Altered Image

by Trish Moran

  ‘Ha, is this what it’s like to have two eyes? I can’t remember it being this good! I can see everything so clearly! What was that? Ah, a little mouse!’

  ‘A shrew, actually,’ Dr Neilson smiled. ‘Tell me what else you can see, Zig.’

  ‘A moth just about to fly – there it goes! And that … ah, yes! It’s a beetle … look, running under the stone!’

  Angus shook his head in amazement. ‘I can’t see it.’

  ‘It’s the little movements that I see the best!’ Zig turned around. ‘I need a mirror! I need to see my new eyes!’

  ‘Oh, wait for a while,’ the doctor suggested. ‘They’re a bit swollen and bruised-looking at the moment. They’ll be fine in a couple of days.’

  ‘I don’t mind -’ Zig began.

  ‘Do as the doctor orders!’ Angus said, half-jokingly.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  ‘I’ve been waiting for two days now, Angus. My eyelids feel OK, they don’t hurt me. I can even tolerate bright lights now,’ Zig complained. ‘Why won’t someone just give me a mirror?’

  ‘Very soon, don’t worry!’ he replied.

  ‘I can’t wait for people at the Compound to see me. When Ginny sees I’m not a pirate anymore! What did Ruby say when you told them I’d be away for a few more days than planned?’ she continued. ‘I wish I could have spoken to them myself.’

  ‘Well, you know phones are not allowed on the ward. Dr Neilson is very strict about that,’ Angus shrugged. He stood up. ‘The medical team will be here to put you through a few more tests soon. I’d better get going. See you later, Zig.’

  ‘I’ll be glad when this is all over and we can leave, Angus!’

  He gave her a brief kiss on her forehead. ‘Be patient.’

  Zig sighed as the door closed behind her. More tests! At first it had been amazing to find out what she actually could see. Her eyesight was greatly improved.

  After the usual morning examination Dr Neilson smiled at her.

  ‘You’re one of our greatest triumphs, Zig. Your eyes are remarkable.’

  ‘Still no mirror? I must see what I look like!’ Zig protested. ‘And when will I be discharged, doctor? I really feel fine now!’

  ‘A few more days, I would say.’ He patted her shoulder and turned away to fill in her chart. He exchanged a few words with the nurse as she came in. Zig watched as the woman placed her handbag on a chair near the bed. She leaned forward and threw the coverlet over the bag.

  ‘Nurse, could I have a jug of cold water please?’ she asked smiling. She gave a sigh of relief as the woman picked up the jug and left the room. She sprang from the bed and slipped her hand into the bag and gave a sigh of relief as her hand closed around a compact. A mirror! At last! She opened it slowly and brought it up to her face and gazed at her reflection. The scar tissue on her left eye had almost disappeared. She was pleased to see she had thick eyelashes on both her eyes. She began to smile then a frown spread across her brow. Her eyes looked different than she remembered; something about the irises! They seemed to fill her entire eye! The pupils even in the dim light seemed a strange shape. She stood up and made her way towards the window and pulled back the blinds. She held her breath as she watched her pupils narrow into long slits in the light. A scream rose in her throat as the mirror fell from her hands.

  ‘What have you done to me?’

  Suddenly the room was filled with noise and people. A stab of pain went through her arm and then she sank down into blackness.

  It could have been minutes or hours when she opened her eyes again. Angus, Takir, Dr Neilson and a man and a woman stood around her bed. Zig’s hands flew to her eyes.

  ‘Take it easy!’ The woman pulled her hands away.

  ‘Well, Zig. Let me introduce my colleagues, Shana and Willis, friends from the United States. We’ve been working together since you and Angus left Edinburgh.’ Takir smiled. ‘You’re now in the honoured position of being involved in our research.’

  ‘What have you done to me?’ Zig whispered.

  ‘As you are aware, your vision has improved greatly since your operation. And you are now also aware that your new eyes are not that of a mere human. No, they are in fact those of a cat – a wildcat, actually,’ Takir continued.

  ‘No!’ Zig’s face crumpled. ‘How could you let them do this to me, Angus?’ He remained silent as he looked at her coldly.

  ‘I think it’s time she moved in with the others,’ Shana said.

  ‘I’m not staying here! Just let me go!’ Zig screamed.

