My head is muzzy, like it’s wrapped in cotton, my skin clammy. I sniff, expecting the smell of Gramps’ coffee. Instead, I smell sterility and antiseptic. Something dark and horrible shifts in the back of my brain. I sniff again, nothing, no stale food smells, no dirty clothes, no sunshine, no sea air.
I try to blink my eyes open but they’re pasty with sleep. I reach to rub them and discover my hands are strapped down. Oh My God. Memory hurtles back. Terror takes over.
I squeeze hard until I can pry my eyes partially open and squint. I lift my head to look around. When I’m extremely upset, my legs tingle. They’re tingling now.
I’m in a hospital gown strapped to a bed. The walls are pristine white, the floor white marble. There’s not so much as a speck of dust or dirt.
Dread slides up my spine like a slithering snake. It leaves me cold and shaken. I can’t stand it. I have to get out of here. I yank at my restraints. Then stiffen…someone’s coming.
The door glides soundlessly open. I smell him before I see him, spicy aftershave and sea air. No, not sea air…dolphin.
Dolphins have little to no scent. They don’t have skin glands so they don’t sweat. But to me they have their own special tang, a mix of sea salt and coral. The best smell in the world. Coral has a floral fruity scent with a wisp of salt.
I look up expectantly. When I see him, my breath catches and my heart stops. If it didn’t already belong to Tyler, I would lay it forever and irrevocably at this boy’s feet.
To look at him no one would ever know. He looks like he’s just stepped off one of California’s beaches, surfboard in hand. His hair is thick and streaked the color of wheat, his body lean and tanned. But I know. Feel it in every fiber of my being. A kindred spirit. A dolph.
“Hello.” His masculine voice is melodious, like mine. There’s one other giveaway. His eyes are turquoise. For a moment, I forget the terror that weakens my bowels. Underneath the fear, I feel a tiny spurt of happiness. I’m not alone in the universe.
“Hello.” I do nothing to disguise my voice. With him, there’s no reason.
He gives me a slow smile that stretches across his face and reaches his beautiful eyes. I’ve never thought of my own as being beautiful, more of a nuisance. After looking at his, I might have to reevaluate.
“Where am I?”
“Why have they strapped you down?” he asks at the same time. Both of us laugh. Given the circumstances, it’s unbelievable that I can laugh at all.
Before either of us can respond, the door opens again. A silver-haired man of indeterminate age steps in. He wears a crisp white lab coat and has a stethoscope slung round his neck. His scent is as sterile as the room; his face holds no expression. His lips are thin, almost reptilian. My skin crawls and I push against the mattress.
“Joel.” The doctor turns toward the dolph-boy.
At least I now know his name.
“Dr. Stranger.” He nods.
“I see you discovered our guest.”
“Yes.” He smiles at me then looks at the doctor. “Why is she in restraints?”
The doctor appears surprised at the question. “I deemed it necessary.”
“But…”
Dr. Stranger interrupts. “Joel, leave us for a bit. You can show our guest around the premises later. Right now I need to examine her.”
Conflict flickers across Joel’s features. He obviously doesn’t want to leave me nor does he want to stay for a physical exam that could be an embarrassment to us both.
“I won’t hurt her and I promise I’ll remove the restraints. You can show her around after lunch.”
Joel nods. He gives me a reassuring smile and a promise. “I’ll be back.”
As soon as the door shuts, the doctor pulls out a key and unlocks a small white cabinet on the far wall. He pulls out a needle and syringe, looks at it, and flicks it with his finger.
“What is that?” My body stiffens. My muscles tense. If I could figure out a way, I’d fight.
“Just something to help you relax. You want those restraints off, don’t you?”
“You can’t do that without shooting me up?” I turn my head as far to the side as I can get it and still keep an eye on that needle.
“It’s for your own good. Trust me.”
“Right.” Like I’ve never heard that one before.
He swabs my arm. The scent of alcohol sickens me. He sticks my arm with the needle. I barely feel the prick. What I do feel is the medication traveling through my veins, relaxing my body as it moves through it, making it heavy. I try to fight it but a strange lethargy takes possession of me.
“I’m going to remove your restraints.” He unbuckles the arm bands.
I try to gather myself for flight, but I can’t seem to pull myself together, uncoordinated as a rag doll. A remote portion of my brain that the drug either hasn’t reached or can’t is shrieking. Fight! The medication doesn’t touch the fear. The fear is still there. I can’t remember a time I’ve been this terrified of anything. It’s so strong, I swear I could choke on it.
“Why don’t you shower? I’ll have the nurse lay out some clothes for you, then bring you to my office. I’ll answer any questions you have. After that someone will show you to your room.”
I don’t respond, just stare straight ahead. After he leaves, I push off the bed. I grab the frame to keep from crumpling. Maybe the shower will help me shake off the effects of this drug and I can get out of here.
I step into the bathroom. It’s spacious but sterile like the other room. I let the sack-shaped, limp hospital gown fall to the floor. I reach to unfasten my distress watch and realize for the first time, it’s gone.
A single tear slips out and trails down my cheek as I grasp the fact I’ve lost the last connection to my grandfather. I can only hope by the time they discovered it, Gramps had my location. Holding that thought like a lifeline, I step carefully into the warm spray. Along with the water comes a light, floral aroma. The water must trigger a valve that releases the scent. The combination soothes and falls on my skin like spring rain.
