What Did You Think Would Happen?

a short story by Amanda Kline

Creative Writing Weekly is a gathering of writers of all levels, lead by Michael Rash, that create pieces every week based on prompts. The prompts for this piece were:

• A nest

• Really crosses the line

• learn to spell

• keep it inside

• "What did you think would Happen?"

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There was no mistaking the lab for anything other than a government building. But the

drab gray, heartless block building was a glorious sight for Erica as she cruised through the

security gate. She backed in a parking space and gathered her things with nervous anticipation.

Erica scanned her badge as the door slid open.

“Okay,” said Stephanie as she saw Erica approach. “Come on in. But whatever you see

here today, keep it inside. This is not exactly a project that is on anyone’s radar just yet.”

“No problem,” replied Erica. “Any chance I could read your lab notes to get a better idea

of what you’re creating here?”

“My notes are fairly messy, and I really need to learn to spell,” muttered Stephanie, “But

you can peek. Please remember that this needs to be kept between us and can never leave this

lab.”

Stephanie crossed the room, placing several unlabeled vials back into the cabinet. She

turned quickly, when she no longer heard pages turning, to see Erica snapping a picture with her

phone.

“That really crosses the line,” snapped Stephanie. “This project is too fragile. There’s too

much at stake. Not just the future of my career but the future of evolution. This project will

forever change everything in the world.”

Stephane charged across the room just in time to block Erica from attempting to unlock

the cabinet containing the experiment. Her life’s work. No regular enclosure would do.

Passcodes backed by optic recognition were enabled. This project would not only make her

famous, but it would forever change humankind.

Erica backed away, with a faux clumsy sidestep. Quickly recovering her balance, she slid

a syringe from the sleeve of her sweater. She effortlessly injected it into Stephanie’s neck as she

slipped to the floor, completing the retinal scan on the way down.

“You know,” Erica began, “It was a novice move to put your passcode into your lab

noteb….”

Before Erica could finish her last word, Stephanie uttered the passcode. Her voice

activated the unlocking process. As the door slid silently, a nest of sorts came into view. Erica

never processed what happened next. There was no time. Stephanie’s precious experiment

enveloped Erica. Stephanie gazed at the deflating, leaking corpse and with her own last breath

uttered, “what did you think would happen?”