This story was inspired by a series I saw on television not long ago. It is based on an idea from the series, but that is where the similarities will end. I hope you will enjoy it. :)

The bright lights from the helicopter stung his eyes and the falling hail stung his face. He had given up trying to tear his way out of the net that hoisted him into the air. He had been on the run for nearly a year after his escape from their facility. he was tired of hiding and he was tired of fighting.

Five years before, he had been a normal man. He had a future, or at least a dream of one. He had a career in the military, a stepping stone toward his future career path. But his own greed had destroyed him. He hated being on the front line of the politician's war and he wanted out. He refused to do it dishonorably and that left him only one choice; to sign on with the secret experimental soldier's platoon.

They made him into a monster and worse, they owned him. He would never be normal again and he would never be released. Those truths caused him to break free and run, but their eyes were every where and they always found him. He was the last of the freaks, everyone else had rebelled and been gunned down right before his eyes. He winced as a gun was fired at him, sure he was about to suffer the same fate as the world faded.

He woke up hours later feeling sluggish. He wanted to sit up and see where he was, but his eyelids were heavy and he ended up closing them again. He forced them open again and again, able to catch a glimpse of his surroundings for a moment. He was in a bed, he knew that and he thought he saw what looked like a kitchen directly in front of him, then he succumbed to slumber.

"I think we should destroy him." He heard a familiar set of voices. They seemed to be arguing. He kept his eyes closed, pretending to still be asleep.

"Vince, he is the best combination of inter cross species we have created. I don't think we should shut the door on this experiment just yet." Heyman, the doctor who had given him the injections argued for his survival.

"He's already escaped. I'm not willing to give up the existence of our department because one of our soldiers is running around on a killing rampage."

"He was scared." the doctor argued. "His most dominate trait is that of a wild cat and any animal will flee when they fear for their own safety. We are dealing with animal instincts here. He's contained. He won't get out of that glass. I think we can tame this one. He's not like the others and if my studies are right, we are on our way to finally possessing the perfect weapon. I need to study more extensively and then we can use the same formula on others."

"That would bring in more money if we can successfully deliver. Fine. Study him. Do what you need, but if he gets loose again, I want him killed on sight and I want no traces of his existence left behind."

"That's cool boss. No problem."

Ryback rose and stood against the glass. He stood eye to eye with his creator.

"You're my property now, Ryback." he smirked, the corner of his lips curling. The beast inside of him raged. His eyes glowed yellow and his veins enlarged and became prominent on his face and body. He growled and raced toward the glass walls that surrounded him. Heyman laughed. Ryback beat on it with animal force, but he could not break free.

"Howl all you want big boy. You're not getting out." Then he walked away.

"Here is your badge." The woman behind the desk slid a piece of plastic to her. Jaymie took it. The picture looked okay, but she didn't think it looked like her. "Don't loose it. You can't access anything without it and of course you know how important security is around here." Jaymie nodded. Her name had been ran through an extensive background check and she had to sit through a polygraph. She had suspicions that she had been followed and after the interview she had learned that she had not been paranoid. The organization had paid close attention to everyone that she was close to, which were few and even noted people she came in contact with on a daily basis, people whom she did not even know by name. Thankfully none of them were questionable and she was offered a job. Jaymie, a young woman who had only worked in menial janitorial fields didn't have the experience she would need to move into a new career. She had felt trapped until she had answered a small ad in the paper. It was so tiny she had nearly missed it herself. When she had arrived at the large building that appeared abandoned, she thought she had some how been lured into some predators trap. She was frightened when a man in a black suit approached her and led her inside. Then she relaxed a bit while she waited in a waiting room that looked normal. She was called into an office and listened to a job description that included the basic cleaning, sweeping, mopping and maintaining. It all seemed normal until her salary was discussed, then she thought it was a joke. Who paid so much for a maid? It sounded absurd and she walked out believing she would never hear from them again.

A month later, she was working her same old job that she hated, still hunting for something that paid a little more, then she got the call. She felt slightly violated when she was clued in on their extensive digging into her life, but as they explained more she understood why.

"This is all top secret, Jaymie." The woman explained. "You are not just a custodial worker. You will be employed by the government. Everything you see and hear can not be spoken of. You could say that you'll be living a secret double life. Please don't accept if you can not keep our secrets."

"I don't have much of a life to hide anything from." She shrugged in agreement and then took a long, long drive with her until they reached a military compound, blindfolded the entire way, which scared her again.

She was escorted to small room where she was left alone in a room with nothing but the one solitary metal chair in the middle. She sat and waited looking at nothing but white walls and floors until a neatly dressed woman in a doctors jacket came in.

"Hi, Jaymie. I'm Amanda." she smiled warmly. "Thank you so much for coming today. I apologize for the secrecy, but I assure you it's necessary."

"Okay," she scrutinized.

"Jaymie, you have no family, you are new to town and you have yet to make any close bonds." Amanda began. "We have interviewed a dozen applicants or so and you are the one I have chosen for this opportunity."

"I don't know if I understand. I applied for a custodial position, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did." she laughed. "This is all overwhelming, I know." Amanda had a warm smile and it helped her relax. "I have to admit I was a little bias when I was looking." she whispered. "I was hoping to hire another woman. I feel a little out numbered around this place." she touched Jaymie's shoulder. "Look, it's a real job and it pays so well because of the conditions in the contracts. They pay for our silence and its not a bad deal. Not for people like us."

"Like us?"

"I don't have any family ties either. Most of us don't. So, we really don't miss anyone or anything and we don't have to lie to people we care about because our closest friends are usually part of it too."

"Part of what?"

"Government experimentation." she told her. "This is where we develop things for the military that no one could even begin to believe." she grinned. "It's fascinating and sometimes hard, but it was the best decision of my life."

"Okay, so what do I have to do? I'm not sure I want to commute in a blind fold to work every day."

"If you agree to the terms and accept my offer, I promise it will be the last time you have to."

"So, all I have to do is agree to never discuss anything I might now about what you do here?"

"Yup, that's it. After watching you, I was convinced you could do that better than the others. You're very quiet. A little shy and you only speak up when you absolutely have to. You spend your days off alone. You entertain yourself in your own apartment. I like that about you. This life wouldn't be a big change for you."

"Does that mean I can never go out or do anything?" she asked because part of the reason she never went out was because she couldn't afford to.

"You can come and go as you please. Oh, did I mention you will live on base? Expenses paid of course and you will also have a room mate. What do you say?"

"It sounds too good to be true, but I'm not crazy about the room mate part."

"I'm not either, but we don't have a lot of housing around here. There is one two bedroom place and its mine and yours if you agree. So we won't be as crowded as the others in the four bedroom homes."

"That doesn't seem to bad. Sure, I'd be crazy not to take this job."

"I'm happy you said that." she smiled. "So, I'll have you escorted back. Can you tie up your affairs and pack your things in three days?"

"Or less." Jaymie let herself get excited. So much of her life would change for the better and perhaps she could be part of a small society where she would be welcome and perhaps be part of some kind of a family.