Sons of Atreus

[frostian]

Title: Sons of Atreus, Part I
Fandom: none, original fic
Word Count: ~25k
Genre: gen, horror
Rating: R for language and violence
Warning: Gratuitous abuse of medical science.
Summary: Dr. Kathy Duncan's foray into the private sector places her in the sights of Eichel Corporation. Feeling uneasy after the interview, she rejects their job offer. Unfortunately for Dr. Duncan Eichel Corporation isn't going to take no for an answer. Because they need her expertise in order to stop a genetic disorder from wiping out hundreds of people in the next decade, they are willing to spend millions ensuring that she changes her mind. And that's just the start of what they are willing to do.
Disclaimer: Brought to you live from Fiction Nation!


Jason Avers looked down at the busy crowd rushing about the wet streets as cold rain drenched them.

Even after living here for almost twenty years, Avers couldn’t help but admire the Seattleites’ determination to ignore the inclement weather. Avers chuckled as he recollected watching intrepid surfers paddle boarding on Lake Washington, wearing anoraks while standing barefoot on their boards.

In the dead of January.

Avers’ phone trilled ever so lightly. Nevertheless, the polite sound made him cringe just a little. With a deep breath, Avers answered.

“So, what are your thoughts?” he asked, no bothering with any preambles.

“Why are we going with the second choice?” The voice was cultured but there was a definite strain laced into the words.

Avers smiled at the genuinely irritated tone the question was posed in. “Because our first choice won’t take the position.”

“And how can you be sure of that?”

“His ego is so large, it can be spotted from a satellite,” Avers answered. “And his girlfriend lives in Seattle.”

“Won’t that work for us?”

“Not really, since his wife might have something to say about that.”

There was a burst of bright laughter. “Touché, that is indeed a big problem.”

“Besides, I like Duncan better,” Avers explained. “She has gumption.”

“Gumption? Is that word still in the dictionary?”

“It most certainly is,” Avers shot back in mock outrage. “And considering our particular case, I think her background makes her the better choice.”

“There is that.”

“Trust me on this, Robert,” Avers pleaded. “Please.”

There was no hesitation in the response. “Of course, Jay. We do, always.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as the call ended, Avers dug up Duncan’s dossier. He chuckled as he reread the file his security team had compiled on the good doctor.

Doctor Katherine Duncan had a solid albeit unremarkable academic career until her lab discovered a viral cause for a type of blood disorder that was previously attributed to genetic factors.

By all accounts, her results were undisputable; she had all the necessary data to back up her findings, and a competing lab from the Netherlands reproduced her finding. So, her university should have been ecstatic that one of its own had hit upon such a huge discovery.

Unfortunately, they were not. The established medical belief was all supplied by another of their researchers - Dr. Wise - a geneticist who had a stellar track record and a starring role in a reoccurring medical series on the Discovery Channel. And the superstar did not like sharing his limelight or have his findings contradicted by someone of such lowly status as Dr. Duncan.

It wasn’t long before she was ostracized from both the research community and her university. However, this didn’t prevent Dr. Duncan from continuing with her work, which proceeded at a dreary pace until she hit upon definitive proof that her virus was the cause for the blood disorder.

Instead of venting her spleen, Dr. Duncan trotted out her findings with the same patience and thoroughness she’d displayed earlier. And this time Felton University had to take notice. They weren’t uproariously supportive, but the academic world felt their might as the university review board rolled up their collective sleeves and forced her critics to retract their public denouncement of her work.

This was too much for Dr. Wise; he resigned from his university position to fully pursue a career in television.

His series was cancelled after the first season. And from what Avers managed to gather, the good doctor was unable to find any other job in the media sector and was currently vying for a position at Duke.

Just to satisfy his curiosity, Avers went digging to see if Duncan had quietly celebrated her nemesis’ downfall. To his surprise, Duncan did not. In fact, Wise’s fall from grace had no effect on her at all.

Save for one.

She had resigned from her position at Felton and was currently shopping for opportunities in the private sector. Which was when she came upon Avers’ notice.

He wasn’t at all surprised to see that she had left Felton. He could perfectly understand her reasons.

Wise meant nothing to Duncan but Felton meant everything, and the betrayal of her fellow colleagues wounded Duncan deeply enough for her to realize she had placed her faith in the wrong group of people.

Avers noted that she had her postdocs transfer to labs in other universities before she quit. He wondered how she managed that without rousing the interest of the department head.

His telephone rang once, to politely warn him that his interview with Dr. Duncan was about to start.

I have to get Duncan, he thought. She might be Robert’s second choice but she’s first for me.

He straightened out his silk tie, made sure his dark suit was meticulous before sitting in a luxurious armchair. He lifted the teapot's lid in order to allow the escaping fragrance to pepper the air. He then leaned back, looking alarmingly like Alastair Cooke during his heydays at Masterpiece Theater.

