Wow, Gabriel, this science of this place is so cool."
"Who would've thought I'd say 'cool' and 'science' in the same sentence? I guess it's like they say—anything's possible." She laughed.
"I guess my dad's more impressive than I thought," Gabriel replied.
"Definitely."
The pair moved through the lab, wide-eyed, taking in the glowing blue screens, humming machines, and rows of unfamiliar equipment. Their gaze was drawn to a monitor that still read: DNA Synthesized.
"You see? Total mad scientist stuff," Jai-Lee said with a grin.
"I wonder what DNA they're working on anyway. My dad's always cagey about his projects."
"Well, now it's your time to shine," Jai-Lee said, nudging him.
"Don't worry, I've got it right here," Gabriel said, rummaging in his pocket.
"Don't tell me you forgot the card."
"Ah-ha! Got it!" he said proudly, tapping it against the scanner.
"Welcome back, Robert," the security speaker announced as the door slid open.
"This is so cool," Gabriel said, stepping into the lab and looking around.
Jai-Lee pulled out her phone and snapped a few photos.
"Jai! We never agreed to pictures. If those leak, I'll be grounded till I'm thirty."
"Relax. I'm not stupid."
Jai-Lee continued to take photos, forgetting to turn off her flash. As she moved toward the corner and snapped another picture, the sudden burst of light startled a dragonfly in a nearby container. Its wings twitched, letting off a rapid hum as it flew around its cage.
"What's that noise?" Gabriel asked, suddenly alert.
"You're asking me? This is your dad's lab!"
The pair began to tiptoe slowly toward the sound.
"Oh—phew. It's just a dragonfly," Jai-Lee exhaled. "But… what's that green slime-looking thing next to it in the tube?"
"No idea… but it's cool."
As they took in everything, Gabriel's heart was pounding—every part of him knew they shouldn't be doing this.
Then Jai-Lee froze. A flash of light hit the window. She turned sharply, her instincts flaring, and walked toward it.
That's when she saw them.
Men in masks. Carbines in hand. Moving with precision.
"Gabe…"
"What?" Gabriel said, walking over.
"Come here. You're gonna wanna see this."
He stood next to her, staring through the window at the men. His chest thudded like a drumline.
"I don't think they're late-night cleaners, Gabe."
"No, what gave it away, Jai—the guns or the masks?" he said, trying to mask his fear with sarcasm.
"Gabe, now's not the time for jokes. You know how I get when I'm scared. And right now? We're cooked."
****
"What's the move, boss?" one of the masked men asked.
"Destroy everything inside. If you see anyone—hurt them. We're sending Robert a message tonight he'll never forget,"Derrick replied, his voice as cold as ice.
"You heard him. Move out."
The leader of the group planted a small explosive on the entrance door, the timer blinking red. Then they stepped back as the counter wound down.
BOOM.
The lab doors blew off their hinges and the lab shook. The entrance was completely decimated, and the masked men were now in the building, raining down chaos as bullets tore through the facility like thunder.
****
"We need to get out of here—and fast," Gabriel said, already moving. "Grab the dragonfly. I'll get the vial."
"Wait—why do I have to grab the bug?" Jai-Lee asked, her voice shaky.
Gabriel shot her a look. "You're right. Here, take the vial."
He handed it over and rushed to grab the dragonfly's case.
The intruders stormed the lab like a SWAT team, sweeping from room to room.
One of them kicked open a door and shouted, "Check everything! Leave nothing standing!"
Inside a side room, Gabriel swiped the keycard on a door panel. It beeped, then clicked open. He and Jai-Lee rushed in and ducked behind a large desk, hearts thudding in sync.
"I swear I saw a green light coming from this way," one of the men said.
"You're losing it," another replied.
"Shut it. Just find whoever's here."
Gabriel and Jai-Lee stayed frozen. Their breathing was shallow. Sweat clung to their foreheads.
"We can't keep the vial," Gabriel whispered. "If they find it, we're done."
"I know. So what do we do with it?"
"I—I don't know."
"Drink it," Jai-Lee said suddenly.
"What?! No way—I don't know what's in this thing!"
"Do you wanna die over this thing?! Drink it!"
Gabriel shook his head. "Rock, paper, scissors."
"You serious?"
"Dead serious."
