I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, still struggling with computer, TV and phone screens, but hopefully my eyes will desensitize soon! Hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

Chapter 15

After my routine blood and stem cell tests I headed to work begrudgingly, I spent the rest of the day fuming over Dr Lane's master breeding plan. At the end of the day he was still my boss, and practically had me on a leash, my life was literally in his hands, so I couldn't exactly rebel. But that didn't mean I was going to be civil either. Dr Lane put on an amused front as I gave him the silent treatment, like a petulant child, but I knew it twisted his insides in a bad way. Dr Lane abhorred being ignored.

I slammed my fist down on the stapler, my jaw clenched and my eyes narrowed. I had to prepare Dr Lane's findings for the board members, which consisted of me slaving over the printer and stapler all afternoon. I smashed my fist down on the stapler again and again.

"Victoria I'm heading home for the day, you may join if you wish, I don't think the stapler can take anymore," Dr Lane half joked from behind me, trying to play the nice guy. I shook my head, my ponytail swishing across my shoulders. I carried on beating the stapler.

"Victoria I don't appreciate this attitude," Dr Lane said monotonously as he paced around the desk to face me as he pulled on his coat.

"I don't appreciate being part of a breeding programme," I whispered with a hiss.

"Victoria, you've had your paddy, now it's time to grow up and face reality," Dr Lane said, it sounded like a warning.

"And if I don't?" I looked up from my work and narrowed my eyes on the old man.

"I'll have no choice but to facilitate you," Dr Lane spoke harshly and truthfully.

"Facilitate me?" I scowled, "You mean lock me up on floor eight with your other guinea pigs?"

"If it has to come to that. The truth is Victoria you are alive because of me, you should be long dead, but here you are, living, breathing, residing in my very own home. I took you in under my wing as if you were my own; did I not treat you fairly?" Dr Lane said, pushing the guilt buttons. Even though I knew I was being manipulated I couldn't help but feel guilty, this man had a way with people that I could never understand. Are Lycan's able to glamour?

"That's the thing Sir, you do kindly treat me as your own. You are pushing Quint into the exact same thing after all. I always knew you were capable of despicable things, even before, but I never thought you would droop so low to treat your own son like a stud dog." I countered. I spoke before I thought. Instantly my head snapped to the side as he back handed me across the face. My cheek instantly lit up like a fireball, my skin glowing red with searing pain. Tears welled in my eyes as I reached up to my burning cheek and laid my cool hand against the flaming mark. Dr Lane's stoney face instantly softened as he reached out to touch my arm, I pulled away instantly, backing up against the wall, my cheek still in hand.

"Don't," I choked, I was still in shock, I had never expected that off him. I guess Quint was more like his father than I thought.

"Victoria I'm sorry, that was irrational of me." Dr Lane apologised, stepping forward towards me.

"Leave me alone," I whispered, narrowing my eyes on him. Suddenly I wasn't paralysed with fear, a sudden burst of intense fiery energy burned from within me. Dr Lane dared to step closer, holding out his hand to comfort me.

"Victoria-"

"Don't you touch me!" I slapped his hand away and bolted for my desk. I hastily grabbed my bag and coat, flinging them round my arm and dashed for the elevator. It felt like I was waiting hours for the lift to arrive and open. I stepped in without any hesitation. Once I got to the lobby I walked straight passed the entrance to the car park and headed straight for the revolving doors at the front of the building. I didn't look back.

I stood on the pavement beside the busy road and dropped my handbag to the ground as I pulled on my coat; it was freezing, the sky dark and grey. We were nearing December so it was inevitable the bad weather would hit at some point. As I tried to hail a taxi I thought about where I was actually going to go, I was homeless, isolated. I couldn't go back to that apartment, not after everything that happened there, and there was no way in hell that I was going back to Dr Lanes. Rain began to patter on the pavement as the clouds grew even darker overhead. I sighed with relief as a taxi finally pulled up to the curb.

"Victoria? What are you doing here honey?" Trisha asked as she walked up her front garden to find me slumped on her cold stone doorstep. I was soaked wet and numb to the bone with cold, I'd been patiently waiting for her to finish work for at least four hours.

"Trish I wouldn't ask this of you if I wasn't desperate but I need someplace to stay," I pleaded. Trisha helped me up and gave me a kind pat on the back.

