by Sarah Noffke
Chapter Forty-Five
“Startling an animal triggers its instinct. Spooking a man usually draws out his hidden strength, if he is a man at all.”
- Olento Research Employee Manual
Kaleb was only vaguely aware that Aiden and Zephyr were talking a few feet away. He was somehow inside himself and also removed. Whole and fractured. Safe and beyond repair. Over and over again he watched the movie screen in his head. It played only one film and it was his father’s murder. The cracking sound. The look of horror on his father’s face before he turned expressionless. It was all engraved in Kaleb’s memory and he was certain that’s where it would stay for all his life. Why did that invisible man have to kill his father? He was innocent. Kaleb reasoned that he could have just pushed him out of the way, but murder? It was so final. And after reflecting on this it only confirmed that Olento Research wanted the werewolves back and would go to any lengths to get them.
“Don’t you think so, Kaleb?” Zephyr said, breaking into his thoughts.
“What?” Kaleb said, realizing he missed their entire conversation.
Zephyr gave him a look that seemed to say it all. His expression was one of compassion, like he instinctively knew Kaleb was processing his grief. “Don’t worry about it, man,” he said, waving him off.
“We were just discussing Dream Traveler gifts,” Aiden said, his voice chipper. That’s what Kaleb called him in his head, Dr. Chipper. “I think I might have a method for drawing out your gift, although that’s not really my specialty.”
“Oh good,” Kaleb said, but his tone contradicted his words. He was safe with these strange people, the Lucidites. He instinctively knew that and yet, he just wished he could get away. Maybe it was because he’d spent so much time alone recently and he wasn’t used to all the socializing. The people at the Institute kept talking to him, expecting responses. Then they’d dump a ton of information on him, like the fact that his race had been changed. He’d never even heard of Dream Travelers before and now he was one of them and had their powers to transcend time and space with his consciousness. He was certain his head would explode soon. All Kaleb needed was a time-out. A way to make everything pause. He just wanted five minutes where the world wasn’t overwhelming him.
The sudden silence startled him in an odd way. He realized Aiden had abruptly quit talking. It had been background noise before, but Kaleb noticed as soon as it stopped. Even stranger than the sudden silence was Aiden himself. His hand hung frozen in midair. The scientist stood before Zephyr, his eyes unblinking, his expression fixed. And Zephyr was a statue as well.
Kaleb stood up, his heart racing. “Guys!” he said, wondering why they both weren’t moving. They didn’t respond. “Hey!” Kaleb said, waving his hands in giant movements. And again there was no reaction. That’s when Kaleb’s eyes found the clock on the wall and he instantly knew what had happened. All hands on the clock were unmoving, even the one that counted the seconds. Instinct rang inside of Kaleb and he knew at once what his Dream Traveler power was. He could stop time.
Zephyr was lost in thought, not listening to Aiden’s rambling about science and approaches that could help him and his pack. His pack. He had a team. As a Special Forces captain he’d been in charge of men, but never like now. Now, more than the lives of men were in his hands. It was their very humanity. And he had to unite them. Protect them. Save them. He watched Kaleb, who also looked to be lost in thought. It was Zephyr’s mission now to make these men something they’d strove for but never achieved. He’d mold them. He’d help them. If it was the last thing Zephyr Flournoy did, he would lead the pack toward success. And at all cost, he’d keep them from Olento Research.
Realizing that Aiden was still talking, Zephyr turned and walked away. There was someone who he sensed needed his support. Someone who was probably lost and confused after his sudden change. Zephyr ignored Aiden’s calls as he stalked for Connor’s room.
Epilogue
Connor had been in his room staring at the ceiling for only a few minutes when Zephyr showed up. After Connor let him in, the alpha wolf spent the better part of an hour trying to convince him that he shouldn’t blame himself. Now he knew why that guy had been elected the alpha wolf. Zephyr had a certain sincere compassion that belonged only to leaders. From the beginning he’d liked the guy because he encouraged a trust that Connor had never flippantly given to people. He hadn’t even asked Zephyr for the consolation. The guy had just showed up at his door and said he figured Connor needed to talk.
In actuality, Connor didn’t want to talk, although he knew that’s what he needed. All he wanted was to run, to get as far from this place as possible. These people were trying to help him, and the beast inside of him only wanted to slice open their throats. He felt the wolf inside him even when not changed. The wolf always wanted meat. Its desire to hunt never waned. And the divide was starting to make him go mad. Zephyr had consoled him with the notion that he also felt the wolf in him when he was a man. But then Zephyr had just shrugged it off, like it wasn’t an incredible hardship. Zephyr had said, “I know roughly how to corral the beast when changed. That’s all you’ve got to learn and then you’ll be fine.”
It wasn’t going to be fine, though, because Connor didn’t see himself as strong as Zephyr. He was certain that if he hadn’t been locked up for all those weeks then he would have hurt many people on the nights when he changed. Zephyr shared that he knew how to keep the werewolf away from people, keeping the temptation away. It was obvious now that where Zephyr had control, Connor was weak. It’s how he’d become an addict. Once an addict, always an addict.
