Dean Carter - Blood Water

Thursday 14 September

I managed to steal another hour in the laboratory tonight to examine the specimen before retiring to bed. I am beginning to understand that I have in my grasp something quite unique but potentially dangerous. I must keep checking my equipment to ensure everything is secure. If the specimen is as intelligent as I suspect, then it needs to be properly contained.

Holland is like a leech – he won’t leave me alone, always asking what I’m up to, what my plans are… He hangs around like a bad smell. It’s not like he has nothing to do, and the recreation room is full of books and DVDs. I wish he’d find someone else to pester. I doubt he knows what I’m doing though. I hope not. I get the feeling he wouldn’t be able to keep a secret, especially one as important as this. It has become necessary to keep an eye on him at all times.

Friday 15th September

I introduced the specimen to a trout from the lake today. Incredible! I was dumbstruck and could do nothing but stare at it for several minutes. It entered the trout through its mouth and just disappeared inside. The specimen reminds me a little of a hagfish, or one of those ghost slugs that turned up in Wales last year and because of this I assumed it might attempt to eat the trout from the inside, but then the fish started to behave oddly. Its swimming pattern was erratic, clumsy, as though it was learning to swim for the first time. It would repeatedly attempt to leap out of the water. I had the impression that the fish was no longer in control of its body, and that the specimen was somehow in the driving seat.

The trout started to die after only an hour or so. Its colour changed dramatically and its life ebbed away. It was in an awful state – seemed to have practically liquefied. I wonder if the specimen infected it with something. The creature emerged from what was left of the trout and actually started to swim in the water like the fish, something I hadn’t seen it do prior to its invasion. Had it learned? Had it absorbed information from the fish during its occupation? I’m going to try it on one of Sally’s snakes later. It’ll end in death for the poor creature, but Sally need not find out. It is in the interest of science after all. Perhaps the specimen will learn from the snake too and be able to imitate it. God, I can’t wait to find out. I’ve never been so excited. I must remember to sedate the snake first in case it tries to attack the specimen. I must also see if the specimen can survive out of water, though I don’t want to risk harming it at this exciting stage.

Amazing! Success. As I’d hoped, the specimen did indeed pull the same trick with the python. The gestation period was again brief, but when it emerged, it slithered along the snake’s tank, just like its host would. I was stunned. What is this thing?

Just before bed I noticed a shadow outside my room. It disappeared before I could discover its owner. It must have been Holland though. I should have words with him.

Saturday 16 September

Rain today. I didn’t have any courses, but some of the others did. They cancelled them. Pointless going into the woods or near the lake in weather like this. Most of them decided to watch films in the recreation room so I managed to get some more time to myself in the lab. We have to leave the centre by next Thursday so the maintenance people can come in. I must finish my initial research by then in case anything is disturbed or broken while I am away. It is not normal procedure, but I may even try to sneak the specimen home with me. I’ll be in trouble if anyone finds out, but I hate the idea of my work being interrupted.

I still have no idea where it came from, and my searches by the lake for more have been fruitless. I decided to confide in young James about my find, since he is the most trustworthy person here. I asked him to look for more examples of the specimen while I was busy with other work, but so far, he has had no luck. I might ask him to try again next Wednesday when he is back. Perhaps this creature is alone in the world. Perhaps there are no more.

Holland has a habit of bumping into me late at night and asking me about my day, making it clear at the same time that he already knows. What the hell is his problem? Has he been stalking me? I wish he would find something productive to do instead of bothering me all the time.

I can’t believe it. The specimen has gone! I don’t know how it could have freed itself – the container was sealed tight. My God – what if this thing gets into a human being? It could be lethal. If I find it, I might have to destroy it. I don’t know if it is safe to keep it here any more.

I am convinced Holland stole it. I haven’t seen him for hours. Sally says he’s locked himself in his room. I went and banged on his door several times but there was no answer. He has to come out sooner or later. When he does, there’ll be trouble.

Sunday 17 September

‘Hey, Sean!’

He turned to see his brother James jogging towards him.

‘How are you feeling, mate?’

‘Yeah, not bad,’ Sean replied, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. ‘It’s pretty hot though – reckon some people will find it difficult.’

‘Yeah. Lucky to have a break in the weather though. Would have been miserable if it had been raining again. The ground seems to have dried out a bit.’

They stood at the edge of the large green meadow by the car park, watching all the other entrants warming up and drinking the free water provided by the race organizers.

‘Mum and Dad not arrived yet?’

‘No,’ James replied. ‘They’ll be here though. Dad wanted to finish painting the fence before they left.’

‘Oh, OK.’

‘I had a jog around the lanes earlier. Injury’s getting better, but the foot still isn’t back to normal. Wish I was doing the race with you. I should have been more careful in that half-marathon.’

‘I’d have only tried to keep up with you anyway. And that wouldn’t have been a good idea.’ They both chuckled.

Just then an announcement came over the public address system, calling for the runners to assemble at the start line.

‘Right, well, better get over there. See you at the finish if you’re sticking around.’

‘Yeah, course,’ James replied. ‘Good luck.’

‘Cheers, bro.’

Sean made his way through the crowd of other runners, some still stretching muscles and limbering up. He was starting to feel thirsty again, but knew there were water stops on the way, and besides, he’d run in the heat before and had no problems. Still, he should have had more to drink beforehand, it was common sense. He wandered into the middle of the large group and waited for the horn. Looking around at the other competitors in their different coloured running tops and shorts, he started to feel excited – and confident too. He hadn’t done the annual Orchard Wells ten-kilometre run before, so although he knew the area well, he wasn’t too sure of the route; however, he’d studied the map, and it looked like there were only a couple of hills to deal with.

The countdown began. Sean could feel the heat and the anticipation of the crowd around him. Everyone was quiet, tensed; then the horn sounded and they began cheering. Sean started his stopwatch and set off, running with the others when a gap opened. The group soon spread out further as the faster runners at the front moved ahead. As they left the meadow and surged across the car park, Sean turned to wave at James who raised his hand in return.