Beneath the Scales

Theori Emberly stood at the edge of the compound, staring at the towering gates of the N.A.G.A. Corporation. The building loomed ahead, a cold metallic structure carved into the wilderness like a fortress hidden from the world. Large fences covered in barbed wires surrounding the facility as if whoever entered couldn't leave. Theo adjusted the strap on his worn leather bag, fingers gripping the handle tighter than he realized, and stepped forward. Gravel crunched beneath his boots, the sound swallowed by the surrounding silence.

As the heavy doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, Theo couldn't help but feel like he was walking into something far more ominous than just a state-of-the-art research center. The air inside was cold, sterile, with the faint hum of machinery thrumming beneath the floor. A receptionist greeted him with a nod, eyes dull and uninterested. He barely noticed her as he was led deeper into the heart of N.A.G.A.

Theo's eyes traced the sleek, white walls, lined with security cameras that blinked like ever-watching eyes. Everything about the place felt clinical, designed for efficiency, devoid of warmth. This was no ordinary lab-- he knew that much. It wasn't just the secrecy surrounding N.A.G.A. that unsettled him, but the palpable tension that clung to the air, as if the building itself knew what kind of work it was housing.

He walked past rows of glass-walled rooms where figures in white coats huddled over their stations, too absorbed in their work to glance up. Genetic manipulation, neurotoxin analysis, biological enhancements-- he had read the files. But nothing had prepared him for the oppressive weight of it all now that he was here, standing in the middle of it.

As Theo stepped into the main corridor, overlooking the experiment field, a figure awaited him-- tall, imposing, with a presence that commanded attention. Dr. Heisenburg. The man's reputation had preceded him long before Theo had accepted te offer to take his position. Heisenburg had a way of filling a room without saying a word, a legend in the field of general engineering, but more infamous for his ethics-- rather, his disregard for them.

"Dr. Emberly!" Dr. Heisenburg turned on his heel to face Theo. "The one and only! The newest member to walk through our doors." He stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Theo's shoulder. "How does it feel to finally be here?" He nudged Theo in the shoulder.

Theo stiffened at the unexpected contact, caught off guard by Dr. Heisenburg's overly familiar greeting. There was an odd energy in this man's voice, too casual, too enthusiastic for what they did here.

"I... didn't expect to feel this overwhelming," Theo admitted, trying to keep his voice steady. His eyes flicked towards the glass windows overlooking the experiments. Below, the shadows moved-- test subjects, likely, though the details had been vague in his briefing.

"I get it. It's your first job in the big leagues! We've all had that day, don't you worry none. I'm sure once you're in the lab, you'll feel right at home. I know every scientist probably says this but," Dr. Heisenburg leaned in closer. "My project is the most important in this whole facility. You, sir, are one lucky duck!" He slapped Theo on the back before pulling away. "You ready to learn the seas and get your rope legs?"

"Lucky. Riiight," Theo mumbled, pulling away slightly. He wasn't sure if it was the excitement in Heisenburg's voice or the vague threat that seemed to ride under every word that unsettled him more.

"Well, if you'll just follow me downstairs." With that, Dr. Heisenburg turned back around headed deeper into the facility.

Theo nodded and followed a safe distance behind, "So, when do I get to meet our subjects?" he asked, a slight curve in his voice.

"You'll be handling only one subject and that's all you'll be meeting today. Subject SC9247. It's given us the most results, not to brag. Today, you'll be overseeing the transition to the next phase of the experiment. I figured it'd be easiest to start at a beginning."

Theo's stomach twisted at Heisenburg's words. Subject SC9247. The way the doctor spoke about it, as if it was nothing more than a tool, sent a chill down Theo's spine. He had read enough N.A.G.A's subjects to know they were far from just data points on a chart. Still, he forced a nod, keeping pace behind Heisenburg as they descended into the lower levels of the facility.

"SC9247," Theo repeated under his breath. He tried to picture what could possibly have given them such significant results. A small part of him was curious, eager to see the cutting-edge science in action.

As they approached a reinforced door, Heisenburg stopped and turned to Theo with a grin that was almost too wide, "This is where the magic happens. Remember your NDA. Anything you see in here cannot leave this building."

Theo just nodded. The reinforced door slid open with a hiss, revealing a double-sided mirror. Through the glass, he could see an empty bright white room. The fluorescent lights hurt his eyes from here. The door hissed shut behind him, the lock thudding back into place.

Dr. Heisenburg approached a steel control panel with a mic and two large buttons, one red and one green. "Here is where you'll work. Once you're ready to begin the experiment, you press the green button to speak into the intercom. The door will open and the subject will be ushered in."

Theo's gaze shifted to the control panel, his stomach knotting tighter with each passing second. The sterile brightness of the room beyond the glass was unsettling, like an empty stage waiting for a performance he wasn't sure he wanted to see.

"Okay," he stated, hesitantly pressing the green button, "Dr. Emberly here, ready for phase one."

