“[color=#eee0e5][i]What…[/i]?[/color]” Zino Bertran was full of cold disbelief. One of younger agents stammered out a reply, but his mind was already turning over the problem. He interrupted, “[color=#eee0e5]Those are highly sensitive materials… If they fall into the wrong hands…[/color]” Bertran’s eyes flicked across his desk, searching for any clues.

Zino’s office was had once been immaculate, but now it looked like the room had hosted a tornado. Papers were scattered across floor, the file cabinet had been emptied, the trash hatch had been flung open, and a chair laid toppled over--missing its cushion. “[color=#eee0e5]Of course,[/color]” he breathed, leaping over a pile of crumpled files to the trash shoot. A shred of fabric had wedged itself between two sheets of metal. “[color=#eee0e5]Quick, get out of my way.[/color]”


He shoved his way past his junior and sprinted down the hall. Bertram threw himself against the door to the stairwell and slid past the first flight of stairs. [color=#eee0e5][i]If I get there fast enough, there’s still a chance I could-...![/i][/color] Zino stumbled down a few steps as his outpaced himself, but managed to catch his balance. [color=#eee0e5][i]Shit…[/i][/color]

By the time he reached the basement, his breath was ragged. The foundation of the building was dark and quiet. His footsteps echoed in the concrete tunnels. Zino patted his pockets searchingly. “[color=#eee0e5]Where did I…? Ah.[/color]” The flashlight cast a perfect moon of light where-ever it pointed. Further down the hall, Zino saw the door to the incineration chamber--the metal bolt left unlocked. He narrowed his eyes.

He swung open the door loudly, kicking up a small cloud of soot from inside the room, and shone the light. Piles of paper and garbage lined the walls to the ceiling, and ash caked the floor. “[color=#eee0e5]No footprints…[/color]” No later than the words had left his mouth he felt something solid violently contact the back of his head.

Zino Bertran’s muscles were slow and stiff. He did not remember losing consciousness, but the side-effects were all too familiar. He screwed his eyes shut briefly before cautiously looking around. His head throbbed with each pump of his heart, and pain radiated from his temples. Ash covered his hair, his clothes, and his face. “[color=#eee0e5]Shit.[/color]” He had no idea how long he had been unconscious, but his flashlight had grown dim from constant use.

Carefully he sat up, testing his body to make sure all of his sore muscles still worked. It was then he saw it: a folder with large cautionary letters stamped across it--classified. Zino scrambled to recover the information, shoving the paperwork back into the folder and clutching it to his chest. He staggered to the door and tried to open it. “[color=#eee0e5]...Shit![/color]” It was firmly bolted shut. He beat on the door, yelled, and tried to call up the ducts--to no avail. After some time, he gave up and sat, exasperated, where he had fallen. 

He sat on something hard. “[color=#eee0e5]What the hell…?[/color]” Zino pulled a simple, round mask from underneath his backside. He wiped a smear of ash from its smooth surface. Something about the object was deeply disturbing, unsettling. Bertan could see his reflection in the lacquered forehead: he was stripped of all pretense; dirty, bloodied, and weak. The dark pits of its eyes gazed at his innate self. It terrified him. 

As if trying to shake off the thoughts, he turned his attention back to the paperwork:

[hider=Classified Documents]
[i]Page 67-B File BT-TF-01[/i]
[i]Cont’d[/i]

[b]1/3/20XX:[/b] Juvenile suspects terminated.

[b]2/16/20XX:[/b] Testing begins on [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] to determine the function and safety of exposure.

[b]7/23/20XX:[/b] Space-time anomalies resulting from exposure to [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] are confirmed. Testing is suspended until further notice.

[b]10/9/20XX:[/b] The unaccounted-for remains of one of the original nine test subjects appear unexpectedly outside [[i]Data Expunged[/i]]. The remains are not decomposed in any manner and are still warm to the touch. Blood remains uncoagulated. The remains are remanded for testing.

[b]10/12/20XX:[/b] [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] has ordered the site inside [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] to include emergency storage for all specimens.

[b]4/22/20XX:[/b] Emergency storage is operational. Labs and containment units are complete.

[b]5/25/20XX:[/b] Sightings of test subject [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] have been reported within the exposure areas. 

[b]6/02/20XX:[/b] Youth have been reported missing outside the exposure area of [[i]Data Expunged[/i]]. 

[b]7/19/20XX:[/b] Two victims are discovered outside one of the exposure zones. Time of the attack is estimated to be around 2300-2400 hours. Victims are catatonic.

[b]7/26/20XX:[/b] Two more victims found outside [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] near one of the exposure zones. Cause of death is related to severe internal trauma. Time of death is estimated to be around 2300 hours.

[b]7/29/20XX:[/b] A second set of unaccounted-for remains from the nine original test subject appears within the exposure zone. Remains in similar condition as previous test subject. Remanded for testing. 

[b]8/03/20XX:[/b] Another group of victims found inside [[i]Data Expunged[/i]]; authorities believe there is a serial killer at large around zone [[i]Data Expunged[/i]]. Victims are catatonic. Time of attack unknown.

[b]8/4/20XX:[/b] The warm body of a young man was found within one of the exposure zones; mask found near the remains. Unknown origin, unknown materials. Object remanded for testing. 

[b]8/9/20XX:[/b] Corpses found outside laboratory, believed to be the victims of a serial killer. All personnel have been relocated to [[i]Data Expunged[/i]] facility to continue testing on the object. [i](Cont’d)[/i]
[/hider]

Before he could finish reading, liquid began to pour from a series of pipes in the ceiling. “[color=#eee0e5]Water? No...[/color]” Horror gripped his stomach. “[color=#eee0e5][i]Gasoline![/i][/color]” Zino Bertran flipped open his cell phone. The thick, insular concrete blocked any reception. Still gripping the paperwork and the mask, he moved to beat on the door. “[color=#eee0e5]Please! Help! There’s someone in here…! Help me![/color]” His pleas echoed in vain throughout the chamber. The fumes of the gasoline were enough to force him to sit. “[color=#eee0e5]Th-the furnace shouldn’t even be in use…[/color]” Zino coughed, going through the papers. “[color=#eee0e5]All of this is…![/color]” His eyes grew wide. The man struggled to pull himself up to the door. It remained firmly bolted shut. “[color=#eee0e5]You can’t do this!! Please, let me out! Let me go!![/color]”

A glimmer of orange light sparked across the room, igniting the classified documents and consuming everything it touched like a wraith. Zino beat against the door again, shouting. Hot smoke and ash flooded the chamber. The air was smothering. Muffled shrieks and the metallic banging could be heard from the outside, just barely audible over the roar of fire. 


[i]Data Expunged.[/i]