Wednesday, 2:52 am

Uno paddled frantically, the icy water spritzing his yellow suit. His respirator mask was covered in water. It was hard to make out the saving shore. He wiped his mask as much as possible in the icy rain. The way next to the river was illuminated by street lanterns. What he saw made his adrenaline-pumped body shiver: a figure in a hazmat suit was waiting for him.

~

Excerpt from Group Chat RebAPEllion:

Uno: I am watching the Adorna Group Research facility and I am seeing military trucks coming and going via the bridge. Something’s up.

Quatro: ?

Uno: We know Adorna Group has 2000 lab primates. The incinerator is releasing smoke day in, day out. This is very unusual. My suspicion is they bought an ill monkey, and now they use the military to kill and burn all of them. To keep the virus from spreading to the new product.

Ciente: Ironic. The island was used 100 years ago to put plague victims in quarantine.

Uno: I don’t know if I would call thousands of innocent monkeys dying ironic.

Ciente: No sorry

Ciente: I didn’t mean it like that

Ciente: Poor monkeys :(

Uno: Let’s find out what’s going on. Going undercover in the facility has never been easier with all the military running around, many unknown faces. I have 4 very realistic hazmat costumes and a gummy boat. As long as we can avoid the bridge, we can just slip in and nobody would bat an eye.

Quatro: Umm… why are they wearing protection?

Uno: No idea tbh. But we can look at the situation once we’re inside. So who’s coming with me tonight? Taking some carriers, maybe we can save some monkeys 🐒❤️

Uno: @Dos what about you?

Dos: Sorry, gotta keep my head low. Police are still watching me.

Dos: Can’t save monkeys from prison.

Uno: @Quatro you coming with me?

Quatro: Sorry, my grandma is ill and I need to care for her. Another time maybe :(

Uno: Okay, @Ciente?

Ciente: I dunno. Sounds dangerous tbh.

Uno: @Ciente are you even serious about rescuing monkeys?

Ciente: Of course!!!!

Uno: Alright, see you in the park. Midnight.

~

Wednesday, 2:55 am

Uno frantically tried to turn the boat. Ciente was nearly dipping into the water, blood from the monkey bite seeping through the yellow costume. The gummy boat filled with water. Carriers were falling into the deadly currents, lost in the blink of an eye. It was hopeless. Over.

Just get to the land, and survive. Maybe go to prison. At least it’s better than this.

With his last strength, Uno paddled to the shore. He clung to the stone edge of the walkway with his hand. But stepping out of the boat alone was impossible with the storm and waves. He shook Ciente, no response. He lifted her head and shouted:

“You have to wake up!”

Then he noticed a red laser dot on Ciente’s forehead. A swooshing sound passed next to his head. Blood gushed from Ciente’s forehead.

He turned. The last thing he saw was the man in the hazmat suit.

And the barrel of a gun.