"Wow, Gabriel, this place is so cool. Who would've thought I'dbe amazed by something to do with science?" said Jai-Lee.
"I guess my dad's more impressive than I thought," replied Gabriel.
"Definitely."
They made their way through the lab. Looking at all the equipment. Their gaze was drawn to a computer screen which still read "DNA Synthesized".
"You see? Total mad scientist stuff," Jai-Lee said.
"I wonder what DNA they're working on anyway. My dad's always cagey about his work."
"Now it's your time to shine," said Jai-Lee.
"Don't worry, I've got it right here," said Gabriel, rummaging in his pocket.
"Don't tell me you forgot the card?"
"Ah-ha! Got it!" he said proudly, tapping it on the scanner.
"Welcome back, Robert," said the security speaker as the door opened. They stepped inside.
"This is so cool," said Gabriel, wide-eyed at the state-of-the-art equipment. Jai-Lee pulled out her phone and started taking photos.
"Jai! We never agreed to this. If those pictures get out, I'll never be allowed outside again!"
"Don't worry, I'm not stupid."
The flash from her phone startled the dragonfly in the corner, making it flap its wings and create a low, humming noise.
"What's that noise?" asked Gabriel.
"You're asking me? This is your dad's lab!"
They cautiously approached.
"Oh, phew—it's just a dragonfly," said Jai-Lee. "But what's that green slime-looking thing in the tube next to it?"
"No idea... but it's beautiful."
Gabriel was mesmerized. "So this is what my dad was raving about."
Suddenly, Jai-Lee noticed something out the window.
"Uhh, Gabriel... There are people here. There shouldn't be anyone here. No one works this late."
"Well... we're in trouble. Get your excuses ready."
Gabriel sighed. "Great."
"Destroy everything inside. If you see anyone, hurt them. We're sending Robert a message he'll never forget," said the lead man.
"You heard the boss," another added, pulling a black ski mask over his face and stepping out of the SUV with his M4 Carbine.
The rest followed, armed and masked.
Jai-Lee's face turned pale as she spotted the intruders.
"Uhh, Gabe? I don't think they work here. They've got guns!"
"What?!"
Gabriel peeked out. "We need to get out of here…. fast. Grab the dragonfly. I'll grab the vial."
"I'm the girl here!" said Jai-Lee.
"You're right," said Gabriel, handing her the vial and grabbing the dragonfly's case.
Suddenly, gunshots rang out. The front door exploded open.
"They're coming!" Gabriel whispered. "We have to hide!"
They ran down the corridor, barely dodging the intruders' line of sight. Gabriel swiped the keycard at a nearby door, it opened.
They ducked inside and hid behind a desk.
"I swear I saw a green light coming from this way," one intruder said.
"You're losing it," another replied.
"Enough jokes, we've got a job to do."
Inside, Gabriel and Jai-Lee were frozen, their hearts pounding.
"We need to get rid of this green goo," whispered Gabriel.
"How?"
"I don't know! If we're caught with it, we're toast. These guys aren't giving out warnings."
"I have an idea," Jai-Lee said. "Drink it."
"Drink it? I don't know what's in it!"
"You drink it!" she whispered.
"I know how to settle this… rock, paper, scissors."
"Okay."
Rock. Paper. Scissors. Shoot.
"Yes!" Jai-Lee cheered.
"Damn it," Gabriel sighed. "Alright, hand it over."
He took the vial, stared at it for a moment.
"Gabriel, now. Impending death, remember?"
"Alright, alright..."
He opened it. "Here goes nothing."
He drank it.
"So... how was it?" Jai-Lee asked.
"Tastes like lime. Not too bad."
"Let's just hope you don't end up in a hospital or worse."
"We've left our mark, boss. He'll get the message."
"Did you kill the dragonfly?" Derrick asked.
"Dragonfly?"
"There's a dragonfly in the main lab—his prized possession."
"There's no dragonfly here, boss."
"It's there somewhere!"
Suddenly, Gabriel's phone began to ring.
"Did you hear that?" said one of the men.
"I heard it."
"There's someone here."
"You know what to do," said Derrick coldly.
"Gabriel, of all the times you don't put your phone on silent, it has to be today?! The day we could die!" said Jai-Lee.
"I'm sorry! It slipped my mind... I don't feel good," said Gabriel, his face pale. "I feel sick."
"Well, you need to keep it in, for all our sakes."
"I'm trying..." said Gabriel, holding his stomach.
"Check all the rooms, they're here somewhere!" shouted the leader of the op, as he shot open doors one by one.
"All clear," was the message being relayed repeatedly over comms.
"I can't hold it in..." Gabriel said, before throwing up violently.
"I found the room!" shouted one of the men, waiting as the rest of the group joined him. Gabriel was lying on the floor, doubled over in pain, suffering from violent cramps.
"Good work," said the op leader, arriving and kicking the door open.
"What the…what is that thing?! Shoot!"
The men opened fire, but to their shock, the bullets moved in slow motion.
"What is going on?" Gabriel muttered to himself, blinking rapidly.
Then, with uncanny speed, Gabriel plucked all the bullets out of the air and placed them on the floor.
"How did we all miss that thing?" the leader shouted in confusion.
The men began to charge at Gabriel, but it was child's play for him to avoid them. To him, they moved like snails. Gabriel darted between them, effortlessly knocking them out one by one.
"What is going on?" he whispered again, barely believing it himself.
Jai-Lee was still hiding behind the desk, eyes shut tightly.
"It's alright to come out now, Jai," said Gabriel.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"110% sure?"
"Jai… I'm 110% sure."
Jai-Lee slowly stood up and opened her eyes—only to let out a massive scream.
"ARGHHHH!!! Please don't hurt me! I'm young and I've got so much life to live! Please!"
"Jai, it's me—Gabe!"
"Gabe?" Jai-Lee said, slowly recognizing him. She scanned him from head to toe. "What happened to you?"
"I don't know... but we need to get out of here fast. I can hear the police coming."
"I can't hear anything. You sure?"
"Jai, we don't have time for this. I'm sure," said Gabriel, before grabbing Jai-Lee and flying straight out of the window.
As they burst through the glass, Derrick caught a glimpse of them.
He blinked, convinced his eyes had betrayed him because Gabriel was flying, clumsily zig-zagging through the sky, barely able to control it.
They crash-landed in a nearby park.