A few more months have passed and I’m still currently trapped inside of my 15 X 20ft holding cell. The bed I’ve been using has ran out of space to count the number of days I’ve been here. Around the sixth month, I decided to start a new set of marks on my table. During this time, my body has finally made a full recovery, but Triss’s notes have been less frequently causing a bit of heartache.

I can say thanks to the surgery I underwent two months ago for the quick recovery, but I do have some issues with the side affects of it. I’ve been having nightmares of eating raw meat and fighting wild creatures I don’t know anything about. Also, the color of my eyes have turned completely green now. Besides those negatives, the quick healing is nice.

I’ve experimented before and any cuts on my skin recovers in an hour and anything worse usually takes a week. I also tested my stamina and noticed a slight increase and ever since I’ve been given real food last month, it has increased tenfold. All in all, I can say my life has improved since the first week of my imprisonment.

Today was like most day, pacing around mindlessly, eating and working out. My body has become really fit due to the strict diet they have me on. I was visited a while ago by Raimund and talked to him about my strange dreams and cravings for meat. With his okay after a few inspections, I was finally cleared to go up to the surface to start the next experiment.

Being their cherished captive comes with a few benefits. Number one: not being the first victim of any wild aspirations they have. Number two: I’m being treated better than before. During this time, I haven’t met any other prisoners like me, but I would rather not think about it. I already know the success rates of their experiments and sometimes I hope for the girl who comforted me to still be alive.

Interrupting my thoughts, Triss with her brown hair and glasses comes into my room.

“Will. Raimund is ready for you up above.” Handing me a tech suit. “He told me to have you wear this”

Looking at the white skin tight suit, I’m able to see a few sensors, made to monitor my body. They’ll most likely be used to record data of how well I handle the contamination. One leg after the other, I manage to pull it up like a wet suit. With some help from Triss, I manage to have it zipped up from the back and ready to go.

“Thanks. Triss.”

“Let’s not keep them waiting now.”

Pulling me behind her, I notice a squadron of armed guards following close behind. One of them I recognize as Tony, the man who stepped on my chest when I was severely injured.

Lingering farther back, I grew closer to him.

“Hey Tony. What are we in for today?”

“You should know.” Grunting to himself. “I’m just hired security.”

“Don’t be so sour now.”

Playfully I start slowing down and getting in his way. He keeps on stepping around me, but he fails to shake me off. Eventually I manage to trip him up and watch him slam against the wall. Chuckling at him, his face grows darker.

“You’re an asshole.” Righting himself. “Stop messing with me.”

“Nope. Next, time I’ll try harder.”

Not willing to put up with my shenanigans, he rushes forward to the front.

Ah, I was only messing around. Anyway, he deserved falling over and probably more. Anyone who steps on a cripple should at least apologize, but Tony hasn’t said anything remotely similar. I’ll keep messing with him from now on.

Marching forward, we take an elevator up to the surface. Finally I see familiar halls that look like a clean room and some military personal monitoring the area. Walking down the white halls, we come to the entrance, where Raimund and his group of researchers are waiting.

“Welcome William. I’m excited to see you looking well.” Waving to me, Raimund comes over. “Here is a helmet you’ll be wearing soon.””

Being handed a white motorcycle helmet, I smile wryly towards him.

“Thanks for the...present.”

Hearing my nervous reply, he shakes his head and continues to lead me out of the building.

The winter when I came here is long gone. Trees are vibrate green and the warm breeze tells me its mid summer. My pasty skin heats up under the sun after a long period of time. I almost forgotten how nice it was outside. Compared to my dark cell underground, I would rather be up here instead.

Following the scientists we made it to the edge of the facility. All around are other groups of researchers talking about their experiments. I on the other hand have to follow closely behind Raimund.

“Welcome, Raimund. I’m glad you made some progress recently.”

“Thank you Fritzhugh. I was just lucky to have such a great opportunity.”

“I know, I was told how number 13 lucked out of Phil’s group and managed to join yours. I hope you’re ready to show us your findings and help us take the first step.”

