze softened slightly, though he kept his expression unreadable. "Why do you do what you do?" he asked, his tone suddenly devoid of the teasing edge. "Why risk so much for knowledge that may never benefit you in the end?"

She seemed taken aback by the question, and he could see her struggling to formulate an answer. For a moment, he wondered if she would dismiss him, brush off his question with a vague reply. But then, something in her eyes shifted, and she looked at him with an intensity he hadn't seen before.

"I want to understand things that no one else has," she replied quietly. "To fix things that others have deemed impossible." Her voice grew softer, as though she were admitting a weakness. "Because sometimes, it's the only way to make sense of anything."

He felt a pang of something he couldn't quite name as he listened to her words, feeling an odd sense of kinship despite their differences. It was the kind of answer he hadn't expected from a human—honest, raw, and tinged with an ache that resonated deeply within him.

He leaned back, feeling his desire for her intensify, though it frustrated him to no end. She was human, a being he'd been taught to see as inferior, yet here he was, drawn to her in ways he couldn't explain. He could feel his pulse quickening, his body reacting to her presence, and he fought to keep his expression calm, not wanting to betray the turmoil within him.

"Interesting," he said finally, keeping his tone even. "Perhaps I'll answer one of your questions, then. But only if you tell me one more thing."

She sighed, looking as though she were weighing her options before finally nodding. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

He leaned forward, his gaze intense as he asked, "Why did you change your eyes?"

Her expression froze, and he saw a flicker of pain in her eyes before she masked it, her gaze darting to the floor. He knew he'd struck a nerve, and part of him regretted it, though another part of him relished the small crack in her defenses.

"It was a mistake," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "A decision made in ignorance."

He tilted his head, studying her face, his curiosity deepening. "A mistake you're determined to fix," he said, more as a statement than a question.

She nodded, her eyes hardening as she looked up at him. "Yes. And that's why I need your help. Your genes may be the key to correcting what I did." There was sorrow that he recognised in those words.

He considered her words, the weight of her determination palpable. In that moment, he realized that her ambition, her drive, was something he'd longed to find in himself—a purpose, a reason to keep pushing forward despite the confinement, the isolation.

"Then perhaps we can help each other," he said, his voice softer than before.