PC:

My eyes slowly opened…the familiar scent of alcohol and latex filled the air. I never thought I would wake up again… it seemed so long, I thought I had died from that injection. My world snapped into focus again, gloomy, enclosed with grey walls. I was in room very similar to isolation, there was barely any light coming in at all except for a small slit in the door. The scent of Land Sharks and Howlers was faint, but unmistakable I was on Level 3. I decided to wiggle around and test the limits of my mobility. I felt restraints around my wrists and ankles and I was back in human form. My body ached and I felt sticky and there was a tangy taste in my mouth.
"Ironic isn't it," Raf's voice echoed from the other side of the room. He was standing in the shadows.
"Don't tell me you've been standing there all this time waiting for me to wake up?" I asked dryly.
He shook his head. "I only arrived about five minutes ago."
"I see…so what's so ironic?"
"When I was being interrogated…Jeb told me that this was a scientific facility not a medieval dungeon." He said pushing away from the wall. "But this little set up looks very medieval…wouldn't you say?" Raf sat down in front of me. I nodded.
"Why are you here?"
"Well I've been given the task of letting you know how monstrously screwed you are," Raf replied.
"Thanks Raf,"
"What are old friends for," he said with a smirk. "You still get blood on your teeth."
"What?"
"Blood from when you bit Roc and I." I smacked my lips, no wonder I had that tangy taste in my mouth, it was blood. The thought of it made my stomach wretch and I held back the urge to puke. I looked down at my shirt which I remembered it being slathered with it. "Hey they took my shirt," I muttered.
"Well what did you expect…it was covered in blood," Raf replied.
"I liked that shirt…anyways… how screwed am I?"
"Well for starters, you're in the School, Ana is being kept here some where and it is remotely possible, that your mom and dad have fabricated elaborate lies to keep her from finding out what's going on."
"Where's Bree?" I asked.
"I don't know…she's not on Level 3 though." I sighed. "Your parents want to see you too...They've already tended to Ana and now she is safe in a cozy bed, probably sleeping."
"I don't want to see them." I replied irritably.
"You don't have a choice."
"Naturally…what happened to you?"
"Hm?"
"What happened during our fight…when you threatened to kill Bree…you were shaking like crazy."
"It's a long story."
"We've got time," I said, gesturing around the empty room. "I'm not going anywhere."
Raf smiled grimly and stood up." Maybe another time, PC." He knocked on the door and whistled. A Jawz's muzzle shadowed the slit in the door.
"Take him," Raf said shortly. The door opened and my pupils constricted as light stung them. The Jawz unlocked my restraints and stood me up. I felt wobbly and my coordination was a little whacked, but other than that I could still walk. Two other Eraser models, Wratihs walked in armed and silent.
The Jawz pushed me forward. "Time to go kitty." These people didn't learn…did they actually think I wasn't a threat unbound. I knew how to take down Jawz and Wraiths I was a pro at it…I had lived with these creatures for goodness sakes. Once I was out of my box they called a room, a Wraith came up behind me and secured a blindfold around my eyes. That's new.
"We learned a lesson or two from last time," the Jawz commented.
"How am I supposed to follow you if I can't see where I'm going?" I asked.
"Don't worry the Wraiths will keep you in line." Walking blind was a little disorienting to say the least. The Jawz was right; they had learned something from previous experience. Without being able to see I couldn't memorize areas of the School in order to plan effectively. It came in handy when I made my escape attempt, last time. The thought of being here for more than a few days was chilling. The Jawz and the two Wraiths got a kick out of me occasionally colliding with walls. For a while all I heard was the tip tapping of feet as we walked on all tile floors and then at the end of the journey, muffled voices and the opening of a door…..

