Red light emanated from the strange, veiny flesh that coated the walls of the tunnel, spilling outward like a malignant halo. Though dim, it was strong enough for Melissa to see the stalactites that drooped from the ceiling of this rocky chamber. The air had grown considerably warmer. She was starting to sweat.
Down on one knee about ten feet away from the outermost edge of the glowing flesh, Melissa unzipped her backpack. “This is it,” she muttered. “Anna said we need to disable the immune response before we make contact with…whatever that is.”
“You have the virus?” Arin asked from the darkness.
Fishing a syringe out of her bag, Melissa removed the cap and worked the plunger just enough to spray a few drops. “Right here,” she said. “Stay back. I don’t know what’ll happen if that stuff
