The Wolf Experiments

Alex was out exploring the area once again with her trusty companion, Rebel. Together, they bounded over stones and leaped over fjords. Alex searched for a building site, visualizing her house and landscaping. It was a beautiful day as she crossed the river, rode beyond the forest, and explored the canyons.

The sun shone brightly through the clouds and insects bound through the greenery afoot. The tall grass wavered peacefully, and the blue skies stretched on. As Rebel trotted a short, choppy gait, her long braid bounced from one shoulder to the other. Her stomach growled.

Then without warning, Rebel stiffened. Alex knew what was coming. Rebel was a very jumpy horse and she tried to soothe him before he could bound away. She saw a dark shape dart through the trees ahead before stopping and observing her and her horse.

“It’s okay,” she told Rebel. “It’s just a wolf.”

The horse seemed to calm down visibly at this and it led her down a narrow path. At the end of the path, Alex found herself staring down a sheer cliff.

A wolf appeared behind them. It was almost identical to the first save for a scar tissue around its forehead. The wolf sniffed the air around them. Alex could feel the tremors run through Rebel’s body and before she could make a move to calm her steed, the horse reared its legs in terror. When the girth strap snapped, Alex crashed to the ground. Before she could catch herself, she rolled over the precipice.

Blood and flesh met rock and earth, and the sharp contrast of sunlight and shadows stole through her body. Blood poured through her teeth, rang though her ears, and flushed her nerves with unnatural strength. Fighting for her life, fighting her debilitating clumsiness, she strained and struggled in the rocks. A hawk circled far below, coasting on a gentle breeze. There was nothing to catch her. A shockwave coursed through her body. After everything that happened, it could not end like this — not over something so stupid. She thought about her family and friends. Hawk.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She lifted her chin and cried out such a loud, unearthly sound that the wolves immediately answered. The sound rang through the forest and birds immediately fled from their perches on the trees.

The familiar shape of Amandas broke out from the trees and she whispered a short prayer of appreciation. The wolf moved towards her, clamping his teeth around her wrist, trying to pull her to safety. Her dry lips cracked—the sting of rust and salt against her tongue. A dust devil blasted her with sand. Alex dug her fingers into the ledge as Amandas faltered, willing her body to obey. Her legs dangled limply, filled with pain. Old injuries suddenly flared like new. As her hands bled against the stone, the drops sparkled in the sunlight.

The wolf that had spooked Rebel off still stood by the path. It watched Amandas attempting to drag his owner to safety and it growled. Alex could barely see. Dust and debris had entered her eyes and infiltrated her nose. She could feel the dirt in every pore of her skin. She willed Amandas to stay and ignore the growling wolf. Her mind screamed at the animal to go away. The wolf loped off indignantly. Alex felt her grip sliding, the caked earth crumbling against her nails. She clawed frantically, feeling the wolf’s body following her over.

“Let me go!” she shouted.

She knew all too well, that to live meant to die, a pattern repeated for every living creature, but she still had so much to give. It was too soon. Her head smacked the rocky wall, and tiny fireflies burst across her vision. She fought to keep her wits about her, fought the urge to slip into the blackness.

Amandas was slipping. Alex knew that it was only a matter of time before the wolf loosened its grip and she fell to her death on the rocks below. She was inching closer and closer to the yawning abyss. At this altitude, the wind almost blew the boots off her feet.

Then, a hand seized hers, pulling with unnatural strength and she knew that Sultan had reached her in time. As he grunted and heaved, she realized suddenly that the pale, wide-eyed face belonged to Amandas—who was now—a man. His arm trembled with fatigue.

“I’m weak,” he cried.

But somehow, he found the strength. He was reborn then, made whole by conflict in an unexplainable way. His demeanor reflected determination and courage, and he cried out with triumph as he hauled her over the thin, stone shelf.

Shuddering and nauseous, Alex rested her head between her knees, gulping at the warm, moist air.

“I’ve waited my entire life for this day,” Amandas said softly.

