Chap. 10

As Ryan climbed slowly down the stairs, he prayed that the next time he shaved it would be easier. His chin was marked with cuts. He figured that the new cuts blended easily with the other cuts on his face from the window he had climbed through. At the bottom of the steps Ryan gently touched the injury. Even the light touch sent a shiver of pain up his side. Right away Ryan tore his hand from the spot, and looked around the room to take his mind off of it. The window had already been replaced, and all other signs of the werewolf had been erased. Ryan silently wondered what the family had done with the body, but he decided it was one of the things he didn’t want to know.

When he finally made it to the kitchen, Mrs. Rodriguez was sitting at the table, sipping from a steaming cup. She looked up as Ryan entered the room. She smiled, than asked, “What, was there a werewolf in our bathroom?”

“Yeah, it snuck in by disguising itself as a razor.”

Mrs. Rodriguez laughed warmly, than asked, “You decided to keep the side burns?”

Ryan reached up and felt the fuzzy lines that sandwiched his ears with the hair on the other side, “I didn’t think I should get too close to my ears, after seeing what happened to my chin…so, what’s for breakfast?”

Mrs. Rodriguez blinked, “Didn’t I tell you? The medicine can only work on an empty stomach.”

“Great. So, when are we leaving?” Ryan asked flatly, trying to ignore the emptiness he felt in his stomach. Mrs. Rodriguez looked at her watch, took a short drink from her cup, then stood up while saying, “Right now!”

Ryan started limping towards the door. As he reached it, Mrs. Rodriguez called from behind him, “Lie down in the backseat! The bumps will probably hurt, but if you lay down, it might not be as bad!”

“Okay.” Ryan went through the door, and walked over to the driveway next to the house. There was no garage, so the cars were just parked in the driveway, in the order that their drivers had to leave in. He walked over to a black car. It didn’t look very big, especially with the fact it only had two doors. He opened the door, and pushed the seat ahead. He climbed into the back seat, and lied down, waiting for Mrs. Rodriguez to leave the house. Looking up through the closed sunroof, Ryan noticed something he hadn’t before. There was a small security camera on the top of the light pole that was outside of the house. He sat up, ignoring the pain from his side. The lens was pointed directly at the window, the window of the room Ryan had slept in his first night there. Slowly the camera swiveled on its base, and pointed the lens at the door, just as Mrs. Rodriguez locked it.

There is no way that that is a coincidence… Ryan thought to himself, as Mrs. Rodriguez opened the car door and climbed in.

“What are you looking at?” She asked, turning the key in the ignition.

“The camera on top of that pole…”

Mrs. Rodriguez looked up, “Yeah, it’s been there for awhile.”

“And you’re not worried about the fact that it points straight at your house?”

“What do you mean? It’s pointed at the street.”

Ryan looked over, and saw the camera looking down at the street, “Okay…So, are we going to pick up Marisa or not?” Ryan asked, but in his mind: All right. No coincidence. Ragnarök is watching me through that camera, and who knows how many other cameras they are watching me through…

The ride wasn’t as bad as Ryan thought it was going to be. There were only a few bumps on the road, and Mrs. Rodriguez drove over those slowly, only jarring Ryan slightly. Even so, by the time the car drove up to the school, Ryan was starting to get edgy. From the sunroof Ryan had seen a myriad of cameras on top of traffic lights, and telephone poles, and even store roofs. He was fairly certain that the cameras were following the car’s journey.

“Hey Mom!” Ryan heard Marisa call from outside the car. He also heard a lot of other voices, all of which seemed to be yelling at each other in a heated argument, “Would you mind if we gave Helena a ride home?” She asked.

“I’m sorry, honey, but we have to go pick up your cousin Ryan.” To Ryan it seemed she over emphasized the word Ryan.

“Oh yeah! Sorry Helena.” Ryan heard the car door open, and than the door slamming, than Marisa whispered, “Where is he?” her mom answered with a quick movement of her head. Marisa nodded that she understood. She said a quick good bye to Helena, than Mrs. Rodriguez drove away from the school.

A few minutes passed where no one spoke, than Ryan said from the back seat, “So, from where I sit, you had me lie down, not for the bumps, but to keep me hidden from the people at the school…”

“Yes, that’s actually the reason.” Mrs. Rodriguez admitted, “You can sit up now, if you want.”

Ryan sat up slowly, trying to avoid moving his injury. It was a few moments before he realized that Marisa hadn’t spoken. He looked over and saw her scribbling down words on a piece of paper.

