“You don’t have to. You asked why I chose to come to Pahang? Because all the evidence pointed to this city as being the most likely location for the hiding therianthropes,” the general declared. “See, after the failure at the ruin, where my entire team got decimated by tigers, it hit me that there was one place in your country that felines could freely roam and also be protected. The Royal Tiger Reserve. I was actually on my way with a team to conduct a sweep of the jungle when I got a hit on your location.”
Nadirah’s blood ran cold. “You’re wrong. The reserve is simply a protected space for wildlife.”
“Are we back to lying? We both know it would make an excellent hiding spot for therianthropes, and then there’s the fact that the moment I mentioned it, the old lady turned as pale as the shitty excuse for a pancake they tried to feed me this morning.”
“You’re wrong.” Farah tried to bluster her way through the gaffe, but no one listened, just like no one cared that the hired thugs kidnapped them in public under the darkening skies and shoved them into an unmarked van.
Worse than their capture? The fact no one in the village knew the enemy was coming. Nadirah hyperventilated as she thought of all the innocents, some of them literal babies. Would this sadistic man put them in cells like he’d done to Phoenix and his friends? Kill them for his experiments?
The ride began in silence, with Farah’s head dipped and Nadirah stewing in her helplessness. If only they could warn the harimau in the village. Somehow stop the general. But how? Even if Nadirah’s hands weren’t tied, she couldn’t hope to overcome this many armed men.
The general sat in the back, wearing a smug expression. “How many of them are hiding in the jungle?”
Farah didn’t reply.
“Ten? Twenty? Any children? I’ve yet to capture any but am curious at what age they begin shifting. Patient Zero hasn’t been very forthcoming.”
“Who’s Patient Zero?” Nadirah might be impotent, but she could ask questions.
“The one who provided the basis for the protocol. However, given how close we came to losing him, Dr. Levy strongly recommended we find some other natural-born therianthropes, just in case. Besides, the more genetic material we have access to for comparison, the better we can understand.”
The nonchalant way he spoke had her exclaiming, “What you’re doing is evil.”
The vehement statement brought forth a rusty chuckle. “I am a man with vision. Imagine a world with soldiers who can heal any injury. Who can be dropped into an enemy zone and, even without weapons, be ready to fight.”
“War is wrong.” Nadirah had never understood how a country’s leader could send their people to die, usually over petty politics.
“War is sometimes necessary to grow and maintain power.”
“So this is about greed,” Nadirah spat.
“The money aspect is a nice benefit,” gloated the general.
Farah suddenly growled as she lunged from her seat in the van and threw herself at the general across from her. To Nadirah’s shock, the teeth in the old woman’s mouth changed from flat ridged to sharp canines. She snapped at the general, who held her off barking, “Get her off me.” Before Farah could do any damage, one of the thugs seated with them clubbed her in the head with the butt of his pistol, dropping her to the floor.
The general shook his head. “That was foolish. Although I am intrigued by the way she managed to only partially change. We suspected it might be possible. She’d better behave because,once I get my hands on some younger specimens, I won’t have need for one past her prime.”
His attitude grated, and Nadirah snapped, “You’re the one being cocky. Do you really think the harimau are going to let you waltz in and cause harm?”
“Harm?” He snorted. “I know better than to try. Either they surrender or they die, since we both know they can heal just about any injury. Also, thank you for confirming it’s not just Phoenix hiding in the reserve.”
Horror filled Nadirah at her inadvertent admission. She could only hope the general didn’t find the village. After all, it must be well hidden, seeing how visitors to the reserve never seemed to stumble across the place. What she’d not counted on? The general’s dark side.
Farah recovered as the thugs parked outside the reserve and groaned as they hauled her to her feet. A mottled bruise on her face showed where she’d hit the floor.
“We’re here,” the general announced as the van’s doors opened. “Shall we go find your animal friends?”
Their van wasn’t the only one to disgorge passengers. Two more held enough men to constitute a small army, and they came loaded with weapons. They emerged to an overcast sky, the dark and heavy clouds ripe with moisture that moistened the skin.
“Let’s go.” The general pointed, and one of the thugs barked orders to those who didn’t speak English. The menacing group moved for the entrance.
The first guard to confront them attempted to claim the reserve was closed and ended up shot in the head. He hit the ground dead, leading Farah to utter a small cry.
The general smirked. “Did you know him? Was he one of the shifters?”
Farah didn’t reply.
“No need to answer. I can tell by your expression. I’ll have him put on ice so Dr. Levy can dissect the body once I get it back to the lab.” The general’s jovial demeanor turned menacing as he added, “If you don’t want to join him, then I’d suggest you tell me where the other therianthropes are hiding.”