Alex stared up into her brother’s pale blue eyes. His white-blond hair fell down his shoulders. His body was tough and lean. He moved slowly to an arched upright position, and he found her shoulder for support.

When the white wolf crashed against her chest, licking her face apprehensively, Alex felt more confused than ever. Her eyes drifted from the young man and back to the white wolf before realizing that she had done it again. Just as she thought Sultan was the stallion, she had thought her brother was the wolf. It seemed odd that she wouldn’t know his name just as he was starting to look and feel familiar.

Concerned, the young man said, “Alex, it’s me. It’s Amandas. You do recognize me, don’t you.”

“Amandas,” she whispered, dropping her head back to the rocks. Certainly, she was dreaming now. She snapped her eyes shut hard.

“Not sure it’s a good idea for you to just sit there and bleed to death. Where are we? Where do you need to go?”

Alex raised her head again, watching as her brother reached out to pet the white wolf. Nothing had changed in the brief period of time she closed her eyes.

“It’s still you,” he said. “All the things that are familiar are still here.”

As she watched, he drew his knees up to his chest and shivered. The sandy reflection off the cliff bronzed his skin. He was beautiful.

“Yes, we better get back,” Alex said.

Rebel grazed quietly nearby and Alex needed her brother’s help getting aboard. He was a little afraid of the gelding, having never seen a horse before.

When they cleared the boulders, Sultan caught sight of them and changed directions. He charged up on his stallion with wide eyes.

Alex said, “This is Amandas, my brother.”

“That’s Amandas?” Sultan said before pointing to the white wolf. “Who is that, then?”

Her brother replied, “That’s ghost,” without really understanding what the problem was.

Sultan reached out to take the reins. “Alex, you must be more careful.”

“Sure, it’s easy to say that now!” she gasped. Every muscle in her body felt taunt and painful.

At the complex, Alex slid out of the saddle. Amandas reached down to catch her arm. She looked up at him gratefully. Seeing a stranger, Hawk broke into a fast jog from the barn.

Sultan said, “He really likes you.”

“No pushing,” Alex said.

“I disagree,” Amandas said. “You definitely need a good shove. You’re always too careful—always overthinking things.”

“That’s perfect,” Sultan chuckled. “He really is your twin brother.”

“Well, I don’t like Hawk that much and you’re wrong, he’s been mad at me for months.”

“That’s not very convincing,” Amandas said.

“Are you on my side or what?”

“Always, dear sister,” he said. “I will support you even when you’re wrong.”

At that point, Hawk reached them. Sweat shined from his forehead and his breath was slightly elevated. “Are you all right?”

“My horse threw me off a cliff. If my brother hadn’t pulled me back up, things really would have ended up differently.”

Hawk looked at her brother. “This is…”

“The real Amandas,” said Sultan.

Hawk looked at the white wolf. “What’s his name, then?”

The three of them answered, “Ghost,” in unison.

Alex explained to both Hawk and Amandas. “My mind jumbled everything up. I really thought the wolf was Amandas.”

Hawk said, “I’m sure you’re glad to have that worked out.”

He took in her injuries: the broken skin, swollen arm, and the leg that could now barely hold her weight. He hooked her arm around his waist, helping her inside. At his touch, her strength reveled. His handsome face filled with concern, and something deeper, something more passionate. Alex trembled with nervousness, feeling the butterflies surging through her stomach.

When they reached the infirmary, someone had inactivated Andy for repairs.

Sultan said, “Nick and Adrian are gone.”

“I can do it,” Hawk said, opening a medical kit. “I can even stitch a wound that won’t leave a mark.”

“I could care less about a scar,” Alex responded softly.

Hawk looked at Amandas. “Where did you come from?”

“Seth’s ship,” Amandas answered. “He told me to stay put but the food ran out yesterday.”

“Jesus,” said Hawk. “Guess we should have taken a closer look at his ship. Did you know where you were?”

“I had an idea,” he answered. “I wanted to escape but he said that there were dangerous people here—said they were more dangerous than he was. Where is he?”

“Detained,” Hawk answered. “It’s been difficult getting details from him.”

