Chapter 2

(Somewhere in Tennessee)

   

    Two men in lab clothing, had their brows knit in concentration as they watched one of their partners inject something into an injured animal. Their breath caught in their throats, they watched intently, hoping for a reaction… Anything.

   " What happened? Did it heal? Did you see any closing of wounds?" A scrawny man with a goatee beard asked. Most of his middle hair had disappeared and he had dark circles underneath his eyes. He looked repulsive enough but on closer inspection, once could detect the slightest hint of a scratch on his wrinkling skin close to his eyes, giving him a savage look.

     The younger man shook his head, glancing at him with downcast eyes. " No, he's still the same." He muttered.

    " Damnit! After all the work we put in." He murmured to himself, displeased.

     " Isn't it hopeless already?" His partner asked. " We've been at this for years, trying to come up with an healing elixir and everytime we land on a dead end."

      " Shut up, James." The Scrawny man retorted, throwing a deadly gaze at him. " Have you been longer at this than I have?" He asked, the man clamped his mouth shut. " I'm trying to form an elixir and if we succeed, we could be billionaires and you're telling me to give up?"

      " But at what cost? Our lives?" The man who was called Jeff asked. " As the year go by, it's becoming dangerous to continue with this."

     " As far I know, nobody life is in danger."

      " You're not the one going to the beast's cage to draw out blood or anything that might be used to procure the elixir. He's getting more aggressive." 

      " Then just keep giving him more sedatives!" The Scrawny man shot back, causing james to flinch. " We need to make that elixir!"

      " How are you so sure he can give you what you want? Why are you going on with this?" James spoke up, getting infuriated. The Scrawny man stared at him, a deadly look in his eyes 

      " You saw it, didn't you? The last time that beast got seriously hurt and was bleeding, what happened the next day when you went to check up on him?" He asked. James fell silent. " Answer me!"

     " He was healed of his wounds. " 

     " Exactly! And it was just the next day.  A normal human would have died but not him. "

      " But he was left with scars..."

      " That's not the point. The point is that he heals. And quickly too. It means he has incredibly healing properties. If we can extract that from his DNA, we can be able to make an healing elixir that can heal any type of disease. Imagine what will happen if that gets outside. Everyone with an illness will request it and we would sell it, making millions."

      James swallowed, looking away.

      " Now... Don't you want that?" The Scrawny man asked. " All of that money? I'm sure you do. "

      " But Alfred, I don't think it's such a good idea.…"

     " No buts... We continue with our research. Get into that beast's cage and extract his blood. We need it to make another elixir. I want no more word from you." He said and walked away. James looked on helplessly at the younger candidate. The man shrugged and continued scribbling in his notepad. Letting out a sigh, he picked up fresh injections and walked out of the experiment room. Walking a few distance, he stepped into a elevator, clicking the button. The doors closed and he rode lower. The elevator stopped with a ding and the doors opened. He took in a deep breath, walking into the new room.

      The smell of dried blood filled the air. James scrunched up his nose, walking up to the officials that was in the room.

    " How's the beast?" He asked, pointing to the rear end of the room that had no light on.

     " He's stable. Hasn't made any noise all day." The man told him.  

      " Okay...  Be on standby. I want to go in there. If it shows any signs of resistance, shoot with those sedating bullets." He told them. 

       " Yes sir." The man instructed. He gripped the injection harder and walked closer. A low growl could be heard as she walked closer it only got louder as he walked closer. James stomach churned. He hated this. He hated this a lot. He got in front of the cage and a pair of different colored eyes glowed at him. He swallowed, his palms sweating. 

      " Now, take it easy boy..." He mumbled. " This won't hurt."

        The growl became a snarl. 

      " Hey... You guys, shoot this guy with the tranquilizers. I'm not about to be scratched to death."

       " Yes sir. " They echoed behind him and took up their guns. Taking their positions, they shot at the beast. The growl became louder as he bared his teeth, mouth foaming and eyes glowering. James heart began pounding in his chest. Taking slow, steady step towards james, he pinned his eyes on him, unaffected by the numerous shots at him.