I stand beneath the warm wet beads, my hands against the wall. The needles of water from the jets massage my body, making it tingle. For a few blissful moments, the fear of being strapped to a table and cut on recedes. Not altogether, but enough where I can function.
I step out, towel dry my hair, and with clumsy steps move into the adjoining room.
Clothes are laid out on the bed: a white, short-sleeved silk blouse and tan khaki shorts. A little preppie for my taste but that’s the least of my concerns. The shower offset some of the sluggishness the drug caused, unfortunately not enough for me to make a run for it. Awkwardly, I get dressed.
My stomach rumbles. It’s been a while since I ate. I’m not even sure what time it is.
I wonder if the door is locked. I get up and walk toward it.
As if on cue, a perky young woman comes through it. She’s dressed in a traditional white nurse’s uniform that rustles when she walks. She looks fresh out of college, with curly, shoulder-length auburn hair. She’s not at all what I expect of someone who cuts into people’s brains for a living.
Smiling, she walks toward me, her hand outstretched. “I’m your nurse. My name is Casey.”
I back away. I don’t trust her. I can’t trust anyone in this Godforsaken place, except perhaps the dolph-boy, my kindred spirit.
She stops and smiles encouragingly. “I won’t hurt you.”
“You’re my nurse?”
“Um-hm. I’ve come to take you to Dr. Stranger’s office.” She opens the door and waits for me. I stare at her, frozen in place. Are they going to cut on me?
“Come on, dear.”
I weigh my options. Better to walk out under my own steam than be hit with more drugs and end up in his office anyway.
I’m wearing a pair of tan Tirra sandals that were left by the bed. The rubber soles muffle the sound as we walk across the white marble floor. To be more accurate, Casey walks. I shuffle along like an old woman.
I glance from side to side looking for exits. Where are the guards? Where is security? Does he keep personnel at a minimum because of the experiments? As we walk, I see the tiny red glow of security cameras along the hall. Security may not be visible, but someone is watching somewhere.
We turn down a hall and the white marble gives way to lush white carpet. The walls are no longer white but a soft powder blue. Peaceful seascapes hang on the wall. To my inexperienced eye, they look expensive.
With each step, I become more nervous. A fine sheen of perspiration beads on my forehead. If it weren’t for my feet feeling like they’re encased in cement, I’d make a break for it, even if it’s one of the stupidest things I could do right now. The truth is I’m scared spitless.
“Where are we?” I ask, as much for information as to keep the fear at bay over what awaits me.
“In a private clinic. A very nice one.”
“Where is this nice private clinic located?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Really?” How can she not know? She works here.
“Because the nature of the doctor’s work is top secret, we are flown in and out. I know it’s on an island.” She smiles brightly. “I live here most of the time. When I want to take vacation or visit my family, I’m flown home. One word of indiscretion, I’d be fired without a reference.”
“You’re okay with that?”
“Sure. It’s only for a couple of years and then I’ll retire.”
Huh. The pay must be very good indeed.
“It’s like being in the air force or peace corps.” She giggles. She stops at a thick set of double doors and knocks.
“Come in.”
We step into a richly appointed office. Everything is dark wood and leather, a masculine room. The doctor sits behind a large mahogany desk.
A wide window is on the far wall. I swear I can smell salt water through the glass. It draws me. With a shambling gait, I walk toward it. We are on a bluff that overlooks the sea. I breathe deep and long, trying to gain strength from the waves below for whatever is to come.
“Thank you, Casey. That will be all.”
“Yes, doctor.” Her bubbly personality is subdued.
He waits for her to leave then leans back in a black leather chair, which sighs with his movements. He motions to a matching chair across from the desk. “Won’t you sit down?”
I straighten my shoulders. I will not show fear, though it’s almost impossible to hide the tremors running through me. I bite my lip and shuffle to the chair where I sit on the edge of the buttery-soft leather.
He steeples his fingers and studies me, his manner clinical. “What’s your name?”
“Piper.” My voice is strained. I clasp my hands to stop the tremors.
“Piper what?”
“Just Piper.” I don’t want this monster to have any connection to my grandfather.
“We’ll let that go for now. I examined you while you slept. I also drew some blood. Your DNA is very interesting.”
I feel violated. The idea of him touching me makes me nauseous. “Would I be correct in assuming you are ultimately responsible for it?” I try to keep the loathing out of my voice. The answer is important.
“Why would you think that?”
“Joel. He’s like me, isn’t he?”
He seems pleased with my response. “You’re a perceptive young woman.”
I shift on the chair and the expensive leather whispers. I’d like to buy Gramps a recliner made of this stuff. The thought brings me up short. Will I ever see my Gramps again? Has my disappearance set him back? Is he in the hospital? Pain washes through me. I clamp it down. I don’t want this monster to see it. He would find a way to use it against me.
He leans back in his chair, still studying me. “I started my research when I was a young man. With the right investors, it’s proved quite profitable.”
I interrupt. “Are there many like me?”
“No, not many. But the few that exist have made me millions.
“One of my finest creations, along with her keepers, was lost at sea during a terrible storm. Or so I thought. You carry her DNA. You are very like her. How fortuitous for me you were determined to free my dolphins.”