Chap 87

The Wraith's sat me down in a chair and took off the blindfold.
"Thank you, you can go," John said. The Jawz grunted in reply and the Wraiths blinked. I reluctantly looked up at my parents, who sat across from me. The room we were in was different from our first meeting with glass walls on either side that acted as windows to other rooms.
"Hello Seth, honey, how are you?" Lee Ann asked me tenderly.
"Clammy, thanks for asking," I replied.
John glared at me, his bushy brows knit and said "Seth, your mother and I are very disappointed in you."
"How dare you put your sister in danger! She's missed three weeks of school!" Lee Ann exclaimed.
I chuckled. "Well shame on me. I risk life and limb to save her from you two and she misses three weeks of school, you should just kill me right now."
"We can't do that," John replied.
"Why not," I asked irritated. "I thought you told me I was completely useless and needed to be disposed of."
"That was true…But not until recently."
"What do you mean?"
"Based on a confession from Rafmire…Jeb wants to run a few tests on you," Lee Ann replied.
"What confession?"
"Well sweetie, your escape put a real monkey wrench in things. We found out that some the reports that Kane gave were well…falsified. Especially the one for the first mission you were sent on. So we had to find out what really happened, because we weren't able to track you with your Ring or the chip that was installed inside you." I had a chip? Well good thing they weren't able to track me with it. " So we had to get information from Kane and Rafmire."
"You didn't hurt them did you?" I asked.
"Well Kane, wasn't involved. Rafmire said that she had no part in the falsified reports. But her pay was cut in half."
"What about Raf?" I asked.
"Rafmire on the other hand…well"
"He was a hard sell," John said. 'They made me see it there way'…that phrase echoed in my mind and I remembered the scar on Raf's neck.
"What did you do to him?" I asked, my anger beginning to rise.
"Raf broke the rules…not only that he helped you falsify School documents he also helped Chase escape and he killed all of the Howlers and Land Sharks that guarded the grounds. He was punished for these violations of protocol."
"I saw his scar! What did you do!" I exclaimed, pounding the table with my fist.
John glared at me then said, "We let the Erasers take care of that little messy detail. Now Jeb assured us that he wasn't severely injured, except for a wound on his neck. THAT was nothing more than a flesh wound. After Raf's punishment, he was supposed to be decommissioned but that changed. We needed you to be brought back and we felt that since Rafmire worked so closely with you it was only fitting you'd be brought down by your own partner. Of course, he refused…at first."
"Jeb learned something from Raf's punishment. Unlike you, Raf doesn't take pain very well. In fact he hates it so passionately when something hurts him, he'll do anything to get rid of it…This behavior was being exhibited during his tussle with Erasers. He attacked them ferociously and showed them no mercy if they got him riled enough. We could never fully understand why he acts so violently towards pain." Lee Ann said. "A theory is that he was physically abused in his childhood."
"But in any case," John continued. "Jeb saw this behavior as way to control him. Modifications were made to Rafmire's Ring. When Raf doesn't perform well, the Ring will activate sending a small shock through his body. The current continues until the activator stops it or Rafmire performs better." So that's why he was shaking…they were electrocuting him and the shock is what I felt when he touched me.
"It may sound cruel to you…but in fact its very effective and the shock is non-lethal ," Lee Ann said softly, trying to take edge off of what they did so it wouldn't sound so cruel. But cruelty is cruelty, no matter how you say it.
"Torturing someone to do what you want doesn't sound very scientific," I said steadily. "Actually it has scientific roots if you want to argue from a scientific stand point," John replied.
"Oh really? How."
"Its basic biology really." Lee Ann said. "Rafmire was one of the most understudied specimens, because no one is bold enough to push him. When he broke the rules we saw the opportunity to both discipline him and also learn from him. As you have learned in school, an animal's reaction to stimuli is known as a taxis. Using this principle we subjected Rafmire to certain stimuli until we got the reaction we wanted." Lee Ann explained. I shuttered these people were sick.
"Anyways Rafmire gave the confession that you were struck by lightening," John said My heart just stopped. I didn't think that, that accident would come back to bite me in the butt. We never wrote it into the report and I never told the Whitecoats about it either when they were patching us up. Like I said, you stay off the slab as long as nothing about you puzzles them. If they can explain it, you're golden. I never thought they would go to such lengths to find out. Sorry Raf, I guess I just pushed my luck too far…..

