Scene 5

Mike Holcomb watches the two figures struggle via the monitor at his desk. Once the possessed human finally collapses onto Stough, Holcomb taps the touch screen of a separate computer monitor, deactivating the electronic leash.

“Do you think he’s dead, Mr. Holcomb?”

“Yes, Derek, he’s dead,” Holcomb grimly acknowledges his assistant’s fear. “They both are.”

“What was that thing?” Derek shakes his head in awe of the scene displayed by the monitor.

“Mr. Stough believed it was some kind of demon possessing the body of our last test subject,” Holcomb relates. “But honestly, I don’t know. I hope no one ever does.”

Holcomb rises from his chair and walks to the triple-reinforced door that opens into Lab 1. Through the smoke and shadow he can see the two bodies – one, his former boss and the other… whatever.

“Call in the cleaning crew, Derek,” Holcomb orders his assistant. “We’ll need to incinerate everything in the labs. That’s the only way to be sure of quarantine.”

Derek nods and turns toward the phone on the desk.

“But what of Mr. Stough, sir?” he asks, placing his hand on the receiver. “Shouldn’t we bring the medics to try to revive him?”

Holcomb rubs the stubble on his chin with his right hand.

“No point, Derek. I’m afraid no one could survive that kind of shock.” Holcomb turns his head to face his assistant, a scowl of disgust on his face. “Besides, he always made me work Christmas.”