       " Isn't he supposed to be weak by now?" James called out, confused.

       " I don't know sir, lately he's been showing resistance to the tranquilizers. " One of them called out.  

      Shit! That was their only way to tame this bastard! 

      " Come on... Shoot more!" He ordered and more shots were fired. He barely whimpered. Only growled and barked, trashing around in the cage. James ran out of patience. 

       " That's enough. Get a real gun this time. This one's child's play to him."

      " What?" One of them called out. He turned to them with a glare so fierce, they could probably drop dead.

      " You heard me!"

       " Okay sir!" They chorused, scurrying away.  It was heaving, still affected. A sadistic smile worked it way up James face. 

      " Don't worry, we'll bring your size soon." He muttered, grinning to himself. The beast barked at him, his eyes blazing. James didn't look affected by it. They soon arrived with real guns and taking their positions again, shot at it again. 

       It worked this time around. It fell with a painful howl, blood oozing from where it has been shot. But it wouldn't stop snarling. 

     " More shots!" James cried out.

    " But sir.…!" 

     " Don't worry, it heals. " He dismissed them. The cocked their guns and shot at it. More painful groans were heard. It staggered on his feet and fell with a thud, the cage shaking. It eyes slid shut. James let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and quietly unlocked the door walking in to the blood filled cage. The beast lay there motionless. 

     " You poor thing. If you had cooperated. You wouldn't be this hurt." James began as he walked closer. " Now look at you. Bleeding like a dog. You're so much better than this. " He jabbed the injection into the bus furry body, drawing out blood. He continued with his monologue. " Don't blame me, blame Alfred. He's the one who's hell bent on creating an healing elixir from your genes." Once the syringe was full, he drew it out, sighing in satisfaction.

     The wolf's eyes snapped open. In an instant It rose to his feet, his gaze unflickering. James stood there frozen, terror filling his system. The bastard pretended to be unconscious so he could lure him in! With a loud howl, he charged towards james, throwing him to the side of the cage. James landed with a thud, his vision blurred. 

    The wolf stepped on the injection, breaking it before charging out of the cage. In a frenzy, the armed officials shot at it but it just attacked it, flinging them like rag dolls. Fearing for their lives, they abandoned the guns and ran out of the building. Reveling in his new found freedom, it let a long howl before charging out of the room, seeking for a place to escape.

    " Help! Help!! The beast has been let lose!" The officials screamed as they ran. Alfred stood there, shocked. That's impossible, how could it have possibly escaped?! After all the tranquilizers and real bullet wounds? 

     " Call the soldiers. That thing needs to be brought back! We must not let it escape!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. The soldiers trooped in, bigger guns with them.

      " When you see the wolf, shoot it. But don't kill it. I need it alive. " He warned sternly. They nodded and filled their bullets. The wolf soon came to view. He was bigger than any wolf they've seen and his different colored eyes only added to his beastly look. He was also bleeding. It growled at them as they positioned themselves and without time to spare, lunged itself at them, disrupting them.

    

     He bit a few, tearing their limbs from their body. Their agonizing screams filled the air and the entire laboratory was in chaos. Alfred could only stand and watch in disbelief. What kind of monster was this. The wolf spared it a glance as it rushed out of the laboratory, gunshots following him out. It would rather die than let himself be captured again. He'd been there far too long. They chased after him but he was too fast. In a last minute attempt to bring it down, they rained bullets in it's direction but nothing worked. It had disappeared, leaving destruction in it's wake.

   

    Alfred glanced at his destroyed laboratory and at the empty woods. He was sheathing. How could he have escaped!? He was so close to making the healing elixir from his genes! There was no way he could do that now that it's escaped. Furious, he grabbed a wandering shoulder by the collar.

     " Find that wolf. I don't care how long it takes you. Find it and bring it to me. Alive." He ordered. The man flinched, surprised at the ragw that was coming off this scientist.

     " Yes sir." He replied meekly. 

      He let go of  collar, stomping back to his destroyed laboratory.