“Homework? What subject?” Ryan asked, trying to make small talk. He guessed it would be something he couldn’t remember. He was way off.

“It’s biology. We have to write down what makes a bird able to fly.”

Ryan almost laughed, “Wow. That actually sounds easy. Need some help?”

“I guess…”

“Well…a bird has hallow bones, which makes it lighter. It has aerodynamic feathers, and air sacs in its body, that also make it lighter.” Ryan pulled all of the answers from what Dr. Baker had told him.

“Anything else?” Marisa asked as she finished writing.

“Not that I can remember.” Mrs. Rodriguez stopped the car. It had only been ten minutes.

“Wow, that’s convenient. A school only a few minutes away from a hospital…” Ryan muttered, climbing tentatively out of the car.

“Okay, here’s what I need you two to do. I need five minutes to get in and out. During that time I need you two to distract the doctor. There should only be one.” Mrs. Rodriguez led the two into the hospital. It was a big difference in temperature, but not as big as that of the arctic temperature of the library. They were in a large room, with three hallways branching off from it, and four elevators along one wall.

At the far end there was a reception desk. Behind the desk was a door that Ryan figured led to another elevator, used only by employees. Along the wall opposite the elevators were ten chairs arranged around five tables. The chairs were empty while a few of the tables had stacks of magazines, tastefully arranged. The receptionist was a guy with jet-black hair and a chiseled jaw. Large, thick lenses magnified the look of boredom in his eyes.

“Hey, Josh.” Mrs. Rodriguez said, flashing an ID card at him.

“Hey. Want me to watch the kids?” Ryan guessed that he was only asking because he had nothing else to do.

“No, it will only take me a few seconds, so the kids can just come with me.” Josh nodded. As Ryan walked towards the door behind the desk, he noticed that on the computer screen the man was playing a game of Internet poker.

When Mrs. Rodriguez opened the door, Ryan found out he was only partially right. The door led to a brightly lit hallway, with three doors, one on each wall. The door farthest from Ryan was an elevator. Mrs. Rodriguez walked straight for the elevator, so Ryan didn’t get to see what was behind the other doors. Mrs. Rodriguez waited until the two kids walked into the elevator before pressing her ID card into a slot, and than pressing a button on the wall.

“This will take us to the third floor. That is where the steroid is kept.” Ryan couldn’t tell why, but the elevator ride was filling him with dread. As the elevator slowed, Ryan imagined that the doors would open up into a dark, dank hallway. Instead, they opened into a brightly lit and friendly looking lobby. There were three hallways, each leading from one of the walls. In the middle of the room was a large nurse’s station, made in the shape of a horseshoe. Above the wall of the station, which only reached to Ryan’s waist, there was a barrier of glass, which reached up to the height of Ryan’s neck. There were two nurses in the area, one typing on a computer in the station, and a second wheeling a cart down the hallway directly opposite the elevator.

“Hello, Agnes.” Mrs. Rodriguez said to the nurse at the station.

“Hi.” The nurse answered warmly, “How is Josh doing downstairs?”

“Bored out of his mind. Has it been a slow day?” Mrs. Rodriguez said, moving towards the hallway on the left side.

“Yeah. We had a first-degree burn victim in here this morning, but that was it.”

“So, is Dr. Jordan in?”

“Yes, he just got here. Do you want me to page him?”

“No, that’s fine.” Mrs. Rodriguez waved a good-bye, than hurried the children down the hallway to the right of the station.

“Alright, Dr. Jordan is the doctor who experiments with new ways to make medicine more effective.” She said, after they were out of earshot. The hallway had doors on each side, some solid metal, others with small windows, “This floor is mostly experimental, but there are a few patients here, mostly the ones who have such a dire need for the new medicines to save their lives.” At a split in the hallway, Mrs. Rodriguez turned the kids towards the right. The hallway came to an abrupt stop, a few yards away. There was a door at the end.

Mrs. Rodriguez walked over to the door and knocked, than she stepped back to join the kids. A few seconds later the door swung open and a short man walked out. He was slightly balding, but his face was stern.

“Ahh, hello Mrs. Rodriguez. So, these are the kids who wanted to talk to me?” He asked.

“Yes. Also, my assistant accidentally sent a package here instead of down to the lab. While you’re talking, would you mind if I went and got it?” Ryan was amazed at how fluidly the lie had come out of her mouth.

“Yes, that would be fine.” The man’s voice was deep. Mrs. Rodriguez walked over to the door, and disappeared into the room.

