by L. S. O'Dea
Scottsmoor walked to the counter. He grabbed a syringe and filled it with something.
“What’s that?” asked Lee. “What’s he going to do to her?”
“She can’t handle more serum. She’s too sick.” He jerked on the bars. “Stop it.”
“This isn’t the serum, you fool.” Scottsmoor grabbed her arm. “I’m inducing labor.”
“Inducing what?” He looked at Lee and his brother shrugged helplessly.
“She needs to give birth. This will help.” Scottsmoor jabbed the needle into her arm.
Prin moaned, tossing her head to the side.
“Now, we wait.” Scottsmoor dropped the syringe in the trash and leaned against the counter.
Prin’s cheeks flushed slightly and she started to whimper. Suddenly, she thrashed her head and screamed, the sound jarring Rufus’ bones.
“It’s time.” Scottsmoor moved between her legs. “Hold her still.”
The Guards held her down as she tried to buck free.
“Push. You need to push.” Scottsmoor looked over at them. “What’s her name?”
“Prin.” He squeezed the bar so tight his fingers were numb.
“Push, Prin. You need to get this baby out of you,” said Scottsmoor.
“Why is there blood?” There was a lot of it, coming from between her legs. “She’s bleeding. Stop it. Help her,” he yelled. She couldn’t die. She couldn’t.
“Shut up. That’s normal,” snapped Scottsmoor.
She screamed again, lifting her head.
“That’s it.” Scottsmoor bent, staring between her legs. “Do that again.”
“Do what he says, Prin. He’s helping you. Please, please. Push, honey,” begged Lee. “Do it for me.”
She screamed. This one was so long and loud even Topper and Stink’s hands shook. She fell silent, her head dropping to the side. Her eyes were glassy from pain. She opened her mouth and moaned as the muscles in her body tightened.
“That’s it. That’s it.” Scottsmoor reached between her legs and then straightened, something dangling from his hands.
It was her young, but it didn’t look like a Guard. Under the blood, it was sleek, gray and had a small tail, dangling from its backside. Scottsmoor carried it to the sink, cleaning out its mouth and nose before running it under water. He put it on the counter and pressed on its tiny chest.
Prin screamed again and her body jerked.
“What’s wrong with her?” shouted Lee. “Help her.”
Rufus’ eyes were locked on her offspring. It wasn’t moving.
“Ah, sir,” Stink said. “I think there’s another one.” The Guard was leaning to the side, staring between her legs.
She screamed again.
Scottsmoor hurried back to Prin, leaving the offspring on the counter. “Excellent.” He pushed on her stomach and she yelled in pain. He grabbed another gray mass from between her legs and quickly carried it to the sink, following the same process as before—washing it before pressing on its chest.
Prin lay panting on the table, watching him. “Are they okay?” Her voice was soft like a whisper of wind.
Scottsmoor’s shoulders slumped. “No. They’re both stillborn.” He wiped his hands and turned around.
“No. Please.” Another whisper and she turned toward her brothers, tears trickling down her cheeks.
“It’s okay, Prin. It’ll be okay.” He wanted to tell her she could get pregnant again, but she was locked up with them. This had been her only chance.
“Will you put her in here with us?” He looked at Scottsmoor. “We’ll take care of her.”
“No.”
“Please. I’m sorry we escaped. I...We won’t do it again. I swear.”
“That’s not the problem.” Scottsmoor picked up a scalpel.
“What’s he doing?” Lee grabbed Rufus’ arm.
“I can’t have siblings in a project, not male and female. If Conguise ever found out, he’d kill me.” Scottsmoor’s lips quivered. “And I don’t mean figuratively. I need breeding pairs.” He looked at his Guards. “Hold her. I want this to be quick.”
“No. No. Don’t do it.” Rufus yanked on the bars. He’d tear them from the wall.
“Rufus? Lee?” Prin looked at them as she tried to get away, but the Guards kept her in place.
