The man who was hurt earlier is leaning against a tree, his face is ashen but he’s alive. His breathing his heavy and labored.

  I attempt to sit up but I’m dizzy and fall back down.

  I need to help Tarben. I need to save him, otherwise I’ll lose him. I can’t lose him now, not after I’ve just found him. We have to fight harder.

  I struggle to turn over, just as I see Tarben rise on two feet and swipe at one of the bears. The hit was direct and the bear flies backward. The dirt plumes up around him as he slides across the ground.

  He lies still as his body turns back to human form. I can’t tell whether he’s dead or not yet.

  “Fucking morons can’t do anything.” Oleg strides away from me and over to the man on the ground turning him over. He’s alive, but weak. He looks to be unconscious. Oleg kicks him hard in the face and I hear bones crack in his nose.

  His head lolls in my direction and a small trickle of blood drips down the man’s lips. His eyes are glassy. There is no question now that this man is dead and that the kick from Oleg was the one that ended him.

  Oleg turns his attention to the other injured man leaning against a tree. When he steps in that direction the man winces, waiting to be next.

  Tarben rushes toward Oleg.

  “No,” I manage to call out.

  The bear that was attacking Tarben turns his head toward me and bounds in my direction. He’s limping as he nears. I spy the knife at my side and grab for it.

  At the same time, Tarben leaps at Oleg.

  Oh god.

  Oleg does not attempt to get out of Tarben’s way. Instead, he holds out the syringe. The force of Tarben’s bear body coming down on top of Oleg presses the liquid from the syringe into Tarben’s chest.

  Immediately a loud pop and crackle fills the area and Tarben is back in human form again.

  I bring the knife up, but I’m too weak to use it. The bear pushes it out of my hand and holds me down, his paw pressing my already aching head into the ground.

  “Tarben,” I whisper. “Tarben.”

  Oleg rolls away and stands up dusting off his clothing like he’s getting ready to go out. His grin is wide and he reaches down and pulls Tarben to his knees.

  Relief washes through me - Tarben is alive. Alive but weak.

  “I knew you’d win, you were always were the strongest,” says Oleg. “Pity you didn’t stay, you could have been such a star.”

  Tarben spits onto the ground, a mixture of blood and saliva wetting the floor. “I would never stay with someone like you. Not after what you do to people. Not after what you did to my family.”

  Oleg rolls his eyes and sighs. “That was unfortunate, but we’ve learned a lot since then. Not everyone is capable of transforming as easily as others. Besides, now you’ve got a feisty young plaything for your amusement. It’s all worked out. Maybe we could try changing her. Make her even more perfect for you.”

  Chapter 7

  “Do what you want. I don’t care about her,” says Tarben. He shrugs dismissively.

  I don’t expect it. I thought he would have fought for me, told them to leave me the hell alone. I didn’t think he’d tell them he doesn’t care about me when it’s an obvious lie. They will be able to see through that just as clearly as I do.

  “Is that so,” says Oleg. He studies me with interest and waves his hand toward the bear that has me. “Let her up. I want to see her.”

  The bear takes his paw away from my head and I’m able to struggle to my knees. I can feel blood on my lip and I instinctively lick my lip, tasting it’s saltiness. I glare at Oleg with hatred.

  “If she means nothing to you, then why were you escaping with her?”

  “She’s a good fuck,” says Tarben. “The only human fuck that can handle me this way. She’s far from perfect though.” He narrows his eyes and looks at me like I’m nothing.

  I wince at his words. They stab at my soul. I know I’m not perfect but I don’t need to hear it aloud. Even when I know he’s only saying these words to protect me from being taken away with him, it doesn’t make it any easier to stomach.

  “If she doesn’t mean anything to you, then we can use her for the breeding program.”

  Oh hell no. “Don’t fucking touch me,” I say glaring at Oleg.

  Tarben takes a shaky step toward Oleg and me. “She’s too fucked up for that. She can’t get pregnant, completely barren. She’s no use to you.”