“So, what do you youngsters want to know about,” Dr. Jordan took a short look at Ryan’s face, “Besides shaving?”

“I was wondering: what exactly is it that you do?” Marisa asked sweetly.

“And be very specific.”

Outside the hospital, a man walked up to the black car. His overcoat was reflected off of the black shine. He reached up and pressed the button on his earphone, than he spoke in a voice that sounded like a hiss, “Yes. The bird and his associates are here. What are my orders?”

“Kill the associates, and try to capture the bird. If you can’t capture him, make sure he doesn’t get away.” A voice ordered from the other line. The person nodded their head, even though he knew his master couldn’t see him.

He walked away from the car, leaving a long scratch as he walked away. The cold blast from the open door startled the man for a little bit, but it didn’t last long. From under the hood that hid his face, the man looked around, and settled on the door behind the desk. He walked forward, and pressed the button to open the door.

“I’m sorry, do you have clearance?” A voice spoke behind him.

“It depends…” The man spoke in his hiss, “Will you give it to me?” The nametag said Josh.

Josh reached over and picked up the phone, “If you don’t step back, I’ll have to call security!”

The man was about to reply when a voice sounded in his ear, “This boy is starting to infuriate me. I give you permission to kill anyone who gets in your way from now on.”

The man smiled. Something darted out from under the coat, and buried itself in Josh’s stomach.

“Ah!” He screamed. The man leaned over him.

“What floor did the woman go to?”

“Th-third!”

“Thank you.” The man hissed. The thing that had buried itself in the man’s stomach, tore out, and jabbed into Josh’s chest. The man smiled as his victim fell dead. He walked over to the computer, and closed out of the poker game. He typed in some orders, and almost laughed when a window popped up. He had just shut down all locks in the building.

The man walked over to the door, and pressed the button again. This time the door swung open. The voice in his ear spoke, “Good job, Scorpio. Now, you must continue to the third floor.”

“Thank you, Dr. Phull.” The man continued walking. He had memorized the buildings lay out from the computer. He knew the elevator was at the end of the hallway. The only problem would be finding the targets.

On the third floor, Ryan was already bored of the man’s explanation of his job. He was telling them microscopic details that Ryan didn’t think anyone should know. Right then Dr. Jordan was talking about how he had to change the DNA of the ingredients in the medicine to make it more effective. He also talked about the liquid nitrogen he had in the room, because some things he needed to change could only be done while the ingredients were frozen.

Marisa seemed to be hanging on every word. Ryan’s mind started to wander off, until it was brought back to the conversation when a loud click sounded from the door.

“What was that noise?” He asked worriedly.

“That would be the locks turning off…” Dr. Jordan walked over to the door ad turned the handle. The door opened, “Usually to open this door you need to put in your access card…” Dr. Jordan took a phone out of a pocket, and punched in a number, “I’m calling the receptionist. It is his computer that controls the locks…” During the time that the doctor had the phone up to his ear, Ryan heard the ding as the elevator doors slid open. He didn’t worry about it.

Just as the doctor closed the phone, a scream echoed down the hallway. Ryan’s instincts instantly clicked in.

“What was that?” Marisa asked, looking at Ryan.

“I don’t know, but I can guess where it came from. I’m going to go and find out!” Ryan started to move, but was instantly stopped by a voice at the end of the hallway.

“There’s no need for that, my friend.” Ryan looked down the hallway to see a figure standing there. An overcoat covered his body, and a hood hid his head. The stranger was slowly advancing on the group.

Ryan turned towards Dr. Jordan, “Is there anyway to get down to the lobby from your lab?”

“Yes, but it is locked…”

“All of the locks are turned off! Come on!” Marisa said, grabbing the doctor’s hand, and pulling him to the door.

“I’ll stay here. If I’m not back soon, get out.” Ryan said sternly, pushing the two through the door, than he whirled around to meet the stranger.

“So we finally meet at last.” The man said in a hissing voice. He stopped about three yards away from Ryan, “I’m sorry, we haven’t been introduced. I am Scorpio, or Kappa Single One.”

“I’m guessing you already know who I am, seeing as you were sent by Ragnarök.” Ryan muttered angrily, looking for something he could use as a weapon.

“Yes, I do, Alpha Triple Oh, or should I call you Ryan?” The person took one step towards Ryan. Ryan was still scanning the hallway for anything he could use to beat the person in front of him. If Marisa’s dad could kill a werewolf with a broomstick, I can take this guy down with something else… Ryan thought to himself, “The scientists were wondering about something, after you left. How did you manage to kill Dr. Evans, when he had a gun pointed at you? They know you couldn’t have possibly killed him without having the doctor let off a shot.”