“You may not believe me, but I am sorry about this,” said Scottsmoor. “I wanted to kill the two of you and keep her, but she’s sick and she had two stillborn young,”
“Yes. Kill me. Leave them.” He shoved Lee to the back of the cage.
“I can’t. Not now. I already told the professor that the two of you were fine. He’d be suspicious if I told him you’d died. Especially, both of you.”
“Please, don’t do this.” Lee scurried to the front of the enclosure.
“Tell him you made a mistake.” His hands were white on the bars.
“That I made a mistake?” Scottsmoor shook his head. “I’ve made too many mistakes already. Another one, especially one like this, would be my death sentence and I’m not ready to die.”
“I’m not either,” whispered Prin. “Please, don’t kill me.”
“I’m sorry.” Scottsmoor stared down at her. “Everyone saw how sick you were. It’s believable that you’d die, especially when birthing.” He glanced at the young. “Shame your offspring didn’t make it.”
“Please. Don’t do this. I’m begging you. I’ll do whatever you want. Anything.” Rufus dropped to his knees.
“This is the only way.” Scottsmoor’s hand came down and silver flashed through the air.
Prin screamed but it quickly became a gurgle as blood spilled from her throat. Her head dropped to the side. Her gaze locked on her brothers and her mouth moved as if she were trying to speak, but no sound came out as her brown eyes dimmed.
Lee sobbed, dropping to the floor, his hands reaching through the bars of the cage. “Prin, don’t leave me.”
“Get the autopsy equipment,” said Scottsmoor.
“Sir, shouldn’t we do this in another room.” Topper nodded his head toward Rufus and Lee.
“What?” Scottsmoor’s gaze went over Topper’s shoulder. “Nonsense. She’s dead and if they don’t like it, they can look the other way.”
“Yes, sir.” Topper sent them a commiserating look as he and Stink left, returning a moment later with bags, buckets, containers, knives and saws.
“Don’t touch her.” Rufus’ voice came out like a croak.
Scottsmoor looked at him and raised a brow. “You do not get to tell me what to do. If you’d obeyed in the first place, you’d be the one on this table, not her.”
He’d never forgive himself for that, but he wasn’t the only one to blame. “I’ll kill you for this.” He pushed against the bars of the cage, his bones squishing together.
Scottsmoor’s eyes widened as Rufus’ face made it halfway through the bars before he pulled back into the cage. The opening was too small.
“One day, I’m going to get out of here. I’ll find you and kill you and it won’t be fast. I’ll take my time, hurting you and tasting you. I’ll chew you apart, limb by limb as you scream and plead for mercy.”
“As you can see, I’m not afraid.” Scottsmoor picked up a saw and stared at Rufus as he lowered it, slicing into her body.
Prin’s body flopped on the table from the movement of the saw. It almost looked as if she were struggling to get up. Lee gagged and vomited. Rufus roared and hit the bars over and over with his shoulder. He kept at it as Scottsmoor cut her apart, weighing and measuring her like she was nothing but a chunk of meat.
When Scottsmoor dropped the last part of Prin into a large container, Rufus stopped hitting the cage. She was gone. Nothing but blood and bits of bone and flesh remained on the table.
“Hand me an offspring,” said Scottsmoor.
“Please. Leave them alone.” Rufus hit the cage again but his exhaustion made it more of a bump.
Lee grabbed his hand, pulling him to the
mat on the floor. “Don’t watch. Don’t.”
Lee faced the wall, but Rufus had to watch. He had to remember so that one day he could pay them all back for every cut and slice—Topper, Stink, Jimbo, Pepper, their offspring and Scottsmoor. He’d take his time with Scottsmoor. He’d show the Almighty what it meant to fear.
Thanks for reading Rage of Rattus Norvegicus. I hope you enjoyed the story.
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Also, check out my other books. An excerpt from Leaving Level Five is next. Followed by an excerpt from the FREE ebook, Lake of Sins: Escape right before the Characters section.
