She adjusted something on my tray, leaning slightly closer. "Cameras have audio," she whispered. "Be careful what you say."
My heart raced. A potential ally? Or a trap to test my compliance?
"How many others like me are here?" I asked, keeping my voice casual as I examined the food.
"Seventeen active pairs in this facility," she replied, her professional tone at odds with the meaningful look she gave me. "Four with confirmed pregnancies."
"And the children? The ones already born?"
She busied herself with arranging my cutlery. "Transferred to specialized facilities once they reach developmental milestones."
"You mean once you confirm they have the abilities you want," I corrected.
Maya straightened, her voice taking on the rehearsed quality of someone aware they're being monitored. "The Hybridization Initiative provides excellent care for all subjects. Your cooperation ensures the best possible outcomes."
But as she turned to leave, her fingers brushed mine, pressing something small and hard into my palm. I kept my expression neutral, waiting until the door closed behind her before examining the object.
A small data chip, no larger than my thumbnail.
I quickly slipped it into the hem of my shift, heart pounding. Whatever it contained, Maya had risked everything to give it to me.
That night, I lay on the hard bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts of Redmon filling my mind. Was he nearby? Was he hurt? Did he know I was here? The ache of separation was physical, a hollow feeling beneath my ribs that surprised me with its intensity.
When had he become so essential to me? The monster I married now felt like the only safe harbor in a storm.
I clutched the hidden data chip like a talisman, wondering what secrets it might hold and how I could access it. I only hoped that tomorrow, when they took me to see Redmon, an opportunity would present itself.
Sleep came in fitful bursts, punctuated by nightmares of laboratories and children with vacant eyes. I woke to the sound of my door unlocking, early morning light filtering through a small window I hadn't noticed before.
Dr. Mercer entered with her team, all business, as they instructed me to follow them. I complied, memorizing every turn, every door code, every potential escape route as they led me to a large examination room.
"Standard genetic sampling today," Dr. Mercer explained, gesturing to an examination chair. "Followed by your requested meeting with Commander Razak."
I sat, allowing them to take more blood samples, tissue samples, and even follicular fluid extracted painfully from myovaries. I endured it silently, conserving my strength, watching for any opening.
When they finished, Dr. Mercer nodded approvingly. "Your cooperation is appreciated. Now, as promised, you may see Commander Razak."
Two guards escorted me through more corridors to a different section of the facility. Through reinforced windows, I glimpsed laboratories where scientists worked with equipment I couldn't identify. In one room, a pregnant woman floated in some kind of suspension tank, monitoring devices attached to her swollen belly.
Finally, we stopped at a heavy door marked "High Security Containment." A guard entered a complex code, and the door slid open.
Inside was a large, barren room with reinforced walls. And there, restrained by massive chains anchored to the floor, was Redmon.
My heart clenched at the sight of him. Dried blood matted his fur, and he had one eye swollen shut. Multiple restraints bound his limbs, a metal collar around his neck connected to the wall behind him.
"Redmon," I whispered, moving toward him before the guards caught my arms.
His head snapped up at the sound of my voice. "Kalyndi!" He surged forward, only to be brought short by the chains. "Have they hurt you?"
"I'm okay," I assured him, struggling against the guard's grip. "What have they done to you?"
"Standard restraint protocols for non-cooperative monster subjects," Dr. Mercer said from behind me. "He killed two guards during capture. The security team was... thorough in subduing him."
Redmon's one good eye never left my face. "I tried to follow you. They were waiting, knew our plans somehow."
"Selene?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"Captured," he confirmed grimly. "They took her shortly after you."
