"When he drugged Number 6 up and took little Hazel to his cage, I was unable to watch from the Cam-Room. I was too heartbroken." He paused, tears in his eyes, "I did not watch but I heard it all. Her screams... Her pleas..."His eyes squeezed tight. Tears flowed down repeatedly. "I heard and remembered every bit of those agonizing screams...""Uhm...don't you think you're being too emotional about this?" Simon's unconcerned tone filled the air.Hector's eyes opened. He fixed them on the man.Simon shrugged, "They are just experiments. It was all for a good cause."Hector's eyes squeezed shut again. He balled his hands into fists, and squeezed, imagining it to be Simon's head. "Heartless monster." Hector intoned.Simon caught himself. This is not looking good for him at all. If he's going to get this damned man to release him, he has to pretend like he cares, even if he doesn't give shît."I'm sorry about that, uhm...don't mind me. What happened was awful, truly awful." He pursed his
Hector continued his story. "Hazel was barely conscious when I took her and ran, by the time I got far enough away from the facility, she'd lost full consciousness. I didn't want there to be problems when I arrive at the hospital carrying her—I didn't want to create any suspicions—so I laid her by the roadside, stayed in the nearby bush, and waited.""Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long. A young couple saw her and stopped to help her. I pretended to be a passerby who also saw what was happening and stopped to help with the situation. A few other cars stopped too. Together, we loaded her up and I directed them to the hospital where I want her to be treated."Simon, in his chains, was still trying to wrap his head around everything Hector was telling him."When Amelia heard her daughter has been found but she's in the hospital, she came running." Hector's eyes went hazy and fled with memories, "I can still remember that look of relief in her eyes to have found her daughter alive but
Simon snorted again. "Now, that's dramatic. That's funny too, considering that I know for sure that she is the woman in that hospital room." "She died in the hospital three weeks after losing the baby." Hector continued, "I was starting to suspect we might lose her completely when there was a sudden change in her condition. It worsened. The doctor informed us to prepare for the worst. I thought hard on what to do, knowing fully well that Amelia might die if that Hazel dies.""So, that very morning I went to my bedroom cupboard and picked up Number 6's blood sample I took some time ago from the lab because I wanted to work from home then. I put that tube in my pocket before going to the hospital, I had no idea what I was thinking when I decided to bring that with me, but I did it anyway. Best decision I ever made." He added, sparing Simon a glance."Only to get to the hospital to find Amelia screaming so loud." He went on, "I knew something had gone wrong. I followed the screams only
But, then again, Sandra—always the smart one—already picked it up. Her own eyes widened, she looked at her friend, "You know him?""O-Of course, I know him. I bumped into him that very day with you, remember?" Ismena was trying to throw her friend off."But that was a long time ago, and besides, he addressed you by your name too." Sandra isn't someone that can easily be thrown off. She added, "And it looks like he is here to see you... isn't that right?" That part was directed to Alphose.Alphose, caught in the middle, was speechless but for an entirely different reason. Apart from the question he was asked, he broke out in cold sweat for an entirely different reason.A minute of uncomfortable silence passed."We have to talk." He directed to Ismena at last."O-Okay." To Sandra, he said, "We'll be back in a minute." He inclined his head slightly. "Oh, of course," Sandra responded, baffled by the situation.Why am I breathless just by seeing him again? She thought as she watched them
But, even with all the excitement, she was trying to contain, she was still holding her breath while waiting for Alphose to get himself under control.When he did, all the corded muscles in his arms and neck relaxed. He released a very deep breath too, before he turned to face her. His eyes were back to gray again. "Are you okay now?" She asked him, concerned."Yes." A nod, "We have to bring her back with us to Naturiah, Ismena. You have to explain everything about what I am to her.""I have no idea how to tell her everything. She'll think I've lost my mind." She pointed out, truthfully.Alphose thought so too. His head was working too.Is it really a good idea to bring her to Naturiah? What if she isn't his mate?The idea hurts, more than it's supposed to. He has waited for his mate all his life. "I think we need time. Time to tell her everything and also time to explain to her that she needs to follow us to Naturiah." Ismena suggested."I know that. But time is the only thing we d
"Yes. Oh, yes. Yes, I'll go." No hesitation. Nothing. Her eyes were just filled with trust.It made Ismena emotional and she shook her head, "But, Sandy, you don't even know where it is.""Don't care. What matters is that you're there—wherever 'there' is—and you're going there with me, and we're going to spend more time together.""But Sandy, what about your work?""I can always take a break. Remy, that dog, knows I'm long overdue for now." She smirked then.Ismena smiled too, at the reference to her boss. "Well, that's true. Oh, Sandy, I'm so happy you're going with me—"The door opened and Alphose entered again. "We don't have much time left, Ismena. We have to go now."Ismena nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay."Alphose allowed himself to look at Kassandra then, "What about her?""She's—" Ismena began.But Sandra cut her off, raising her hand up, "Her, is also coming too."Their eyes locked.For a moment, Sandra would have sworn that the world around them stilled. Alphose's face might
His claws lengthened. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. He is determined to get to the root of all these. For the first time in his life, he and his cougar are attracted to the same woman. It's not common, and that is why he has to keep his hope alive.They got to the final path and Alphose told them to come down. He paid the taxi driver and waited for the driver to leave completely. Then, he turned and looked at Ismena for guidance.Ismena turned to her friend, "We'll have to walk for a while from here. What do you think, Sandy?""I'll sure love to walk," Sandra said, stretching herself. "After sitting down for most of the day, walking is a good idea. I have to admit that this is a long journey. I don't even know the part of the country we're in anymore, that is if we're still in the country. We took the flight before the rides, after all."Ismena walked with her friend, smiling. "No, we are nowhere near the U.S anymore.""I figured." She nodded, looking around. "
Another burst of laughter rang out from Sandra. This time around, it went on forever."You must have fallen down and hit your head on something, my poor Mena." She finally said. Turning towards Alphose, she added, "Shouldn't we bundle her and talk her to the hospital to get her head checked out?"She speaks the truth, Kassandra." Alphose replied.Sandra started laughing again.Ismena and Alphose looked at each other helplessly. They are not getting anywhere with the woman at all."Okay, okay, okay," She raised her arms in front of her, palm out, "Okay, I don't wanna be unreasonable, so let's say you're right. You're a changeling, right?""Yes, I am." Alphose answered, resigned."You're a mountain lion, right?""Yes, I am.""I wanna see." She declared, amusement brightening her eyes. "Let me see your animal."Her best friend and Alphose shared one of those looks again. This time, Ismena directed one of those wide-eyed glances toward her too and she was shaking her head, "Hell no, you h