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Leaving Level Five
Chimera Chronicles Volume Five
CHAPTER 1: McBrid
McBrid refilled his glass of whiskey. Since death was the only escape from his nightmare of a life, he may as well choose his exit.
“How about some more roast?” asked his father.
“I’m fine.” He took a sip of his drink and pushed his almost full plate away.
“Your mother wouldn’t like seeing you this way.” Dad moved the plate back toward him.
“She would’ve hated what I’ve become.”
“Don’t say that,” said Uncle Rob. “My sister loved you and your father more than anything. Your job wouldn’t change that, no matter how vile it is.” His uncle took his hand. “We’ll find a way out of this.”
“I already have.” He raised his glass. “To death by liver disease.” It was better than being torn apart by teeth and claws.
“Stop it, Matt.” His father stood, taking the bottle from the table. “There’s always a way.” He glanced fondly at Uncle Rob. “We’re proof of that.”
His uncle and the man he called father were lovers, had been since before he was born. His biological father had been a Guard. When Grandfather had realized exactly who had been slipping into his daughter’s bed, McBrid’s father had vanished.
The disappearance had never been discussed. It was a deadly topic. Even now, if anyone suspected he was part Guard he’d be executed. The authorities couldn’t let it became common knowledge that the classes were similar enough to produce offspring.
However, they all knew Grandfather had killed his father. If it weren’t for his mother and Uncle Rob he probably would’ve disappeared too.
Grandfather had known of his son’s sexual orientation and realized that the only chance he had for someone with his blood to inherit his fortune came from his daughter.
“You both got lucky Mom was as stubborn as she was devious.” He smiled into his drink.
His mother had been a sweet, kind, gentle woman unless crossed. She’d married her brother’s lover and had never given her father another grandchild, making McBrid the sole heir to his grandfather’s fortune, once his uncle passed.
“Beth was an exceptional woman,” said his uncle. “I miss her every day.”
“Me too.” He stared at his glass. She’d be so disappointed in him. He hurt and mutated others for no good reason.
“You’re sure you can’t quit?” asked Dad.
“I can but then I’ll disappear.”
“You could hide,” suggested Uncle Rob
“Where? We live on an island. Not too many places to go where you won’t eventually be found.”
“What if you became a Guard?” Uncle Rob glanced at McBrid’s father.
His arm stilled, glass half-way to his lips. “That’d mean I’d never be able to see either of you.”
“We could hire a new Guard.” Dad took Uncle Rob’s hand.
“I’d be recognized”—he took a large gulp of his drink—“and it wouldn’t work anyway.” These two were all he had left in the world and he wasn’t putting them at risk. “If Conguise can’t find me, he’ll go after you.” Professor Conguise had already threatened as much.
“We can take care of ourselves,” said Dad.
“I know, but this is my problem. My mistake.”
“What mistake? You took a great job. You had no idea what they were doing.” Dad’s face was flushed with temper. “I still say we report it.”
“Do you really believe the Supreme Almighty and the Council don’t know what’s going on?” For smart guys these two weren’t thinking clearly.
“I can’t believe they all do,” said Dad.
“Maybe not, but as soon as we report it, Conguise will find out and trust me, the man has contingency plans in place.” He tossed back the rest of his drink.
When he’d discovered what they were doing on Level Five, he’d spent his evenings, after everyone had gone home, poring over the documents in the professor’s office. After spending his life hiding his true parentage, he’d learned that knowledge was the only safety net he had.
“Thank you for dinner.” He stood. He wasn’t getting anything else to drink, so he may as well go home.
“Like you ate anything,” muttered Uncle Rob.
“I’ll wrap it up for you.” His father took his plate and went into the kitchen. “You can have it for breakfast or lunch tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t care about food. All he wanted was to be able to leave Level Five alive. If he couldn’t have that, he’d take his bed.
“Why don’t you stay for some coffee?” asked Uncle Rob. “It’s a long walk home.”
The refusal hovered on his tongue but the lines around his uncle’s eyes and the thinning hair made him reconsider. He understood better than most the fragility of life. “I’d rather another whiskey.”
