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Melissa Chase has never been so excited in her life. She is sitting next to her best friend Zack Underwood on the bus, and she hasn’t sat still for the whole journey.
“You know,” Zack turns to her, grinning in his usual teasing manner, “you squirming around won’t make the bus go any faster.”
“Oh you shut up.” Melissa flicks his shoulder, unable to stop grinning like a small child on Christmas. “I’m excited! We’re going to the biggest monster containment facility this side of the country!” And working there is her dream. It always has been. Monsters are practically all she thinks about. She knows loads about them, and is always learning more.
This internship is her chance to learn even more. To get her foot in the door, and hopefully be able to work there when she is an adult.
Zack is mostly here for moral support. Monster keeping has never been a career that he has shown much interest in, but he signed up for the internship program along with her. So she is going to the place she has always dreamed of working, as an intern for her heroes, alongside her best friend. Could today get any better?
They get off of the bus and Melissa’s eyes widen. The facility huge. And she knew that, god knows that she has watched enough documentaries and read enough books about it, but seeing it up close sends a jolt of excitement through her. Danville Monster Containment. The best monster containment this side of the country. And at least for the next month, she gets to work here.
They hurry down the long gravel path to the big glass doors. The entire lobby is made of glass, with white squeaky floors. Melissa takes a breath to calm her nerves, then grabs Zack’s hand and dashes up to the front desk. “Melissa Chase, Zack Underwood.” She says. “We’re from Jefferson County Middle School, we’re here for the internship program.”
The woman at the desk nods, smiling. “And we’re very happy to have you! Your mentors should be here in just a sec.”
So they sit down to wait, Melissa jiggling her knees in excitement while Zack sits more calmly. People walk around them, quick and efficient. And then the doors open and two people walk in, coming right towards them. “You’re Chase and Underwood?”
“That’s right!” Melissa bounces up to hold out her hand. “Melissa Chase.”
“Savannah.” The woman replies, taking her hand and shaking it firmly. “I’m your mentor for the next month.”
“And I’m Brick.” The man shakes Zack’s hand. “Welcome to Danville Monster Containment.”
Brick and Savannah lead them through the facility, pointing out various things as they go. “Offices are this way, most low level containment cells are down that way. Outdoor containment is through there. Any aquatic containment is through there. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but absolutely do not wander off without us.” Savannah says.
Melissa bobs her head, looking around in amazement. Even Zack is amazed. After all, this is a seriously advanced, important facility. They are lucky to even be inside it.
They spend the first while not really doing much, occasionally being sent to fetch papers or coffees for their mentors. But after lunch, Savannah stands. “We are going to check on our assigned monster.”
Melissa bounces up immediately. “What is it?”
Savannah and Brick begin walking, and the children follow. “This monster is called the jinx. It has very stringent containment procedures, so even if they seem over the top you are expected to follow them to the letter.”
“Of course!” Melissa exclaims. Zack nods. He definitely doesn’t want to get eaten because he ignored the rules.
“The monster is not dangerous in that it is likely to attack or injure you. And in appearance, it seems harmless. You might not understand why it is here, you may even be upset. But it is imperative that you do not allow this to get to you. It is absolutely essential that this monster is kept contained.” Brick lectures as they walk along the corridor.
They reach a door labelled Sector 005. Melissa peers in curiously. She can’t see any hints of what the monster could be. The kids are led to a box, and handed a great deal of protective equipment. Jumpsuits, helmets, goggles, gloves, boots… while Melissa is still too excited to question, Zack is beginning to feel a little queasy.
“Are you sure it’s safe to go in there?” He asks nervously. Brick roughly pats his head once in what is probably meant to be a comforting gesture.
“It’s absolutely fine.” He says. “The monster isn’t dangerous, it just causes danger.”
The door in front of them opens. There is a corridor, then another door. They walk inside, the first door shuts, and the next door opens. Zack tries to exchange a nervous look with Melissa, but she is too busy being excited. “So what is it?” She asks.
“The jinx affects probability. It’s presence greatly increases the chances of things going drastically wrong. You could, I suppose, say that around it anything that can go wrong will.” Savannah explains.
Zack frowns. That sounds really strange, but monsters can be strange and he isn’t really surprised by something so weird. In fact, he is more surprised by Melissa’s surprise. “Like… Murphy’s Law?” She asks.
“I guess so.” Brick shrugs.
“I had a friend who was like that. He was a Murphy, so around him Murphy’s Law was always in affect.” She explains slowly. Zack can hear the sadness in her voice- she always sounds like this when she mentions this friend. “But he went missing. A few years ago.”
“And this child was the same age as you?” Savannah sounds uncharacteristically surprised.
“Yeah.” Melissa nods.
Savannah and Brick exchange a look. Zack can’t help but feel extremely concerned.
What feels like hours later, they make it through the airlock. “Level six containment?” Melissa reads, surprised. “I thought there were only five levels.” Zack can’t believe that Melissa, who can practically recite all of the important information about these facilities, would mix up those numbers.
“This is a unique case.” Savannah says simply. Just before the last door opens, she turns to them. “And remember, whatever you see, however you feel- this is necessary.”
The door opens. Zack gasps.
———
The room is really, really big. In the centre of it is a large cage, and inside the cage is a small boy. A kid. Probably around their age, although maybe younger? He looks so thin and small that it is hard to tell. Zack finds himself staring. “Is that… is that the monster? That’s a kid.”
