Chapter 11

The new experiment

A/N: Just to warn you, i've decided to add a few chappys so don't worry if u think u missed summin

Disclaimer: Still don't own it

Iggy found himself in a hospital, he felt like he'd been there before, he'd certainly had an odd dream involving Sam. Through blurred vision he saw a small woman by his bed, she was asleep, breathing lightly. He had no idea who she was but for some reason he recognised her. Iggy raised himself in the small bed and felt strong pressure on his wings. He turned to see restraints on them and wasn't surprised, he had done this before, somehow.

Rosie woke with a start to see in front of her, an empty bed.

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There HE was, standing there over the body of his son. HE stuttered

"Ari?"

The pale form didn't move at first, then, Ari smiled and began to stand up, brushing himself off.

HE stretched his arms out to hold his son, feel his warmth. Before HE could move his arms were pinned down. Held behind HIS back by a force too strong for HIM to resist,

"Stop!" HE yelled, struggling to turn himself to see his attacker. All he saw was IT smile. And then it started laughing, cackling, it wouldn't stop.

HE could do nothing but watch as Ari crumpled to the ground. Despite his struggling he couldn't get out of her grasp. Her? Yes, it was.

She loosened her grip and let him turn. Still laughing at him. He saw her face.

"Baby girl?" he mumbled, she threw him down and continued to cackle. Mocking him, his sweet little angel. She stopped abruptly as something ruffled her feathers, he heard his baby scream as she became a dark silhouette against a frighteningly intense light.

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Jeb shot up in his chair dripping with sweat. He'd been having the same dream for the past year and it still scared him, made him remember Maximum. His Maximum.

Jeb's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock at his cabin door. He pushed himself through the hot, stuffy room towards the door. He picked up a handgun and asked.

"Who is it?" Jeb demanded, trying to keep a tone of authority in his voice but it sounded scratchy due to sleep and he didn't like that. Jeb had to be in control.

"Jake sir" a familiar voice sounded behind the thin wood. Jeb lowered his gun and opened the door.

"What is it Jake?" asked Jeb, admiring the erasers eyes, there was always defiance there. He had always liked that about Jake, he did as he was told but on his own terms. Jeb almost felt guilty that he was about to take all that away.

"We have a problem sir, it's about Danny" Jake started, waiting for a reaction. Another trait Jeb usually admired was Jake's ability to absorb tension, almost enjoy some sort of sick pleasure in it. A faint smile played across his lips as he expected frustration, even fear. It reminded Jeb of himself, it would be a shame to destroy that glitter in Jake's eyes but Jeb had to keep reminding himself that efficiency was the way forward. He could not afford for any of his employees to suffer a bout of emotion at a crucial moment or maybe worse than that, show mercy.

Jeb sighed as he asked an almost unnecessary question.

"What happened?" He asked waiting for the usual answer. Jake didn't disappoint.

"He failed sir, he's in hospital right now"

Jeb was surprised to find himself wincing at this news. Danny had been highly regarded by Jeb but he had learned long ago that it was better not to get emotional. Jeb was constantly pulled down by sorrows that hung like a lead weight around his neck. If he let them get to him he'd never be out of his chair. He pulled himself together and pushed the eraser lightly as he stepped down on to the dusty ground. Closing his cabin door behind him, he marched past the erasers huddled round a small fire and towards a second cabin, similar to his own.

Jeb stepped up to the door, the weak old steps moaned and creaked under his weight and he turned to find Jake by his side.

"Come with me Jake, there's something I have to show you" Jake followed him obediently in to the cabin and Jeb locked the door behind him. He figured this was as good a time as any to try his new experiment.

No-one else heard the Jake desperately scratching on the other side of the thin wood.