Dr. Wells recovers quickly. She reaches for the emergency button on the side of the wall, but Lola is faster. She dives for Dr. Wells and grabs at her arm, pinning it behind her back.

The guard's fingers twitch on top of his holster. "I was made to be fast," I say. "I'd shoot you before you had the chance."

The guard's eyes narrow as Dr. Wells looks at me. "Aura," she says, her expression softening, "just stop and think about this for a moment. You don't want to hurt anyone. Just put the gun down." It's the first time she's ever addressed me like I'm an actual human being–it is only out of self-preservation.

I hold my gun steady, overwhelmed by the urge to shoot her in the chest. "Why?" I ask, searching her face. "Why did you do this to us?"

Dr. Wells glances at the guard before sighing. She straightens her dress, taking a moment before meeting my gaze. "It's nothing personal," she says. "It's just science–at least for me, anyway. For everyone else, it's business."

I take a step forward. "This business is wrong," I growl, "and it ends now. There will never be another mermaid show for as long as I live."

Dr. Wells doesn't bother masking her confusion. "Mermaid sh–oh!" she laughs a little, her eyes filled with pity. "I forgot you even did those. Do you really think we care about your performances? The mermaid shows are simply a distraction. A quick way to make money from the guests. What we're really after are your abilities."

My stomach wrenches at her cavalier tone. These were the same shows that we performed every day, the shows we were punished for if not performed correctly. They might not matter to her, but they mattered to us.

"Is that why you're auctioning us off?" I ask. "For our abilities?"

My question surprises her, and for a moment she studies me like I've done something promising. "Clever girl," she says, "although it doesn't surprise me. You were always our most promising subject. You excelled across all of the tests."

Her comment brings warmth to my cheeks. Even now, with her life in my hands, Dr. Wells does not see me as an equal. I am simply an experiment who exceeded her expectations: nothing more, nothing less.

"Why?" I ask again. "Why are you doing all of this?"

She thinks for a moment with a smile on her face. "We are pioneering the future," she says. "Do you even know what that means? No, of course you don't."

Lola yanks on Dr. Wells' arm. "Then dumb it down for us, Doc."

Dr. Wells flinches, and I can't quite tell if it's because she's in pain or because she hates how demeaning Doc sounds. "We have the power to create a super human race," she says. "The ability to edit and alter genes. We are unlocking the key to immortality here. You have no idea how much that's worth."

I shake my head, still not satisfied. That explains the engineering, but what about the auction? "Why–"

"Enough of this," the guard snaps, but he doesn't dare move forward. "Just put the gun down and you won't get hurt, all right?"

I narrow my eyes. "You're not in a position to be giving out demands. Tell me where Asia is."

It's Dr. Wells I look at when I say it. She shakes her head, like I'm an insolent child she doesn't have time for. "I don't know where she is," she says. "I simply administer the tests. Please, just–"

"What about Muriel?" I ask, taking another step forward. "You took her from me six months ago. Where is she now? What did you do to her?"

Her eyes suddenly soften, and I can't tell whether it's real or not. "Muriel is dead. She didn't survive her transplant."

I feel my legs wobble slightly, feel the weight in my chest as her words sink in. I'd suspected all along, but having it confirmed feels like losing her all over again.

Lola looks over before yanking at Dr Wells. "She asked you a question. Where's Asia?"

Dr. Wells winces. "Look, we lose track of the girls once they're auctioned off. She could be in Hong Kong, for all I know."

Hope swells inside of me, because if Asia was auctioned, at least she's alive. At least there's a chance.

"Aura–"

I don't know what Dr. Wells was going to say. In the pause that follows, the guard reaches for his gun, no doubt thinking me too distracted to notice. I squeeze my eyes shut and pull on the trigger, firing two shots in his chest.

When Dr. Wells starts to scream, I open them again, and they hone in on the lifeless body sprawled across the floor.

"Be quiet!" Lola hisses, slapping a hand over Dr Wells' mouth. "Be quiet, or you're next!"

I swallow hard, the gun now shaking. What have I done?

"How could you?" Dr. Wells gasps. "How could you just kill him? He had a family. A kid. You're both monsters."

I lower my gun before turning to face her. "Maybe you're right," I say quietly, nodding at the cube. "Get inside. Now."

Dr. Wells' disgust falters. "You can't be serious."

My expression darkens. I open the door before stepping aside. "Just think of a flame. It'll warm you right up."

Slowly, with the encouragement of Lola, Dr. Wells steps inside and I close the door, grabbing the lever. Before I can pull it, Lola rests her hand over mine, uncertainty lining her features.

"You sure you want to do that?" she asks. "She'll freeze to death if we leave her in there."

I stare at the door for a second longer, my hand feeling warm against the cold metal lever.

"Wait," Lola says, and I can sense her desperation. "Maybe we can use her. Keep her as leverage or a hostage or something in case we come across a guard."

I throw the door open, pulling Dr. Wells out by the collar of her dress. "Give me your key card," I say, my gun to her head, "and if you call out for help, I'll shoot you."

Dr. Wells swallows. She reaches into the pocket of her dress before pulling out a lanyard. I take it and pass it to Lola, who carefully slips it around her neck.

"The park's opening in ten minutes," Lola says, taking my gun. "Let's go."

We leave the Testing facility and round the corner. It is dark, with only one light fixed in the middle of the hallway, casting a yellowish glow down the hall.

"If you think–"

Lola prods Dr. Wells with the gun. "You must have forgotten what just happened to your sidekick," she says. "We said no talking."

I remain silent as we walk, still swallowing down the lump in my throat. Too much has happened for me to even think straight, so I concentrate on walking.

"Come on," Lola urges. "We need to walk faster. It won't be long before somebody finds the body."

We climb a flight of stairs and travel at the same rhythm down two corridors. One more turn and we're at the doors leading to Crystal's corridor. I press the key to the door, swinging it open before pulling Dr. Wells through.

Lola suddenly stops before she makes it past the threshold, cocking her head to the left. "You hear that?"

I listen intently, able to hear the sound of a door creaking open at the other end of the corridor. Seconds later, the faint sound of footsteps.

"Somebody's coming," I whisper.

"Help!" Dr. Wells screams.

I slap my hand against her mouth, but it barely muffles the sound. Lola doesn't hesitate. She slips through the door to join us in the corridor, slamming it shut behind her.

"They'll have heard her screams," she says, glaring at Dr. Wells. "Grab her and stay back."

I nod, taking Dr. Wells by the arm before pulling her away from the door. She barely struggles, her eyes fixed on the door in eagerness, waiting for someone to rescue her; I used to do the same thing.

The footsteps get closer, and we all turn to the door with similar expressions, preparing ourselves for the worst.