Avers knew most interviews such as he was about to conduct would happen in a large, sterile office, probably with few stone-faced group of people baring their teeth in false smiles while offering tasteless coffee around a circular meeting table: a gauntlet that resembled both the Harkness Method and the Inquisition.

Which was why there was no oversized glass table between two armchairs - only a small walnut davenport over to the left, holding the teapot and two delicate bone-china cups.

The door opened and Avers fixed a small but charming smile on his face before standing up.

“Good afternoon, Doctor,” he greeted warmly as he strolled forward to greet his visitor. “And welcome to Seattle.”

Kathy Duncan was never accused of possessing too much imagination. But the interview with Jason Avers unsettled her in ways she never knew. She didn’t think it was because he was in any way sinister, but as the interview progressed, Kathy became conscious of the fact that he had something in mind for her.

The truth was she liked Avers. He was the cool uncle Kathy always wished she had. The guy that would take her and her roommates out to a nice but funky restaurant and buy them expensive wine just because he wanted to, all the while regaling them with boatloads of interesting stories.

To be honest part of her wanted to take the position he was offering just because of the automatic fondness she felt for the man.

And the fact that he was a dead ringer for Alastair Cooke didn’t hurt either.

Also, the position at Eichel’s Corporation wouldn’t be too much of a trauma because it wasn’t so different from what she was doing at Felton. In fact, from the information packet he’d given her, Kathy was pretty sure she was going to do the same type of research, just for a pharmaceutical company. And it wasn’t one of the big pharmacons either. Eichel Corporation mainly did secondary research for bigger entities, focusing on disorders of the human immune system. But Kathy also knew they held over twelve thousand patents, and earned a staggering amount of money from the companies who depended on them.

In many ways it was an ideal way for an academic to slip into the private sector, but Kathy couldn’t stop feeling it was all too good to be true. As if Avers had somehow found out what Kathy needed after Felton and created the position in order to guarantee her acceptance.

When something seem too good to be true, it usually is, Kathy recollected her father saying - one of his fondest.

She e-mailed Johnny, knowing the youngest brother was the one who understood her best out of the five.

In spite of the fact that he must have just gotten off work, it took Johnny less than five minutes to respond on the IM.

Sounds good, maybe too good. Do you want me to look in on them?

Kathy smiled. Johnny did love his job at the FBI, though he never said it outright. She was still unclear as to what he did, but whatever it was, it gave him a great deal of access to very private information.

No need, John Boy. Not going to accept it. Too good to be true was exactly what I was thinking.

Johnny confirmed what she had suspected. Even though Avers seemed trustworthy, Kathy wasn’t going to risk her career again. She had been betrayed one too many times, and by people she had implicitly trusted.

Never again, she thought sadly.

Then, feeling much better after making the decision to reject the job offer, Kathy microwaved her dinner, and happily sawed away at the Swason’s Hungry Man Express while watching Top Chef on her DVR.

Avers grimaced as he once again read the polite letter from Duncan refusing the position. He wondered where he’d gone wrong. He had planned everything down to the letter, he even made sure the hotel she’d stayed in wasn’t too ostentatious or hip.

And yet, the letter he was holding told how big a failure his plans were.

Fate continued its cruel joke as his cell rang.

Robert, Avers winced at the thought the conversation he was going to have with the man who depended on him with his life.

“Hello, Robert,” Avers said.

His grimace grew deeper as Robert began rapid-firing his questions.

“What happened? I thought you said she was a sure hire.”

“I don’t know what happened, Robert,” Avers answered. “I’m having her e-mails dumped now. Her server had caught on to the fact that they were hacked, so it’s going to take us a while to get back into her folder.”

“What happens after that?” Robert asked in a weary voice. “If she refused, then it stands to reason that the others will, too.”

Avers considered his options and decided to go with the worst-case scenario. “I think she can be persuaded to reconsider.”

Something in his voice conveyed his plan without speaking. “What are you thinking of?” Robert asked warily.

“She needs to see what can be gained.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“Shock therapy,” Avers answered. “I want her to see the reason why we need her so badly.”

“Do you think that wise?”

“Yes,” Avers said. “I know we’ve discussed this before, and Peter thinks otherwise, but I believe we should make an exception for this particular situation.”

“Peter’s going to be furious,” Robert cautioned him. “He might never forgive us.”

“Unless she finds the cure,” Avers added. “Then I think even he would be unable to hold a grudge. Not that he could, in any case.”

“That is true. So, if you plan to carry out your insane plan, when will you do so?”

“As soon as I read her e-mails. If she can’t be persuaded to change her mind in the traditional manner, then I will resort to more … forceful means.”

“Be careful, you told me she has five brothers and two of them are in law enforcement.”

“I know: the youngest works for the FBI in their Cyber Investigations Unit. From what I’ve gathered, he’s got quite the talent for it.”

