Page 43 of Green Ravens

His senses were sharper than a blade, but he’d learned that playing the part of a compliant subject kept him from receiving extra doses of whatever was being flooded into his system, followed by additional hours of testing.

The door eased open and the air shifted when the people stepped inside. He could hear the soft rustling of papers, stuttered breaths, the light tapping on a keyboard, machines whirring…and a beetle crawling up the wall in the corner.

The first to speak was a woman, her voice hesitant and laced with fear. “Director Ross, I’m afraid to report that the consensus among the staff is we need more time. Both candidates’ neurological patterns are far from stable.”

A male voice Oakley had become familiar with, a gene mutation expert, chimed in, “The genetic splicing between human and animal DNA is far more complex than I’ve anticipated. As I’ve mentioned multiple times, these experiments have gone far beyond the scope of my research. The psychological impact—”

“I don’t give a fuck about the psychological impact,” the powerful man snapped, his tone cold and finite. “I want them elevated to phase two and introduced to each other. They are ready for that, yes?”

It was more a command than a question.

Oakley focused on the word they. If he didn’t have such control, he would’ve tensed. This director was talking about him and someone else. A ghost of familiarity flickered at the edges of his mind but faded before he could lock on to it.

Another man cleared his throat. “Zorion has been responding very well. His reflexes are beyond what we projected, but to put him within Valor’s territory could—”

Who are Zorion and Valor?

“Just fuckin’ do it!”

The woman had more assuredness this time, sounding angry and frustrated. “The cat and bird are natural enemies. Introducing them before they’re fully integrated with their animal spirit can and will be problematic.” She sighed loudly. “Now, if you can, please be patient and—”

“There is no time, and I sure as hell don’t have any patience,” the man said flatly. “Start phase two now. If they can’t follow commands, they’re useless to me. I already have a set of Ravens who act of their own volition.”

“But, sir…”

“I just need two goddamn Ravens I can trust! Is that so much to ask?”

A loud crash of glass and metal made Oakley’s ears ring, yet he remained still.

A gun cocked.

Oakley heard the woman gasp and the others yell in panic.

“Please don’t. We’ll make it work, I swear it. Don’t kill her. I beg you, none of us will stop until you have the Ravens you want.”

“I swear we can do it, but we need Dr. O’Reilley. She’s the behavioral specialist.”

“Then show me. Wake him up,” the asshole ordered.

Next came the sound of rapid typing and shaky breathing. Several seconds passed before a new voice murmured.

“Sir, according to the monitors…he’s already awake.”

The quietness stretched out, a tense, suffocating silence.

Oakley opened his eyes, his vision immediately adjusting to the harsh lighting. He blinked a couple of times before he narrowed his eyes at the figures around him.

His head throbbed as he filtered through every sharpened detail of the four people standing near the hard surface he was strapped to.

Then, Oakley locked eyes on the one he believed had all dominion.

In his peripheral, he saw the scientists retreating. He could hear the director’s increased heart rate and smell the scent of fear. The sensation of his target caught in his trap made something satisfying stir inside him.

He curled his lip slightly. Not quite a snarl, just enough to make the director tighten his stance.

Trepidation rolled off the scientists, the stench of fear clinging to their skin like sweat.

“Umm, I guess it’s… It’s… His metabolism is far higher than we calculated,” the woman stuttered. “The sedation amounts aren’t high enough.”

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