The Lucidites had given Connor everything he now owned. They’d generously stocked his closet with high-end clothes and shoes. Everything he could think of needing was located inside the boxlike room they assigned to him. And all of the possessions were going to be left behind. He’d have to take the clothes on his back, but that was it.
Because Connor had read the Dream Traveler Codex, he knew the Lucidite Institute fairly well. He’d read up on the library that Adelaide had been taking him to when he changed into a werewolf. The guilt from that moment sent a familiar prickle to his throat. He shook off the feeling, knowing there was only one way to resolve it.
On the first level of the Institute there was a dry dock and that’s where the submarine parked. It left and returned twice every day. He hoped with all his being that the next departure was soon.
Connor turned and regarded the room. It was neat, and maybe one of the nicest places he’d ever stayed. Actually, everything about the Lucidite Institute was exemplary compared to the life Connor had lived. For all his life he dreamed about being connected to people as incredible as the Lucidites. However, the more he lamented on how amazing this race of people was and how incredible this underwater society was, the more the guilt grew. He was going to change into a werewolf again, and there was no safe way to ensure he didn’t attack someone. The fear of it happening again, of possibly harming Adelaide, was too much for him. No, the only peace was away from the Institute. Connor knew he had to leave this place. He had to go out on his own, just as he was alone before in the labs. It had been true since the beginning and nothing had changed. Connor was the lone wolf.
The End
One-Twenty-Six Press.
Better off Dead
Sarah Noffke
Copyright © 2019 by Sarah Noffke
All rights reserved
Copyeditor: Christine LePorte
Cover Design: Andrei Bat
All rights reserved. This was self-published by Sarah Noffke under One-Twenty-Six Press. No parts of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. If you are seeking permission send inquiry at http: www.sarahnoffke.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Summary: When one man can’t reconcile with the wolf inside of him, he knows all he can do is run. Take the wolf with him and run away from those he doesn’t want to hurt. But will that be his greatest mistake?
Published in the United States by One-Twenty-Six Press
ASIN:
For Anne L.
Thank you for making the books better,
keeping my British vernacular on point,
and being a great friend.
You’re the bee’s knees.
BETTER OFF DEAD, Book #2
Prologue
They say when one has sunk to their lowest, there’s nowhere to go but up. Those stupid adages were wrong and always made Connor angry. Lately everything made him angry. One can always sink deeper, and he’d proven that. And the eventual rise after sinking low was false. Connor didn’t think that even though he was lying on the bathroom floor of a dirty hotel room, he was destined to rise up from this low situation. No, he could plummet further. With a mechanical force he leaned his head to the side and eyed the drug responsible for his current high. He never thought he’d graduate to anything harder than cocaine, but he also never thought he’d become a murderous monster. One more dose of the drug sitting a few inches from his head, and things would end. He’d take the final plunge. Leave this world and all his demons behind.
Connor’s eyes fell shut. He’d only left the Lucidite Institute a day ago, but he’d already managed to steal the money to fund his drug debauchery and secure a nasty hotel room in East Los Angeles. The speed he inherited from the wolf inside of him made picking pockets on busy trains too easy. When Connor got off the submarine at the docks, he had only one mission: to ruin himself.
Zephyr was strong. He could control the wolf inside of him. However, Connor wasn’t the same caliber of man. He’d told himself when he’d been locked in the cell at Olento Research, with little hope of being rescued, that if he did survive he’d come to peace with the wolf who was now a part of him. But attacking Adelaide made that idea what it was: a farce. Connor couldn’t control the wild side of him. The drugs sitting on the tile floor next to him proved that. Before Olento Research made him into a Dream Traveler and a werewolf, he’d already been a monster. Now he was just more of one.
Connor’s hand shook as he reached for the drug. The one that used to scare him. The one they say is the hardest to recover from. That was fine. He wasn’t planning on recovering. Whereas some choose to pull themselves up, make themselves better, Connor had chosen doom. He embraced this fate and hopefully soon the suffering would be over.
Chapter One
“Samples were taken from forty-six wolves, which belonged to four different packs. The intent was to determine the strongest genes across the samples for conversion utilization.”
- Olento Research, Canis Lupus Project File
With his back straight and feet shoulder-width apart, Mika Lenna nocked an arrow onto the string of the bow. He raised the weapon he’d been practicing with since he was four years old, aiming it at the target some ninety meters away.
“Why does your report for Project Teleportaatio say you’ve halted testing on the subjects?” he said to the man standing a few feet away.
Drake also stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, but he didn’t hold a bow. His hands were clasped behind his back and his shoulders drooped from the weight of his large midsection. The older man, Mika’s top research scientist, was still wearing his lab coat, although he should be off work now after putting in a seventeen-hour day. “Because,” he said, clearing his throat, “it’s a waste to keep testing the teleportation protocol on lemurs.”
“Then find a new type of subject,” Mika said, relaxing his fingers before releasing the arrow. It flew through the air, a blur of blue and green from the fletching at its end, before knocking hard into the bull’s eye of the target.
“It’s a waste to test the protocol on any subject,” Drake said, his voice tired and his German accent thick. “The project was initiated prematurely and we don’t know enough about the neural framework that makes teleportation successful.”