  Still struggling, she was taken from the room and down a long corridor. The hospital decor gave way to stone walls and a thick grey carpet. They stopped outside a high metal door and waited for a few moments until it was unlocked from inside. Two young men Zig recognised as acquaintances of Angus were there. Zig glared at them.

  ‘Still feel tough, Zig?’ one grinned. ‘It will soon wear off!’

  Zig lashed out, making the man’s expression change to pain as her foot caught his groin.

  ‘You’ll soon knuckle under, if you know what’s good for you.’ Takir pulled her arm roughly.

  Another door was opened and Zig was pushed into a small bedroom and the door locked behind her.

  After banging on the door and shouting fruitlessly Zig finally slipped to the floor. Only the sound of her own sobs filled the air until there was a light tap and a voice called quietly, ‘Are you OK?’

  Zig tensed as she heard the door being unlocked and a girl of about her own age came into the room. She waited by the open door. ‘It’s OK. I’m not one of them. I’m Jez.’

  Zig looked at her silently, ‘How do I know you’re not one of them?’

  ‘You’re one of the Eyes; I’m one of the Ears.’ Jez pushed back her hair. Zig watched in amazement as her ears twitched back and forth like those of an animal.

  ‘I’ve got owl ear implants; you can’t see them on the outside, though.’

  ‘What is this place?’ Zig asked.

  ‘A research place. We’re some sort of experiment for the Radicals,’ Jez replied.

  ‘Radicals?’

  ‘That’s what they call themselves. They’re an American branch of Labs, from what I can gather,’ the other girl smiled. ‘They give me these super hearing ears, then talk around me as if I’m deaf sometimes.’

  ‘Are there others here?’

  ‘Yeah. Why don’t you come and meet them?’ Jez led her down a short corridor. ‘That’s Cam’s room on the left, Britney and Lynne are in those two rooms over on the right, that’s mine, Otis is next door to me and Simpson opposite Britney. Rhys and Tyler share the large room over there. Tony is in the last room. That’s all of us at the moment. They’re all in the lounge waiting to meet the new girl!’

  Heads turned in their direction as they entered a large, comfortably furnished lounge. The boys were sprawled on a long leather sofa. Two girls sat in separate armchairs. All the young people were dressed the same in navy coloured tracksuits.

  ‘Eyes!’ A boy jumped up and came towards them, ‘Hi, I’m Otis. I’m Eyes, too! Eagle!’

  ‘Zig,’ she replied, shaking his outstretched hand.

  ‘Cat’s eyes! Wow! Cool pupils!’

  One of the girls looked up from the magazine she was reading, her nose twitching. ‘I’m Brit, pleased to meet you. You smell like the hospital. Bet you can’t wait to lose that smell.’

  ‘She doesn’t smell that bad, Brit!’ a young boy said. ‘I’m Cam.’

  ‘Only ’cos you can’t smell anything these days, Cam!’ Brit raised her eyebrows.

  ‘Lay off him, Brit,’ Jez said, turning to Zig she added ‘Brit and Cam are Noses.’

  ‘Yeah, Cam’s wonky dog nose,’ Brit continued.

  ‘And what are you, then?’ Cam stood up. ‘You’re dog, the same as me.’

  ‘But mine works!’

  ‘Don’t you two start arguing again!’ the third boy said, standing up and holding out his hand in a formal manner. ‘I’m Simp
son, pleased to meet you, Zig.’

  ‘But he prefers to be called Bart!’ Cam gave a loud laugh as Simpson gave him a withering look.

  ‘You are so juvenile!’

  ‘Simpson is Ears!’ Jez continued. ‘And so is Lynne.’ The girl in the second armchair looked up from a book and gave a little wave.

  ‘I’m Tony, Nose!’ the last boy said.

  ‘Are Rhys and Tyler outside?’ Jez asked.

  ‘Of course! They never sit still for long.’ Cam replied.

  ‘They had some new stuff pumped into them this morning,’ Brit added.

  ‘Rhys and Tyler are the Muscles. They put something into their muscles to make them stronger and faster,’ Jez explained. ‘So, Zig – welcome to the Zoo! That’s what the staff here call us.’

  ‘The Zoo?’ Zig repeated in amazement.

  ‘Yeah, we’ve all got some kind of animal implants – ears, eyes, nose, muscle stuff. Enhancements, they call them. Anyway, come and see the rest of the place.’