“The other?”

“A police sergeant for the Miami-Dade metro area,” Avers answered. “Again, very well-respected by his peers. Their parents were quite dedicated in making sure their children succeed in their chosen profession.”

“It would be a shame to curtail that in any way,” Robert cautioned him. “Her absence will be noted, and I doubt her brothers would accept her disappearance without kicking up more problems than we might be able to handle.”

“Let me worry about that,” Avers soothed his friend. “You take care of Peter.”

“I will,” Robert said. There was a pause before he added, “Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Avers said drily. “I’ll call you when we need the boat.”

“Will do.”

Avers opened his laptop and read the alert from his security team.

So they’ve hacked into the system. Now to see why she did not accept.

It took him less than ten minutes to come to the grim decision that force would be necessary. And that in spite of all his cautious planning, Duncan had seen through the façade and realized she was being played and played well.

I really hope Jackson and his men can handle this, Avers thought. I do not want another corpse in my hands.

With great distaste, Avers called the number he’d rarely used: three times including Duncan.

When he heard the click, Avers said, “I need retrieval.”

“As usual?”

“Yes,” Avers said. “I’m sending the information now.”

He heard a beep and knew the contact had received the file. “It will take twenty-four hours, since we have to transport the package from the east.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll contact you when it’s ready for pick up.”

Avers hung up, already feeling soiled. But he knew the contamination seeping into his psyche wasn’t the kind that could be washed away. With a sigh, he made arrangements for the transfer to the island.

Let’s hope for all our sakes that Duncan comes up with something useful, he thought bitterly.

Jamie Rhyes didn’t know why he didn’t like getting the call from the client referred to him as Monsieur Benoit. The man paid well, believed his name was actually Jackson, and all the kidnappings were so easy, it was almost like Rhyes was robbing the old guy.

And there was never any fallout, either. No need to take extra precautions after an assignment for Benoit. In fact, Rhyes should be wishing all his clients had such easy work for him.

It’s that guy, Rhyes finally admitted to himself. Benoit was okay, but that kid who accompanied him once … that kid was completely fucked.

Rhyes remembered the thin, sallow-faced boy with the slick black hair and soft brown eyes who, at first glance, presented no threat. But Rhyes hadn’t succeeded in the wetwork industry by being stupid. He immediately filed away everything that came after the first impression which he only now examined.

Kid looked starved. Like nothing he eats could make him full.

Rhyes blanched a little. No, there’s something that can feed the kid, but it ain’t anything you can buy in the local supermarket.

Rhyes decided then this job was going to be the last. The pay was good, but he never ignored self-preservation’s call for alarm. And something told him Benoit might be reaching the same conclusion, wherever he was.

Robert Eichel closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew the action wouldn’t prevent the onslaught of the approaching migraine, but still, it brought him some comfort. He couldn’t believe how quickly the situation deteriorated. He thought Jason was more than capable of handling Duncan as the man could smooth over any mess presented at his doorstep.

I can’t believe we’re going to go through all this because this Duncan holds the key.

But Robert had to admit, after years of failure, he ‘d given up hope. And on top of that, there was the added despair of what happened to the last two scientists who came into their world.

But I haven’t learned anything from either fiasco since here I am, agreeing to do it all over again. With that dismal thought, Robert turned on a monitor.

He didn’t blink as he witnessed the horror on display. And he watched all night in order to gather the courage necessary to do what was required of him.

The first thing Kathy noticed was the ceiling. She had no idea she had painted it that particular shade of grey unless she’d suddenly relocated from Brookline to USS Nimitz in the last twenty minutes.

With a small moan she rolled to her side and right into a steel wall, slamming her face.

“Jesus Christ!” she hollered and nursed her bruised nose. Having five brothers it only took Kathy a moment to realize that nothing on her face was broken.

Squinting, she wiped tears off her eyes and took a real look. For the first time Kathy realized she was in serious danger. The room was almost completely composed of steel, save for one wall which was made of what she thought was glass.

Kathy tapped it and realized it was made of a substance she couldn’t identify. She then patted down her pockets and found nothing: no purse, no cell phone, not even her keys. Shoving down the gibbering voice of panic to a corner of her mind, Kathy examined the walls and found cuts that signified a door.

Unfortunately there were no handles for her to use. Not even hinges that she could work on. “What is this?” she whispered to herself.

The first thing that came to mind was a prison. But what Kathy saw told her that she was in an observation room and on the other side of the glass was the actual prison, for its walls were reinforced with metal bars every six inches. There were jets coming down from the ceiling which made Kathy shiver as they reminded her pictures from history books.

Then, a door slid open, making Kathy jump back a good foot. Two men gingerly brought in a third who looked like he should be in a hospital. They gently deposited the slumping figure onto the metal floor and left quickly.