They threw hands.
"Damn it," Gabriel muttered as Jai-Lee pumped her fist.
She handed him the vial. He stared at it, face pale.
"Gabriel, now. Impending death, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah…"
He uncapped it and chugged.
Jai-Lee leaned in. "So… how was it?"
"Tastes like lime."
"That's it?"
"I think so—wait…"
He clutched his stomach, his body trembling.
"You good?" Jai-Lee whispered.
Gabriel dropped to his knees, rolling on the ground in agony. He gritted his teeth as waves of pain ripped through him, his skin burning, bones shifting.
"Gabriel? Gabriel, what's happening?!"
Jai-Lee started panicking, frantically looking around for help that wasn't coming. Sweat poured from her brow. She grabbed his shoulders, trying to keep him still and his voice down, but he screamed louder and louder as his body convulsed.
"Did you hear that?" one of the men asked.
"I sure did," said another. "It came from down this way. Follow me."
The men reached the end of the hall, and standing in front of them was one brown door.
"This is it," said one of the men.
"What you waiting for? Blow it off."
The leader of the group eased the man in front out of the way.
"If you're too scared to do a job like this, leave—and don't come back."
The leader took a few steps back then kicked the door clean off its hinges.
And there he stood—completely transformed.
His wings buzzed softly, glowing a faint blue. His veins pulsed. His body surged with energy.
The lead intruder took a step back. "What the hell is that thing?"
"Whoa, whoa—wait, guys," Gabriel said, his voice deeper, distorted.
"That thing talks?" one of the masked men said.
"Thing?" Gabriel repeated, turning to see his reflection in the nearby glass. His eyes widened in shock. "What the—" He jumped back, startled.
"Enough games," the leader shouted, raising his rifle. "Light him up!"
The room erupted in gunfire.
Gabriel threw his hands up. "No—!"
But as the bullets came, time slowed.
He could see them flying through the air, each one frozen mid-flight. His body moved on instinct, weaving around the bullets with ease. In a blink, he vanished from their sights.
By the time time snapped back to normal, Gabriel was by the window.
"How did that thing do that?!" one of the men yelled.
Gabriel turned slowly, a grin curling at his lips.
They opened fire again.
This time, Gabriel moved like lightning—dodging, flipping, twisting. Every movement was fluid, deliberate, surgical. As time resumed its natural flow again the men dropped one by one like dominoes, collapsing in perfect sequence as he dismantled them without hesitation.
Gabriel stood still, chest heaving, wings fluttering.
He stared at his hands—confused, excited, high on adrenaline.
The room fell completely silent. The only sound that remained was the low, fluttering hum of Gabriel's wings.
From behind the desk, Jai-Lee trembled.
"Gabriel… you there?" she whispered.
"Yeah. I'm here," he replied, still catching his breath.
She let out a long sigh of relief. "I was beginning to think we were done for."
She stood up slowly. And that's when she saw him—
"ARGHHHHHH! Please! Please, don't kill me! I'm too young to die! Please!"
Gabriel blinked. "Jai… it's me—Gabe!"
She paused, her eyes scanning him up and down.
"Gabriel?" she asked, voice hesitant. "You sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I'd know if I wasn't me," he said with a weak laugh.
Jai-Lee stepped out cautiously. Her eyes moved across the unconscious bodies sprawled across the floor.
"…What the hell just happened?"
"I wish I knew," Gabriel said calmly, finally lowering his hands. He looked down at himself—his arms pulsed with faint blue light, his veins glowing like they were lit from within.
Jai-Lee turned back to him. "I'm sorry I couldn't help, Gabe. I was scared. When they kicked down the door, I closed my eyes as hard as I could and prayed. Next thing I knew, everything went silent. Then bam—here we are," she said nervously.
Gabriel's expression hardened. "Don't worry about it. Right now, we need to go. I can hear the police coming."
"I can't hear anything. You sure?"
"Jai, we don't have time for this. I'm sure," said Gabriel, before grabbing Jai-Lee and flying straight out of the window.
As they burst through the glass, Derrick caught a glimpse of them.
He blinked, convinced his eyes had betrayed him—because there he was, a human sized dragonfly, flying. Clumsily zig-zagging through the sky, barely able to control it—as they crash-landed in a nearby park.