The three companions gazed around at the structuring of the Base as they walked through it. It was much like West Base in structure, but it was dark and gloomy, whereas West Base was beautiful with white walls and flowers from the jungle draped in wicker baskets along the walls.

“Hurry up.” The first guard, who had by now introduced himself as Truman, prodded them.

“Yeah, that’s right. This area’s supposed to be closed off. We can’t avoid it though, so we have special clearance to use it.” The second guard, Robert, added.

“Makes me feel so wonderful about entering this place.” Alonzo muttered.

Hanna walked close beside him. She could feel the oppression of the place bearing down on her. The walls seemed to collapse in on her, and some great apparition lurked in her mind. She could hear it calling to her, asking who she was. She shuddered. “Do any of you hear anything?”

“I hear you breathing, Miss.” The third guard said.

Truman glared at him. “Shut up, Nolan!”

Nolan dropped his gaze to the ground. Truman was clearly in charge of the trio. “Yes, sir.”

“What are you hearing, Hanna?” Ali prompted.

“Something’s calling me.” Hanna blanched, eyes widening. She almost fell to her knees, but Alonzo’s restraining hand caught her.

“Hey, you going to be alright?” Alonzo gazed into her eyes, searching for some explanation, heart thudding. This place was getting to all of them.

She shook her head slowly, uncertain. Her eyes glazed. “I don’t know. It’s almost as though.” She gasped. “It’s trying to force an answer from me.”

Alonzo frowned. “What is she talking about?”

Ali shrugged helplessly. “No idea.” He gazed at the trio of guards. “Any of you know what’s happening to my sister? Speak up!”

They nodded. “Happens to everyone the Beast targets. They start complainin’ of some strange force in their minds. Then they just disappears.” Nolan whispered, eyes crazed.

Ali rolled his eyes, muttering about how superstitious these guards were.

“It’s true, sir.” Truman stepped forward. “We’ve tried putting them under guard, but never seems to work for us. The Beast gets in and out without so much as a noise, and the guards never see or hear the victim go. Only the children’s cries ever alert anyone that something’s wrong.”

Alonzo’s frown deepened. “Seems strange that no one would see or hear this thing. And that the children were the only ones who did. Don’t you think?” He mulled it over, but found no explanation for the strange occurences. Except that they might be real. And that frightened him more than he cared to admit.

The guards glanced at each other.

“Guess maybe a bit. But people are still disappearing, sir, and we need to find the cause of the trouble.” Robert inclined his head. “Now, if Miss Covalenti’s able to move, we should move. No telling what’s going on, and if the children’s tales are true, I don’t want to be caught in an area where the Beast is known to be lurking.”

Alonzo shook his head, muscles tensing, breath hitching slightly. “Fine. Let’s move.”

Hanna moaned slightly, shivering against him. They couldn’t wait for her, so he swept her up into his arms as they continued on their way.

***

General Indri Blake stood at his desk, gazing moodily at one of the security camera loops on his holograph. Sighing, he played it again. As usual, there was nothing.

Several more people had been taken, and no one had been able to find them no matter how they looked.

And then the bodies had begun to show up. Always mangled and beaten. They were all badly damaged and it was nearly impossible to tell who they had been. In fact, it was difficult to even tell they were human once. Whatever had done this to them was sending a clear message of power and staking a claim. Which made Indri believe that whatever “it” was, it was sentient and perhaps even highly intelligent.

But what was “it”? And how could they fight it?

He shivered, gazing at a body that had just shown up on one of the live feeds. That’s how it always happened. One moment, the bodies weren’t there. The next, they had appeared out of thin air. It was a harrowing sight.

Indri switched out of that display, not wanting to view another mangled corpse. But the body needed to be brought in. And, if he was correct, whoever Andrew had sent would want to examine the bodies for clues.

He whispered a word, and a small orb flickered into life in his palm. Quietly, calmly, he spoke into it, hoping no one would hear the thud of his heart, which would betray his own fear. “Red alert. Red alert. Another body has been found in Section K-42. Surveillance camera 24 has picked it up. Send a squad to retrieve it. Make sure they are fully armored.” He closed his fist, cutting off the orb’s energy and swallowing it up back into his own reservoir.

Something had to be done. Things could not keep on going the way they were.

A guard burst into his office. He turned to face the man. “Truman, what is it?”

“The three from West Base, sir. They’ve arrived. Thought you’d want to see them. They’re waiting outside.”

Indri sighed inaudibly. “Send them in, Truman. Then you and your men are relieved to go back to your duties.”

“Yes, sir!” Truman snapped a salute.

He disappeared out into the hall for a moment, and when he returned, Hanna, Alonzo, and Ali were with him. Truman then exited, closing the door behind him.

Indri had turned to face the wall where his holograph still hovered. When they entered, he turned. And when he did, what he saw made his carefully calculated calm crack in two.