Human by Hayley Camille Page A

space and one on earth. The strongest field – the one pulsing as it increases in strength each night, is coming from the light side of the moon in the general vicinity of the Clavious crater. The other one … well, it’s very specific.”
    “Where?”
    “Here - Australia. I don’t know what is creating this Neil, but I don’t think it’s natural. The location is… suspicious.”
    “I asked where Cassandra.”
    “Okay, Australia – specifically Melbourne. Actually, more specifically… the exact co-ordinates for Melbourne University.” She looked to Dimitri for support but got only grim silence. She rewarded him with a scowl.
    Neil was taken aback. “Melbourne University? Are you sure? The bloody university is drawing this thing towards us? What the hell are they doing down there?”
    “I don’t know, but it’s something big.”
    It’s something big alright. The corner of Neil's mouth twitched. They may be creating this surge, but I’ll be damned if they’re going to control it.
    Dimitri shuffled uncomfortably but Cassandra didn’t falter as they waited his instruction.
    Neil's eyes narrowed. “Well kids, in the words of Sun Tzu, ‘Opportunities multiply as they are seized’”. There was no humour in his tone. This is my game.
    For a moment no one breathed. The first blinding rays of morning sun hit the dish and reflected, dazzling their eyes. Neil jumped to his feet and strode for the door.
    “Where are you going?” Cassandra followed.
    “Stay! Keep working! I want as much on this thing as you can get.”
    “But where…?”
    “Where the hell do you think I’m going? To the airport! I’ve got to get to Melbourne University to find out what the hell is going on.”

 
     
    “Hiranah”
    “Mmm?”
    “Hiranah…. It is time.”
    A jolt like lightning pierced her heart. Ivy clawed at the bed sheets, struggling to pull them higher as she lurched forward. The pitch black was blinding. Her pupils narrowed, straining to make out shapes in the room. The voice had been gravelly and hot against her face. Someone’s here, someone is in my room. Oh my god. I’m going to die. For a moment she was afraid to breathe, afraid that the sharp, shallow breaths would alert the intruder to her consciousness. Hasten them to act. But she had already moved and there was no attack. Just blackness. Terrified of exposure, Ivy reached out and flicked on the lamp. The room was empty. But the radio was on. Soft music was playing and Ivy smacked her fist over the sleep button to turn off the false alarm. What on earth? It’s the middle of the night.
    She rubbed her face with clammy hands and pulled her knees up high. She had been having a typical nightmare until that voice had broken through her dream. Louder than her own thoughts – it had seemed… present . Like the man had been next to her, breathing in her ear. I’m going insane – there’s no one here. It was just a dream. The imagination that brought her nightmares was a curse and she chastised and denied her fears with wet eyes. It’s nothing. Just me and my stupid brain. Ignore it and it will go away, like always. It’s nothing, nothing. But it wasn’t until the first rays of sun crept through branches at her window, that Ivy finally relented once more to sleep.
    She was late. A tantalising aroma greeted Ivy as she passed the coffee stand but it would have to wait. Weighed heavy with books, she dumped her belongings in her musty office, scattering the cup of chewed pencils. Ivy cursed, rustling through her bag and pulled out a scrunched leaflet. 'Palm Oil murders' blazoned the front cover. Stuffing it into her jacket pocket, she rushed back down the hall to the elevator. After an agonizingly slow ride, she leapt out. Rounding a sharp corner, Ivy skidded, attempting to make her awkward jog seem slightly more normal to the professors sharing a coffee in the hallway and almost toppling a precarious display of South American tribal masks. The professors