"It's fascinating, how you were struck and were still able to get up and walk away from it in a matter of minutes. Most people die on the spot or are scarred for life. Jeb would like to explore that." John said. I pushed my chair away from the table.
"And I bet being the loving parents that you are you consented."
"Jeb assured us that it would be nothing to intrusive except for may be one procedure," Lee Ann said.
"Jeb can explore something else…Where's Ana and Breeaka?" I asked.
They were silent.
"Where are they?" I shouted.
"Ana is safe," Lee Ann said softly. "But you won't be seeing her ever again."
"Why because I told her what you two were planning to do to her?" Lee Ann stood up quickly and slapped me. "She was supposed to never know…YOU were supposed to except the offer we gave you." She trembled. I had no pity for her now…knowing the truth I could never look at them the same. Even though deep down inside I wanted to have the same confidence in them that Ana did, but I just couldn't do it, I knew too much.
"Where's Bree?" I asked.
"Who? You mean that harpy?' Lee Ann asked rubbing the small band aid stretched over her right eye. I smiled inwardly… that's my Bree.
"Yes, where is she? I want to see her." I said. The two were silent. "I want to see her NOW!" I snapped.
"You are in no position to make demands!" John shouted.
I shut my mouth then after a while I spoke. "What are you going to do to Ana? I WANT to know."
"Nothing. Her fate will be decided once Jeb has finished his tests on you."
"What do you expect Ana to do that I can't…It took me months to master my new form and control my animal ferocity. Do you expect her to just magically change over night and be able to function as well as me?"
"Actually they expect just that," Jeb's voice echoed as he walked into the room. He took a seat next to Lee Ann. Great now I was trapped in a room with three people that held top spots on my 'don't like' list.
"You see PC, Ana is better than you," Jeb said bluntly. "She's smarter and when the procedure is finished she will be faster, stronger and even more cunning."
"She was given an enzyme since birth that acts as a catalyst to speed up the changing process. The pain will be less harsh and the change will be quicker," Lee Ann said.
"Unfortunately for you, you were not given that enzyme." John explained. "Hopefully she will never have to experience that."
"Eventually she'll want to know what happened to me. How long are planning to lie to her?"
"Be quiet," Lee Ann said sharply.
"We should get back to the issue at hand…your testing," Jeb said.
"I never agreed to that and I probably don't have a choice, but my answer is no. If you think you can force it on me, you are going to have one hell of a time."
"I knew you might say that." Jeb said. "So to ensure your cooperation, if you misbehave, Breeaka will be handed over to Roc. He will be able to do whatever he likes with her and we will turn a blind eye." In fury I transformed and leaped at Jeb knocking him out of his chair. He threw up his hands, desperately trying to keep me away. He was pretty strong for someone who just walked around ruining people's lives.
"Security!" Lee Ann cried. Wraiths came in, pulled me off of him and tossed me back onto the table.
"Change to human form…NOW!" John shouted at me. I lunged for him gnashing my teeth. The Wraiths held my head down.
"Do as you are told," Jeb said coldly. "Don't forget whose lives are at stake." I changed back. Jeb smiled at me and patted my head." Good boy."…. I turned my head away and my vision was blotted out as a blindfold was put over my eyes…..

Chap 88

Roc:

I waited for Jeb in his office; my shoulder still throbbed with pain from where PC had bitten me. The bite was incredibly strong according to the Whitecoats that worked on me they said PC had bitten through my collar bone and had almost snapped the shoulder joint. Anymore and I could've lost use of my right arm all together. Kane was standing in the door way, irritated; I had pushed passed her, using my good arm.
"You shouldn't be back here," Kane commented her arms crossed.
"Shut up!" I snapped.
Suddenly, a door on the far wall to my left opened. Jeb walked in and he looked a little rattled, but when he saw me, he straightened his clothes and put on a smile.
"Ah! Roc, just the person I wanted to see," he said, walking behind his desk and taking a seat. "Come closer and sit down." Kane brought a chair for me to sit on.
"Jeb, we had an agreement, that once I delivered the Ghosts to you, you would let me have Breeaka."
He nodded. "Yes I did."
"Then how come she isn't with me? How come I haven't been able to see her?" I asked my heart racing, I hoped that the Whitecoats hadn't hurt her.
Jeb pulled out a pen and was writing something down. "Yes…I know, but you see…Roc you haven't kept up your end of the bargain."
"I brought in PC and Breeaka, two of the key founders! Isn't that enough!" I shouted.
"Not exactly, you see from what we've been able to find out about this group of vigilantes, is that, anyone of them can become leader and take over the group. As long as they have influence, they can lead. So bringing in five of them is not enough." My temper flared, I had been working for this twit for several months, working on breaking the system that saved me. Now he was denying me my rightful reward. "With that said…" he gestured for Kane and handed her the piece of paper, then shooed her out of the office. "When you are able," he said gesturing at my arm. "I need you to finish the job. Bring in the final five and then Breeaka is all yours."
"What will happen to PC?" I asked.
"He'll be put down in due time, now go." Jeb said dismissively. I knew better than to argue or pry more conversation out of the man. So I turned and left. Furious, I stormed down the halls, the pain in my shoulder being the least of my problems, when suddenly I ran into Rafmire.
The slight unnecessary movements made me wince and I turned on him angrily. "Watch! Where you're going!"
"Sorry," he said, defensively.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Walking?" I hated his one word answers. I didn't quite understand his agreement with Jeb either, but I doubted that it had anything to do with wandering the hallways doing nothing. "What are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm going out to the grounds, the sunlight helps me heal. Even without my wings" I said.
"So you're going to bake…awesome," he said, words dripping with sarcasm.
"I wouldn't have to if you would've done your job," I retorted and stamped off.

PC:

"So, how are you?" asked an overly friendly Whitecoat. He spoke to me like I was ten years old, but I didn't mind that so much as I did the situation. My eyes moving around constantly, I didn't like this, not one bit. I hadn't been touched by a Whitecoat in several years and being back in the lab seemed brand new to me…even though I had been in a similar setting before. I was lying on my side on an examination table with no shirt on in the fetal position. Wratihs were standing nearby armed with guns and their ears swiveling. The table I lied on was cold against my skin, which didn't really help comfort me at all. The Whitecoat was rattling on about some things I didn't understand. I just wanted it to be over so they could plop me back into my cell so I could twitch. "You're so tense," the Whitecoat commented. Yeah you would be too, buddy. "Try to relax; all I'm doing is taking a sample." I heard the snap of latex gloves and I tensed up even more. My muscles seemed to recoil from the Whitecoat's touch as he counted my vertebrae and examined me. I didn't like that; I resisted the urge to spring off the table and go crazy on his PHD butt. Just think about Bree and Ana I thought to myself. After another minute of physical examination, I felt something cool glide across my spine, most likely a sterilizing agent. "Alright now you are going to feel a small pinch, nothing to get excited about. It's just a local anesthetic." Why do they always do that! I hate it when they describe what they are doing to you. Just stick me alrea—…OWWWW! My fists tightened and I clenched my teeth. After a few seconds I felt the needle withdraw. "Good boy" the Whitcoat praised. Oh come on do they have to refer to me like they would a pet…I was in my human form here. The site of injection was burning like crazy then it slowly got tingly and numb. A second needle slid into place and it burned momentarily. But afterwards all I felt was pressure. Closing my eyes, I held Bree's image in my head. There was shuffling in the background and the needle was gently pulled out. Afterwards the area was bandaged. Not bad for a first test I'd say, but then again not all Whitecoats were as professional as this one. I lied on my back my eyes still closed, as he left, other Whitecoats piled in. I kept my eyes closed for two reasons. One I didn't want to see what they were going to do to me next and I needed to learn how to use my other senses. Our escape would depend solely on my ability to identify different places by scent, sound and touch……

Chap 89

PC:

I was glad to be back in my box. I wasn't hurt, but being man handled by complete strangers is just as disquieting. My back still ached though and I was ravenous and tired. As I sat there and played with the restraints that held me, to test their strength against mine. When I was first changed, I had ripped restraints like these out of walls, like they were nothing. I wiggled my wrist and tried to pull it out. It was harder than I anticipated. Theses restraints were different from other ones, in the fact that they seemed to constrict any time I tried to pull my hands through. Frustrated, I tried a transformation to see how far I could pull out the chains without anyone noticing or hearing that I was up to something. As I changed, my back ached. After a few seconds of discomfort, I was big bad and purple. With one arm I yanked on a chain, it restrained my arm well, but that always happened on the first try, I did it again with more force. I heard the bolts screech inside the walls. They learned some things about me, but not all, I figured. Suddenly footsteps were on their way towards my cell. Raf whistled to himself as he opened the door with a dusty bowl in one hand.
"What's up?" he said, placing the bowl in front of me.
"What do you care?"
Raf shrugged and sat opposite of me. "I just figured I'd ask," he said pulling out a candy bar and taking bite. "Eat up." I looked at the bowl, which was supposed to be filled with some kind of food. But to me it just looked like a conglomeration of different types of …well…mush.
"You're joking," I said. Raf shook his head taking another bite of his candy bar…jerk.
"Now don't get prudish on me. You're their prisoner now, remember? Or have you forgotten that already?"
"No I haven't…that's kind of rude of you to show up with chocolate and then hand me a bowl of snot."
Raf rolled his eyes and slid a bar across the floor. "Quit being a baby….I'd save that for later if I were you." I grudgingly put the goody in my pocket and eyed the bowl again.
"What's in it?" I asked.
" Dunno…it's a special food that is designed specially for you. Whitecoats actually take the time to do that for all the experiments down here. Consider that, a bowl of Fancy Feast cat food."
I snorted and placed with one of my whiskers. "Very funny." My stomach growled and I kept eyeing the bowl frequently. Then broke down and started eating it in old kitty fashion, no hands.
"Something is puzzling me," I said, between mouthfuls.
"And that is?"
"I heard about what they did to you Raf…I'm sorry it happened." I said. "But what I don't get is why you still have enough freedom to come here and eat with me."
Raf shrugged. "I find it puzzling too."
"What do you do now?"
"I'm still a Collector, every now and then Jeb sends me out on missions."
"You go alone?"
"Oh sure, yeah. The others say I'm too creepy to work with."
"Are the targets, individuals?"
"Flocks," he replied. My eyes widened. "Don't look at me like that…I'm big kid, I can take care of a few scruffy bird kids, no problem."
"I'm impressed." I said, gulping down more food and looking around. "I wonder how long this will last?"
"Not long…if I know these guys I'll be getting a restraining order soon and you won't be seeing me again. Until their done with you, that is."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see soon enough."
"Raf," A Jawz said, peeping through the slit in the door.
"Yeah?"
"Jeb wants to see you," it said.
"Fine, I'll be out in a minute…duty calls," he muttered and waved cheekily to me, then walked out locking the door. I continued eating until I had cleaned the bowl and then slapped it aside with my hand. I licked my lips, cleaning off as much food as I can and then wiping the rest with my forearm, which I then licked clean. Cat habit. I changed back into human form and lied down the best way I could. I stared at the wall for a while and watched my vision double. I knew the food was drugged, but I needed to play along for now as much as I hated doing it. I fingered the chocolate bar in my pocket; I needed to keep it in reserve for when I really needed it. The sugar would give me the energy boost I needed when it came time to escape. Starting to feel numb, I crawled over to a small hole in the wall and placed my prize inside. Hopefully no rat would eat, but I don't think there were any rats here though. They were smart not to come here looking for vittles. I curled into a ball, my energy slowly being sucked out of me. The only thing that I did to occupy my time was to try and heighten my senses without changing my nose or ears. I used what energy I had left and focused on that. Unfortunately it was harder than I thought…….

Raf:

"Just tell us what happened…and we'll make it all stop," Jeb said softly. I was on the floor holding my neck, bruises and cuts all over me. Even if I wanted to say something all I could do was cough up blood……..

