Chapter 34

Beca's POV

My eyes flutter open but close the instant bright light hits them. Groaning, I turn my head to the side and work on clearing my sight. Blurred objects come into view and I blink a few times to see. I'm laying down on what seems to be a metal table and near me is a smaller one with multiple syringes on it. Some of the syringes are filled with a purple looking liquid and the others a clear liquid. I reach out to grab one to get a closer look and frown when I find I can't move my arm.

My arms aren't tied down but for some reason, they won't move. Grunting with effort, I try to move and panic when my body doesn't cooperate. What the hell?

"I see you're awake," a deep voice booms and I frantically try to find the source. My eyes catch on a tall, older man wearing a lab coat. His eyes are cast downward as he studies a clipboard with an intense look. I shiver when that intense look is focused on me.

"You can't move so you might as well stop trying. Wolfsbane is a powerful thing."

"Wh-where am I?" My voice rasps and I swallow painfully. "What do you want?"

"Now Beca," the older man makes a tsk noise and shakes his head as if he's disappointed in me. "You're asking all the wrong questions. You should be asking who I am." Tense silence fills the air as we stare at each other until he waves his hand impatiently.

"Who are you?" I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"I'm Dr. Ezekial Fergus." He stops there, grinning. There's a dangerous glint in his eyes, as though he's daring me to ask something else.

"What do you want…" he slowly shakes his head, "with me?" Beaming, he laughs and pats my shoulder. Against my will, I flinch.

"Atta girl. You're getting it now. You see, you're special, but I'm pretty sure you already know that." He pauses and when I don't say anything, he continues. "I'm going to tell you a story and you are going to listen, not that you have a choice. 23 years ago, a couple came to work for a company that specialized in classified experiments. The company's goal was to find cures or better technology. Things like that. The couple worked for a specific branch that strove to create the perfect soldier. This soldier would be faster than than the average human, have the strength of a 100 men. This soldier would be invincible.

"To do this though, they had to find the perfect test subject. They knew about werewolves and how strong they are. So after a year, they captured one. A few months after some experimenting, they found out about other supernatural creatures and one by one, they captured them. Carefully, they were able to extract strands of DNA from each and modify them. All that was left was to inject it into a test subject. It's been 4 years now and this couple was expecting a child. What's more perfect than that? The trick with the werewolf one was that their blood is toxic to humans, but maybe if the person wasn't fully developed, we could manipulate their DNA to adapt to the serum. This couple just happened to have a little baby, ripe for the picking."

Dr. Fergus stops talking and walks over to the small table. He picks up a syringe with purple liquid and taps it.

"What happened?" I ask and he smiles deviously.

"That couple Beca? They were your parents." Blood rushes to my head and I shake it, making Dr. Fergus laugh. "How pathetic is that really? You're parents chose an opportunity at fame over a normal life for you."

"You're lying," I spit through gritted teeth. Deep down though, I know he isn't.

"Really? Then how do you explain your… unnatural abilities? Chance of fate? Maybe you thought you were special when really, you're just a guinea pig in a science experiment."

"No," I scream but it isn't heard over his laughter. Sobs make their way to the surface but I shove them down, bringing back the familiar cold mask. Dr. Fergus's eyes flicker over me and to the clipboard, uninterested.

"I'll finish my story and then we can get a move on. Where was I? Ah, they injected the mutated DNA from a werewolf into your womb. The whole plan was to start injecting babies with the other serums if you survived, but one of the other scientists saw to it that it didn't happen. He destroyed years of hard work and though I was tempted to terminate him, he had a family so I respected that. I let him go quietly as long as he sent a check every month to replace the equipment and research he damaged. To my utter surprise, he found a good job and paid it off within 15 years. Heard he died not long after. Sad. Freedom just barely touched his fingertips before it was stripped away.

"I thought the project was ruined. With everything destroyed, I had to send home all my employees. Your mom gave birth to you and then took off. Heard they raised you in a werewolf pack. How they convinced them to take your family in is beyond me. For years I've been working on building Project P.I.T.C.H. back up and finally, I have. When I learned that you were still alive, I knew that you were the key. Finally, I can continue my life's work and you are going to help me do just that."

"Go to hell."

"Good, keep that fire. You're going to need it." Fear shoots through me but I shove it aside.

"Why do you think I can help you?"

"Because my dear girl," Dr. Fergus leans in, his hot breath making me gag, "your DNA holds the only serum remaining. Werewolf DNA evolved into something much more… thrilling. No longer are you Beca. Beca is a pathetic human bent on having a life she can't and doesn't deserve to have. You are now subject 4, the first ever super soldier."