"You are welcome anytime Vic, how long have you been waiting? You're drenched and freezing! Let's get you inside," Trisha pulled out her keys and quickly unlocked the door. We stepped inside out of the winter rain, the warmth of the house felt beautiful against my icy skin.

She let me change into a pair of her sweatpants and a jumper as she made a pot of coffee. Her house, unlike the Lanes', was modest, but still charming and lovely. Trisha's house was warm, welcoming and homely, not like Dr Lane's show home. We curled up on the sofa with our brews, the television switched to some ridiculous reality show that I know Trisha loved to pieces.

"I'm sorry for throwing myself on you like this, it means a lot you've taken me in," I said sincerely as I took a sip of my scorching coffee, it burned down my throat in a painfully satisfactory way.

"Like I said you are welcome any time," Trisha smiled. "So what happened, why can't you go back home?" She asked curiously.

"There was a murder in my building, and I just can't go back there," Technically not a lie.

"Oh my… seriously?! Who? I told you that neighbourhood was dodgy! Are you alright?" Trisha exclaimed.

"It was my land lord, I'm fine, just shaken," I sighed.

"God I wish my land lord would croak it. So are you moving out? I hope you are girl, I don't want you living where a man was murdered,"

"Yeah, I was hoping to browse places on your laptop tonight maybe?"

"Of course, I'll grab it for you now!" Trisha said, jumping up from her spot on the sofa and rushing out of the room. She returned with her laptop and charger lead bundled in her arms. "Here you are," She smiled handing it to me. "Will Monty be okay, in the apartment on his own? I can ask my neighbour if she'll go collect him, she owes me one anyway,"

"Oh he's fine, I texted a neighbour to feed him for me while I find a new place, I don't want to disrupt him too much until I move out, he hates travelling," I lied through my teeth. I was paranoid I didn't sound convincing or genuine, that she could see right through me and these terrible lies I had been filling her with over the last week. I opened up the laptop on my knee and loaded up the internet.

"How come you didn't go stay with your boyfriend?" Trisha asked with a sly wink. My forehead wrinkled up as my face was overcome with confusion. "You know the guy from the bar and the hospital that works for Antigen?" She asked slowly. I'd completely forgotten about that in all the madness.

"Oh him,"

"Yes him, we presumed since you've been MIA this week that you'd been seeing him… that and he was asking your whereabouts this afternoon before I left work, he seemed pretty worried about you, like boyfriend worried…" Trisha smiled deviously. "Why you'd want to keep him a secret I'd never know, he is a fine looking man,"

"Yeah I thought it was a bit erm… early to ask him for a place to stay you know?" I lied again; at this rate my pants would be catching a light.

"That's true; it's been what like a week? Seems like longer since we went out for drink! But you're right, he's too gorgeous to scare away so soon. Is he your first since that guy from school you told me about?" Trisha asked, taking a sip from her coffee.

"Erm, yeah he is," I said nervously, wanting to dodge the subject.

"I don't know how you can be single for that long, and not even have anything going on the side! My legs start to itch after like two weeks," Trisha giggled. I searched on the laptop for apartments nearby, now my medical debt was kindly erased I could afford something a little less grungy and closer to the downtown area.

"What about Church Street?" I wondered aloud as I scrolled down the listings.

"Church is nice, got those new apartments with the balconies, pricey though, what about your medical bills?"

"Dr Lane is giving me a pay rise to cover my medical expenses," I lied again, though I was expecting a hefty pay rise after that slap.

"It's about time he gave you a raise," Trisha snorted.

We ordered in Chinese for dinner, my first takeaway in months and I loved it. It was followed by a cheesy romantic comedy, they weren't even Trisha's guilty pleasure - her entire movie collection was RomComs! Even though it was funny and light hearted, my mind kept wandering to Quint, and I'd cuss and scold myself each time. Finally at around eleven I tucked myself into bed in the guest room. The bed was lumpy and the covers where a little itchy, I thought back to my bed at the mansion, and how its marshmallow mattress was too comfy. I felt like goldilocks, this bed is too lumpy; this bed is too soft… I hoped one day I'd finally find a bed that was just right. Even though I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted as usual I just couldn't fall asleep. I think I had a case of insomnia, because no matter what I tried I couldn't drift off. A little voice in the back of my mind whispered something to me as I began to finally relax and drift away. You slept fine with Quint by your side.