Page 56 of Even Vampires Bleed
Everything has gone smoothly so far. The tunnels that we had carved out until today were deserted.
No one seemed to hear when we got the last wall down and walked into the corridor above the room we’re supposed to rob.
Could we have carved the tunnel to the curiosity cabinet’s level? We thought about it, but since there is a layer of bulletproof, soundproof, waterproof, and anything proof surrounding the room? Yeah, we didn’t dig on that level.
We also didn’t bash the wall in when we got the last wall down.
We cut it in a perfect circle with materials I didn’t even know humans had and popped the piece of wall inside the tunnel.
And you know what? There is an illusion in place to make it look like the wall is still there while we get down to the right level.
It’s not a good one, but as long as people don’t get too close to it, it should do the trick.
I’m working on the first lock with only one leg shifted, and Léandre is looking at me like he’s seeing me for the first time.
“You’re so tiny,” he whispers.
I’m not responding to that.
I stay focused and open the first door.
Then I open the second one, and we’re inside the curiosity cabinet.
It seems like no one has been here for a while.
There are cobwebs in the corners of the room, and it sounds eerily quiet.
I look further inside the room, and I see everything.
It’s not what I expected.
I thought we would enter something more like a treasure trove, but no. It looks more like a mad scientist’s lab.
The walls are made of metal and there are shelves on the walls that host graphics and cut views of what look like humanoid organs. It’s all organized and neat, but also very creepy.
But that’s not the creepiest.
No, the creepiest are the big tanks that are lined up in the middle of the room. They have screens on the side showing medical information of whoever—or whatever—is inside each tank, and tubes all hooked on the animal inside.
Because they all sport a name, but none of the tanks seem to be hosting humans.
In the first one on my right, there is a butterfly. The quantity of tubes—more like strings in this case—hooked to that very tiny being is scary, and I wonder how we can remove them.
Then I remember why we came here and follow to the next tank.
Léandre is looking at its content with wide eyes.
Because hooked on this one’s tubes are two pristine white wings, and there is no doubt in Léandre’s eyes who they belong to.
How do we open the tanks? Can we open the tanks?
Is there a risk for what’s inside the tanks if we open them?
I’m full of questions and have none of the answers.
I look for Elis. He’s the one who is supposed to know what is going on in this room.
I find him at the end of the room, next to the biggest tank in the room.