  My knife is on the ground to my left and I reach for it. As both Oleg and Tarben walk toward me, I bring my knees up to my chest and hold the knife out. We all know I’m unable to do anything to anyone, but it shows them that I won’t give up without a fight. My head is aching but I feel some strength returning to my limbs.

  Oleg turns and suddenly grabs Tarben around the throat. I don’t expect it, and either does Tarben. His eyes widen in shock. “You better not be lying.” He hits Tarben across the cheek and he slumps to the ground. I’ve never seen him this weak before and wonder what was in the syringe.

  Tarben lies on the ground but lifts his head. Dirt cakes the side of his face.

  “You’re an asshole,” I say, directing my anger toward Tarben. “I never liked fucking you anyway. What sort of freak wants to howl when they come? Don’t come near me again or I’ll stick this through your heart.” I point the knife in his direction.

  Oleg laughs. “She is fun. I like her.”

  Tarben will know I don’t mean it, just like I know he doesn’t mean the words he said, but I’ll play this game if it means I can get away. As much as it hurts right now, it’s the only thing that is keeping me alive.

  “Let her go. She’s pathetic,” says Tarben. He turns his back to me.

  Oleg eyes me coolly then bends down and grabs my arm. His fingers dig deep into my flesh but I don’t flinch. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. “If I find out you’ve mention this to anyone, I will kill you. Understood?”

  I don’t doubt that he’ll go through with his promise so I nod quickly. When he lets go of my arm I pick up my pack and knife.

  “You better go quickly, little rabbit, before I change my mind and have you for dinner.”

  I run. I’m only ten minutes from the car park. If I can reach it before they do, I might have a chance.

  Tarben will have to deal with Oleg on his own for a while, I can’t help him with everyone around, but if I’m free we have a chance.

  I step out of the trees and find the path for the last fifty feet to the grounds. My car is in the far corner but I’m not heading for that yet.

  Gasping for breath, I look back but they haven’t showed. I shrug the pack off my back and reach inside.

  Tarben’s phone is off. I quickly turn it on and swipe open the screen. I set up the GPS locator with a few clicks. Thank god technology is easy these days.

  I wipe my brow as I decide which car to plant it on. I figure it doesn’t matter. I pry open the metal gas tank flap and place the phone inside. The lid to the tank is still closed so there is no chance that it’ll fall into the fuel, but the metal flap will keep the phone nice and secure, and hidden out of sight. Until they stop for gas, that is. I hope they won’t need to.

  I close it and groan. I don’t feel good at all, but I can’t dwell on that now. I’m alive and free.

  I contemplate my options. Sure, I could get in my car, drive away as fast as possible, and leave this sorry mess behind me, but leaving Tarben is not an option. I’ll do whatever I can to help him. Whatever that may take.

  Chapter 8

  They won’t be far away.

  I turn on my phone and check the signal. It’s working. I can see the dot that indicates Tarben’s phone on the map at the exact spot that the car is parked. All I need to do now is follow and get him back.

  The problem is that I don’t know how I’m going to do that. I’m already injured and while the ache in my head is lessening, I’m no match for Oleg and his cronies. I just don’t have a better plan right now.

  I’m glad my car is parked away from the black SUV’s. I don’t want to be spotted accidentally as they walk past.

  I open my car door and close it quietly as I scoot down in the seat so no one can see me. Every so often, I lift my head and look out the window, searching for them. Everything seems so quiet and I can hear my own breathing as if I’m struggling for air. This is what fear does to you.

  They are taking their time. I would have expected them back by now, but I did run most of the way. If the liquid in the syringe prevents Tarben from turning back into a bear, they’ll be travelling slowly too. I guess that worked to my advantage. At least something is going my way.

  I almost laugh at the ridiculous way my mind is working right now. This is definitely not going my way, but that’s nothing compared to how Tarben must be feeling. All his fears are coming alive about being caught. My fears are only just starting.

