Ava Gray - Skin Tight

This was a nightmare.

It had to be.

The cut on her forearm ached, and so did her head. Mia remembered nothing after being dragged from the cabin; by the cottony taste in her mouth, she could tell she’d been drugged. Now she didn’t know where the hell she was, but it couldn’t be good.

The cell was white, pure white. She’d awakened on a cot. No sheets, just a thin blanket. There was a commode, but no sink, which meant she could pee, but not wash her hands afterward. Gross. Hygienic deficiencies aside, it was the observation glass in the far wall that truly alarmed her.

She got up and paced the length of the room, giving thanks that she wasn’t claustrophobic. That fear would’ve made her situation unbearable. Even so, she wasn’t enjoying the trapped sensation. Mia went to the door, but there was only a numerical keypad and a scanner-looking thing.

Inputting random numbers only rewarded her with a mild shock. Rubbing her fingertips, she backed away and sat down on the cot, becoming more worried by the second. This had to be the secret facility Søren had talked about.

Fucking great. I found the way in, but I don’t remember it. How the hell is he supposed to get to me?

The door slid open, interrupting her thoughts and revealing a thin man of average height. He wasn’t unattractive, but the coldness in his eyes seemed faintly reptilian. He regarded her thoughtfully for a moment.

“I see you’re awake, Ms. Sauter. I am Dr. Rowan, and you are now my guest.”

“You didn’t send an invitation,” she bit out. “You sent a gorilla to drag me here.”

“Yes, Smith has a regrettable tendency to solve problems with a hammer. But you won’t be inconvenienced with his brutish tactics again.”

His manner made her uneasy; he was casual, as if there were no hope she’d escape and report him. See him in jail for what he’d done. He had the air of someone confident in his ability to operate utterly outside the law.

“What will inconvenience me?” she asked warily.

“I am afraid your sojourn in the outside world is finished. So that may bother you before you grow accustomed to your surroundings.”

“Are you out of your mind?” she demanded. “You actually think I’m going to get used to being held prisoner?”

He smiled then, and horror slammed through her at his complete lack of humanity. “Everyone does in time, Ms. Sauter. I find I’m quite curious to see what result the serum produces in you. I understand from your test results that you’re impressively clever. Almost,” he added, “as much as me.”

Mia started to shake, and she clasped her hands to prevent him from seeing it. “You’re making me one of your test subjects.”

“I don’t ordinarily work with adults. The body systems are already fully developed, but since you’re here, it will be interesting to see what happens.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I didn’t start the work here,” he mused. “How I wish I had. I am merely carrying on Dr. Chapman’s legacy in the best way I can. He was such a visionary; he dreamt of a better world. I’m going to bring that to pass, Ms. Sauter, and when I do, nobody will care how it came about.”

“The end justifies the means, then.”

“Oh, you’re familiar with Machiavelli. How charming! I’m going to enjoy you.”

The horror of that-he didn’t mean it sexually. He was going to enjoy sparring with her, as if they were in truth having a pleasant conversation. Rowan had to be completely insane.

Mia thought fast. “Not if you break me.”

The doctor raised a brow. “I beg your pardon.”

“If you shoot me full of chemicals, it might destroy my mind. How will we share conversations like this if I’m gibbering like an angry ape?”

He frowned. “The serum does have a lamentable tendency to damage lesser subjects. Are you saying you believe yourself to come from inferior stock?”

Well, hell. There’s no telling what he does with “inferior stock.”

“No,” she muttered. “I’m chock full of hybrid vigor.”

“Pardon me?”

“My mother was American, my father Iranian.”

“Ah. The union produced excellent results.”

Is he hitting on me? Ew.

“My point is, do you want to risk ruining me so soon? If you get bored with me, you can always start the experiments later. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

Yes, I am. Søren will be here soon. He’ll find a way. She had to believe that or she’d start screaming.

“That is undoubtedly true. Tell me, Ms. Sauter. Do you play chess?”

Mia was delighted to answer, “As it happens, I do. All-state champion, two years running. I also captained the debate team.”

Again, his mouth smiled but it didn’t touch his lizard eyes. “How delightful. I’ll return after my shift to give you a game.”

She gritted her teeth. “That would be wonderful.”

And now, please feed me razor blades and shave off all my hair. I do so love your demented ways. Mia knew her mind was her only weapon down here. This animal wasn’t as smart as he thought, and before they were through, he’d be sorry he ever met her.

“Are you hungry, Ms. Sauter? Would you like me to order you some food?”

“Yes, please.” She kept her tone submissive.

Oh, he liked that. She saw the spark kindle in him. You’ve just given me the key to you, jackass.

“I’ll take care of it at once. Don’t be afraid of Silas. He’s a brute, but he won’t harm you.” Unless I order it, came the unspoken message.

“I understand,” she said quietly. “I’ll be looking forward to that match.”

She watched how he operated the door. First he input the PIN, which she memorized, even though it was a long series of numbers, but then the door scanned his retina and his fingerprints. Talk about security. Mia bit off a curse. Knowing these numbers wouldn’t do her any good after all.

A few minutes later, a really big guy brought her a tray. You would have to be crazy to start something with him; he looked like a force of nature-and as if he had been dropped on his face more than once as a baby. This had to be Silas, nearly seven feet tall, more than three hundred pounds, and possessed of the blackest eyes she’d ever seen. The eeriest thing about him? He had no eyelashes at all. Mia made herself smile.

“Here’s your food.” The giant handed her the tray, and she managed not to flinch. “I’m sorry they caught you. I was hoping you’d be the one that got away.”

Such unexpected kindness brought tears to her eyes, and while she was damping them down, the giant left.

After that, the hours passed interminably.

When Rowan finally returned, Mia found herself glad to see him, which made his original claim that she’d get used to her hostage status all the more frightening. So this is the beginning of Stockholm Syndrome. He carried with him a folding chess table and a beautifully carved chess set. She let him set out the pieces because she’d already surmised he was a control freak.

“Which color do you want?” she asked.

He liked that, too. Efficiency, instead of time wasted in greeting, and deference to his preferences. “Black.”

Of course. He is the villain, after all.

Mia gave him a good game, making him work for it, but in the end, she let him win. That proved a good tactic. He was smiling his awful smile by the time they finished, perfectly relaxed in her company.

“You’re very good,” she said, wide-eyed.

“I don’t get to practice as much as I’d like.” His expression invited her to sympathize with him.

So she did. “Oh, that’s a shame. But I guess your work keeps you really busy.”

Poor mad scientist. All that butchering and maiming doesn’t leave much time for the social niceties.