The Beast Within (Book One of the Changes Series)

-Danielle’s POV-

My new cell was definitely missing some creature comforts, like a bed. In its stead, I had a few crumpled sheets bunched on the floor, and my toilet was now an empty commercial-sized “Bright Beginnings” detergent bucket. I chuckled. Ironic; my beginnings didn’t feel so bright at the moment.

I listened to the shuffling footsteps echo off the walls. I didn’t need to look up to know I was being watched. The small amount of privacy I had before was now nonexistent. Constant eyes were glaring at me through a thick metal barred door.

My mind raced as I lay on my makeshift bed. Would there be a punishment for my actions, or would it be business as usual? I guess I’d find out soon enough. Either way, I was going to demand to see Porsha. It was a long shot, but I needed to know she was okay, at least alive.

Nathan was someone I didn’t have a want or need to see. I wasn’t sure what that meant or if the feeling would last, but I only had room in my life for the people that didn’t fill me with doubt. Since being with my kids wasn’t an option, that only left Porsha.

My eyes closed. I felt like I had finally turned a corner, and it seemed like my brain was willing to turn off. Maybe I should try to get some sleep.

Sirens started screaming from all directions as the guard’s radio blared to life. All the commotion even startled the guard. Both of us jumped to our feet.

“What going on?” I asked.

The guard ignored my question, grabbing his radio, “This is Delta K-0-0-9. I need to know if this is a drill; over.” The sirens and panicked garble continued. “Repeat, this is Delta K-0-0-9. I need to know if this is a drill; over!”

A wild look of panic filled the guard’s eyes. I needed to get out of this cage! I didn’t know how much time I had before he would transform, leaving me locked in and helpless.

“You know this isn’t a drill. Get me out of here before you turn. I can help.”

“I need for you to calm down and shut up!” His panic was vividly expressed in the wildness of his eyes.

A new voice over the radio caught both of our attention.

“K-0-0-9, this is Officer Pompey. Are you still guarding the package; over?”

“Yes ma’am. I’m ready for new orders.”

“Escort the package to D-pad for immediate extraction.”

“Is backup on the way? What’s going on? Are we under attack?”

I watched as the guard’s hands started to tremble. At first, I thought it was the start of his transformation. I quickly realized otherwise. I knew he was one of us, but he didn’t smell right. He reeked of fear. That in-and-of-itself wasn’t what seemed off though, it was the second scent I picked up. Some kind of industry cleaner or chemical component wafted off of him, irritating my nasal passages. What the hell was that?

“Affirmative on the breach; you’ll have to make due on your own. All other personnel are tending to the breach,” Pompey said matter factually.

“I was told to go to medical and dose up before my shift. I haven’t taken the second dose, but I’m still no good for at least the next two hours. I need back-up to ensure success; over.”

He was told to administer drugs that kept him from changing. Why? And who or what was now breaching the facility? There were too many questions to tend to, so the only concern I gave a damn about was Porsha’s and my safety. I had to find a way to find out and get this guard moving. He did mention medical. Maybe he knew where my friend was.

“You heard her. Let’s get the hell out of here,” I sternly said.

He ignored me, staring at the radio as if his life depended on it.

“K-0-0-9, you have a firearm; use it, and if you’re not successful, then don’t bother coming to D-pad, copy,” Pompey commanded.

By the look in his eyes, I knew panic had taken over.

He swallowed hard, “Copy that.”

“Good; over.” Pompey dropped the line.

“Shit!” the guard spat out over the constant drone of the sirens.

With his head bowed, he nervously released the keychain from his belt. Before turning the latch, his eyes met mine, “Before I let you out, give me your arm.”

My brows furrowed, “Why do you need my arm? Just open up the fucking door!”

“Not without taking a safety measure first, stick your damn arm out!”

Not knowing how much time we had left, I did what he asked. The guard seemed shocked by my compliance. He rushed the barred entry, and I felt a sharp pain followed by a burning sensation that flowed up my arm.

I swiftly pulled my arm back between the bars. The burning sensation was now spreading through my chest.

“You can take that out of your arm,” he instructed.

It took me a second to realize there was a huge injectable stabbed into my flesh.

“What the hell did you give me?”

“It won’t hurt you. It just ensures you can’t hurt me.” He went for the door with keys in hand.