  I wonder how long the liquid will work in preventing him changing. I doubt it’s a long lasting solution, Oleg wouldn’t want to stop his creations from changing forever. Just weaken them for his gain. I can understand now why Tarben was so terrified of him. Oleg is an evil man. The type of person you do not want to cross.

  I gulp down a choked cry when I see them appear on the path ahead of me. Oh god, poor Tarben, he doesn’t look well. I want to run over to him, wrap my arms around his neck, and tell him everything will be okay. But none of that is true.

  His hands are tied behind his back and he is wearing the same suit that the other men are all wearing. It’s too small for him and I suspect it’s the man’s suit that Oleg finished off with a kick to the head. Maybe that was his plan all along, to kill off one of his own men and bring Tarben back in his place. It’s not like he could bring a naked man into the open easily without drawing attention.

  That would mean that Tarben is important to him. At least, more important than the other man he killed.

  Well, Tarben is important to me too, so I’m going to fight for him. There is no doubt about that.

  As they get closer, I can see that there is a large cut above Tarben’s left eye. It looks like someone has hit him hard across the face and it’s landed square on his forehead. Another injury to keep him subdued.

  Oleg looks over in my direction and I duck down in the seat. I don’t think he saw me, but I can’t be sure. I look down at my phone. The GPS is still working.

  When I hear the motor of the SUV start up in a low rumbling purr, I lift my head to see what is happening. The two men have taken one car and are slowly backing out of their car park.

  Oleg is holding Tarben by the back of the neck and pushing him into the back seat of the other SUV with force.

  Fight back Tarben, I say under my breath. As if he can sense my thoughts, he does just that. He twists and kicks at Oleg’s stomach. I hope it connects but the disappointment when Oleg steps harmlessly out of the way overwhelms me. There’s something unnatural about how fast he can move and I no longer believe he’s a normal man.

  Who knows what experiments he’s done on himself to improve his strength and dexterity? If he is able to alter the genetics of a man to change into a bear, then it’s clear he knows how to change his own genetics. This is not a person to be underestimated. Well, I’m not someone to be underestimated either. He probably thinks I’ve run away home and that he’ll never see me again. He has me all wrong.

  I wince as Oleg laughs and punches Tarben in the back of the head as punishment. Tarben falls forward against the side of the car and groans.

  Oleg looks around to see if anyone is watching him and then pulls another syringe from his pocket. This one is smaller and when he presses it into Tarben’s neck, Tarben slumps to his knees.

  I have to hold back the instinct to rush out and help him.

  The only thing I can do to feel better, is to pull out my knife and hold it in my hand. It’s a fruitless gesture, but just holding the blade is enough to give me the strength to go through with my plan to save Tarben myself rather than crumble into a pathetic heap.

  Oleg picks Tarben up effortlessly and throws him into the back seat of the SUV. A feat that would be impossible for a regular man considering Tarben’s size. After he slams the door shut he gets in the front and pulls down the sun visor. A pair of black sunglasses falls down into his hand and he places them on before turning over the engine.

  I watch with dread as he pulls out of the car park and drives toward the exit.

  I glance down at my phone and watch the dot move away from me. All I need to do now is follow it and rescue Tarben so we can run away together and never be found by these evil assholes.

  My bottom lip begins to quiver and I bite down onto it to prevent myself from crying at the impossibleness of the situation. I’m kidding myself if I think I can do anything to save him. I’m just one person and a weakened one at that. They are a bunch of super human freaks.

  I briefly entertain the idea of calling the police or the army. Anyone that might be able to help me, but immediately I know it’s unwise to bring authorities into this. They either already know what’s going on, or will use the experiments to their advantage if they do find out. The last thing we need is a whole bunch of people able to turn into bears whenever they like.

  The tires of the SUV screech out onto the blacktop and speed away.

