A Changed Man (Altered Book 1) Read online

  "I don't know if that's such a good idea, we may have a hard enough time getting out." Remington had the 'never leave a man behind' mentality. It had been drilled into his brain since he was eighteen.

  "They won't catch me." Jordan grinned. "I'm fast and bullet proof. Besides, what if I could get us some answers? Some real answers about what's going on in that place?"

  "You're sure you can get out without being seen and getting caught?" Remington asked.

  Jordan’s smile got even bigger. "Hell yea, I'm shadow man."

  Remington busted out laughing. "Okay, but don't say anything to Jackie, she'll worry."

  Jackie could hear Remington laughing outside. The sound was warm and deep. God she loved that sound; the more she heard it, the more she craved it. She picked up the mugs and headed back outside.

  "Thanks." Jordan said taking the cup she offered him.

  "So what’s the plan?" She asked.

  "We're going in tonight." Remington said. "I'd like to go over your books again Jordan. I want to make sure I didn't miss anything yesterday. We'll go in at dusk, you'll be almost impossible to see."

  "Okay." Jordan said.

  Remington turned to Jackie. "I need you to be ready for our return. Rick may be injured. Have your first aid bag and his bed ready. We'll need food; we may not be able to go anywhere for awhile."

  "Okay." Jackie said. “I'll head to town when you leave and get supplies."

  "Alright, I guess that’s it. Now we just wait."

  After Tess dropped off her samples at the lab she was ready to do a little exploring of the place. She was making her way to the elevators, and wanted to go to the basement levels first and work her way up. She entered the elevator and noticed she could only get as far down as basement level two without a key card. She pushed the button and the elevator started to move. Tess felt a pit in her stomach; she wasn't sure if it was the drop of the elevator or her nerves. When it stopped moving and the doors opened, the nauseated feeling was still with her. She exited the elevator and was standing alone at the head of a damp corridor lit only by dim bulbs lining the rock wall every fifteen feet or so.

  She didn't see or hear anyone so she slowly started down the hall. After walking thirty feet or so, she could see bright lights shining into the corridor through a large window. Staying close to the wall, she walked closer to the light, stopping at the edge of the window she peered through the glass. It was a lab, brightly lit, and not unlike the one upstairs where she had dropped her samples off earlier, except this one seemed to be bigger. She could see people inside working. They were fully suited and wearing goggles, which meant it had to be a very sterile environment. She couldn't tell what they were working on unless she could get in there, and that wasn't going to happen as long as there were people around.

  Squatting down below the window, she made her way past the lab without being spotted and continued down the hall. More bright lights shining into the corridor; another lab, although this time when she looked through the window she not only saw workers, she could also see what they were working on. People. This was more of an operating room she realized. At least six bodies from what she could see from her vantage point, all laying face down and unconscious on metal tables. The tables had holes on one end for their faces to rest in and reminded Tess of a chiropractor table. There were tubes and wires hooked up to each patient and she could see that a couple of them were being operated on and others had the backs of their heads shaved as if they were prepped to be next.

  None of this shocked her; this is what they told her this place was about. People who would rather let the military experiment on them and maybe one day do some good for their country rather than spend the rest of their lives in prison. She was told all these people volunteered for this. She stood there for a couple more minutes just watching, when she noticed one of the doctors gently lifting something out of a metal bowl. It had smoke coming from it like it had been frozen. It looked slimy and stringy, like baby octopus tentacles, but without suction cups. It actually glowed like bioluminescence except this was colored more like an opal. White with specks of blue sapphire, golden topaz, and shiny purple amethyst. As the man handled it Tess could see the colors changing and shifting. It was about the size of a fifty-cent piece, she'd never seen anything like it. She watched as the doctor placed it into the skull of the man he was working on. The body on the table went stock straight, the arms and legs went stiff and shot out trying to come off the table but were held tight by restraints. Tess jumped back startled. This wasn't right, what the hell was that?