“It’ll be my honor.” Signaling to me. “William, come over here and introduce yourself.”

Walking forward nervously, I recognize Fritzhugh. He was always on TV promoting his research group. I think he’s the public figure for this whole mess I’m in.

“Um, I’m Will.” Stretching out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Pleasure is all mine.” Shaking my hand. “Tell me Will. How has Raimund been treating you recently?”

“It’s been all-right. Besides being isolated and the initial experiment, I’ve been rather bored.”

“Bored?” Rubbing his chin. “I could have you come under my group. I heard you know my friend Phil.”

“Yeah, I got along with him fine.” Giving a small laugh. “However, I believe I’ll be fine surviving under Raimund.”

Interrupting both of us, Raimund steps forward. Waving his hand back and forth he tries to hide me behind him.

“Fritzhugh, don’t be trying to steal him away.”

“Don’t mind me. If he agrees to come over to us, I can promise him to come outside all he wants under some supervision.”

“He already said he’s perfectly fine with me. And I can even arrange some accommodations for him myself. And he could’ve asked me himself.”

Wait, I could’ve asked him? How was I suppose to do that, when the only one I had contact with was Triss. I better demand a recreation place and also be aloud more visitors.

“Will you really do that? I read the reports about his current living standards. I think he would change his mind knowing you did it to him on purpose, whether he liked it or not.”

“Stop it now. That was only a temporary thing. We had to make sure he was mentally strong enough to not break under isolation and it proved willpower is also a discovered factor in my experiments.”

“Willpower? Raimund, stop thinking about dungeons and dragons. Magic, willpower and souls are just things made up. They can all be explained with logical reasoning.” Sighing to himself. “We just haven’t discovered those reasons yet and you are here today to help us take the first step in the right direction.”

“Fine keep being closed minded.” Stepping forward. “Just remember I’ll manage my own team and you manage yours.”

“You can say that, but I want to ask Will again.” Looking towards me. “William won’t you reconsider going over to our group?”

Don’t put me on the spot. I’m just a specimen without any-rights. Even if I do like Phil, I’d rather be with Raimond when he hasn’t done me any lasting harm yet. Also, if I leave I won’t be able to see Triss again.

“I’m sorry, but I would rather be with him.” Pointing towards Raimond. “He also have a hot nurse taking great care of me.”

Grunting displease, Fritzhugh glares towards me. Noticing my indifference, he begins to walk away.

“I’ll talk with Terisa later.” Looking back at Raimond. “And we’ll see if you can keep him.”

“It’s also on record that I’ve improved the success rates of everyone's experiments to 60%. So you can go ahead and try.”

Grunting displeased with this encounter, Raimond beckons me to follow. Following him, I noticed some stadium seats being set up and more scientists coming up. Most of the researchers looked rather old and visibly excited for the upcoming announcement. Coming up are our seats in the middle of a raised platform and infront of us is a microphone being set up for Raimond’s speech.

Sitting down, I calmly look back at the seated scientists.

How many of them know what is going on in the basement of this relay station, when its clearly a research institute. If I had to guess, around 90% of them know something about the human experimentation, but all of their greedy eyes tell me otherwise. How can they act so normal when they already know they’re the cause of me being a mutant?

Feeling my blood pressure rising, my eyes glow a soft green. Lines on my exposed palm appear and I can tell I’m releasing a dangerous aurora. Looking around, nobody seems to have noticed it besides Tony next to me and perhaps Fritzhugh. Tapping my shoulder, I glance back at Tony.

“You’re going to make a scene. I’d rather not knock you out and drag you back to your cage.”

Trying to keep my anger in check, I can feel my blood calm down. The glow in my eyes dissipate and the lines on my hand fade away. Then the aurora changes to a chilling cold.

“I won’t.” Giving him a smile. “If anything, I’ll bide my time until I’m ready.”

Giving me a grunt, he turns his attention away. Now calmed down a bit, I wait till the assembly starts.

