The Forbidden Trilogy(96)

The helicopter rotors slowed to a stop as Dr. Koslov led them through a rooftop door and down a flight of stairs into the lab.

Lucy and Luke kept pace with the group, acting as "bodyguards" for Mr. Black. He had legitimate business here, but their mission was to steal information without alerting anyone.

The scientist pushed open another door at the bottom of the stairs. "I should warn you that there was a terrible accident some time ago, and many genetic anomalies have been discovered. We have both animals and humans who need cures or treatments. Please, do not be alarmed."

A tiny creature that looked as though a tarantula had crawled into the skin of a dog gave a half-bark, half-screech as Lucy walked by.

She jumped back and bumped into the scientist. Do not be alarmed? Right.

Row after row of disfigured beasts straight out of a horror film stared at Lucy with horribly aware eyes: a cat with two heads, a bird with lizard skin. Lucy had never seen anything like this place, and hoped she never would again—though she wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in her nightmares.

Down the next hall was a series of sterile rooms with glass walls. Her stomach heaved at the site before her. Humans with hideous growths and animal-like mutations filled rows of hospital beds.

Alone in a stark, empty room, her nakedness exposed to any prying eyes, sat a woman with long brown hair and a normal human body. She stroked herself as if scratching at a persistent itch. Then Lucy noticed the thin lines of blood flowing down her arm, and the sharp cat claws that sprang from her fingertips. The woman looked up and locked eyes with Lucy: cat eyes, green and glowing with a preternatural awareness.

Lucy shivered.

She wanted to look away, to think of anything else, but the gruesome mutations drew her attention like the proverbial train wreck.

A small boy, no more than nine years old, ran around his room on all fours, his back facing the group. He turned around and barked—with a snout and face of a dog.

In the last room, a large man, burly like a gorilla, stood silent in the corner, watching them with a keen intelligence. He could have taken on the Incredible Hulk and Superman together and won, unless it was a beauty contest. Large flaps of skin hung from his tall, bulging body like peeling wallpaper. A bulbous nose sat to the side of his asymmetrical face, creating a Picasso effect that Sam would have loved to capture on paper.

To the world, he was a monster, but when she looked into his eyes, she did not see a monster.

Behind that mask lurked a human being full of fear and sadness.

Dr. Koslov gestured to the patients. "The human victims are the most heartbreaking, especially the ones who must be kept in cells for their, and our, safety. Please beware of this section, with the metal doors. These are no longer humans, but mutated beasts with an instinct to kill."

Before they reached the meeting room, Lucy noticed a thick, steel door to what looked like a vault. "What's in there?"

She paid close attention to the answer, alert to any lies, though so far the scientist had spoken only truth.

"That is the most dangerous room in this entire building—a highly radiated area. It would kill any human being who entered it."

"Why is it here if no one can go in?"

"We are able to use it for our research without entering."

True—as far as it went. Lucy couldn't pin down any specific lie. The scientist wasn't forthcoming with the details, but there was definitely more to this place than an altruistic desire to help the beings broken by an accident.

Two large doors at the end of the hall revealed a standard-looking conference room with a long table down the center.

Mr. Black glared at Lucy and Luke. "I'm going to my meeting now. You two will wait out here until I'm done. Then we'll leave."

Without waiting for their response, he turned and stomped into the room. Dr. Koslov spared a glance at them before he shut the door.

Time for the real assignment.

Another scientist, who looked young enough to be a Rent-A-Kid himself, escorted Luke and Lucy to a waiting area. "If you need anything, just let someone know."

Luke made himself comfortable on one of the chairs.

Lucy clutched at her bag. "Is there a bathroom anywhere?"

The young scientist, whom Lucy couldn't help but notice was very tall, blond and sexy—for a lab rat—pointed her down the hall and to the left.

She smiled, thanked him and started walking. She poked her head into offices until she found one that looked like it would stay empty for a while.

The door lock clicked behind her, and she settled into the desk chair and turned on the computer. She wished Sam could have helped with the Russian, as human language was never Lucy's strong suit. The zeros and ones of computers made more sense to her.