"Phase two," Dr. Heisenburg corrected.

Theo paused for a second and glared subtly in Dr. Heisenburg's direction before leaning closer to the microphone, "Phase two."

A door slid open on the left and two scientists in matching white hazmat suits and oxygen masks pulled a stretcher into the room. It was covered in a white sheet, but Theo could see something squirming underneath it.

Theo's heart rate spiked as he watched the stretcher wheel in. Whatever was underneath it was alive-- and struggling. He swallowed, mouth suddenly dry.

The scientists carefully positioned the stretcher in the center of the room before stepping back. Neither one looked in Theo's direction or acknowledged his presence.

Theo stuttered, "W-What is that?" he played nervously with the leather strap on his bag.

"Subject SC9247." Dr. Heisenburg sighed fondly. "What a scientist can only dream of. When you're ready, ask them to begin. Make sure you have something to write with. We're expecting big results today!"

Theo wanted Dr. Heisenburg to fuck off. But, alas, he couldn't speak his mind. Not in a place like this.

He pulled a ballpoint pen out of the pocket of his bag, along with his Medical Journal. He leaned back into the microphone, "Begin."

Janus hated this white sheet. It was a sign of pain to come, of needles and pins and ice and fire. He thrashed against it, against the metal cuffs that had already scarred his wrists and ankles. The scar tissue barely ached anymore. But he knew whatever came next would. They wanted to move on. He had done the dance perfectly and now they wanted to see it again. Faster this time with more steps.

He growled as the stretcher stopped. It was laughable. He knew that. He knew it held the same weight as an upset child telling a robber that Santa wasn't going to give him presents if he hurt them. But it was the last power he had. To fight, however futilely, to show them that he was never going to become the obedient subject they wanted. Even if it broke every single bone, cut every inch of skin. He would die fighting.

A muffled, distorted voice sounded from the speakers above him, "Start the experiment."

The scientists adjusted the stretcher so that Janus was now upright, the shift in weight making his shoulders ache, and with a sudden movement, the sheet was aggressively pulled off him, revealing bright white lights that were almost blinding. He squinted in the light. There he was in all of his glory to the bastard behind the glass.

Janus Scannabasi, the first human with viper DNA.

Scales covered almost the entire left side of his face, his lips now with a painfully uneven slit up his jawline almost to his ear.

Janus snarled, his muscles straining as the needle appeared in one of the scientist's hands, filled with a clear, yellowish substance.

The needle pierced his arm. Janus clenched his fists. He wasn't going to react. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing him howl in pain.

His body had different ideas, though.

In what felt like mere seconds, but was probably longer, a burning pain coursed through his veins, filling his vision with spots. Bile rose in his throat as he heard more than felt his skin tear. More scales. So many more scales, rising in thick patches down his left arm, across his back, dotting his waist and legs. His left hand grew thick talons, cutting into the still human flesh of his palm.

His back arched and his mouth opened in a silent scream. His mouth burned. His tongue shifted, getting longer and lighter and distinctly not his. None of his body was his. Not anymore. Just as everything settled down and he thought it was over, a splitting headache overtook him. This time he did scream, drowning too much in pure feeling to feel ashamed. His eye. It seemed to stretch and shrink and melt and suddenly the lights were even brighter. He squinted and hissed, sounding inhuman, sounding like the animal the government thought he was.

The same muffled voice came through the speakers, this time sounding more panicked and shaken up, "End! End it now."

The scientists pushed his stretcher back down, covering him back in the white sheet. His blood seeped into the fabric, making it cling to his open wounds. Everything hurt. Everything would hurt for a long time.

He rubbed an inhuman finger along the wounds in his palm. He would never be human again. The government got what it wanted. It made him a monster.

He barely heard the door open, just closing his eyes as the stretcher rolled away. He would keep fighting. He just needed a moment to recover first.

Theo paced back and forth behind the glass, a hand on his forehead, "What the actual fuck? Is this what you called me here for? This fucking shit?"

Dr. Heisenburg didn't seem all too concerned. He just leaned against the wall, idly tapping his foot. "I understand you're upset--"

"No, no, no, no," Theo stopped him, rage in his eyes, "I'm not upset. I'm fucking disgusted. These are humans you're torturing. You're fucking with nature. It's not right!"

"These are Prisoners of War. Terrorists. People who have killed innocent people and not bat an eye. That's who you're defending right now."

"I'm defending our human right to live. Just kill them if they're so bad. Don't torture them!" Theo exlaimed, throwing his hands up, "I don't want any part in this. I'm out. Good luck finding anyone who will willingly particpate in some fucked up shit like this. Not me. Not this scientist."

"You make three million per finished phase." Dr. Heisenburg raised an eyebrow. "How does this scientist feel about that?"

Theo paused. He hesitated, "Three Million... per phase?"

