Tape #22 - The Trap

As the young, scrawny man approached the dining hall, his heart raced with anticipation. He quickly scanned the room and locked on an empty spot beside a tall, slender girl with similar features to his own. With a sense of relief, he made his way over to her and scrambled to his seat, eager to start his meal.

-"Em, you're not gonna believe this,"- he begins, already shoving forkfuls of food into his mouth as she looks at him intently.

-"You start every conversation about your work with a similar phrase, but sure, shoot,"- the girl concedes.

-"Do I?"- He doesn't wait for an answer. -"It's about Eve, though. Eve with the glasses and the funky hair? Ok, so..."-

As he vividly narrates the tale to the young girl, the chubby lady from earlier makes her way towards them.

-"If it isn't the O'Malley's,"- she greets, flashing a friendly smile. The girl beckons her to come over and join them. The young man steps forward to assist her in carrying her tray and leads her to their table, where they make room for her to sit down and join in their conversation.

-"Girl... You're not gonna believe this,"- he begins.

Amidst the chaos of the bustling hall at dinner time, a vibrant flash of crimson hair catches the eye before vanishing into the crowd.

- - -

The scientist's quick footsteps were the only sound echoing off the walls of the office, and as the student mindlessly nibbled on a tasteless energy bar, thoughts of doubt and uncertainty about the success of their plan began to creep in. She pondered the intricacies of their strategy, trying to envision every possible outcome, hoping that their efforts would not be in vain.

They waited until the lab finally fell silent and the last researcher had taken off their safety gear and headed back to their quarters. The whole plan hinged on a chemist's inability to keep a secret.

The laboratory was completely dark now. The only illumination came from the instruments and the faint rays that filtered through the small window in the office. Soon, even these sources of light disappeared, leaving only the hum of a scanner in the center of the lab. Its dim blue glow was just enough to reveal the presence of the bait file.

And then it happened. The hiss of the decontamination room alerted both of them.

The student nearly dropped her energy bar as the doctor ushered her to her spot just outside of the office, in front of a console with multiple buttons.

-"Which one will you press?"- Dr. Walsh asks, signaling at the console. Ava points at a square button in the center, and the scientist nods. -"Correct. Remember to wait until he's taken the file."-

The doors of the lab whirred open, and Dr. Walsh vanished into the dark.