Specimen(29)

I stay close to Riley’s side, slightly behind her. I’m on edge, and I don’t miss the looks I get from the people we pass in the hallways. Most of them are dressed in lab coats, but there are a few in military uniforms. Before turning a corner and heading to a large set of double doors, we pass a pair of men with mops and buckets, dressed in coveralls. We stop in front of them, and Riley enters a code into the keypad on the wall.

The doors open, and we walk through them into a fenced yard. Ahead of us are two other men dressed in the exact gear I am wearing, each with a woman in a lab coat standing next to him. I see Captain Mills behind them, standing with two uniformed men. At the far side of the yard is a large helicopter.

The entire time I have been here, Riley has been my only companion. Aside from the guard escort in the beginning and the brief visit from Captain Mills, I haven’t encountered anyone at all. Though it’s better than the number of people inside the building, the nine people in the yard, including Riley and me, feel like a crowd.

I follow Riley to the other specimens and their doctors. The first one, a woman with long, straight black hair and caramel-colored skin turns to Riley and smiles.

“Good to see you again, Dr. Grace. I’ve heard a lot about your specimen.”

I glance between the women, feeling a little like a showpiece on a shelf. The specimen with her is standing just behind her right shoulder. It’s the same position I’ve taken up behind Riley.

“I’m very pleased with his performance,” Riley says as she shakes the other woman’s hand. “I know there was some doubt about the methods, but I think you’ll see how much they’ve paid off.”

Riley turns to me.

“Sten, this is Dr. Shweta Rahul.”

I nod toward the woman but say nothing. She doesn’t address me, just looks me up and down before turning back to Riley.

“I’m sure he’ll work well with Isaac.” She reaches out and takes the man beside her by the hand, guiding him next to her. I tense as he shortens the gap between himself and Riley, and my attention sharpens. I don’t want him too close to her. From the look on his face and his squared shoulders, he doesn’t want me near Dr. Rahul either.

“Specimen seven-two,” Dr. Rahul says, “this is specimen fourteen.”

We look at each other before slowly reaching out and shaking hands. He’s my height with a similar build, sandy blond hair, and a scar over his left cheek. He doesn’t make a move to touch Riley, which is good. I don’t want his hands on her. If he made a move toward her, I might kill him, but he doesn’t.

The doctors take a step away from us to speak with each other. The other specimen’s shoulders drop slightly, and we both relax when the women are a few steps away from us.

“She calls me Isaac,” he says, nodding his head toward Dr. Rahul.

“Sten,” I reply, and he raises an eyebrow at me. “It’s an acronym for Seven Two Eight Nine.”

He chuckles and leans in closer to me.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve been named after her cat.”

I grin even as I fight to ask him if he knows what his real name is. Somehow, I don’t think he does. I’m getting the impression that something is very different about the treatments I have received, and I wonder if that’s why I have the dreams.

The other specimen and doctor step forward, and Riley introduces me to them.

“This is specimen forty-two,” she says. “His doctor is Helen McCall.”

“Pike,” he says as he shakes my hand. He’s taller than me by several inches with dark hair and eyes like mine.

“Are you seeing any adverse effects from your deviations?” Dr. McCall asks Riley.

I scowl at her. I don’t like the tone of her voice.

“Nothing that wasn’t expected,” Riley says in clipped words.

“I’ll definitely be on the lookout for any surprises,” Dr. McCall says. “This is an important exercise, one that will mimic their first real assignment. If all my work is jeopardized because you can’t follow protocol, I’ll take it up with Captain Mills.”

“Captain Mills is well aware of the steps I’ve taken,” Riley replies.

“Probably bribed,” Dr. McCall mutters under her breath as she walks away, but I don’t think Riley heard her.

“What’s with her?” I narrow my eyes in Dr. McCall’s direction.

“Ignore it,” Riley says. “She’s been pissed since med school about a grant I won and has always had it out for me. She’s looking for any way to discredit me, but you don’t need to concern yourself with that.”

She touches my wrist and runs her fingers up the inside of my left arm.