Chapter 3: The Organisation

I plunged into the water and tried to drag air into my lungs, trying to prepare myself for the ice cold contact but it never came. 

I felt as if my body was locked in a casket with no air, like I was in vacuum and floating through the darkness which rippled with flares of blue, it was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced and then it ended as abruptly as it began.

I was launched into the air, a sudden flash of green and blue and my body hit the ground. I groaned and sat up, hands clutching my head. A dull thud beside me announced the arrival of my luggage. I cursed and pushed myself up. It was then that I noticed my surroundings. I was standing near a small pond of sorts which could be nothing but the portal. The rich sounds of unfamiliarity echoed around me. I had to admit that it was one hell of a gloomy forest. 

What have you gotten me into Hemsworth? 

I picked up my bags and contemplated jumping back into the portal. It was a very good idea. I groaned. If it weren't for Devon Knight I would have done just that but I had to find him and get out of this place as soon as I could.

Where was the bloody organisation? I wondered as I roamed the forest, my nose sniffing the air. If I continued like this it would take days to reach there and I only had three weeks before the glamour dropped. I didn't even bring my gun. Hemsworth had said the security system at the human organisation won't allow it. Damn humans. 

I froze as I heard the twitching sound. 

It was coming from above. I breathed deeply and tried to keep my wolf inside. Don't look up! I warned myself. I could smell them. They were two humans. 

"H-hello?" I called out in English, one of the major human languages which we agents were trained to speak for situations like this during our training. I made myself look small by hunching my shoulders and making my voice crack, trying to sound frightened. 

"Is anybody t-there?" I called out again, praying that the humans above would make some move. 

"You need help, Ma'am?" One of them spoke and jumped down from the tree behind me. I screamed. I feigned falling backwards in fear and scooted farther from them.

"Don't be afraid, Ma'am. We work for a research organisation just a few miles away." He explained and the other man jumped down too. They were wearing black leather suits and their bodies were loaded with weapons. I tried not to laugh. I could rip their heads off before any of them could even pull the trigger. 

"I.. I have lost my w-way." I stammered. 

"Where do you want to go?" Human no. 1 asked. Oh, no. Hemsworth didn't tell me the name of the organisation. I paled and tried to think of something. 

"I think I am searching for the same place that you work for." I blurted out. I cursed at myself. I could've come up with something better.

They both stiffened and stared at each other. I watched with growing unease as some sort of message was delivered between them. I was tired because of the energy drain from the portal and I didn't want to kill two humans on the first day and mess up the laws of the treaty.

"Come with us." Human no. 2 said. 

Alarm clocks went off in my head and I stiffened. 

"W-Where?" I asked

"You will see." Human no. 2 said with a smirk. 

They led me deeper into the woods and I couldn't help but notice the black paint smeared on their faces and the slicked back hair. My eyes widened as I realised that it was for camouflage. Human no. 1 looked at me as he noticed my stare. 

"What?" He asked.

"The paint?" 

"It's for-" 

"Camouflage?" I interrupted.

"Well, yes. It helps us to hide and lay in wait for the tribal men." He whispered.

"Tribe men?" 

"The people of the.. local tribes are frequent trespassers in the organisation compounds. They cause a lot of trouble and so we have to lay in wait for scaring them off." Human no. 2 explained. His eyes narrowed slightly at me. His heart was beating rapidly and he was sweating. He was lying. 

A piece of advice, never lie to werewolves we know when you do.

What are you hiding? I asked him silently.

We walked for a long time through the forest. The sounds of animals slithering about in the thicket and the rustling of water nearby was like music to my ears. I hissed as I slapped away the mosquitoes stinging my arms and legs every second of the way and the humans laughed. 

"Should always cover your skin in these forests, Ma'am. Those nasty creatures can cause some real diseases." Human no. 1 said. 

I flashed him a smile and continued walking. 

"What position do you work for?" Human no. 2 asked. I stared at the ground for a few seconds then sighed.

"They won't tell me. I will know when I get there." I whispered to him. He laughed and stepped closer. I just wanted to get there and be done with these two. 

We stopped as human no. 1 held his hand in front of me. "We can't go any further, ma'am. You'll have to go on your own from here. Just go straight and you'll reach the gates." He explained. I was relieved to be rid of them so I smiled broadly and turned to face them. 

"Thank you so much for helping me." I said to them and bowed slightly, not knowing how to behave with the humans, my training had been of the little we knew of them a few centuries ago and though they had grown along with us, technology and all.. it was still awkward when they laughed at me.

"It's our pleasure, ma'am." They said and I quickly hurried along the path. They didn't seem like trouble but I was happy to be rid of them. I walked along the tree lined path, paying attention to each and every sound around me. I didn't even realise that I had crossed the deeper part of the forest until I was standing before the tall metal gates which buzzed and had a security of some type that looked very high tech. I looked up and down, a low whistle escaping my lips. 

"Someone's got money." I whispered as I walked over to the gate and as soon as I stepped beyond the white markings a few steps away from the gate, a loud alarm blazed in my ears and I froze. 

The sound was coming from inside the gate. My head started spinning and I had to crouch down. I growled and tried to block the sound but it just kept coming and I nearly jumped out of my skin when a cool metal thing touched my head. 

"Get down on the ground. Don't move." A deep voice said as the tip of a gun was shoved against my head in warning. The alarm had stopped. I breathed deeply in relief and buried my face in my hands.

"What the hell was that?" I rasped. 

