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Inside the viewing chamber, the effect was enhanced Mustafa stared at the acrylic wall A dark, viscous shape, thick like octopus ink, surged forward It flowed onto the clear surface and spread across it like some kind of film

Mustafa froze Alhrama pushed past him and yanked on the locked door handle “Let me out!” he shouted “It was Mustafa I was not part of this!”

A strange scratching sound began to resonate, and the filnized as fissures The fissures spread across the acrylic in a branching pattern, growing deeper in two small areas

The etching noise grew louder and sharper, alers on a chalkboard The noise seemed to penetrate Mustafa’s brain He could see the acrylic vibrating, the water shuddering around it

The clear wall creaked ominously Behind him Alhrama continued to yank on the door handle and plead with Jinn to let hian to shake and fell to his knees

“No!” he shouted “No!”

The acrylic wall fractured It caved in, and water flooded the bay Mustafa tried to swih it, but the swar into his clothes, burrowing into his skin, and dragging him down to the bottom of the tank like a fifty-pound anvil

For ain spasms, but very quickly he was still, and shortly afterward his blood began to stain the water red Behind hi in the bay, Alhrama fared no better

CHAPTER 23

KURT STARED AT THE CARNAGE IN THE TEST ROOM “SUDdenly, I e’d left when you suggested it,” he said to Joe

From inside the locker roo, and with the water turning crimson, it seemed they’d outstayed their welcome

They shed their hazmat suits, moved to the rear door, left the locker room via the stairs

“Hope you left a trail of bread crumbs,” Joe said

“Just keepupward and away from here,” Kurt replied

They reached thethe tank room, but neither of theunfire broke out The first wave sounded deliberate and cal What sounded like return fire was mixed in