Kathy realized with dread she was brought into this black space to watch whatever was about to happen.

What is this? Who is this? Kathy thought as she approached the viewing wall. Her face was almost pressed against the glass when the man suddenly sat up. The motion was so violent, Kathy was surprised he didn't injure himself.

It was only when he lifted his face that Kathy realized the man might just still be a boy. In spite of the broad shoulders his physique was so painfully thin that she was tempted to diagnose him with borderline starvation.

What have they done to the guy? Are they torturing…

The scream that tore from the other room made Kathy rip a scream of her own. The prisoner rolled around on the floor while his arms slowly arced backwards as if there was a giant pulling them. The snapping sounds told her that the strain was so great his joints were being torn open. Then, a louder snap announced the break of his spine.

Kathy shouted incoherently when the boy-man had tipped his head back to an impossible angle.

The scream from the tortured soul grew thinner yet deeper. Then, other changes rapidly followed.

Kathy watched in horrified disbelief as his limbs elongated to almost twice their length. His feet also narrowed while stretching, and Kathy actually heard the toes’ joints pop open like firecrackers.

All the while the screams softened to something less torturous, yet grew in its strength as if the pain was giving it fuel.

By the end of the metamorphosis, Kathy was glued to the farthest wall, her eyes wide and unblinking as she watched the Bosch-like creature stand up on unsteady legs. The man’s pointy chin had elongated until the new visage looked like a gross parody of its previous features. The dark eyes had widened and deepened, almost giving them simian-like features. And the beautiful black hair had coarsened as it thickened and ran down to the shoulders.

Kathy guessed the thing’s height to be almost eight feet. The face looked lupine but the body was gorilla-like as the creature moved about on all fours. She couldn’t stop herself and approached the glass as it pressed its face against the cool surface.

This isn’t some FX trick, Kathy marveled in horror. I just saw a human being turn into … whatever this is!

Its eyes rolled endlessly in their sockets while it stared around the room. Then it smashed its fists against the glass, allowing Kathy to see bloodied claws sprouting out of the fingertips.

Though Kathy had no idea what classification this creature could be placed in, she knew instinctively it was a predator and a dangerous one. It might not be muscular as a large hunting cat, but the sheer length and the power featured in its oversized jaws told the scientist it was a meat eater.

The room started fogging up as the overhead jets starting sprouting out thick gas. The reaction from the creature was immediate: it bellowed in rage before pouncing upwards, over ten feet, to grab hold of one. It ripped out metal protrusion but had no chance to destroy another before the gas overwhelmed him.

Kathy stared hopelessly as the creature collapsed onto the floor, twitching as if it were in a seizure. So intent was her concentration on the creature, Kathy didn’t hear the door open to her room.

When she felt a hand land on her shoulders, Kathy screamed and turned around.

Then, she did the only thing humanly possible: she passed out.

Kathy felt the roiling sensation of nausea and bit her tongue. The awful desire faded away under the barrage of pain. After getting control of her stomach, Kathy slowly opened her eyes and noted the ceiling was filled with dancing shadows of leaves. Understanding that meant it was daylight, Kathy sat up quickly and immediately regretted her decision as her head spun.

“Easy, easy,” a soft voice warned her as two firm hands landed on her shoulders.

Kathy examined the long fingers and the buffed nails before looking up at their owner. The man’s face was hard to see since sunlight was fully behind him in a blinding halo.

“Where am I?” she asked. Then, the memory of the horrific scene crashed into her, careening her off the settee she was resting in. “What the fuck did you do to him?!”

“My name is Robert Eichel.” the man said, moving to his right and finally allowing his face to be seen. “You have to calm down. You are in shock and…”

“Fuck you and the horse you rode on!” Kathy spat out. “What did you do to that child?! Answer me!”

The stranger withdrew and calmly said, “The stranger’s my brother - Peter. And he is fine, though exhausted.” He paused then added, “He always is after a trans.”

“Brother?” Kathy echoed dumbly. “You did that to your own brother?”

“Hardly,” was the dry, humorless reply. “Peter was born with the disorder.”

Then, as if to confirm the man’s answer, the door to the room opened and the boy-man from the nightmarish demonstration strolled in.

Kathy studied him then the man she’d been talking to. The familial lines were definitely visible: the same narrow face, high forehead, and determined chin, though the younger brother possessed brown eyes while the older one had blue ones.

“Bobby,” the younger brother said, “what are you doing?”

“Jesus Christ, Peter, I didn’t do anything!” Bobby countered. “She fell off the chair.”

Peter gave a snort of disbelief and rushed to Kathy’s side. He helped her up and back on the settee. “I’m sorry for all this. You must still be in shock from last night.”

Kathy stared wordlessly before asking, “So, it really happened?”

Peter gave a tired smile then stuttered out, “Unfortunately for all concerned, yes.”

