QUINN PACES RESTLESSLY, her fingers knotting themselves together, twisting and turning with anxiety. Yesterday's events replay in her mind over and over, continuously repeating--a constant reminder--of the fear she had felt.

Her eyes dart over to Henry's office door, where she knows he is sitting idly at his desk, his mere presence taunting her to ask him the question she so desperately wishes an answer for.

Ever since she left the ominous underground facility, her conscious has been prodding her to find out what happened. Quinn's mind has been buzzing with ideas and speculation as to what exactly they are hiding down there.

Of course, they being her father.

He has been chief scientist of B.E.A.R. Labs for as long as she can remember. She can't imagine why he would hold a lesser title here. Whatever project they are working on in that bunker, he is definitely the one calling the shots.

This only makes Quinn more wary of the situation. Sure, Dr. Vanderwall is a terrible father, but is he an even worse person outside the home? Whatever made those howls was not normal, nor was it anything good. What could he have possibly been working on to have warranted such a howl?

Quinn glances at the door once more. She has spent the last twenty minutes raising the courage to interrogate her father, something that will, no doubt, end horribly.

She has yet to tell Spencer of the strange happenings at the bunker. He was able to tell something was wrong, as he could hear the subtle quiver in her voice, but she refused to give him any indication as to what happened. She didn't want to worry nor burden him with her own fears. Little does she know, her silence on the matter only served to heighten his worry.

She steps hesitantly up to the door, willing her heart to quit beating so fast. Quinn runs her palms over her jeans, wiping the cool sweat from her skin.

It isn't good to be so afraid of one's own father.

Just as her fist raises to knock on the door, it swings open to reveal her father, his usual stern look settled on his aging face.

"What are you doing?" He questions, his palpable authority filling the space.

Quinn stumbles back, her mouth opening and closing, fumbling for an answer. "I-I just--I just--"

"Spit it out. I am needed at the lab and I don't have time to listen to you trip over your own tongue."

"What was that?"

Her question startles Henry.

He knows exactly what she is asking, and he knows she can't possibly find out under any circumstances.

"The happenings of my work do not concern you, nor do they suit your frailty of mind," he dismisses, brushing past her and into the kitchen.

Quinn scoffs loudly, her shocked expression instantly twisting into one of anger. She easily recognized the hidden insult in his words.

"My frailty of mind?! I'm not an idiot. I don't know what you are doing down there in that hole, but whatever it is, it isn't good."

Henry tries to ignore how familiar those words sound. The last time he heard them, they were from Quinn's mother.

"You don't know what you are talking about."

"Well then explain it to me!" Quinn says exasperatedly. "My entire life you have locked yourself in a lab, keeping everything a secret from me and from mom."

Dr. Vanderwall turns around sharply. "I swore an oath of secrecy, and pledged my loyalty to our government. I can't tell you, Harmony."

"Since when did the government do tests on animals anyways? Especially ones that sound like monsters."

The sharpness in Quinn's voice begins to disappear, her eyes revealing how truly concerned she really is. "Dad... I'm scared. That--that thing--wasn't normal, and it scared me."

Henry sighs, his expression softening ever-so-slightly. "There is nothing for you to worry about, Harmony. Just," he pauses. "Promise me you will never enter that bunker again. Do you understand?"

"But dad--"

"Don't even think about arguing with me."

"Yes, sir," Quinn mumbles quietly. "But if it really is nothing to worry about, why is it such a big secret?"

Henry chooses not to answer. Instead, he grabs his coat and keys before walking out the front door, not sparing Quinn another glance.

The door clicks closed, and Quinn turns her gaze back to her father's locked office. Only the wooden door and locked knob separate her and whatever secrets lie on the other side.

*

Quinn paces once more. Only, this time she paces in thought rather than anticipation. It's only been a few minutes since her father left, and she has already called Joseph to meet her.

She isn't quite sure how he is going to react to her proposition, but it is worth a shot. Her footsteps come to a stop as a subtle knocking is heard at the door. Quinn swings the door open then saunters back into the living room. Joseph is quick to follow.

"Hello to you too, Quinn," he says.

"We need to know what's down there," she replies, not wasting any time getting to the point.

"Down where?" He asks, hoping she doesn't mean what he thinks she means.

"The bunker, duh. Don't you want to know what was making those sounds? I mean, everyone heard it, yet we were the only ones who didn't seem to know what was going on."

Joseph sighs. He had hoped she wouldn't bring this up. "I get why you're so intrigued, but it really isn't our business to know."

Quinn throws her arms in the air exasperatedly, flopping onto the couch with little grace. "But aren't you a little curious? I mean, top secret government projects? Who wouldn't want to find out what was behind those closed doors."

"But it isn't our place to know. If someone were to tell us, or if we were to figure it out, we could be sent to jail!"

Quinn smiles coyly. "Only if we were caught."

Joseph rubs his temples. "We would be caught."

"Buzz kill," Quinn says with a frown.

"Dont be upset, Quinn. Just forget about it, yeah?"

She stays quiet.

"Aren't you due for a facetime with Spencer?" He asks, reminding her.

"Maybe."

"Well, I need to get home. You call Spencer and chat with him. I'm sure he will take all this off your mind," Joseph says kindly before showing himself to the door.

After his departure, Quinn fished her phone from her pocket and dials Spencer's facetime. It is only a few seconds before he picks up, his familiar smile filling the screen.

"How's my favourite girl?" He asks.

"Terrible, but fine."

"This wouldn't have to do with that thing you aren't telling me about, would it?"

Quinn sighs, lounging back on the sofa. "Yes..."

"Why won't you just tell me?" He questions almost angrily. "C'mon, Harmy. You and I have never had any secrets between us. Why are you keeping this from me?"

Quinn notices the little crinkle between his brows, something that he always does when he is angry.

"I just... Fine. I'll tell you."

And she does.

She tells him all about her trip to the bunker--the howls--how afraid everyone had been.

"It was crazy, Spence. Those howls... I felt something when I heard them. I don't know what, but I did. I think everyone else did, too."

"That's terrible, Harmy. I'm glad nothing happened to you."

Quinn pauses before she continues. "I want to know what happened."

Spencer's eyes widen briefly before settle into a stern frown. "Nope. Absolutely not. Whatever that thing was, it was dangerous."

"Which is exactly why I need to know what it was! What if what they are doing is illegal?"

"These are all reasons why you shouldn't do it! Seriously, Quinn, are you that dumb?"

Quinn immediately bristles. "I'm not dumb, Spencer. I just want to find out the truth. I have to know what is down there. I don't know why, but I do."

Spencer pauses. "I know, I just... Promise me you'll stay safe?"

"I promise."

Better late than never, right? I'm really sorry that this chapter is so short and boring. Next chapter will be getting good, though.

Stay cool bros!

P.S. Don't forget Captive of the Sea comes out in only eleven days!