Right before Raimond begins his speech, he signals me to put on my helmet.

“Hello, everyone. I’ll try to make this quick. You’ve been called here today to witness the first real success we had in our research together. I have had the honor to forward my research notes to you all earlier today. As stated, subject 13 has proven to us and everyone back home the fruits of our labor. We have finally figure a way to survive in the void and my experiments I’ve performed on 13 while he was in isolation, has proven the effectiveness of the serum I’ve created. He has been exposed to twice the lethal amount of outside contamination and hasn’t show any signs of distress or illness.” Gesturing towards me. “William, can you please walk outside the barrier so I can upload real time feed of your health.”

“Yes?”

Walking up off the stage, I slowly made my way to the edge of the electromagnetic field. Nothing appears to be wrong so far and with one final push, I manage to step out into the wilderness. Feeling nothing abnormal going on, I try thinking about what I learned.

Raimond kept me isolated to test my willpower. How can you even measure it? I know I’m a bit ‘different’ than when I came. Theirs no more worry of tomorrow due to how valuable I am. Triss and I still exchange notes once in a while. There is a TV and...

Who am I kidding. This place is a small version of hell for me. From being trapped and knowing I can’t even run away right now, shows how much control they have over me. I lie to myself believing Lizzy is still alive when she is most likely dead. Every time I look in the mirror, I can see the monster inside me coming out. The monster in my dreams start to resemble me more and more in the last few days. It’s no longer a chimera out in the wild, but I, out their ripping people and creature apart. I don’t know what to even make of this anymore. I’m afraid I’ll grow numb to it all. To everything I care about and forget who I am…

Silently I stay outside in the wilderness. Looking up in the sky, I imagine myself free and in control of my life. I watch the scenery with gloomy eyes, knowing I might never be free. Embracing the warmth of the sun, I let all my worries melt away in the breeze. After a few moments, I here Raimond’s voice asking me to come back. Walking back with heavy shoulders, I take one last look back.

“As everyone has just seen and witness, subject 13 has past every test we had. And with that I’ll like to conclude my speech.”

Walking away from his microphone, he beckons me to follow him.

“Good job out there Will.” Scratching his head. “About earlier with Fritzhugh, I can make some arrangements about your living area and might be able to get you some access outside.”

Access outside would be nice. It’s peaceful and I can let my worries disappear.

“Thanks Raimond. Can you give me a place to workout and have Triss to meet me more often?”

“I can do the first thing, but...” Scratching his beard. “I’ll have to talk to her about it first. Okay?

Nodding my head, I followed Raimond around greeting his colleagues. Some of them ask to see my face and were slightly spooked by my eyes. Others were more curious and tried to scan my face with their watches. After the meetings came the dinner party.

As one of the main events here, I was allowed to roam about with Tony. We went to grab food and chatted mostly about his work. After a few drinks we move our conversation to past girlfriends and started to argue who had the hottest one. Once we grew tired of all of our bickering, I had to go back to my cell.

Walking back with Tony and Raimond, I was told I’ll be getting my new accommodations after the next experiment. Apparently the director Terisa, said I wasn’t worth much unless I survive and provide satisfactory results for this new procedure.

After being briefed about all the things I’ll be going through puts a shiver down my spine. They’ll be transporting the core of the lion/bird chimera into me. It’s some sort of organ which is able to transform the ‘magic’ outside into a usable form.

By what Raimond says, I’ll be able to absorb, but shouldn’t be able to manipulate anything with it. Only downside is just a little, 80% fatality rate and all the reassurance by Raimond doesn’t mean much, if I don’t have any human rights.

Once we concluded our discussion, I’m left all alone in my room and a few more days pass by. Then the day before my procedure, I received a note from Triss asking me to not die.

Like hell I’ll die. I have so much unfinished business. I want to escape and bring her with me. See Catharine again and warn Aris about the inhuman experimentation. However, I can’t do anything currently. Wallowing in self pity, my big day arrives.

Being led to the lowest floor, I met a worried Raimond.