Free HASH: Human Alien Species Hybrid by April M. Reign

maybe fighting our way past security. Not this. Not just walking casually, like nothing was wrong.
    “The exit is through one of the main storerooms,” Dr. Stevens said, jerking me from my thoughts. “I’ve parked a vehicle near the exit, so once we get to ground level, it should be possible to get you clear. After that…honestly, I don’t really know what we’re going to do after that.”
    We made it to a big set of double doors with an electronic lock. They were obviously for the storeroom Dr. Stevens had in mind. There was also a security guard standing in front of them. He didn’t look any different to the others, just an ordinary guy in a dark uniform, with a utility vest and a weapon holstered by his side. Exactly what I expected a person to look like when they weren’t wearing a white coat, in other words. Yet, something about his stance said that this one might be trouble.
    Dr. Stevens walked over as confidently as she had for the rest of our trip, though. “Hi, Justin. I need access to the storeroom. Open up for me, would you?”
    He looked at me, then at Aric. “Are you sure, ma’am? I thought this was meant to be off-limits for the subjects. The outside access and all…”
    “It’s fine, Justin. I don’t think Jade is exactly about to run off. But I do need a large open space, and the storeroom is the best we have.”
    “This is for an experiment, ma’am?”
    “Exactly.”
    “So, you’ll have put in the paperwork and all that? If I just check…”
    Aric was fast. Almost faster than I could believe. Strong, too. His fist only swung around once, and then the guard was on the ground. He was still breathing, but for a moment or two, it was difficult to be sure.
    “You didn’t have to do that,” Dr. Stevens insisted.
    “Yes, he did.” Em looked rapt. “That was amazing.”
    I looked from one to the other of them, then at Aric. He hadn’t ever looked quite as alien as in that moment. I shook my head. “We need to get out of here.”
    “Yes, of course.” Dr. Stevens still looked a little rattled as she used her security card on the electronic reader. I could understand the feeling. I had the excitement of potential freedom bubbling through me, but I wasn’t enjoying this violence the way Em seemed to be enjoying it. I wasn’t ready to hurt people like Aric just had. Suddenly, this all seemed very real.
    The doors slid back with a slow, silent grind of hydraulics. We stepped through them, into probably the largest space I’d ever been in. I could barely see the far walls, while the space in between was filled with row after row of crates. Supplies, materials for experiments, or things they’d taken from ships like the one Aric had arrived on, I didn’t know.
    There were air vents at regular intervals along the walls. At the far end, where Dr. Stevens led us, there was a semicircular section protruding from the wall. A tube leading up, with doors at the bottom locked by another electronic system, this time connected to a keypad. Dr. Stevens punched in a number.
    Nothing happened.
    She tapped it in again. Still nothing. I saw her hands slap down at the keypad.
    “Someone has changed the code.”
    “ Ah. ”
    Even from that one syllable, I recognized the voice. Professor Ahern stepped out from behind one of the nearby shelves, accompanied by half a dozen security guards with Startech logos on their shirts. All of them had their guns drawn. “I’m afraid that would be me.”

Chapter Seven
    We were caught and I was scared. I didn’t know if we should run or surrender and after two seconds, I didn’t have a choice. Aric grabbed both Dr. Stevens and me by the arms and dragged us back in the direction of the nearest shelving.
    Em stood with her hands on her hips as if she’d stand between Professor Ahern and us. But, of course, neither Professor Ahern nor her puppets could see Em’s stance of bravery.
    “Are you actually going to try and outrun us?” The sarcasm in Professor Ahern’s