With a snap of his fingers, two people in scrubs rush in pushing a cart. Without any commands from Dr. Fergus, they draw out some of my blood and then hurry out of the room. Swallowing thickly, I work to move, panic crawling up my throat. Why can't I move? He said something about wolfsbane. I thought it was a myth.

"I wonder what this does," Dr. Fergus ponders, twirling the syringe in his hand that I forgot he had. "Let's see, shall we?" In my mind, I'm thrashing around, trying to get away, but outside, my body is as stiff as a board. There's a slight prick in my arm as he pushes the mysterious liquid into my body. For a second, nothing happens and I start to smirk until pain suddenly has me arching upward. Agony runs up and down my body in waves, each one worse than the last. For what seems like hours, my body is on a never ending cycle of those waves, causing my whole body to lift off from the table until finally I flop back down. Sweat runs into my eyes as I pant.

"That must've been very painful for you to push through the wolfsbane and move. Tell me, how do you feel?"

"F-" Dr. Fergus leans closer as I struggle to get the words out. "Fuck you." My head snaps to the side with a quick flick of his wrist, but compared to the pain I just felt, all I feel is a dull ache.

"Subject 4, when I ask a question, I demand an actual answer. This could change everything. We would never lose another war, never have to feel the grief of losing loved ones overseas. Don't you want that?"

"N-not like this. All y-you a-are doing is r-ruling people w-with fear. Not t-to mention the fame that comes with it."

"This could save lives. You could save lives and you will, whether you want to or not." He picks up a syringe containing the clear liquid this time and taps it. "My whole plan is to see what your limits are. See what you can do. That will give me an idea of what to modify in your genetic makeup. Once you're perfect, we'll clone your DNA. Ready to save the world?" He injects the liquid into my arm and my world goes white with pain.

….

"Take subject 4 to her room. I'm done with her for now." Dr. Fergus strolls out of the room, leaving me with the guard that came in minutes before. The guard eyes me suspiciously like I might attack him at any moment. If I wasn't still soaked with sweat and trembling with aches from the most recent test, I might've. I lost track of how many times Dr. Fergus injected me with stuff. Pain consumed me until all that was left was a quivering, weakened girl.

"Better be careful, Theo. The big bad wolf might hurt you." A guard taunts, walking up to the one pushing my table down the hall. "Hey, she's kind of pretty. You think they would mind if I feel her up a little?"

"Shut the fuck up," Theo snaps and continues past the crude guard who scoffs before turning away. A little hope that I might have someone on my side starts making its way to the surface but it's quickly squashed when Theo harshly shoves my table into a room. With a scowl on his face, he picks my limp body up and all but drops me onto a hard mattress.

"I'll be here to deliver your meal shortly." Without another word, Theo wheels the table back out and slams the door shut, leaving me in silence.

Chloe? Are you there? No answer comes and I start to wonder if it's the wolfsbane. It's rumored that it dims werewolves powers, even days after the paralysis ends. Wolfsbane is so rare though that it's pretty much a myth. Now how did Dr. Fergus get ahold of it?

Trembling, I focus on getting my fingers to move and cry out in victory when they finally do. Slowly, I gain back control of my body. When I am finally able to sit up, I observe the room I'm in. The walls and floor are made of dark cold cement and the room is barely able to fit the mattress and toilet that's set up in the corner. Everything seems so dark and dirty, even the mattress which is covered in grease looking stains. With a sigh, I lean my head against the wall and stare at the flickering light on the ceiling.

What should I do Chloe? Can you even hear me? If you can, I love you. God, I love you so much. My gaze flicks down to my hand which is missing a ring. It wasn't enough that they took me from Chloe but they had to take my wedding ring too? Bastards. Closing my eyes, I picture Chloe getting ready for our date, waiting for me to come home. Will she think I left her? She'll worry that's for sure. I just hope she knows that I didn't have a choice.

I'll try real hard to get back, honey. I promise. With that last message sent, I lay down on the stiff mattress and let exhaustion take over.

…

"Sub 4, your meal is here." A boot presses into my side, making me moan. Without another sound, I sit up and blindly take the tray, clearing sleep from my eyes.

"Sub 4?" I croak and Theo nods, handing me a water. "Thanks Theo."

"Don't call me that." He sets his jaw and turns towards the door.

"It's your name, isn't it? I'm just trying to be polite."

"I don't want you to be polite. I want you to shut the hell up." I cock my head sideways and raise a questioning brow.

"Why? So you can try to pretend I'm not a person like you?" Theo shakes his head and opens the door.

