got enough to deal with. I have to get to another red alert.”
The sound of wheels whistled, and a woman in a lab coat pushed a medical bed past, not fazed by two guards manhandling her. She supposed scenes like this must have been pretty run-of-the-mill occurrences in Delmac. As the technician walked past, Kenzie saw a female strapped to the bed, her brown, matted hair clumped over the edge of the trolley, and she moaned.
“Whatever this is, you will never get away with it.”
Stanley tightened his hold on her and dipped his head, whispering. “You won’t be so tough once you see what the doctor has planned for you.”
Her eyes widened, and she tried to hold back the note of fear in her voice. “Why are you doing this?”
Stanley shoved her forward, ignoring her question. “Walk, or I’ll taser you. You’ll be knocked out, and you won’t be able to defend yourself for what’s coming.”
The threat sounded ominous, flaming the fear already laced in her blood. He pushed her again, and this time she walked down the corridor, taking notice of the surroundings. The yellow blinking lights still swirled above every fifth door, and she used them as a guide to get back to Milly, if she could somehow escape.
They had passed three beacons, and Stanley shoved her to the left. He swiped a card, and an air lock blew on them as the door opened. As soon as she stepped through the entrance the sounds of an enraged animal filled the air. Her steps faltered, and her stomach flip-flopped. The noise sounded far too similar to the wolf in the woods. What the hell was that?
Approaching a door, Stanley chuckled. He was definitely enjoying seeing her squirm. Sick bastard. Stanley swiped his card, the door opened, and he shoved her hard enough she landed on all fours in a room. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed. “I have to admit, I’m going to enjoy this.” His head kicked to the left. “I’ll be watching.” Stanley’s voice deadpanned in a way that told her this wasn’t the first time he had run through the lines. “Delmac Enterprises thanks you for your sacrifice and assures you it’s for the greater good of humanity.”
Sacrifice? Greater good? That was rich. Picking herself off the ground, Kenzie glared at the closed door. Growls echoed into the room and vibrated all the way down to her bones. They sounded terrifying, and a knot formed in her gut. “Bastard,” she hissed
She spun around to find a barren room, and wished she hadn’t. What would have been white tiles hung from ceiling to the floor; blood splatters and smears covered it all. Alone in the middle of the room sat a silver drain looking as small and insignificant as she felt. She struggled to swallow. Vibrations filled the air and pushed against her skin. Her gaze darted to the wall separating her from the next room and noticed a door there. That didn’t look good.
Not at all. Because she was sure the snarling beast was behind the barrier.
A feminine voice cleared her throat, and Kenzie jerked her attention to a large television mounted on the opposite wall. Doctor LeRoy filled the screen. “Mackenzie Sutton, thank you for joining us here. Over the time we’ve spent together, you and your sister have been very difficult colleagues.” She waggled a finger toward her. “I’ve had nothing but issues with you, and at times it’s forced me to use unsavory methods to gain compliance.” She tapped her chin. “What are we to do with you?”
Kenzie’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t respond. What was the point? The doctor was running a narrative, and no matter what Kenzie said, it would read the way the doctor wanted it to. Doctor LeRoy picked up a pendant hanging around her neck and began to slide it back and forth. “I apologize for your unorthodox invitation to Delmac. We are on the verge of a breakthrough, and we need a healthy volunteer to help us fine-tune processes. I’m please to inform you, you have been selected.”
Kenzie snorted and shook her head. Funny. The only thing it looked like these people were on a verge of was losing all of their humanity. Had Ava stood in this very spot, hearing the same spiel, feeling the same terror that filled every square of her body? She needed to know. “Now that I can no longer be a danger to your plans, tell me. Is Ava