  Jez showed her around a comfortable, well-furnished apartment. ‘We all have our own rooms with a TV, DVD and CD players and computers – with very limited internet access, unfortunately. There’s a big-screen TV in the lounge, if you’re feeling sociable. Most evenings we go there. Not Simpson so much these days – don’t get too attached to him!’ She gave a knowing look.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Zig asked.

  ‘The operation didn’t really take. I heard them talking about it. He’ll be gone in a week.’

  Zig stopped and grabbed Jez’s arm. ‘You mean because the operation hasn’t worked, he’s going free?’

  Jez gave a short laugh. ‘As if! That’s what they tell them. Clean their memories and leave them near where they picked them up. Of course that doesn’t happen!’

  She met Zig’s questioning look and shrugged her shoulders.

  ‘And here’s the kitchen,’ Jez said. ‘Washing machine, tumble dryer, iron, water cooler. Cleaning stuff in that cupboard. Oh, and the closet next to the bathroom has sheets, towels, toothbrushes etc. You just help yourself. The next closet has a load of tracksuits; just pick out your size.’

  Zig peered into the cupboards in the kitchen, ‘Where’s the food?’

  ‘Delivered. We get our own breakfast rations and a snack each morning. Then we play for the evening meal. Except for Sundays. Evening meal is delivered then, too. I hope you’re good or you’ll be going hungry!’

  Zig listened in shock as the other girl explained the rules.

  ‘They keep us on our toes and monitor our abilities,’ Jez said.

  ‘How long do we have to stay here?’ Zig asked.

  ‘No one leaves!’ Jez laughed, ‘Except the defective ones.’

  ‘It’s like being in prison!’ Zig gasped.

  ‘Have you ever been in a prison or a young offenders’ institute? Thought not! This is nothing like prison. In fact, here it’s better than living on the street. We’re all cleaned up here; we have rules, we have each other. I don’t think anyone misses what they had outside. None of us has anybody that will even notice we’re not around anymore,’ Jez told her.

  ‘Well I do! I had friends, a job, a place to live …’

  Jez looked surprised. ‘Someone will miss you? So maybe they’re looking for you now?’

  A sudden thought came to Zig. She put her hands to her face and shook her head. ‘No. I bet Angus has told them I cleared off. They’ll just think I let them down. Even Ruby and Ginny!’

  Jez put her hand on her arm, ‘Were they your friends?’

  Zig nodded, her lip trembling as she described her recent life at the Compound.

  ‘It was like a dream. A proper life. And I blew it all because of Angus …’

  She wiped her eyes roughly, ‘I’m going to get out of here! I’m going back there, Jez!’

  ‘Some of us felt that at first, too. You’ll soon settle down.’ Jez put her arm around the newcomer’s shoulders. ‘It’s not so bad here, you know, and you have us now, Zig.’

  She glanced at her watch. ‘Sunday, so we’ll get our evening meal delivered soon. We all eat in the lounge on Sundays, even Simpson. It’ll give you a chance to get to know us a bit better.’

  An hour later Zig watched as Britney and Jez spread out an assortment of Chinese takeaway containers on the table. Brit slapped Cam’s hand, ‘Just wait ’til you have a plate, will you? For once just try and use your manners!’

  ‘Manners? He doesn’t have any!’ Simpson raised his eyebrows as he carefully spread a napkin on his lap.

  ‘Oh, yeah? And you’re so posh, are you, Bart?’ Cam countered. ‘So how come you ended up sleeping rough just like the rest of us?’

  ‘Circumstances made it impossible for me to remain under the same roof as my stepfather,’ he answered tersely.

  ‘Come on, boys, this isn’t a nice welcome for Zig, is it?’ Jez intervened.

  Zig watched as the others spooned food from the different containers onto their plates. Two boys, who must be Tyler and Rhys, Zig decided, held their plates and walked up and down behind the sofa. Both moved with long, fluid strides.

  Jez handed her an empty plate. ‘Better eat up before Cam has emptied all the containers.’

  ‘So where did they find you, Zig?’ Britney asked.

  ‘I was tricked and brought here,’ she answered.

  ‘So you’re not homeless?’ Simpson looked surprised. Tyler and Rhys stopped pacing for a moment to look at her.

