Carter’s mind raced, connecting dots. “Seb, if they’re bringing in shifters like this... do you think they could have Megan? What if she’s inside there, subjected to these same horrors?”
Seb looked grim. “It’s a possibility we can’t ignore. We need a plan, and fast.”
Carter’s determination grew stronger, his resolve unwavering. Whatever was happening inside that facility, he would uncover it, rescue the imprisoned shifters, and most importantly, find his sister.
Chapter Four
Emily
Emily eased the door open, revealing her dimly lit private laboratory. The silence of the room was occasionally punctuated by the quiet hum of machines and equipment, their soft blue lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. This space, hidden within the larger framework of the facility, was her refuge. It was here she began her most secretive work, the kind that wasn’t sanctioned by those who pulled the strings. Every time she entered, the weight of what she was trying to achieve settled firmly on her shoulders.
Each piece of equipment, every vial, and every scribble in her notebook was a testament to her covert mission—developing an antidote to the drugs she was being forced to create. The knowledge that she was directly involved in the pain and suffering of shifters, however unwillingly, weighed heavily on her. The fact she wanted no part of it didn’t excuse her actions. But hiding from what she’d been forced to do wouldn’t change anything. Allowing her guilt to turn her into another victim wouldn’t change anything. The prisoners here needed her to be more than that. Their cries, their agony, it all echoed in her mind, driving her determination to find a solution.
She approached her workbench, focusing her attention on a row of vials. Each vial held a slightly different shade of liquid—the results from her latest experiments. Taking one, she slid it under her microscope, adjusting the lens to get a better view. As she observed the sample, making mental notes, she felt a flicker of hope. The compound appeared to be reacting the way she had hoped.
But just as she was about to jot down her observations, a noise from outside her lab caught her attention—a scuffling sound, followed by a muffled conversation. Panic surged through her. Had they discovered her secret endeavors?
Without a second’s hesitation, she snatched up her research notes, her hands trembling slightly. She opened a drawer in her desk and quickly shoved the papers inside, securing them away from prying eyes. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing heart. She couldn’t afford to be discovered, not when so much was at stake.
Closing the drawer, she glanced around the lab, ensuring everything seemed in order, just in case someone decided to enter. With every second that ticked by, the weight of the risks she was taking pressed down on her, reminding her of the fine line she walked between compassion and catastrophe.
The door creaked open, revealing the broad silhouette of Marcus. His imposing frame nearly filled the doorway, and Emily’s heart caught in her throat. His deep-set eyes, always searching, always judging, swept over the room, landing on her.
“Dr Whitaker,” he greeted her in a tone that was more a growl than anything else.
“Marcus,” Emily replied evenly, though her pulse quickened. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” She made a conscious effort to keep her voice steady.
He took a step into the room, and the atmosphere shifted, becoming thick with tension.
“Just making my rounds,” he drawled. “Can’t be too careful these days. There are rumors going around, you know. Some of the guards think there’s a traitor among us.”
A chill went down Emily’s spine, but she forced a polite smile. “Oh? I haven’t heard any such rumors. I wonder who they could mean? After all, we’re all here to work for the same cause, aren’t we?”
Marcus leaned in, his gaze locking onto hers. “Are we?” He mused, raising an eyebrow. “You seem to have a soft spot for our...test subjects. It wouldn’t be wise to let emotions get in the way of the job.”
Holding his gaze, she replied, “Every scientist has a method, Marcus. My methods might be different to others, but I get results.”
He smirked, “Just remember where your loyalties should lie, Doctor. If these rumors hold any weight, whoever’s involved won’t have a pleasant end.”
Emily took a deep breath, feigning nonchalance. “Duly noted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.”
He stared at her for a beat longer, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Finally, he stepped back. “Remember what I said,Emily,” he whispered, and then left as abruptly as he had arrived.
Once the door clicked shut, Emily slumped against her desk, her heart racing. That had been uncomfortable. She knew Marcus wouldn’t hesitate to act on any suspicions. But it wasn’t just her life at stake—it was the lives of those she was trying to help. And if Marcus’s words were any indication, she wasn’t the only one under scrutiny.
Her thoughts turned to the other scientists she had interacted over the course of her employment. She couldn’t be the only one who was working there under duress. Perhaps she could find an ally among them—someone she could trust. Itwould be a risk, but there was also safety in numbers and right now, she needed all the allies she could get.
As the day wore on, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the compound into an orange and purple hue. Emily chose this time to go and visit Lana, using the changing light and the subtle increase in activity as the shifts changed to mask what she was doing.
She slipped into a room that held three cells, her ears attuned to the sound of footsteps or conversations that might alert her to anyone approaching. Moments later, she approached the only occupied cell in the room.
“Lana,” Emily whispered, approaching her.
The shifter’s face softened a fraction, the usual tension in her features easing momentarily. “Hello, Doctor.”
She was careful what she told most of the imprisoned shifters, but she and Lana had a rapport that had allowed Emily to divulge more to the young woman than she had to anyone else. And she badly needed someone she could confide in.
Emily took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting nervously. “I’ve been working on something. An antidote. It’s not perfected yet, but it could counteract the drugs they’re giving to your kind.”