“There’s something I need to tell you,” Amandas said slowly. “Seth should be killed immediately.”

Alex felt a mixture of shock, dread, and fear—the fear that somehow they had missed an important clue.

“He will try to escape, and if he does, he plans to take Alex. He feared and idolized Pretorius and is prepared to continue the experiments. Even now, harvested embryos are waiting for genetic manipulation. No prison will hold him.”

Hawk reached over to the wall and punched his thumb onto the intercom “Eric, will you go check on Seth?”

Sultan started for the door. “Tell Eric I’ll meet him there. Just get Alex patched up.”

Hawk scratched his head. “It’s time to boot up Andy. His strength will be welcomed if there’s a problem.”

“I’m fine,” Alex said. “Do what you need to do.”

Hawk crossed the corridor into the laboratory.

Amandas sat down next to her on the exam table. “What’s wrong with your memories?”

“I was in a coma after the accident and when I woke up, couldn’t remember anything. It’s been coming back slowly but my mind has misinterpreted a few things.”

“Like thinking I was a wolf.”

“I’ve had to relearn everything,” she tried to explain, “and solve mysteries at the same time. When I found out about the experiments, I thought that maybe the gene manipulation had…”

He interrupted, “made me a werewolf.”

“It does sound silly when you put it that way.”

Hawk bolted into the room and when the automatic doors closed, he secured them. “Seth is gone.”

He started for the second door into the suite but there, Seth stood watching them. “No worries. Just needed to stretch my legs after being locked up.”

Hawk pointed his sonic gun but Seth seemed oblivious to that.

Seth turned his attention to Alex. “I really do love you. Everything I did was for you.”

Alex said, “What could you know about love?”

Seth moved closer. Amandas tightened his hands into fists.

“I love you,” he said again. “I have always loved you.”

“Your love is twisted,” Alex said, her heart pounding. “If you loved me so much then why didn’t you set me free?”

“He would have killed me,” Seth responded softly. “How would I have been able to help you then?”

Seth suddenly grabbed her wrist, hauling her into his chest. His hand stroked down her hair. As Hawk and Amandas converged, he pushed her violently away, smirking.

“You see,” Seth laughed. “No harm done.”

Alex lunged forward and threw a punch with blinding speed. He reeled backwards, sprawling to the floor and covered his nose. Blood poured through his splayed fingers.

“Wow,” Amandas said. “That was amazing.”

Seth stared at her blankly. Andy pounded and shouted through the door. Hawk reached over to disable the security feature.

Andy plucked the Seth from the ground, dragging him away. “This time I’m going to throw away the key.”

Alex frowned, embarrassed by her outburst. “Maybe I didn’t handle that right.”

Hawk said, “If you had waited two seconds, I would have literally beaten you to the punch.”

“I wonder what happens now.” Alex said. “What will Andy do to keep him from escaping again?”

Hawk said, “Sounds like a good case for euthanasia.”

Alex shook her head. “We’ll need to wait for Nick.”

Hawk started for the door. “Andy may need my help.”

Alex stared at him, hoping he would look back at catch her eye and thought maybe it would help explain her feelings a little better. Maybe his, too. But he didn’t look back and after he was gone she had the vague feeling that she should have said or done something to prevent it. She was only seventeen. What could she do? Maybe that was the problem.

Alex looked at her brother. They were alone. “Come on,” she said. “We can go down to the storeroom and get you some clothes and things.”

She wasn’t sure what else to say or what to do. Staring into his eyes stirred up several new memories. Caged together for much of their childhood, he was the reason she didn’t like sleeping alone at night. They had always been together until the accident.

He put his arms around her carefully. “God, baby sister. I’ve missed you so much.”

It was like reaching through the fog to unearth more memories. He had been born first, their mother told them and the night they killed her, in the van she cried repeatedly that he would need to take care of Alex. It was as if she knew she was getting ready to die. The fact that Nick had found them had startled Pretorius and that was partially why they killed her. Also, she wasn’t really needed any longer.

She asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m going to be,” he answered.

He had always handled things better. Even captivity. Amandas was the strong one.