  She decided that was enough spying for now. Not wanting to push her luck and chance getting caught, she started back the way she came, ducking under the window of the first lab she had passed. Making her way swiftly back to the elevator and stepping inside, her hands shaking, she hit the button to take her back up to the first level, the one above ground. Just as the elevator doors were closing she saw a man exit the first laboratory. Tess quickly moved to the side of the elevator and out of sight as the doors closed.

  Rick was pacing the floor, it had been hours since they came and took Dillon. He had no idea what they were doing to that poor girl but if they hurt her, they were going to pay for it. Before he left this place they were all going to pay. Rick heard the lock on the cell door disengage. The wood door opened next and there stood the guard with Dillon. She couldn't stand up on her own; the guard was holding her up under her arms. Her face was bruised and her head lolled to the side. Without warning the guard shoved her through the door. Rick ran to her, falling to his knees and catching her just before she hit the ground. "What the fuck did you do to her?" He yelled, all hope of pretending he didn't care for her was gone; he was furious. He held Dillon, brushing her sweaty hair from her face. Before Rick had the chance to look up again he heard the cell door slam and lock. They were alone.

  "Jesus, Dillon, can you hear me? Are you okay?" He asked her. She just lay there motionless in his arms. Her eyes rolled back in her head and then closed; he felt her breath leave her.

  "NO! No, no, no, no. Dillon!" Rick shook her, nothing. He gently laid her down on the floor and positioned his hand behind her neck tilting her head back. Taking a deep breath in, he exhaled it into Dillon’s opened mouth; then he counted to himself as he pumped her chest.

  "C'mon now, you can't leave me here." He said to her. "We're supposed to get out of here together!" He continued the CPR for what felt like forever, when finally Dillon shot up and gasped. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot red, she began coughing uncontrollably.

  "Dillon!" Rick grabbed her around her back to support her. She continued to gasp for air and cough so hard her entire body shook. "Jesus Christ I thought I lost you!" He held her until she was able to calm herself and breathe normal again. Rick could see blood on the floor that she had coughed up. He knew that meant internal bleeding. "You need a doctor!" He stood up and ran to the cell door, he grabbed the bars and put his face up to them. "Doctor! We need a doctor in here!"

  "Rick." Dillon croaked out. "It's okay, I'll be fine."

  Rick walked over to where Dillon was still crumpled over on the floor. "You’re coughing up blood Dillon! That’s dangerous; you need a doctor." He headed back to the door.

  "Rick, stop. Please." Dillon whispered. "I'll be okay in a couple of days. It's happened before; I'll heal. I heal fast."

  "This will not heal in a couple of days!" Rick said trying not to yell at her.

  "Rick, please, shut the door and get me a glass of water."

  Rick did as she asked. Shutting the wooden door, he went into the bathroom and filled a plastic cup with water and brought it to her. He sat back down on the floor with her. "You need a doctor. You could die from internal bleeding."

  "It's okay, I promise." She said after taking a sip of her water. She cleared her throat loudly. "What they did to me? The operation? I not only got the personal shield, I have accelerated healing. They have broken bones before throwing stuff at me but I always
heal within a couple of days."

  Rick wasn't sure she knew what she was saying; maybe they hit her harder than she realized. "What do you mean? This has happened before?"

  "Yeah, I never lost conscience before though; how long was I out?" She asked.

  "Out? Dillon you fucking died! I held you in my arms and felt your last breath leave your body! I had to give you CPR! I thought you were gone!"

  Dillon could hear the fear in his voice; she had scared him. "I'm sorry but I feel fine now. I'm alright."

  "Sorry? I don't want you to be sorry." Rick scooted closer to her and put an arm around her shoulder. "You scared the shit out of me. Are you sure you're okay?"

  "I think my arm may be broken." She said.

  Rick hadn't noticed before but Dillon was holding her right arm close to her chest. "What can I do?" He asked.

  Dillon shrugged her uninjured shoulder. "Nothing really. It will just take a few days to heal."

  Rick leaned back so he could study her. She had bruises all over her face. Her left eye was so swollen it was almost closed. Her bottom lip was split. She looked like she had just crawled out of boxing ring. "C'mon, lets get you cleaned up. Can you stand?"