“Why don’t you come with us,” Bobby offered. “We’re about to have breakfast.”

Kathy did not move. Now that the shock had worn off, she was feeling more than a little fear.

As if sensing her mutinous thoughts, Bobby reached into a cabinet and pulled out her backpack. He handed it over to Kathy then retreated to the front of the door.

Kathy checked the contents and noted nothing was stolen: her cell, wallet, and its contents were all present.

A little coffee wouldn’t hurt, she admitted to herself. But I better not touch anything before they do.

Kathy followed them to a room down the hall. She noted the sumptuous furnishings, the silk wallpaper, and beautiful paintings decorating the hall. The dining room was equally stunning, and though she thought it impossible, Kathy began to feel even more uncomfortable.

The older brother, Bobby, pulled out a chair for her. She cautiously sat on it.

“It isn’t booby-trapped,” Bobby said with a small smile.

Peter said nothing but Kathy noted the amusement in his eyes. She was glad when anger returned. Better that than fear and confusion.

“Sorry, not feeling myself right now,” she said waspishly. “Must be something I ate.”

The room cooled down immediately. The two brothers exchanged knowing looks before sitting down at the table.

Kathy watched Bobby pour coffee from a silver urn before handing it over to Peter who poured himself a generous cup with shaky hands. Fearing more for the fate of the urn than her health, Kathy grabbed it when he passed it to her.

However, she dared not add anything to her coffee and watched the two men drink before taking a sip herself.

“So,” Kathy said, “anyone care to explain what happened last night?”

“What did you see?” Peter asked.

“I saw you become something I can’t even begin to explain,” Kathy answered tersely.

“Then you saw exactly right,” Peter said while eagerly digging into his plate of eggs and bacon.

Kathy didn’t know what was more horrifying: what she’d witnessed last night or the casual acceptance of the men in front of her.

As if sensing her shock, Bobby said, “We’ve been dealing with this problem for years. After a while, you can get used to anything.”

Peter gave a shy glance at Kathy. “He’s right, you know.”

Kathy slumped back into her seat. “So, you have … what? A genetic disorder? A gypsy’s curse?”

“So far as we have discovered: no gypsies were involved,” Bobby replied promptly. “But we do believe it is a hereditary disorder.”

Kathy didn’t want to ask the question the men were expecting, but she had no choice. “What kind of disorder are you talking about?”

“I believe the traditional term is lycanthropy,” Peter stuttered again.

Kathy also noticed his hands were trembling. “Are you having side effects?”

Peter gave a small nod and opened his mouth to speak but ended up shaking his head.

Noticing his brother’s state, Bobby said, “His control over motor functions haven’t fully returned, yet.”

“Not to mention my electrolytes have been shot to shit.” Peter immediately reddened and added in a thick voice. “Pardon my language.”

Kathy shook her head to signal her disinterest in social niceties. “This is hereditary, then?”

“Paternal,” Robert answered. “Though the female line can carry the recessive gene, they don’t show any of the symptoms. And they most certainly do not trans.”

“Trans?” Kathy echoed in confusion. “What does that stand for?”

“Transform,” Peter said in a clearer voice. “Shift and metamorphosis have completely become hackneyed thanks to the entertainment industry.”

“I still don’t get why I’m here,” Kathy said. “My field has nothing to do with hereditary disorders. It’s viral.”

“But your work has everything to do with our problem,” Bobby said. “However, that is all I can tell you as long as you’re not on board with us.”

“Is that a threat?” Kathy bristled immediately. “If you know anything about me and I believe you do: I don’t respond well to threats.”

“It’s not a threat,” Peter said in a placating tone. “The truth is this has repercussions reaching farther than the people around this table.”

Kathy looked at Peter who refused to make eye contact. “How many family members?”

“Family members aren’t the only ones,” Bobby said. “The disorder has affected hundreds of people. And that is all I really can say.”

Kathy thought of the unspoken implications and for a moment felt her head spin in shock. Not just them, but hundreds? How could such a thing be kept a secret?

She then belatedly realized that it wasn’t kept a secret. Thousands of movies and television shows had featured what she’d witnessed earlier. Kathy took a deep breath and said, “So, where do I fit in? Besides the dinner plate?”

Peter choked on his eggs and had to chug down an entire glass of orange juice before being able to breathe properly. Even Bobby’s composed demeanor cracked as he bit his inner cheek in order not to burst out laughing.

Kathy watched the two men struggle with their laughter and for the first time since last night felt a sliver of comfort.

These moments are why I appreciate having five older brothers.

Bobby had to admit the introduction went a lot smoother than he’d planned. Dr. Singh, after witnessing Peter’s trans, went into hysterics and had to be sedated for two days before he was able to talk to the genetic researcher. Unfortunately the conversation was cut short when Dr. Singh tried to escape by jumping out of a third-floor window. Dr. Jacobs handled it in a similar fashion. His heart gave out and though Bobby’s medical team tried their best - the man never regained consciousness.