I shuttered at the memory as I walked to Jeb's office.
"Hello Kane," I said as I walked in.
She smiled grimly at me and said. "Go on back." I nodded to her and walked into Jeb's office. He was sitting back listening to classical music in his chair.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked.
"Yes I did," he said.
"This is about PC isn't it?" Jeb turned off the music that played on his computer and straightened in his chair.
"Somewhat…I understand that PC is once your former partner and dare I say friend. But to willingly refuse to help Roc during a critical fight, merits a punishment wouldn't you say?"
"Well…You know they say never stand between a beast and its meal. I wouldn't have been very useful if I had stood in the way and got mauled. Besides I was occupied by PC's girlfriend."
"Excuses…" Jeb muttered. "You're very good at pulling them out of your butt aren't you."
"I learn from the best." Jeb frowned at that and I waited for the shock, but there was none. "Roc was seriously injured…because of your lenience. I expect you to shape up Rafmire….don't go near PC unless you are ordered to, understand?"
"Sure," I muttered….

Ana:

I sat in the room that I woke up in with a lap top on my lap, checking e-mail and chatting with friends. The couple of days that I had stayed here were good. I saw my mom and dad frequently even though they were very busy. I spent most of my time wondering around and went to the small library they had near the lobby. The food was decent but I missed PC's cooking.
"How are you sweetie," my mom said as she walked in. She looked very tired and she had bags under her eyes. As she got closer to me, I noticed a small band aid over her eye. "What happened?" I asked.
"Oh nothing, just a little brush with one of the lab rats that's all," she said.
"Mom, when are we going home?" I asked.
She sighed and averted her eyes "Soon my dear…very soon, you'll see."
"You always say that," I said. "I'd like something more specific." Mom smiled and pulled out a little planner from her pocket and sat beside me. She pointed to the 19th .
"That's the estimated time. My dear, so you see it's only a week."
I smiled. "Alright…did you find out what happened to PC and Bree?"
She looked at me with sad eyes "I'm sorry Ana, but your father and I dug deep and couldn't find anything about those two kids. They just disappeared…like ghosts." My heart felt heavy for some reason or another I had a feeling that they were both dead. Mom held me close, her warmth was comforting.
"Now don't be sad, Ana. You're alright and I bet that they would be happy that you are safe and back where you belong."
I nodded. "You're right."
"Now don't stay in here all the time, you hear, take some time to stretch your legs there is a tour you could go on. Or you can just wonder on your own, just don't go into any restricted areas I would hate for something to happen to you."
I smiled up at her "Maybe I'll do that."…….

Chap 90

PC:

The room I was in was large, judging by the sounds I could hear. There were five Whitecoats, four males and one female…from what I could tell by scent.
"Execute," one of the males said, he was the one closest to me. A surge of electricity ran through my body. It wasn't so bad, but it was starting to hurt. After a few seconds, the current stopped and I had some time to rest. There was a click and the female Whitecoat started to write…she was left handed, as the male that said 'execute' read off figures.
"Status," the female barked.
"Vitals are stable. Careful now we don't want to stop his heart," a closer male voice said. A few more scratches of the pen against paper and then another male voice called out for a higher voltage.
"Execute." This time I bite down on the piece they put in my mouth and began to squirm slightly. What was the purpose of this test? To see how resilient I was to electricity. After another shock, they cranked up the voltage. This time my stomach was ready to heave.
"Uh oh…we need a bucket hurry up!" the closest voice said. The leather straps were feverishly undone and they turned my body and guided my head towards the waiting bucket. This time I opened my eyes. My senses were correct everything that I anticipated was true. The Whitecoat was that was in charge of my vitals examined me briefly, his face was covered by a mask.
"We should stop for now," he said.
"What? You want to stop!" the Whitecoat that said execute, cried.
"Yes, look at him, doctor."
" This isn't the time to be squeamish…they puke…they always puke. If we stop every time a subject looses its lunch, we'll never find out anything."
"Yes but,"
"You were not hired to make that kind of decision. I am the head of this experiment. Your job is just to make sure, its heart doesn't stop and not a lot of extensive damage has been done." The vitals guy was silent. Come on! Are you just going to sit there and take that! I was hoping there would be a small fight…that way they wouldn't focus on what is important. Don't you just love it when doctors with egos clash? "Strap him back down," the man in charge said. The other doctor sighed and looked down at me…please don't do this... he strapped a broad band across my chest and tightened on please... he tied up my hands again . "Sorry, you're going to have a rough day," he said to me sullenly. Coward.
"Execute!"