  "I think so." Dillon let Rick gently pull her to her feet. He helped her to the bed and sat her down.

  "Don't move." He said, and disappeared into the bathroom.

  Dillon could hear water running and what sounded like cloth ripping. A minute later Rick emerged from the bathroom. "I got the shower running, I'm going to help you clean up."

  Dillon was too tired to argue. She let Rick help her in to the bathroom and undress her. She was too tired and sore to be embarrassed about it. All she could think about was how good the hot water was going to feel, besides his moves were quick and deliberate. He didn't leave his gaze on any particular part of her body. It was like he was helping his five year old in to the bath.

  "Can you lift your arm at all?" He asked.

  Dillon moved her arm away from her chest. Rick could see the pain in her face, he watched as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I'm going to kill those assholes Dillon. I swear to god." He carefully helped her out of her shirt and sports bra, turning her so her back was facing him.

  "Okay, step in."

  She did as he told her. Rick grabbed the soap and a washcloth and methodically started bathing her. When he was finished he took the shampoo and squeezed a glob into his hand and started to wash her short dark hair. "Are you okay? You don't feel faint do you?"

  "No." She answered. "I'm just really sore and tired."

  Rick rinsed the shampoo from her hair and turned off the water. He grabbed a towel and wrapped her in it. Picking her up he carried her to her bed and sat her down. He went back in to the bathroom and came out with a long piece of white material. "I ripped up one of my shirts and made you a sling. Lets get you a shirt on first." He pulled the plastic bin that held her clothes from under the bed. They each had one and they held the same things. Five pairs of underwear, grey sweatpants, white t-Shirts, white socks, and Dillon’s bin also contained sports bras. Rick grabbed her a bra, panties, and shirt.

  "Here, lets get you dressed." He unwrapped the towel from her body and bent down so she could step in to her panties. He pulled them up while looking away. Dillon put a hand on his shoulder and used it to stand up and Rick quickly finished covering her. Next he helped her put on her bra and t-shirt.

  "Now, lets get this on you." He took the sling and wrapped it around her arm and over her shoulder, adjusting it to fit her securely. "How's that? Better?"

  "Much." She whispered.

  Rick pulled down the sheet and helped her lie down comfortably. "Now get some sleep. I'll be right here. If they try to come for you it will be over my dead body."

  Dillon could hear the venom in his voice; see the muscle in his jaw working. "It's okay. They won't come for me again for at least a week now. They'll want me healed completely before training again."

  Rick brushed her hair from her forehead. "Get some rest."

  Dillon closed her eyes and within a few short minutes her breathing steadied. Rick sat down on his pallet on the floor and just watched her. He had to get her out of here before they took her again. What if they come for him? She would be left alone again and that's something he refused to consider.

  The sun would be setting soon. Jackie, Remington and Jordan were all sitting around the dining room table finalizing their plans to break into the den and free Rick. "It's time." Remington said standing up. "Jackie, when we leave you head into town for supplies and get back here as soon as you can. I'm not sure how long we will be but if Ricks injured I'm going to need you here.

  "Okay, I will.” She said.

  Jordan and Jackie also got up and the three headed for the front door. "Hold on a sec." Jackie said and jogged down the hallway to her bedroom.

  "You sure you're ready for this?" Remington asked Jordan.

  Jordan opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. "Yeah, I'm ready. Can't wait to get in there and see what’s really going on."

  "You know you may have to do more than knock a few of those guards out." Remington said. He needed to know Jordan was ready to kill if he had to.

  "I know. I'm ready." Jordan assured him.

  Just then Jackie came out on to the porch to join them. "Here." She said handing Remington her grandmother’s shotgun and a box of shells.

  "I can't take that, what If I can't bring it back?" He asked.

  "It's okay, you need some kind of weapon." Jackie answered.

  "Uh hello, we are the weapons." Jordan cut in.

  "Yeah, well, I'd feel better if you took it." Jackie said pushing the rifle toward Remington.

  "Are you sure?" He asked taking it from her.

  Jackie smiled at him. "Yes, it's just a rifle. Besides, I have her house and everything else in it."