“You don’t need another whiskey.”
He hadn’t needed the earlier ones either. “Why don’t we meet halfway. How about a beer?” His uncle loved beer.
“I suppose.” Uncle Rob rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen.
“Your food’s in the refrigerator,” his dad hollered from the other room. “And don’t let him give you any grief. Rob picked up a new ale earlier this week and has been dying to try it.”
“Stop telling all my secrets.” Uncle Rob walked back into the living room with two beers.
“You didn’t have to wait for me.” He didn’t need the guilt right now. He had more than his share with Fersia and all the other lives he’d destroyed.
“Terrence doesn’t like beer,” said Uncle Rob.
“You could drink your beer and Dad could drink his bourbon.” He tried hard not to sound snotty but failed.
“I miss you. We both do.” Uncle Rob offered him a bottle.
“I know.” He accepted the beer and moved to the couch. “I’ve been busy.” Trying to figure out ways to not kill the innocent.
His father walked into the living room and poured a bourbon before sitting next to him on the couch. “You should look for another job.” Dad held up his hand, stopping him from explaining, again, that leaving Level Five wasn’t possible. “I know. I know. You can’t quit, but what if we all took a little break from around here?”
Uncle Rob sat across from them on a love seat.
“What are you talking about?” The glint in his father’s eyes made him wary. Dad had been kind of wild in his younger days.
“We could leave the island.” Dad took Uncle Rob’s hand.
“That’s suicide. Nothing exists out there.”
“That’s what we’re supposed to believe,” said Dad.
Uncle Rob leaned forward. “I know someone who takes mini-excursions. He says the nearby islands are safe. Unin
habited, but safe. We could go to one of them.”
“And do what? Eat what?” They couldn’t actually be considering this.
“We could fish and live off the land,” said Uncle Rob.
“A permanent camping trip.” He laughed and took a sip of his beer. “This is good.”
“I know.” His uncle took a drink from his own bottle.
“It’d get you away from Conguise and his lab,” said Dad.
“That’s true but we’d be on the run for life.”
“Nah.” Dad laughed. “Conguise will forget about you. We can come back in a year or so.”
“He won’t forget.” No matter how much he explained, they couldn’t fully comprehend what was happening in that laboratory.
“Promise you’ll consider it.” Dad smiled at his partner. “We may do it anyway.”
“You’d leave for a year or longer?” He shouldn’t have said it. He didn’t want to hold them back, but if they left, he’d have no one.
“No.” Uncle Rob squeezed his father’s hand. “We’d take short trips.”
“Just to the closest islands.” Dad tried to hide his disappointment.
“I’m sorry. You should both go. Be careful but go and have fun. Enjoy your adventure. I’ll be fine.” He stood. “And I should go home. It’s late.” He was exhausted, physically and emotionally. He’d have to continue to mutilate Servants and Guards, but he’d keep finding the sick and old, anyone who had no chance for life any other way.
“We’ll figure out something.” Uncle Rob stood and hugged him. “Be careful until we do.”
“You too.” He squeezed his uncle tight and then gave his father a hug.
“Take care, Matt and don’t worry about us,” said his father. “We’ve been hiding even longer than you have.”
Get your copy here.
FREE Lake of Sins: Escape
CHAPTER 1
Trinity trudged through the forest. The sun’s strong rays blinded her as she walked and her feet ached. Her stomach rumbled. She’d eat when she stopped for the night. Hunger was nothing new to her. She shifted the backpack on her shoulders and trudged around a bend. A flash caught her eye. Something silver glistened on the rocks, sparkling like ice crystals in the sunshine. It was partially submerged in the water. She cautiously approached, ready to run into the forest at any sign of danger. It was similar to her in size and shape except instead of feet and hands this creature had flippers and a long, thick tail. Its skin was silver-gray and scaly. It was hairless and lying on its side with its head in the water. There were four slits along its rib cage.