Bobby still felt terrible about leaving the doctor’s body in the slums, but at least his family found the corpse and was able to have a decent funeral. Singh’s family wasn’t so lucky. Bobby knew his children were still vainly searching for the man, holding onto the hope that he was somehow alive - a victim of a complete nervous breakdown due to his high-pressure position at Pfizer.

There were many times Bobby wanted to send them an anonymous tip that proved otherwise, but he couldn’t. Not without jeopardizing Peter and his people.

He watched the monitor as Peter continued to give Duncan a predetermined tour of their home.

All this elegance and money, she’s going to realize we would’ve spent a hundred times that to furbish our labs.

He sipped his tea and watched as Peter dragged the curious researcher to their greenhouse - a private haven for them.

In spite of his horrific condition, Peter possessed a gentle nature; maybe even made gentler because of what he could become when he lost control of his temper. And Duncan would see that. She was capable of appreciating the innate goodness in Peter and would feel sorry enough to join them in finding a cure for him.

It doesn’t matter what she says - people like her do what they do for a reason. And it isn’t for the money or the glory.

He saw Peter throw back his head and burst out in bright laughter.

They do it to save people like him.

Bobby watched as Duncan place a congenial hand on Peter’s forearm as she joined in the laughter. Whatever fear, disgust, or hesitations she might have had earlier was evaporating. Now, she would see a young man damned to a life in hell for no other reason than his birth.

Game, set, match.

Kathy watched Peter as he studiously ate his way through a bag of bagels. Once in a while, he took a chug from a water bottle tucked in his jacket. At first she was shocked by the amount of food he’d consumed, but then she realized his metabolism must be off the scale as his body returned to its normal state.

Or he’s just incredibly hungry, she thought with a smile. God knows we never have any leftovers after Thanksgiving if three of my brothers are around the table.

Peter slowed down and actually looked full while he crumpled the plastic bag into a pocket. He stretched and Kathy once more noticed his pitifully thin frame. His ribs were clearly visible through his t-shirt and so was the sternum. The jeans were low enough for his hipbones to show.

To Kathy’s surprise she didn’t find any of what she was seeing to be appealing as modern fashion seemed to dictate. To her, it was as if Peter was a newly-freed prisoner of war.

“I am sorry you had to see what happened last night but Bobby was desperate,” Peter said.

“What he did … he broke federal and state laws,” Kathy said tersely. “You know that, right?”

“Of course we do,” Peter said.

“But why all this? Why me?” Kathy asked. “Why?”

“Because Bobby and Jay believe in your abilities to help us further our research,” Peter said. “And they aren’t the type to make such mistakes.”

“How many people have inherited such disorders?” Kathy asked. “Is it as many as I think?”

Peter stiffened and broke eye contact. “I can’t tell you. You have to understand we’ve been hunted through the ages. It’s driven us underground and we’re not about to lose what precious freedom we’ve gained over the years for anything as mundane as gossip.”

Kathy sighed before asking, “So what will it take to find out.”

“A blood oath, and a signed contract handing over your soul.” Peter saw her blanch and added, “I’m kidding. About the soul.”

Kathy rolled her eyes and said, “Funny. Since I’m Catholic blood oaths are a no-go.”

“How about a no-practice clause? And a privacy statement?”

Kathy frowned. “How does that work?”

“Because the moment you talk you’ll end up in a loony bin for a ninety-day involuntary observation period.”

“There is that,” Kathy agreed readily enough. “And Avers will ruin my career, right?”

“He'll probably fabricate something to put you in jail,” Peter said. “Jay has been protective of us since he was a child. He’s gotten a lot worse since then.”

“So, what happens now?”

“You sign the contract and you’ll find out.”

“I’m not sure that’s what I want,” Kathy confessed. “This is overwhelming.”

“We can definitely understand that. Bobby has a room set up for you at Devon so you can think it over privately.”

“Is that not … here?”

“It’s nearby if that’s what you’re asking,” Peter said. “One of those so-called charming bed-n-breakfast deals.”

“How long do I have to mull it over?”

“Until the end of this week,” Peter answered.

“That’s it?” Kathy blinked in shock. “I thought two weeks would be more appropriate, all things considered.”

Peter shook his head. “No, we need someone quickly. And if you’re not willing, then we have to go find someone else as soon as possible.”

“Wow, no pressure there.”

“Only as much as we’re under,” Peter replied sharply.

Kathy had the good grace to blush. To her this was a job opportunity: to him it was his life.

“How do I get to Devon?”

Peter took out a cell from his jacket and dialed. Since conversation was brief and also uninteresting, Kathy couldn’t stop her interest from drifting off to her surroundings. The greenhouse was lush and obviously well cared for. It was also equally obvious that Peter had spent a lot of personal time within its glass walls for he had flawlessly navigated his way around the place in spite of the fact that there were no groomed walkways.