  "Thank you." He said sincerely. Remington opened the box of shells and began stuffing his pockets with them. "Hey Jordan, could you excuse us for a second?"

  Jordan looked back-and-forth between them "OH! Yeah, of course, I'll wait in the tree line." Remington watched as Jordan walked around behind the house.

  "Listen Jack, I just want you to know…"

  "No, just save it till you get back okay? Because you are coming back." Jackie walked up to him and put her arms around his neck pulling him to her. "I need you to tell me you’re coming back." She whispered in his ear.

  Remington pushed her blonde hair over her shoulder. Leaning down, he placed a gentle kiss behind her ear. "I'm coming back." He then bent down and placed his lips on hers. He kissed her hard, like the kiss needed to last him, fuel him. When he finally broke it off and looked into her sea blue eyes he could see them turning glossy.

  "I'll be back soon." He said and kissed her one more time before heading into the tree line to follow Jordan.

  Remington and Jordan hiked through the darkening woods for what seemed like a couple of hours. Only stopping twice to drink from the river. "How much farther?" Remington asked.

  "Not much, we'll exit the forest in another mile or so. Then it gets a bit more complicated." Jordan answered.

  "Complicated?"

  "Yeah. You remember the cliff you fell off of?" Jordan asked with a smile.

  "How could I forget?” Remington answered remembering the fall that almost killed him.

  Jordan continued. "Well, we have to go up something kind of like that; not as steep and you won't need ropes or anything like that. If we take the road that leads to the front gates they will be on us before we know it. So we have to go in a different way, we have to climb. Well you have to climb." Jordan said. "I can float."

  "That really doesn't seem fair." Remington said staring him down.

  "Sorry big guy; that’s the luck of the draw." He laughed.

  They continued walking until there were only two ways to go, up the side of the mountain or straight down into the river. Remington had been in the river once and was in no hurry to go
back.

  "Okay, we're here." Jordan said. "Start climbing. I'll be in shadow form. I have a better chance of catching you incase you slip or something, but I'll be right with you."

  Remington looked up, planning his climb by the hand and foot holds he could spot from the ground. "Okay, here goes nothing."

  Once Remington started to climb Jordan changed into his shadow form. He drifted up to Remington staying right by his side as he made his way up the rocky terrain. Remington noticed the dark form next to him, moving when he moved. "That’s fucking creepy." He said to the dark space. He stopped and stared into the darkness and thought he could almost make out a toothy smile. "Yep, still creepy."

  He continued to climb until he could see he was close to the top. He stopped. "Make sure no one is up there." He said to Jordan. He watched as the dark mist drifted up and out of sight. Within seconds it reappeared beside him. "We're good?" Remington asked. Jordan drifted up again and Remington took that as the all clear, and followed. When they reached the top Jordan turned back into his human form. They could see the giant rock formation that was the den. They were off the main road about two hundred feet hidden by the trees. It was almost completely dark now, the only light coming from the entrance they were about to invade.

  "Okay." Jordan said. "We go in just over there." He pointed to large gates that blocked the road. "If we run into someone before we get inside get behind me so I can mask us both. We need to do it before you are seen, if not and they see you disappear behind me they'll know what to look for."

  "Got it." Remington said.

  "Okay then, I guess this is it." Jordan said. "Lets go get your friend."

  Chapter 18

  Tess had just clocked out. The place seemed almost empty now; the only guard left at the front entrance was that creep Freddy. She knew that the night crew was much smaller than the day. After the doctors had collected their samples from the prisoners, the laundry and kitchen staff was finished for the day so there wasn't much going on. When all the patients are back in their rooms and on lockdown, the number of guards that watched the corridor was cut in half during the night. Tess knew the labs and operating rooms were empty by six p.m. and that there is only one guard for every three corridors where the prisoners are housed. There was also only one guard for every entrance into the den. She needed an excuse to hang out a little longer and somehow swipe the keycard from Freddy's desk that would get her in to the lower levels. As much as she hated to lead the little troll on, she was going to have to do a little flirting to get his attention on her and away from his job.