  I look down at my phone again. There is nothing left to do but follow and see where they take him.

  I sit up straight and look into the rearview mirror. I look like shit. I don’t care. I turn over the engine and back out of the car park.

  Tarben, I’m coming.

  PART FIVE

  Chapter 1

  When I followed the dot on my phone that showed where Tarben was being taken, I expected that the trail would stop at a chain-linked fence behind which stood a menacing government facility protected by armed guards or fierce angry guard dogs.

  I was wrong.

  I should have known something was odd when the closer I got, the more suburban the neighborhood became.

  The two black SUV’s are parked outside a large mansion. It’s the type of house you’d expect a movie star to own, or a rich family from Beverley Hills, even though we are far from that part of the country.

  It’s two story with large columns flanking the main door, painted creamy white with purple wisteria tree’s on each side of it. It’s the type of house that many people covet to own someday. I bet it has a sparkling pool in the backyard, as well.

  There is a closed gate at the bottom of a long curved driveway, but I can’t see any guards. Not that they would need any here. Hide in plain sight. Whoever these people are, they know how to keep a low profile.

  I glance around. There are more large houses on both sides of the street. Ahead a family is playing in the front yard, throwing a ball to a small child. Everything is so normal.

  Except it’s not. This house has Tarben inside.

  I double check the location on my phone just to be certain, although with the SUV’s parked near the front door, it’s clear this is the right place.

  I drive ahead and park a block away. While they won’t know my car, I don’t want to give them any reason to get suspicious that someone is watching them.

  I choose a street that has three cars parked near a house. I don’t know if there is a party here, or if they are owned by residents, but it’s a good place to choose as it will blend in with the rest.

  From the back trunk I retrieve my bag of clothes and look around for somewhere to change. There is a group of trees in the front yard of a nearby house that I could easily hide behind without anyone, including the owner of the residence, seeing me. Making sure no-one is watching, I duck behind the tree’s and change.

  When I emerge I’m wearing running shoes, shorts and a white t-shirt. I pull my hair into a ponytail and place my pack back into the car. After a few obvious stretches, just in case anyone wonders what I’m doing, I attach my earphones to my phone and take off jogging.

  I’m not a runner. My idea of exercise does not include pounding the pavement with my ponytail bouncing behind me, but if the people who have Tarben can hide in plain sight, then so can I.

  My route is the block perimeter of the house so I can view as many angles as possible. I start at the front street.

  The house is set back on the property so it’s hard to tell how big it is from the front, but I know immediately that this isn’t the right way to enter. While I can’t see them, there will be security cameras around with most of them at the front.

  I jog past, keeping my head facing forward.

  A woman emerges from the front door and walks down the driveway. I stop to stretch my hamstring and pretend I’m paying her no attention. She has a house cleaner’s uniform on. Blue with a white apron, and she’s carrying a mop and bucket. I cringe as I try and imagine what she has to clean up inside the house.

  I realize I’m wasting too much time. This woman isn’t the focus of my attention, especially as she’s leaving, so I continue my run.

  Both side streets are too far away from the house to give me any useful information, so when I reach the back I’m hopeful I’ll be able to find a way in.

  I stop in front of the house that backs onto the mansion and I lean against a tree catching my breath.

  No one is home at this house and I consider sneaking around to the backyard to get a better view of the mansion. I take the chance.

  The yard I’m entering is neat and has the swimming pool that I expect many of the houses around here have. Toward the back is a small building, a shed perhaps, which I’ll be able to use to give me some cover in case the residents of this house come home unexpectedly.

  Keeping my head low I creep to the back fence. It’s high but it’s made of wood and has joists which I can use to climb to the top.

  Before I look over, I take a moment to calm myself because I’m breathing heavily. It’s a combination of jogging here, anxiety and fear, and I don’t know which one is stronger.

  Once I’ve caught my breath, I climb up the joists and peek over the fence into the mansion’s backyard.

 

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