She also noticed that any visible footprints probably belonged to her guide unless his older brother wore the same exact sneakers with a worn patch on the left heel.

“Bobby will drop you off in town,” Peter said. “Please give serious consideration to what we’re offering and what you want to do with your research.”

“But that’s just it,” Kathy protested. “I can’t see how my knowledge base will help your condition!”

“That’s our worry, not yours,” Peter soothed. “Just know that I wouldn’t have exposed my disorder if I didn’t trust you.”

Weirdly enough, Kathy felt very flattered by that comment and continued to feel the high even as Bobby drove her in silence to the inn.

“Welcome to Devon!” chirped a pretty teenager from behind the check-in desk. “Name’s Tammy. Mr. Eichel told us you’re staying for few nights?”

Kathy nodded, suddenly realizing how tired she was.

Tammy, sensing her distress, handed over an old-fashioned key and said, “The room’s on the top floor, west wing. You’ll get privacy there, and it’s really quiet so you won’t be disturbed if you need to take a nap.”

Kathy gave a grateful smile and wordlessly trudged down the hall to a truly old-fashioned elevator that still possessed the steel gates one had to pull shut before the elevator’s generator kicked in.

The bedroom was small but immaculately kept and the view was unbeatable as the windows all looked out towards what Kathy suspected was the Pacific Ocean.

Oh my God, what am I doing here? she thought as she relaxed on the comfortable if also chintzy bed.

Unfortunately rest remained elusive. Kathy’s nerves were still poisoned with overdose of adrenaline and their ferocious drumming made it impossible for her to fall asleep.

With a tired sigh, Kathy showered before heading out again. This time, she took her backpack with her. Just in case she needed to make do a Great Escape, she would at least have the money to pay her way.

Then, when she reached the crest of a steep hill right behind the inn, Kathy realized that money might just not be enough.

The island was large and looked to be almost circular. And the town she was in seemed to be the only population center save for sporadic clusters of housing on the hills.

Of course, the mansion was plainly visible with its red roof and ivory exterior, but there wasn’t anything else that was remotely big enough to house a lab, even a modestly-sized one.

Kathy’s curiosity grew as she walked about the town and learned its history. The island’s name was Wade and its main town was baptized as Hector seventy years ago when the federal government confiscated the island in order to build a naval base and conduct war drills.

After the war ended, the government promptly closed the naval base in order to save money, but the civilian workers stayed on, making a living off the island and its popularity as a tourist destination.

Unfortunately, that didn’t last long and the town had fallen on hard times by the mid-fifties. But from what Kathy had seen she guessed Wade had ultimately survived the economic downturn because if Hector was anything to go by, the island was doing very well for its size.

She took a stroll down the docks and found a map carved in stone to entertain tourists. Kathy’s eyes widened when she saw where Wade was located: north of Orca Island, almost on the Canadian border.

Whatever drug they gave me, it had to last at least six hours. Kathy shook her had and marveled at the planning behind her kidnapping. They must be damn sure I’ll take the job. Either that or they know I’m not going to blab everything when I return home.

Kathy felt an uneasy tickle at the back of her skull. In spite of the warm reception she’d gotten from Peter, Bobby remained a complete enigma to her. The man couldn’t have hidden his brother’s secrets for long if he didn’t have much in the way of discretion. But if what they hinted at were true, then it stood to reason that there were dozens, maybe hundreds who suffered from the same debilitating disease that Peter had.

Disease, Kathy thought with a tight smile. One hour with Peter and I’m already commiserating with him instead of running away, screaming on top of my lungs.

Kathy wiped her forehead and looked around. There was a well-worn pathway that snaked its way through the high grass. It led away from the town so Kathy decided to take it. With one deep appreciative breath of the briny air Kathy started the hike.

As soon as she turned the first bend, Kathy regretted her decision. She had stumbled across the island’s cemetery and from what she saw it was still very much in use. After a cautious minute of debating with herself, Kathy’s curiosity overcame her initial squeamishness and she entered through an iron gate.

Kathy noted the oldest ones were less than hundred years old, which told her that seafarers used the island as a base during their whaling days. The next cluster of deaths was almost thirty years later, in 1943. There were few headstones from the fifties, then nothing she climbed over the crest of a hill.

What she stumbled over stopped her breath.

The majority of the headstones in this section were for people who didn’t reach the age of twenty. Some were as young as five. And they were all from the seventies onwards.

There are at least thirty such deaths, Kathy calculated. I wonder … I wonder if these people had the same thing that Peter does. And this is what happens if their system doesn’t adapt to the changes.

