NOVEL NEXT Chapter 92: chapter
"Ooh! Tests!" Eve bounced excitedly. "I love tests! The scientists used to give me puzzles and mazes. One time they put me in a room with a Crawler and told me to make friends. I did! He was very nice until I got hungry."
Dr. Shin paled slightly. "I... see. Perhaps we'll start with something simpler. A blood sample, maybe?"
Eve held out her arm immediately. "Sure! But I get to keep the needle. I collect them." She leaned closer to Dr. Shin, whispering conspiratorially, "They make great lock-picks in a pinch."
The lights suddenly died, plunging them into absolute darkness for three heartbeats before emergency power kicked in, bathing everything in hellish red. In those three seconds of darkness, Eve moved—Scarlett heard it, felt the air displacement, smelled that cotton-candy scent intensify.
When the lights returned, Eve was pressed against Jin's back, arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his spine. She was purring. Actually purring, like a cat made of genetic nightmares and weaponized pheromones.
"Power went out so I grabbed you!" she explained without moving. "I'm supposed to hold onto my baby-daddy during emergencies."
"The power's back on," Jin pointed out, trying to pry her arms loose. It was like trying to bend steel wrapped in silk.
"Emergency rules say I have to hold on for fifteen minutes to make sure the danger's gone!" Eve's voice was muffled against his back. "Also, you smell amazing. Like lightning and fighting and perfect genes."
The Entity stirred, recognizing a kindred predator using him as a shield and anchor simultaneously. The wrongness of her pressed against him made his skin crawl even as his modified biology responded to her engineered pheromones.
"I'm going to kill her," Shūmei said conversationally, like discussing the weather. "Slowly. In order from A to Z by body parts."
"Adding to my calendar!" Eve called out cheerfully, still attached to Jin like a cheerful parasite. "Should we compare schedules? I'd hate to book my murder when I'm busy!"
The absolute insanity of the response actually made Shūmei pause, uncertain how to respond to someone who treated death threats like lunch dates.
"This is going to be a long apocalypse," Rosa muttered, and somehow that summarized everyone's feelings perfectly.
Sera rubbed her temples, looking utterly exhausted. "I need a drink. Or ten. Preferably strong ones."
"Can I have some too?" Eve asked hopefully. "Alcohol has protein, right?"
Scarlett just stared at the ceiling as if praying for patience. "Clara. Get that room ready. Now. With extra locks."
"On it!" Clara scrambled for her tablet, nearly dropping it again in her haste.
As Clara rushed off, Eve called after her, "Make sure it has good ventilation! And soft surfaces! And maybe a corner for my nest!"
Clara didn't respond, just kept walking faster.
Elena watched the exchange with scientific fascination. "The behavioral patterns alone are revolutionary. The way she shifts between predatory and almost childlike behaviors..."
"Revolutionary isn't the word I'd use," Sera muttered. "Terrifying comes to mind."
"Terrifyingly revolutionary, then," Elena corrected, already pulling out her own tablet to take notes. "The potential applications for understanding human-Crawler hybridization alone..."
"Can we focus on the immediate problem?" Scarlett interrupted. "We have an unknown biological entity in our midst who has admitted to eating people and seems determined to... reproduce with Jin."
Eve perked up. "I can help with the reproduction part! I've got charts!"
"That's what I'm afraid of," Scarlett muttered.
Anna Volkov stepped forward, her architectural mind already processing the implications. "If she can breach containment walls, we need to reinforce her quarters. Standard vault construction won't be sufficient."
"I can help with that!" Maya said eagerly. "I've been working on new structural reinforcements. We could test them on her room."
"Great," Rosa said sarcastically. "Turn her room into a fortress. Just what we need."
Luna was already calculating in her head. "The protein requirements alone will strain our resources. At three times normal intake, and potentially four during... certain times..." She trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
"Don't worry!" Eve said cheerfully. "I can hunt! I'm really good at it. There are probably lots of tasty things crawling around in the lower levels."
The way she said "tasty things" made everyone shudder.
Amirah stepped forward, trying to regain some control of the situation. "Eve, while we're getting your quarters ready, perhaps you'd like a tour of the vault? We could show you the facilities, explain how things work here."
Eve's eyes lit up. "A tour! Yes! I want to see everything! Especially the kitchen. And Jin's room. And anywhere else babies might be made!"
"We'll start with the non-baby-making areas first," Amirah said firmly.
As the group began to move, Eve detached herself from Jin but stayed close, her crimson eyes taking in every detail of the vault. She was like a sponge, absorbing information at an alarming rate.
"Interesting," she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. "The structural integrity is compromised in several places. Air filtration systems are operating at 67% efficiency. Power grid is unstable. And there are at least seventeen potential breach points in the immediate vicinity."
The group froze, turning to stare at her.
"What?" Eve asked innocently. "I'm good at noticing things. It's part of my programming."
"Your programming?" Scarlett asked carefully.
Eve nodded. "Yep! I was designed to be the perfect mate and protector. Part of that is being super observant. Also super strong. And super flexible. Want to see?" She started to bend in a way that human spines definitely shouldn't bend.
"No!" multiple voices yelled in unison.
Eve straightened, looking disappointed. "Fine. But I can show you my claws instead." She extended her fingernails, which elongated into sharp, curved talons.
"Those are... impressive," Scarlett said, her tactical mind already assessing the potential threat level.
"Thanks! They're great for climbing. And for... well, you know." Eve made a cutting motion across her throat, then smiled brightly.
The group exchanged worried glances. Eve was proving to be more dangerous—and more unpredictable—than any of them had anticipated.
As they continued down the corridor, Eve skipped ahead, examining every detail of the vault with childlike curiosity. She touched walls, tasted the air, and hummed a cheerful tune that sounded vaguely like a lullaby.
"She's going to be the death of us," Rosa muttered to Sera.
"Or the salvation of humanity," Elena countered, her scientific mind already racing with possibilities.
"Either way," Scarlett said grimly, "we need to be prepared. Eve isn't just another survivor. She's a game-changer. And I'm not sure if the game is one we can win."