  Jez noticed how Zig was biting her lip. ‘Hey, let’s tell Zig a bit about us. Most of us were picked up sleeping rough on the street. Tyler, the blond guy, and Rhys, the other Muscle, came from Nottingham, Cam was in Manchester, and Britney, Otis, and me in London, though we didn’t know each other before coming here. From your accent you must have come from Scotland.’

  ‘Yes, Edinburgh,’ Zig nodded. ‘That’s where I met Angus. Then we moved down to Hambleton, to the Compound.’

  ‘The Compound? Where the Labs live?’ Simpson asked her.

  She nodded, ‘Yeah, some Non … some ordinary people live there, too. They’re great people.’

  ‘From what I’ve seen, Labs aren’t great people at all!’ Cam murmured.

  ‘Come on, Cam, if these Labs hadn’t picked you up you’d probably have died of an overdose by now. Or be back in the young offenders’ place. Until you’re old enough to make the grade for prison.’

  ‘I’m in prison now. We all are!’ he replied.

  ‘But a five-star one!’ Jez quipped. ‘I’ve been in worse!’

  Cam glared at her and continued to stuff food into his mouth.

  ‘I agree with Jez,’ Brit said. ‘We’re actually better off here. OK, we’ve got their silly games and tests to do, but for the first time in two years, I’ve got a place to sleep and food to eat without having to turn any tricks for it.’

  Zig thought with horror that even now Brit was only about fifteen. She had a slight build, with a heart-shaped face framed by pale blonde hair. But her eyes seemed like those of someone much older.

  Brit shuddered. ‘I don’t want to go back to that, ever! You think the Labs are bad? You should have met some of my punters!’

  ‘I can see your point, Brit, but I can see Cam’s point of view too, man,’ Otis raised his fork, ‘no one wants to lose their freedom.’

  ‘Freedom to go to prison?’ Brit smirked.

  ‘I’m fine with this place,’ Tony said. ‘I wouldn’t like to be out on the streets again.’

  ‘None of us want to go back to the place we came from, for sure,’ Otis nodded. ‘Except Zig, of course.’

  ‘A year or so ago I was pretty much in the same place as many of you are,’ Zig gave a slight smile.

  There was a silence broken only by the movements of the two boys standing up.

  ‘Hey, I feel like a run. Ready, Rhys?’ the tall blond boy asked, arching his back and sending a ripple of muscles down the length of his body.

  Rhys nodded, flexing his legs and twit
ching his upper body. ‘Yeah. I can’t relax with this stuff going through me!’

  ‘What enhancements have you guys got?’ Zig asked them.

  ‘Not actual enhancements. We’ve got muscle conditioning,’ Tyler replied.

  ‘Makes it hard to keep still!’ Rhys added.

  They left through the French windows and the others could hear their shouts and yells as they raced off down the garden.

  Zig spent the next few days examining every inch of her new home, determined to find a way out. Every room was covered by a CCTV camera.

  The walls of the building were thick and solid. The only doorway to the main part of the building was electronically controlled and guarded at all times. The outside area was bordered by a high dense hedge. When she tried to push a way through the branches her arms were quickly covered in scratches.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Ruby sat in the office with Celia and Isaac.

  ‘I just don’t believe Angus’s story! I don’t believe Zig suddenly decided to go off with some of her old friends!’

  Celia shook her head. ‘Well, we don’t really know much about Zig, do we? Or Angus for that matter.’

  ‘I know she’s only been here a few weeks, but I felt I was getting to know her. And I don’t trust Angus. She’d have rung or something. She wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye to us and Ginny, that’s for sure!’

  ‘I agree with you, Ruby,’ Isaac nodded. ‘I suppose you’ve tried ringing her?’

  ‘Her number is unavailable,’ Ruby sighed. ‘Everything was working out for her: a home, a job, she was even talking about college.’

  ‘Angus did say she wasn’t really the studying type, didn’t he?’ Celia pointed out. ‘And if she was enjoying herself with her old friends, she could very well have decided this life wasn’t for her.’

  ‘Did Angus say which friends she was supposed to have joined and where they went?’ Isaac asked.

  ‘He was very vague, a Maggie and Tess – no last names – and they were heading for Devon. No address.’

  ‘Where would we start to look for her?’ Isaac spread his hands. ‘Report her as a missing person?’

  ‘The police would not be interested, especially if Angus says she went of her own free will,’ Celia pointed out. ‘We could start with any friends we do know of.’