Kathy decided right then to take the job offer. She had never gone into research thinking about the people who could benefit from her work. It didn’t dawn on her to consider her fellow human beings for the simple reason she had no time. Kathy always believed in using her precious hours to the advantage of the many, and to waste it thinking about a faceless body seemed foolish to her.

However, that naive mentality had no place when she was standing in the middle of a cemetery populated by people whose hereditary disease could very well kill them before they reach the age to vote.

Kathy debated whether she should go any further when she spotted another hiker. Upon closer inspection, the person turned out to be a girl with a pixie haircut. Kathy waved a friendly hello but felt cowardly relief to see that the girl was ignoring her. Feeling winded, Kathy was about to head back when she noticed the child was crying almost imperceptibly.

Kathy knew walking away was no longer an option so she approached the girl.

“Hey, you want this?” Kathy offered her a tissue pack.

The girl looked up. She frowned but offered a tearful smile of gratitude as she took the packet. Kathy understood then the child couldn’t speak English.

The two sat in agreeable silence and watched the gulls fly about, squawking about nothing. After calming down, the girl stood up, gave a small smile, and handed back what was left of the packet.

Without acknowledging her companion, the child walked away, her gaze firmly planted on the path in front of her.

Feeling refreshed, Kathy retraced her steps back to town. Her good mood lasted until she had to eat. Then, remembering what had passed earlier in the day, Kathy deflated immediately. And so did her resolve to help Peter and whoever else was imprisoned in that hell.

I can’t do this, she panicked. I’m a lab rat, that’s all I am. I can’t do what they’re asking me to do! If I fuck up people are going to die … or worse!

Feeling herself beginning to hyperventilate, Kathy took a deep breath before draining an entire glass of water. A waitress immediately appeared next to the table and refilled it with a smile.

“Feeling thirsty?” she asked.

“Something like that,” Kathy answered.

“Your salmon burger should be coming right up!” the waitress said.

In spite of her appetite going AWOL, Kathy found the burger delicious, and the rhubarb-strawberry pie the best she’d ever had. And all through the meal, Kathy floundered for a way to say ‘no thank you’ to Eichel’s offer without ending up as a file in the FBI Missing Persons database.

She closed her eyes for a moment and replayed the morning she’d spent with both brothers. It was only then Kathy realized that though Bobby’s silence made him unreadable, Peter was just as dangerous, if not moreso, for he’d played her perfectly.

Maybe it’s just in his nature, Kathy thought. He’s so desperate for help that he had no choice but to make sure I’d be on his side.

Instead of feeling betrayed, Kathy felt pity and understanding. Her oldest brother, Ted, was an orthopedic surgeon who specialized in severe muscular-skeletal trauma and rebuilding damaged limbs. He’d told dozens of stories of patients who’d faked the speed of their healing in the hopes of having their surgeries scheduled earlier.

Kathy sighed and sank into her chair. She still had to say no. There was no way she could just jump into what seemed like a process that had been going on for years if not centuries. Though Kathy was very confident in her skills, this was something way above her pay grade.

She also considered who else could be on their list and came up with three names: one was a talented jackass and the other two were brilliant in their respective fields. They were also much better equipped to handle whatever the problem was as they had fantastic imagination and drive along with their intelligence.

After paying the bill, Kathy strolled out into the dark. There was enough foot traffic for her to feel safe, and since the town was well lit, she decided to take a residential street.

The houses were modest but very well kept, and the front gardens were already colorful with blooms though it was still cold.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her jeans by the waist and she was yanked back few feet. Her scream died in her throat when she turned to see a boy no older than ten. The sated moon lit his pale but determined face.

“Don’t go down there,” he said.

Kathy looked down the street and saw nothing to cause any concern. “Why?”

He pointed at a door that had a white wreath. “They got problems.”

Kathy paled when she finally comprehended what the child was saying. “How do you know?”

“Because that’s how we signal when we have a shut-in,” the kid answered simply. “And your scent could make it worse.”

“Okay,” Kathy managed to wheeze out. “I’ll just … head back to Main Street and go back to the inn that way.”

“Cool,” the kid said then flipped the skateboard onto the sidewalk with the grace reserved only to children. With a cheery wave, he disappeared into the darkness.

“Definitely not my thing,” Kathy whispered to herself as she took a brisk pace back to the inn.

After checking up on her cell and finding no messages, Kathy hooked up to the inn’s complimentary Wi-Fi at the lobby to skim her e-mails. To her dismay she noted no one seemed to have noticed her sudden disappearance. She knew her reaction was ridiculous: she’d been gone for only twenty-four hours. But Kathy couldn’t help feel a little sting of hurt that no one in Boston even bothered to call her to see if she was okay.

Kathy wondered; besides her work, which was at best received with lukewarm reception, was there anyone at Boston who would actually miss her if she decided to leave?

The answer was depressing, but Kathy was not one to shy away from harsh realities. However, she did order a glass of gin and tonic before going to bed.

Part II