Species Unknown [Book 2: Pisces)

01. TO FORGET

Monterey, California

5 years later...

The salty bay breeze stung my face as I drove down the freeway, my long hair whipping around in the wind. It was a nice enough day to have my windows rolled down, mid seventies and sunny. Unfortunately the weather was the only nice thing about today.

Truth is, I couldn't believe my luck. Out of all the departments at C.R.O.S.S. Laboratories of course I had to get chosen for the Pisces department.

Pisces as in fish.

Fish as in the slimy things the swim around in the ocean.

Ocean as in...well the ocean I guess.

And the ocean was the last place I wanted to be.

Since moving from the lush island of Oahu to the bay of Monterey, California to finish college, I hadn't set foot on the beach. Let alone gotten so close to the water that I could taste the salt in the air.

Not in five years.

Not since...

Immediately my mind became plagued with images. The road in front of me began to fade away, dissolving into images of that day all those years ago. The day I have tried endlessly to forget. I saw everything in flashes. The ocean, an enormous wave, and the broken blue and white board floating amongst the incoming tide.

I gripped the steering wheel, straining to pull my mind back to reality, back to the road and the incoming cars. I had to focus. I couldn't let my mind get carried away with its hallucinations, especially not now, I had to stay focused.

You're on a highway Lani, get it together! I mentally chided myself.

As I continued driving, I refused to look over at the ocean beside me. Nevertheless, the more I focused on ignoring it, the more I seemed to notice it's presence. It felt like every lash of salty air against my cheek was a taunt, specifically for me. Like the ocean was calling out to me...teasing me.

Hey...remember me...look at me...

I huffed. If I wasn't already certain, I would say I had truly lost my mind.

Reaching over, I turned up my radio and floored the gas. I wasn't sure if where I was headed would be any better, but I needed to get off this road, and soon.

~*~

The drive lasted longer than I had expected, and the GPS announcement that I would be arriving shortly was the best thing I had heard all day.

However, when I looked ahead all I could see was the rocky cliffs on one side and the shoreline I refused to glance at on the other. I continued down the winding road, and when I rounded another cliffside, a reflection of light caught my eye.

My eyes widened at what I saw.

Hidden on the backside of a cliff, was a one-story glass building situated up against the length of the towering rock. It matched the description I was given, a modern building along the coast. I just never expected it to be completely hidden among the rocky cliffs of the California shoreline. If I didn't have an address I probably would have driven right past it.

Whoever built this must be equally as elusive. I thought briefly.

I slowed my car as I passed, partially to marvel at the structure and mostly to see where the heck I was supposed to park. Fortunately, I could see what looked like a small side road that branched off the highway, leading down to what I hoped would be the parking lot or the entrance.