"I'll be back in 15. If you're not done with your food by then, you go hungry." The door slams shut and I drop my smirk. Loneliness creeps in like an old friend and I'm afraid I won't be able to shake it. Grimacing, I glance down at the slop of food on my plate and question whether it's edible or not. Deciding that it's better to keep my strength up, I spoon some of the food into my mouth and try to picture a slice of pizza.

After a few spoonfuls of the horrendous slop, I set the tray aside and close my eyes. Chloe's face comes to mind, her beautiful smile lighting up every room she goes in. A tear finds its ways out and trails down my cheek. The door opens but I keep my eyes closed refusing to let anybody see how much pain I'm in. My tray scrapes the ground as Theo picks it up and for a second, there's no sound. My eyes squint open and I see Theo staring down at me with a thoughtful look on his face. Before I can decipher what he's thinking about, he stomps out of the room, once again leaving me alone.

Theo's POV

When I got the job of a guard at Dr. Fergus's lab, I never imagined just what kind of experiments they were doing. Before I was even allowed in the building, they brought me to an office and made me sign something saying that I would remain quiet about what I saw and heard while on the job. That there would be things that happened there that you didn't see everyday. Then, even after I signed the stupid papers, they warned me what I was getting myself into. Lying to everybody I care about, seeing horrible things, that was the job description they gave me.

It seemed so simple at the time. Just a guard position, nothing I hadn't done before. When they started talking about seeing some pretty horrible stuff, I almost balked but the pay was just too good to give up. Then they told me that the supernatural exists and I instantly regretted taking it. I was perfectly happy living my life without knowing all the creepy crawlies living amongst us.

It was too late though. I already signed the paperwork, went through the orientation, and had been inside the building. Giving up is not something I agree with so I stuck with it.

Dr. Fergus's lab is a tall, simple looking building. One that you wouldn't look twice at and probably think it was just some accounting firm. You would never think that there was more going on not just inside, but underneath. It was so cool at first, the secret underground lab. It's anything but that though.

In the elevator, you flash your badge and it registers your clearance level. There are only a few floors underground, all of which I have access to. The first level is where all the scientists meander about, typing away on their computers, researching. It's where Dr. Fergus's office is. The second floor is where all the fragile stuff is. Lab equipment, files, ect. There's vials upon vials stacked in crates, most of which are empty. There's a safe which contains very classified vials that I've only seen because I was passing through after my shift was over.

The third floor is the hardest to be in. It's where they keep the test subjects. For the most part, they keep the subjects sedated and strapped to a table. The subjects are horrific creatures, some I never imagined could exist. Some are mutated with failed experiments and when Dr. Fergus is done with them, it's up to the guards to dispose of the bodies. We bring those to the fourth floor where they burn the bodies.

The fourth floor used to be the worst to be in until she arrived. Subject 4. After only working at the lab for about a year, Dr. Fergus chose me to be her guard. It probably has to do with the fact that I've been on this job longer than anybody else. They all quit, too horrified by the creatures and the torture being dealt to them.

At first I was elated at being chosen. I felt special that he trusted me enough to watch over his most valuable subject, but when I saw her, my heart broke. The poor thing wasn't even strapped to the table, but couldn't move for the pain and whatever else the doctor did to her. When I learned that they wouldn't keep her sedated, I about quit right then and there. How was I supposed to watch them break down a person just a little younger than me? They told me she was highly dangerous and to be careful around her. So I watched her carefully when I first rolled her out of the lab, but there was no reason too. She was obviously too weak to do anything.

I tried being indifferent to her at first, calling her sub 4 the way all of us guards do, but it's when I went to get her tray that I changed my mind. She was just sitting there with her head against the wall, eyes closed. The cool facade she had on earlier was gone and it was just pure anguish written on her face. One of her hands rubbed a ring indentation on her other as a single tear rolled down her face. Even though she was obviously in pain, she wasn't going to break. I could tell that she wasn't one to do that and instead used humor and sarcasm to deal with her pain.

"Dammit," I whisper, smacking my forehead with my hand. Darkness surrounds my bedroom, a now permanent fixture not just in my house, but my heart.

"Theo, you are going to get yourself in trouble." And it would be worth it if I could just help that girl. She doesn't belong in a place like that. Whatever they say she is, I know in my heart that it isn't all her. There's something else there. My mind swings back to the image of the ring indentation on her finger. She has somebody out there. Somebody who determined her good enough to marry.

"I'm going to help you," I whisper to nobody. "I promise. Whatever it takes, you will get to go home." That girl will no longer be sub 4 to me. I will learn her name, be kind to her and figure out a plan to get her out of there.

A/N- Beca has an ally! Thank you guys so much for reading and responding! I love hearing your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed it! More will come soon!