Creatures of Snow Read Online Free Page B

professionals briskly moving about.
    Sky’s eyes traced the vast
interior of the building, his mouth inadvertently dropped open as
he followed the warmly colored walls up to the glass
ceiling.
    Al looked over to Sky, “In fact,” He began,
noting Sky’s open mouth and look of overwhelming awe, “I’m pretty
sure we stand out.”
    “ Wow.” Sky hadn‘t heard
his snide remark. “It’s so much bigger than it looks from the
outside.”
    “At least close your
mouth.” Al raised his eyebrows and elbowed Sky in the side with a
smile. “Well,” He said, stepping into the room. “Let’s do
this.”
    Sky followed Al as they were swept up by the
crowd. He couldn’t believe the mass of people. It was nearly double
what they had witnessed on the outside. Surely they couldn’t all
work there.
    A young, female scientist, looking a bit out
of place with her eyes just as big and awe-filled as their own
caught Sky‘s attention as they passed. The look didn‘t go unnoticed
as she suddenly changed her route and maneuvered towards them.
    “Hello there.” She spoke
with enthusiasm, as she matched their step.
    He glanced over, not
letting the sudden twist in his stomach show on his face. He hoped
to the Havens, she wasn’t about to blow the whistle and have them
kicked out, even before they had a chance to explore. He nodded a
hello and forced a warm smile, a smile that began to waver after
she stared a little too long.
    Up close she looked
perhaps in her late twenties; with her dull brown hair tied back
with precision. The round glasses that were sliding down her nose,
seemed slightly too large on her slender face. “You two must be
here for the lecture, I assume?” She asked and pushed her glasses
up with a nervous laugh, “I mean, of course, right?” She snorted
just a pinch when trying to muzzle another giggle, “That’s why
everyone is here.”
    Al and Sky gave one another a nearly
undetectable shrug.
    “ That‘s right.” Al said,
flashing his winning grin.
    “ Wouldn‘t miss it.” Sky
added with a toothy smile.
    The woman nodded absently
as her eye’s darted around the room excitedly. “I just came from
the Haigon Branch,” She started as she directed them towards the
lifts where most of the people were heading. “But, I’ve been here
once before so I sort of know my way around. It’s kind of
overwhelming the first time.”
    They followed her into one of the glass
encased lifts as she rambled on, “This place is like a maze on the
upper levels because everything looks the same.”
    A few more people crowded into the lift, she
punched the twenty fourth floor button and no one said
otherwise.
    “ You said you came from
the Haigon Center? That must have been an interesting place.” Al
was squished beside her and his short stature left him at an
awkward level.
    “ Oh, not at all. The
Portal we study there is small and more suited for
intra-dimensional travel, it doesn’t even reach the multiverse.
Plus, the natives there are so rude.” She shook her head, but never
lost her smile.
    The lift moved at a
stomach dropping speed until smoothly coming to a halt and the
doors opened silently. Sky dragged Al over to the side as the
others that had occupied the space filed out one by one. He was
hoping to be left unnoticed, but the woman turned just before
exiting and gestured for them to follow.
    Stepping out into a
sterile, white hallway, Sky had to admit it was a bit of a
surprise, after having just come from the warm, inviting atmosphere
of the lobby. The inner corridors were the complete opposite, with
no décor whatsoever and harsh, bright lighting that was by no means
flattering.
    The woman glanced over her shoulder at them
as she began to lead them down a ridiculously long hallway. “My
name is Ruth, by the way, Dr. Ruth Millen.”
    “Ah, Dr. Millen.” Sky
nodded. “They call me Professor Dumbledore and this here is my
associate Doctor Who.”
    “ And by associate, he
means superior.” Al chimed