Species Unknown [Book 2: Pisces)

16. CHECKMATE

THE FIRST THING that registered in my mind was sore. A dull pain throbbed throughout my entire body as I laid in my bed, staring at the ceiling.

My body felt heavy, like I had just been hit by a truck. The aftermath of being drugged was far worse than I imagined it would be, but a part of me was thankful for the pain. It meant that at least I had regained feeling in my limbs again.

With a steadying breath, I slowly tried sitting up from my bed. Every bone in my body protested the action, but I fought against the pain. After a few agonizing seconds, I had managed to pull myself upright. Once up, I caught a glimpse of myself in my bedroom mirror. I cringed.

I looked awful.

I was still in my clothes from the day before, which considering I was paralyzed up until now, was most likely a good thing. However, they were stiff and smeared with coarse sand and dried blood, which rubbed uncomfortably against my skin. My blouse had torn in various parts, revealing a rash-like mark of raw skin beneath. I had no doubt that these were abrasions from the rough material of the net that caught us.

Like the wounds, my eyes were also red and swollen. I had cried so much that day and most likely continued well into the night until I passed out from exhaustion. My hair had also dried stiff from the salt water, spanning around my head in wild kinky curls that still smelled like the ocean.

I closed my eyes as an intense pain washed over my body. Flashes of memories seared their way into my thoughts, creating a pain far more intense than anything physical. I tried to push the thoughts out of my head, but I was helpless against the powerful memories.

Everything happened so fast.

After I was dragged into the van, two men drove me to my apartment. The fact they knew where I lived proved everything Dr. Grant had said about picking me as an intern for a reason. It was proof that he had been watching me and that he knew everything he needed to know about me. And I, perfectly unaware, had fallen into his trap.

I let out a shaky breath, covering my face with my hands. If I had any tears left I would have cried, but I didn't. So instead, I sobbed silently as the memories forced themselves through my mind.

I remembered how the men roughly carried me through my apartment door after finding my keys and unceremoniously dropped me onto my bed. Then, without so much as a goodbye, they pivoted and stomped out of my apartment. I was left paralyzed, lying on my bed in a mix of shock, disbelief, and self-hatred. Even though I couldn't feel my body, I could feel hot tears roll down my face as I listened to the sound of the van as it drove off. I wasn't sure how long I laid there, crying and cursing myself, but eventually, I must have fallen asleep.

Now I was awake, back in my apartment, and at a loss of what I could possibly do. Looking around my room, my eyes settled on something flat and rectangular on my floor.

My access badge.

Why would Dr. Grant let me keep that?

Then I thought for a moment, reflecting back on the past few days. Dr. Grant had hired me as an intern because he thought I would be able to lure the creature out of hiding, and that was exactly what I did. In fact, I had been nothing but helpful to him and his goal. He even kept his promise, allowing me to return home free.

So, why wouldn't he let me keep it? All I did was do exactly what he hired me to do, and I doubt he even thought I was capable of doing anything other than just that. After all, by poisoning me, he made it perfectly clear what would happen if I went against him. Not to mention he had the creature now. So, anything I did would most likely affect the creature now that he was back in captivity, and I wouldn't doubt for one minute that Dr. Grant would torture him just to spite me.