Hell Hath No Wrath
April 1943. Off the coast of France.
The ship's rhythmic rolling no longer bothered Maya. She never thought of herself as the kind to become seasick, but she was the first few weeks out. The young Cherokee girl had lied about her age in order to be included in this mission. The mission, to sneak Jewish refugees out of Nazi-occupied France, had so far gone smoothly. She made her way below deck where two hundred men, women and children traveled with hopes of a new life without fear. At sixteen, Maya never thought she would be living on the edge. She drifted among the refugees. One of the crew, Ben King; an heir to big money, stepped below.
"Maya, we need you topside," Maya nodded and followed him to deck. Several of the crew seemed to be antsy.
"We got company," the captain said, handing the spyglass to Maya. Through it, she saw a Nazi patrol boat.
"They weren't doing patrols when we came in,"
"No, they weren't," The captain put away the spyglass as the patrol boat pulled alongside the ship. A Nazi officer and several soldiers boarded. The officer made a beeline to the captain.
"What have you on board, Captain?" he asked in a thick accent.
"Only what I was given permission to have, sir," The captain put on a French accent. "I carry foodstuffs and laborers and their families," The officer nodded. One of the soldiers returned to deck and spoke to him in German. He turned back to the captain.
"You were not given permission to carry the infidel Jews," Maya then remembered some of the refugees still wore their yellow stars. They were caught. "This ship is now property of the Füehrer and the crew and passengers are under arrest," He turned on his heel and boarded the patrol boat. Maya exchanged terrified glances with Ben in the moment before more Nazis boarded the ship and herded them below deck. Maya ran a finger over the beads of the rosary on her right wrist. She could hear the children crying. Maya felt like crying as she crossed herself.
After returning to French soil, the crew was herded to trucks while the refugees were herded toward waiting cattle trucks. Maya lost count of how many days they spent in that truck. Even Ben, a tough as nails Southerner, was terrified at what was to come. When the truck stopped, Ben grabbed Maya's arm.
"No matter what happens," he said. "Remember that I love you," The doors opened and soldiers started shouting at them to get out. As they piled out, Maya saw they had been taken to a medical facility.
"Hell," From what she heard of the Nazis, that was not good.
Once inside, they were forced to strip and dress in white shirts and pants. A man in a white lab coat with a swastika on the sleeve joined them.
"You are the lucky men, and woman, that will be spared hard labor in one of the Füehrer's work camps. You have been chosen to partake in a test of a new treatment that will save human lives," he smiled. "Good luck,"
"Olive Ewe," Maya whispered to Ben as they were separated.
"Olive Ewe," he mouthed back. She prayed he would make it out alive. The man in the lab coat was leading her to her cell.
"You are quiet," he said. Maya didn't respond. The man chuckled. "What was such a young girl as yourself doing on a ship full of men?" He turned when she didn't respond again. "Child, I am trying to make conversation. I like to get to know my patients. Makes my job more personal,"
"You like to get to know people you plan on murdering? How nice," He frowned at her.
"That is not true. We chose our patients carefully. Non-Jews. You are Catholic, if I judge this correctly," He held out Maya's rosary. "I will allow you to keep if you will speak with me as we walk,"
"Fine," The rosary was Maya's most prized possession. They continued on.
"It will suit me better if I knew your name. I am sure you do not like being called 'Child',"
"Only if you tell me yours," The man chuckled.
"Fair enough. My name is Dr. Hedrick Stillwagner. And you?"
"Maya. Maya Palemoon,"
"Palemoon is an odd name,"
"So is Stillwagner," Stillwagner laughed as he stopped in front of one of the cells. After opening the door, he handed her the rosary.
"Sleep well, Maya," he said as she wrapped it around her wrist. "For tomorrow we begin our test," The door shut and Maya turned to survey her prison. The room was small with a narrow cot against one wall. She sat on the cot and finally let the tears go.
Six days later
Stillwagner opened the door. For once, Maya refused to look at him. She had been told the day before the injection she had been given would kill her in five days.
"I come to give you congratulations, Maya," He said with a smile. "You are the longest living of your test,"
"Go to hell," was her response. Stillwagner waved the two aides out.
"A beautiful girl like you should not have such language,"
"Cut the crap, Nazi,"
"You are angry. Why are you angry?" Maya finally turned to face him, giving him a dirty look.
"You tell me. It could be the 'we don't murder people for the sake of the perfect Nazi race'. Or it could be the 'I forgot to mention that our patients have a life span of less then a week when we use them as guinea pigs'," The Nazi frowned.
"Guinea pig is not the right word. It is test subjects,"
"Whatever you keep telling yourself," Stillwagner stepped into the hallway.
"I will speak to you when you have calmed down," He shut the door. Whatever he had given her, it was changing her. She had discovered her hearing had heightened and her night vision was much better, not to mention she could smell the different scents of the different aides. That was what scared Maya. The fact she was developing animal senses.
Weeks passed before she began to notice the physical changes, beginning with the change in her skin color. When Stillwagner made his daily visit, he gaped. Maya stared at her arms and hands, panic rising. Her skin had turned from the tanned skin of a Cherokee to a medium blue during the night. The scientist scribbled notes into his book. Maya was too shocked to even notice him standing there.
"My God!" Stillwagner breathed in his native language before backing out.
Over the next few months, other traits appeared. Maya was terrified as each trait became noticeable. Blue fur, claws and a tail came next. With each trait, Stillwagner jotted down more notes.
"What did you do to me!? What the hell did you give me!?" Maya screamed at him. Whatever they had injected her with had turned her into a cat-like creature.
"Truthfully, Maya, I am not sure what was in this mixture. Each patient is given a different mixture,"
"You son of a bitch! You damned Nazi bastard!"
"Now enough with the name calling and the foul tongue. I do not appreciate that,"
"I don't give a flying rat's furry ass if you don't appreciate me calling you what you are!"
"I am afraid I will not be able to visit you any longer. Good luck,"
"Good riddance!" she spat as the door shut.