The gate swung open. I wasted no time and hurried out of my prison, putting the man into one of the holds I had recently been trained in.

I felt my strength draining, and I knew a transformation wasn’t possible. I had to think fast before the guard had the upper hand again. Without many options, I threw him into the open cage. Slamming the door behind him, I found his keys still in the lock. I quickly engaged the lock and removed the keys, backing away from the bars. The guard’s expression showed his shocked-defeat, but I guess in a last-ditch effort, he pulled his gun out, keeping it trained on me. If he did shoot, I was too far from the cell to retrieve the keys. So I stood my ground and called his bluff.

“Where’s Porsha? Would they have already moved her?” I yelled over the sirens.

The son of a bitch looked each and every way as if something would jump out of every dark corner. Yeah, it sucked being stuck in a rat’s trap, didn’t it?

“Who?” he asked as he put the gun down.

“Don’t play dumb with me. I’ll leave your ass here to rot!”

“I’m not playing games. I don’t have a clue who you’re talking about,” The guard replied as his voice cracked under pressure.

If I didn’t know better, I swear he was about to cry. Maybe he didn’t know where Porsha was. This didn’t look good, but I wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

“Porsha is the woman I came here with. She was severely injured—”

The guard’s radio beckoned him. I couldn’t have him reporting in. He looked just as confused about the situation as I felt.

I gave a stern glare, “How will you explain being locked in a cell while the ‘package’ is on the loose? Do you think they will let you live if they find out how badly you fucked up? I just need some answers, and I’ll let you out.”

“How can I trust you?”

“You can’t, but would you rather bet on your brethren coming to save you? I don’t think you have a better option than me.”

I hoped that was enough as I watched him reaching for his radio. He never broke eye contact, and I made sure not to show any doubt in my conviction.

“This is Delta K-0-0-9. The package is on the move. I repeat, the package is mobile; copy?”

“Copy that.”

That worked out, but I was becoming more uncomfortable with my lack of movement with each passing moment. I knew I was on borrowed time.

“The woman that came with me, where is she?”

“She’s dead.”

I felt the air leave my lungs as my eyes burned with pending tears. My grief quickly turned into rage.

“I don’t believe you!”

I could see my anger made the guard even more nervous. He was right to be because I was strongly reconsidering my end of the bargain.

“Your friend might be alive, but she was in bad shape, and she wasn’t much better when Romulus ordered her out of medical. I laid eyes on her myself.”

Nathan ordered her death?! If that was true, he had used her to get me here. Was everyone just a pawn in his game, including me? I had to stay focused.

“Where did Romulus order for her to go?” I shouted.

“To the burners, but she hasn’t been there for long. Not even twenty-four hours yet.”

“What the hell are the burners?”

I had an idea, but I hoped I was wrong.

“It’s the incinerator. We don’t light it every day, so there’s a chance she’s still alive.”

I knew the guard was grasping at straws, and the likelihood of Porsha being alive was slim to none, but that was the only hope I had.

“Where is this place?” I demanded.

“It’s further into the facility. You can’t go there. It’s in the opposite direction of the helicopter pad.”

“You want to get out or not?”

The look he gave let me know how insane my idea seemed to him. However, his freedom meant more to him than my safety. After he gave me the directions, I kept repeating them in my head. It was my turn to honor our agreement.

“Give me your gun and radio.”

His eyes widened as big as saucers while his head shook violently from side to side, “No, that wasn’t part of the plan.”

“Well, I’ve made a revision!”

Knowing he was out of options, he did what I demanded. Hopefully, I didn’t make any mistakes as he did with me. He walked toward the bars with the gun and radio in either hand.

“Throw them out of the cell.”

He tossed the items. I retrieved both articles, not sure of my next move. I walked towards the gate where the guard waited. I had the gun pointed at him.

“Step away from the door with your hands up, and you better not try anything.”

He followed my directions, slowly backing up. I pointed the gun and shot. I was shocked by how much blood flowed out of the guard’s wound. I couldn’t believe I shot him. I knew I’d killed before, but I did that in my alter form. It had felt like it wasn’t me who could do these things for some reason. I knew there was no going back now.

I squeezed the trigger. I wasn't sure what was louder. The ringing in my ears or the guard screams.

“What the fuck?! You fucking bitch, you shot me in the leg!”