Page 5 of The Jaguar's Flower
“Without training and restraints, this creature would not hesitate to attack you.” Renfield glanced at her name tag. “Dr. Morris, would you like to be the subject of an animal attack? What happens when a lab rat bites? Can you gain the same consent from a rat for the purpose of your research? Our test subjects here are simply larger rats. They do not hold the same intelligence to give knowledgeable consent. You may see a human form on the table, but I can assure you the brain is that of a primal animal.”
The others in the group nodded their agreement with the simple explanation, but Violet still held her reservations. “Any animal can be trained to perform tasks. That is simply what we do here, but we use shifters. If allowed to go around unchecked, they would attack us. Not only within this facility but outside these walls as well. The majority of animal attacks against humans are primarily caused by shifters. Rather than put them down, we make use of them.”
The others seemed placated by Renfield’s statements, but Violet refused to agree. As much as she wanted to protest, she knew it wouldn’t hold any sway. She didn’t know shifters existed until one transformed in front of her. “What are you going to do to him?”
Renfield raised the scalpel and marked the man’s chest. A collective gasp sounded when it healed almost immediately. Three other lines preceded the newest one etched into his skin. “One more infraction and he will undergo rehabilitation training. That is the only area that we will not tour. It is far too dangerous to enter with only two guards.”
A shiver raced down Violet’s spine as Renfield led the group out. She glanced at the man on the table and mouthed.‘I’m sorry.’When one of the guards cleared their throat, she turned and scurried through the door.
As she followed the rest of the group, she glanced from the training area to the guards. Her voice was low when she spoke to the guards. “Are you shifters as well?” Neither of them spoke, but the one on the left barely lowered his chin. The slight movement indicated they were either brainwashed or fearful enough not to fight against the doctor or the staff.
As the group entered the cafeteria, she continued to hang back. She seemed to be the only one bothered by all they witnessed. Her hands slid into her lab coat pockets as she turned her attention to the guards.
“Do either of you know where the genetics lab is?” Another barely perceptible nod came from the shifter guard. “Would you mind escorting me if Dr. Renfield gives his permission?” The guards exchanged a look before another nod came.
As much as Violet wanted to help, she had to get away from the group. None of this sat well with her. She crossed to Renfield and waited for him to finish his conversation with another member of the group. When he turned to her, she gave him a small smile. “Since the next part of the tour is the labs, can one of the guards escort me to the genetics lab so I can begin my research?”
Renfield’s eyes scanned over her as though he already knew she would become a thorn in his side. “Are you not excited to show off your research lab to others?”
“Most researchers are not social butterflies. All of this has me wanting to curl up with my equipment and recharge my social batteries.” It wasn’t a lie, per se, but it wasn’t the full truth, either. She wasn’t the life of the party. If she stuck around, she would only further signify the differences between her and the rest of the group. “I also believe my time is better served focusing on my research, given I won’t see most of the group again.”
Her answer appeased Renfield’s curiosity, but he also knew he would have to closely monitor Dr. Morris. Although she wasn’t like the others, he couldn’t terminate her easily. The facility needed someone well-versed in genetics, and Dr. Morris came highly recommended. It didn’t hurt that she held a few ties to the world outside of the gate.
“002, escort Dr. Morris to her lab.” He barely glanced at the guard before speaking directly to her. “At the end of the evening, you will wait in your lab until a guard can escort you back to your living quarters. In the morning, you will remain in your quarters until a guard escorts you to your lab. Safety precautions.”
As much as she didn’t like it, she nodded her agreement. There would be no coming and going as she pleased. She planned to obey the rules while figuring out how to remove herself from this situation. With any luck, she would also find a safe way to end the torture that she witnessed in this facility.
The guard waited silently for her to join him. She smiled at him once they were outside in the warm light of day. “Do you like it here?” Only silence greeted her attempt at small talk. “I am Dr. Violet Morris. Can I ask your name?”
The guard barely spared her a glance as he replied mechanically, “002.”
She nearly stumbled at his reply. His hand shot out to steady her before he stepped away just as quickly. “Don’t you have a name?” Vaguely, she remembered a movie she watched with her dad when she was much younger.Captured soldiers only gave their name, rank, and serial number. Was that the case here?
“Apologies for touching you, but we do not have names by the time we finish our training program.”
The words were spoken so flatly that she wanted to cry or scream. “Why?”
His expression never changed as he walked beside her. “We are unnatural. Disgusting animals that are lucky we have not been put down.”
His answer bothered her. As he opened the door to the facility’s main building, she whispered, “Even pets have names, 002.” They might be an anomaly, but she didn’t find them unnatural or disgusting.Anything that was unnatural wouldn’t exist.
They walked down a long corridor until she noticed her name etched into a plaque. “Since I cannot roam the grounds freely, will you be the one to escort me back and forth and gather my samples?”
Again, his silence greeted her, but he gave little more than a subtle nod. “Thank you. Will you return in an hour? I need to collect my first round of specimens.” His stoic demeanor barely fell as she noticed his slight cringe. “Then I will see you in an hour, 002.”
Chapter three
Underdifferentcircumstances,Violetwould be ecstatic over the brand-new equipment in the lab. Some items were pieces she had only read about. She could use them here. The cruelty she witnessed that morning dimmed her excitement. Renfield had come and already returned to whatever his work entailed for the rest of the day. After the elder doctor’s visit, Violet received his clearance to retrieve her own specimens from the test subjects.
While she waited for the guard to return, she gathered her supplies and the paperwork necessary to gather the samples. She felt extremely uncomfortable calling the tortured individuals “test subjects.” It all seemed so far-fetched to her that shifters existed, but she witnessed it with her own eyes. The cruelty they endured earned them a different label than a test subject. Victim was a better term.
She believed they held at least the same ability to consent as humans, if not more. She also didn’t agree with all the negative reinforcement she witnessed without a single positive. Even her rats and mice received treats and positive reinforcement. The more positive attention her rats received always seemed to yield better results. She wanted to focus on it here until she could figure something else out as well.
A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see 002 in the doorway. She needed to remember to shut the door since she didn’t feel comfortable anywhere on the grounds except for the soldier training area. Automatically, she reached into her pocket to retrieve a hard candy and stopped as a thought occurred to her. He might not be a rat, but that didn’t mean he didn’t deserve to see something positive in all of this.
“Hi, 002. Do you like candy?” She pulled two wrapped pieces from her pocket and offered him one. “It’s one of my vices and helps with my nerves.”
The guard watched her as though he expected to be punished. When she continued to hold the piece up, his eyes dropped to his boots. “No, ma’am.”