Mika ground his teeth together before pulling another arrow from the satchel. Why did the brightest minds also have to belong to the most insufferable people? he thought. He couldn’t stand Drake, but he needed his expertise on too many projects to replace him. “Your insinuation that I launched this project without sufficient research is a bold move and one I’d suggest you take back before you’re swelling with regret,” Mika said, resting the arrow in place in the bow.
A flat chuckle, absent of any joy, popped out of Drake’s mouth. “Coming to terms with the mistakes we make in the past is the best way to improve. And I’m only—”
Mika spun around, aiming the loaded bow straight at Drake’s chest, abruptly ending the scientist’s words.
“Do you take me as a man who makes empty threats?” Mika said, his eyes narrowed on the man before him, his hands steady.
Drake coughed as he backed up, waving his arms in front of him. “No-no-no, sir,” he said in a rush. “I know you will fulfill your promise and I apologize profusely. I’m sorry if it came across that I’m blaming your decision making for Project Teleportaatio not being successful. It is I who have been short-sighted and lacked the information to make adequate progress.”
It was the first time Mika had heard that fear in Drake’s voice. Usually the old German sneered at him or used a condescending tone, but he guessed that this behavior would stop now. Mika pivoted in a swift, deliberate movement using his super speed and released the arrow. Again it stuck straight into the target, where an assistant at the end of the indoor archery range fetched it before hurrying back away to safety.
“What is it that you’re lacking to make Project Teleportaatio a success?” Mika said, handing the bow off to another employee who stood a few paces away.
“I’m not even quite certain. However, I do have an instinct on this and it tells me who would know the proper method for teleporting,” Drake said.
Mika turned back to face the scientist. “Let me guess. The Lucidites?”
Drake released a fake smile. “You’re so very right, sir,” he said, his voice slightly shaking probably due to the rapid release of adrenaline, which was a result of nearly being murdered by his boss.
“But we can’t infiltrate the Lucidite Institute, remember? That was your assessment,” Mika said, wiping his palms on a handkerchief.
“No, we can’t. Entry is through the submarine and it’s heavily guarded. However, that wouldn’t pose such an obstacle to someone who is invisible,” Drake said.
Mika popped his chin up, the new idea making his eyes go wide. “Kris. You think that Kris can infiltrate the Institute?”
“I do. She is your best thief and what we need is to steal information, although I’m not quite certain where to look. She might have to hang out there for a while and study the place,” Drake said.
“If Kris can get into the Institute while invisible then why didn’t you propose this before so that we could recover the three werewolves being housed there?” Mika said.
“Because the thought only recently occurred to me when I met dead ends with Project Teleportaatio,” Drake said. “However, I think that Kris would be ineffective at helping us to recover the werewolves. She’s not strong enough to capture them. And her brother, Morgan, is still recovering so he wouldn’t be of much help either. I don’t think that creating trouble for the Lucidites on their turf is advisable. However, spying on them could provide a plethora of information for our research.” Drake took a deep breath when finished with his speech.
Mika stroked the black goatee that he kept evenly trimmed. “I agree that the twins, even with their invisibility, are insufficient to catch the werewolves. That’s why I have a new project for you.”
Drake blew out another breath, his hand absentmindedly finding his forehead. By the l
ook in his tired eyes, he wasn’t delighted to be assigned another project. The older man looked like he needed sleep or soon he’d pass out from exhaustion. “Can we discuss it tomorrow, sir?”
“No, I’m free now,” Mika said, standing squarely in front of Drake. “I want you to heighten the power of the werewolf component for Project Canis Lupus. The next subject we test this on, I want them to be stronger, faster, and larger than those in the last batch.”
“Do you mean you want a stronger mutation so the subject transforms all over?” Drake said, scratching his head of wiry white hair.
“Yes, not just the face, arms, and hands. I want this subject to burst out of his clothes, like the lore dictates. I want to create something that’s nightmarish,” Mika said.
“I can probably do this, but it will be suicide for the subject. I don’t think they’d survive very long, which is why we were conservative with the men who are currently werewolves. Dramatic changes increase heart speed and blood pressure,” Drake said.
“That’s fine. I also want you to implement a tracking method in the subject’s DNA. Something that increases the wolf’s natural ability to track down members of its species,” Mika said.
“Yes, it would have been good to put a GPS chip into the first batch of werewolves,” Drake said, and then his eyes widened with silent alarm. “Which was my oversight and I apologize.” It must have been difficult for the old German to behave, but Mika was teaching him and soon he wouldn’t have to give him looks of disapproval every time he mouthed off.
“So you’ve given up on finding your Canis Lupus protégées and are going bigger, are you?” Drake said, combing his knobby fingers through his tangled beard.
Mika’s eyes flew upward as he marched away. “Alexander,” he said, calling him by the name he knew he hated, his first one, his God-given one. “I’ve never given up. Not once.” Then Mika turned at the exit to the archery range and faced Drake from several feet away. “I just know why Zephyr has found two of my werewolves and I have failed. It’s because it takes a wolf to find another one.”