The boy looks over, and looks surprised by them. He gives them a little wave anyway, smiles politely. “Hi!”
“This is the jinx. As I said, his appearance may be surprising.” Savannah brushes past, striding over to the cage. The cage. They’re keeping a kid just like Zack in a cage. “Now, on this clipboard is a list of things we need to check for.”
Zack suddenly feels awful. This can’t be right, something must be wrong here. This is a joke they’re playing on the two of them, first day interns who don’t understand. Because this monster is just a kid, and he looks so sad. He is actually smiling, but he still looks so sad. So lonely.
He turns to Melissa, who is frozen in place. Completely frozen. “Mel?” He asks. Melissa doesn’t even look at him. She just stares past him, at the cage. He understands that, her pure horror reflected in him- but then she speaks, in a voice breathless with shock and fear and utter confusion.
“Milo?”
The boy in the cage stares back, eyes widening in shock. “Melissa?” He asks, voice trembling. He shuffles to the very far side of the cage to look out, holding into the bars with his fingers.
Melissa rushes forward, straight past Savannah, to crouch down next to the cage. She removes the helmet and visor, so everyone can see the absolutely stunned, horrified look on her face. “Milo?! What are you doing here?!” She asks, flabbergasted.
“Melissa. Helmet.” Savannah says, although she doesn’t seem too concerned about that. She and Brick are whispering rather frantically. Zack hears something about protocol, and then there is none for-, and then a lot of swearing.
The boy- or Milo, apparently- attempts a shaky smile through his shock. “Murphy’s Law.” He offers.
Melissa moves her hands so they are touching Milo’s through the bars. “This is why you went missing?! This is where you’ve been? I-“ She suddenly turns to glare at Savannah and Brick with such force that Zack takes a step back. “What is going on here?”
Savannah replies professionally. “This is the jinx, a monster which affects probability and is therefore kept contained for the safety of others.”
“He’s not a monster, he’s Milo! He’s a kid! And that stuff’s just Murphy’s Law, that doesn’t make him a monster!” Melissa’s voice raises and raises. “He’s in a cage!”
“It kept trying to escape, it is necessary.” Brick says. “Melissa, I understand your upset. Really I do. But it isn’t as bad as you think.”
“Don’t call him it.” Melissa burns with so much anger that Zack is suddenly very worried for her. He creeps closer, crouches down next to her. So he is also next to the cage. The boy smiles and whispers a greeting, which Zack automatically reciprocates. Up close, he feels even worse for the kid. He notices now that his leg has something tied to it, like a splint.
———
“Melissa, it’s ok.” Milo says, trying to look as optimistic and bright and cheerful as she must remember him being. “I’m ok.”
“No, you’re not!” She exclaims furiously. She never was easily fobbed off with lies. Her presence here is ruining his intentions to accept his position, with a piece of his old life here in front of him, looking in horror at his situation. “You’re in a cage, but I know that you’re not dangerous, or a monster, you’re my friend.”
“I’m… it’s fine. It’s not as bad as it looks.” Milo tries.
“Milo, we can get you out of here. We can-“ She turns to look at Brick and Savannah, who look back stonily. “- we can rescue you. We-“
“No!” Milo blurts out, with such force that Melissa stares at him. “No. You can’t try and break me out. Not after… the last two people who tried to break me out, they’re dead. They died. They killed them, right… right in front of me. There.” He points with a shaky hand. “I can’t do it anymore. I can’t go through it again, I can’t let anyone get hurt for me.” His voice shakes, choked with emotion.
Melissa stares in horror. “Milo…”
“At least you’ll be visiting, for a bit. That’ll be nice. And your friend seems nice too.” Milo tries to smile, but tears are brimming in his eyes.
Melissa leans forward, her forehead touching the bars. Milo leans forward so his forehead touches the same bars on the other side. They close their eyes and sit quietly, both clearly overcome with emotion.
Savannah and Brick don’t intervene. They know that now Melissa knows, they’re going to have to perform serious damage control to stop any attempted break outs, and that trying to force the kids apart won’t help.
“So, you gonna introduce me?” Milo says after a while, gesturing at Zack.
“Oh, right. This is Zack, he’s my friend.” Melissa says. Zack nods a greeting.
“Hey. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He says awkwardly. “Melissa told me all about your adventures.”
“Oh, like the day we first met!” Milo launches into the story, with a wistful smile. Zack listens, interested. Milo is a good storyteller, as he speaks Zack can almost forget the horrible situation this cheerful, funny kid is in. But he can’t quite.
He gets the idea that Milo is really, horribly lonely. When was the last time he spoke to people his age like this?
After a while, Savannah clears her throat. “Melissa, Zack. We need to go, you will miss your bus.” She says.
“Go.” Milo says, smiling reassuringly at Melissa. “You’ll be back tomorrow, right?”
“I will.” Melissa says immediately. “I promise.”
It still takes a while to peel her away.
———
Melissa is sensible. She doesn’t say anything until they are on the bus. “I can’t believe that I spent all of those years assuming he died, and he was actually just taken prisoner.” Her throat burns with anger and upset.
“It’s horrible. How can they do that? He’s not a monster, he’s a person.” Zack says, rubbing his eyes.
“I’ve always looked up to the monster keepers. I want- wanted to be exactly like them! They’re my heroes. And they kidnapped my best friend! They put my best friend in a cage!” Melissa slams her fist into the chair. It feels like her entire world is falling apart.
And she has not given up on rescuing Milo.