“Maybe I’m just lucky.” Ryan was trying to stall. The hallway walls were bare, besides the door.

He was just wondering if he should try to go through some of the doors, when a new voice came from his opponent, “Enough talk. I can tell he won’t come with you. Kill Him!” The voice shouted.

“Yes, master.” Scorpio answered. He kneeled down, and threw off the over coat and hood. Ryan let out a startled gasp. The creature in front of him looked more horrible than anything he had fought in the facility.

The man’s body was covered in hard, hairy brown plates, like an exoskeleton, and Ryan could tell if he hit the man, it would hurt him more than it would hurt Scorpio. Scorpio’s eyes were nothing but two small slits on his face. The man had no nose, and his ears were small, almost microscopic holes at the sides of his head. Those weren’t the most disturbing features. Coming up from the person’s back, was a tail. It was made up of small portions, each connected by a hinge like joint. At the end of the tail was a sharp, dagger-like point, dripping in fresh blood. The tail was made out of the same hard plates that the body was covered in.

“They’re still making freaks, are they?” Ryan questioned, preparing himself in case the monster rushed him.

“Yes, but now they’re using recycled material.” Scorpio said, standing up, his tail rising above him.

“Recycled material?”

“Yes, you supplied them with plenty of it. Iota Single Oh, Zeta Double Five, Omega Double Oh.” Scorpio said the last name with an emphasis, “I’m made out of pieces of all three.” Scorpio charged, his tail swinging a full four feet in front of him. Ryan jumped back, and dived around the corner that led to Dr. Jordan’s lab. As he landed, pain spiked from his injury, leaving him squirming on the ground.

“They couldn’t even give me a target that was healthy…” Scorpio said, standing over him, his tail lashing erratically behind him.

“They gave you a target that’s more than a match for you!” Ryan yelled, swinging his legs around, smacking Scorpio in the back of the knee, tumbling him to the ground. Ryan struggled to his feet, and ran to the door. He swung it open, making the handle break through the wall.

Scorpio climbed to his feet, and jabbed his tail into the wall, leaving a crack, “Things just got a little more interesting.” He muttered.

“What are you doing? Just kill him!’ A voice shouted from the earphone. Scorpio’s face turned to one of anger, and he took the earphone off of his head, and threw it down the hallway.

“Now we’re alone, my friend.” The hiss was almost a whisper. Scorpio’s tail stabbed forward, but Ryan had prepared for that. He slammed the door shut in front of him. The dagger-like point broke through the metal, but pulled out immediately, accompanied by an angry hiss. The room Ryan had locked himself in was brightly lit, and cold, colder than the library. There were white counters running along the walls, except where the line was broken by cabinets, or doors. In one corner there were three long tubes, standing up vertically. Ryan figured those were filled with liquid nitrogen.

Ryan ran over and grabbed a microscope. A few seconds later Scorpio burst through the door, “You’re running like a scared rabbit!” He shouted. Ryan threw the microscope, only to see it crash harmlessly against the chest plate, “Can’t you do better than that? Why don’t you use the wings that the Creators gave you?” Scorpio asked with a sneer.

Ryan grabbed a long vial that had been sitting on the counter. He broke the end against the counter, making it into a short, sharp spear, “Why? If I jumped out the window and flew away, you might try to follow me and end up a smashed bug on the pavement!” Ryan yelled in answer to his question.

Scorpio rushed forward, swinging his tail. Ryan side stepped, and jabbed low with the spear, stabbing it into the joint between the tail and Scorpio’s body. The monster hissed with rage, and turned on Ryan. He tore out the vial, and threw it against the wall. Scorpio’s slashes started coming faster and faster, until he was actually pushing Ryan back, against a wall. Ryan backed up, looking for something to use as a weapon, but Scorpio kept slashing, not giving Ryan enough time to grab anything.

Scorpio had a wicked smile on his face as he pushed Ryan into the corner. Behind him Ryan felt the long tubes.

“Now I get to do something that not even the Ragnarök scientists could accomplish. I am going to kill the first living avian experiment, Alpha Triple Oh!” Scorpio’s tail slowly moved forward until it was only a few inches from Ryan’s chest, “Prepare yourself!” he drew his tail back, at the same time his smile grew bigger.

Ryan’s body tensed. He had a plan, but he would only get one shot at it.

Next Chapter: Chapter 11