"The hell we can't." Ming Zhao says. She briskly turns around and struts out into the street for the main door, not bothering to cover up. I try to call her back, but she seems to ignore me. I groan and rush after her, still covering myself. I can't just let her do this by herself.
The lobby has only one security guard who stares at us both in shock. Ming Zhao ignores him and struts up to the front desk, where our friend Natalie is sitting. She looks up from her lunch and nearly drops her can of soda. "Um, Ming Zhao? Ahab? Are you alright? What happened?"
"Oh, just a little hiccup in an experiment," Ming Zhao says with a wave of her hand.
"Oh," Natalie says. "Do you two...experiment together often?"
"We're probably going to start soon," Ming Zhao says with a smile. "Now, can you buzz us up to my office? I need to get some things before I leave."
"S-Sure, no problem." Natalie presses a few buttons before the security door opens for us.
"Thank you," Ming Zhao says sweetly. We both enter and walk towards the elevator. I can feel Natalie watching my backside as I walk. We enter and push the button to go to our floor. The long ride is torturous as I dread the elevator opening for someone else.
Fortunately, we make it to our floor and enter the long white hallway to the decontamination room. The door opens for us and we both enter. The red lights flash as the gases seep into the room.
Ming Zhao suddenly grabs my hand and grasps it. At first I think she is messing with me, but she smiles sweetly instead. "Almost there. Relax."
She suddenly frowns and smells the room. "Hey, this doesn't feel like the typical gas we usually get."
I smell something too. "Yeah, I think we're getting minor runoff from the chemistry department again. It smells like...lavender."
We both freeze as recognition sweeps over us. Ming Zhao and I look at each other with worry and speak in unison.
"Uh-oh."
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