"Security alarm. Anyone who is not a part of the team can't enter." He explained. I couldn't see his face as he still held me at gunpoint and I valued my life enough to not look up. 

"Move that thing away from me." I said stiffly to him. 

"Not so fast, darling. I need to know why you are here." He drawled. 

"I am new here, an employee. My name is Iris Holroyd." I said through clenched teeth. 

"Iris.. The new kid who is gonna work for Dr. O'neil?" He asked. I didn't know who Dr O'neil was but I just gave him a nod. 

"I need your ID." He said and I quickly pulled my bag near me.

"Let me search through that." He said and snatched the bag from me.

"I will kill you if you open it!" I hissed. The human just laughed and I had to ball my fists to keep myself contained.

I listened as he sorted through my bag and a few minutes later tossed a rectangular laminated card in front of me. It was my ID with Iris Holroyd's info on it and a grainy picture of my face which was somehow me but not me. Good job, Agent Cash. I would make sure I gave him a long hug when I went back to Etherea. 

"Welcome to the Genomic Mutation Research Center, Miss Holroyd." He drawled and withdrew the gun. I was shaking with rage as I stood up and looked at him. He had a pair of dark glasses on and was smirking at me. 

"Easy there, darling. It's standard protocol to check anyone before they enter the gates." He clarified, his hands clasping the gun to his shoulder. 

"I hope you enjoy working here." He said one last time and tilted his head towards the gate. 

I looked at the gates which were now being opened by two men who were wearing black leather suits; just like the ones the two humans from earlier had on.

"I am Commander Zetsev. I control the guards." He said with a cocky grin. I instantly disliked him. 

"Whatever, Zetsev. I am going in." I said over my shoulder and entered past the gates. There was a paved pathway lined by trees and it led to a very high profile and classy looking structure that I could guess was the main building. I walked over to the glass doors which were tinted and reflected my image. I looked horrible. My hair was a mess and I had dirt all over my clothes and face. I grinned. I should try this look at the office sometime. Winterlash would love it.

I was still laughing to myself when I entered the building. 

"How may I help you, ma'am?" The chirping voice drew me to the women standing behind the counter at the reception. She was wearing a pencil skirt and a white blouse, looking at me with owlish eyes. 

"I am.. Iris Holroyd and I-"

"Thank God!" She interrupted with a squeal. "I am so glad you're here! I won't have to lose my job now. Thank you!" She gushed as she got out from behind the counter and grabbed my hand. I flicked my wrist and shrugged her hand off me. Were all humans this clingy?! How was I going to manage here?

"Come with me, Miss Holroyd. I am so sorry I was supposed to pick you up at the airport but I was late because it was raining and my car stopped working and stuff. I was so worried about you and Dr O'neil would have fired me if you didn't show up. I know I am rambling but just know that I am so glad to see you." She rattled as we walked down the sleek and polished corridor. I was just glad that she wasn't there to pick Iris up at the airport.

"I will show you to your room, you need to change your clothes." She said, her eyes followed me from head to toe. 

"I got lost in the forest after the bus driver dropped me in the middle of nowhere." I lied. She nodded in understanding and stopped before a wooden door. 

"This is your room. There's a map of the building on the table and please call the reception area if you need anything." She said and opened the door, handing me the keys. I nodded my thanks at her and closed the door. 

I leaned against the closed door and squeezed my eyes shut. I made it. I laughed nervously and just stared at the ceiling. I made it.

***

I soaked in the hot tub for another minute and sipped the orange juice. This place was lavish. I had expected a mad scientist's lab with chemicals and mutilated animals running amok when Hemsworth had mentioned the organisation but it was totally different. The room I was given was a 5 star hotel suite with an enviable bathroom and a huge bed with a soft mattress; the only minus was that there were no windows. I sighed long and weary, sliding my legs out of the water and on the tiled floor. I wrapped my wet hair in a fluffy towel and shrugged on a robe. Picking up the glass, I walked back into my room. I was just going to sit on the bed when I heard the distant sound of footsteps. I straightened and placed the glass on the bedside table. The footsteps stopped outside my room and I quickly reached for my gun and realised that I didn't have one. I cursed as I heard the knock. Then a man's voice. 

"Miss Holroyd?" 

I tried to calm myself and walked over to the door and remembered that I was not wearing my lenses. I staggered backwards and rushed into the bathroom, I searched the sink where I had kept the case. With shaky hands, I undid the cover and scooped the lens on my fingertip and inserted it into my eyes. I blinked and did the same with the other eye.

"Miss Holroyd?" The man called again and a series of knocks followed. I wanted to growl at him.

I rushed back to the door, unlocked it and jerked it open. 

"What the hell do you want?" I snapped. 

The man was a human. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes and a very tall frame. I looked like a dwarf in front of him. He was staring at me from head to toe and I tried not to snarl. 

"What are you staring at? Go away." I was about to close the door but he just grabbed the knob and swung it open. 

"I am Samuel O'neil." He said. 

"Hello, Sam. Now get lost." I said and tugged at the door. He grinned, showing his pearly white teeth. 

"Get dressed, Miss Holroyd. We need to work." He said, his eyes unreadable.

"What?!" I exclaimed. Who was this man?

"From what I know, you were hired as my assistant. Weren't you, Iris?" His voice turned husky at the end and I slowly looked at his face. He was wearing a long white coat and there was a small badge on his chest that said 'O'Neil' in a white scrawl. 

"You're.. Dr. O'neil?" 

He just raised one dark brow. 

Damn.