He thought back to his mother, who was stuck at home with leukemia. He took this job because he wanted to make a change-- help people. It may not be what he was expecting but... this money could change everything. He could use it to pay for her chemo. He tapped his foot and looked back at the glass, biting his cheek.

"Fine," he said abrubtly, "but it doesn't mean I agree with what you're doing here. It's unethical."

"You don't have to agree. You just have to do your job. As long as we're okay on that front, you can replace me."

"I'm good at doing my job. And how long will I be here for?" Theo asked, shifting his weight on one of his feet, "This has to be a temporary thing. Until I finish this experiment. Deal?"

"The experiment ends either when the subject dies or it until its cells are fully integrated with the new DNA and the process can be replicated."

"You want to... use his DNA?" Theo raised an eyebrow, "You know that requires stem cells. Do you have the capabilities out here to do that?"

"We have the capablities to make a human grow scales." Dr. Heisenburg grinned. "Of course we have stem cells."

"Right," Theo stumbled a bit, still shocked by it all, "Right. Of course. So... What's the next step?"

"We give him a day to rest and to ensure that the changes have fully set in and we test the limits of those changes. We affect variables such as temperature, pressure, toxins, and diet."

"And then? After that?" Theo asked, "Will he die? When this is all over? Is that definite?"

Dr. Heisenburg shrugged. "Whether he dies after we're done with him is up to him. He'll have the choice to work with us, to change. But so far he's been nothing but hostile. If that continues, the last day of the experiment will be the last day of his life."

"Do I have any say in that? Since, you know, I'm in charge of this now."

"In charge?" Dr. Heisenburg laughed. "Maybe in charge of checking of his vitals. This experiment will go on with or without you. Either you're the one making the money or it's someone else. Your choice, doctor."

Theo wanted to punch this man in the face. Bad.

"Okay," he simply said, "I need to analyze my notes and ask the patie--" he stopped himself, "the subject some questions. He speaks, no?"

"Unfortunately." Dr. Heisenburg sighed. "It has quite the mouth on it. Good luck getting an answer out of it."

"You'd be surprised who I can handle," Theo straightened himself, "Would you mind leading me to him?"

Dr. Heisenburg gestured for Theo to follow them. The door slid open again and he walked out, leading Theo down a series of twisting clincal halls. It had been about ten minutes or so when he stopped in front of a thick door that looked like it belonged to a prison more than a facility. He slipped his key card through the lock, the door unlatching. "All yours. Good luck. There's a red button on the wall in case he manages to attack you. He shouldn't, though."

"Thanks," Theo simply said, turning the handle. With a creak, it slowly opened, revealing a nearly empty room. Theo glanced around, eyeing the titanium toilet and cot-like bed. He was being generous in considering it a bed, even. And right at the foot of the bed, handcuffed to a bedpost, was Subject SC9247.

Subject SC9247 looked up at the creak of the door, hunched over in a sad attempt to hide his wounds. Theo could see his jaw clench. "What the fuck do you want?"

Theo paused, setting his notepad down on the cot. He hesitated before sitting down and crossing his legs-- about five feet away from the subject. After a few deep breaths, he finally spoke. "My name is Theori Emberly, I just got here. I'm 26 years old. I was born in Old Detroit, with a nurse for a mother. Her name is Rebekah. She has terminal leukermia, and she only has a few months to live. I'm here in hopes to make some money to support her cause. I like snakes. Lizards. Anything reptilian, really. My favorite color is blue." he stopped for a second, taking a deep breath again, "That's pretty much everything about me. I'm an open book. Do you mind telling me who you are? Before all this. Don't include anything recent."

The subject frowned. "What, they didn't brief you before you came in? Psychotic terrorist. Dangeorus war criminal." He did jazz hands, rattling his chain. "What else is there to know?"

"You're lying," Theo took off his glasses, leaning forward a bit, "Tell the truth. Why are you really here?"

Subject SC9247 narrowed his eyes, considering Theo for a moment. "I make pipebombs in my spare time. It's quite thrilling. You should try it."

Theo smirked lightly, eyes searching the subject's face for any sign of emotion. Theo had spent his whole life studying reptilian behavior. He knows everything there is know, signs of fear, anxiety, happiness, scents. His eyes wandered to the subjects arms, which were now hugging his torso tightly, his legs pulled up infront of them. He sighed, "Lies won't get anywhere with me, unfortunately..." he continued, "I see you're scared. Rightfully so, given the circumstances. I would be too."

"I'm not scared, thank you." The subject looked away, batting his stringy, unkempt curls from his face.

"You are. And it's okay." Theo shrugged, leaning back a bit.

Subject SC9247 hissed. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know that you were once human. You still are. I'm trying to pull that back out of you. Now, let's try this again. Tell me more about you. For real this time."

The subject looked away, his nostrils flaring. He clenched and unclenched his fists a few times before he sighed. "I was a rebel. Good at talking to people, good at getting into places I'm not wanted. One day I leaked the wrong data and ended up here." He snorted. "Guess I'm not so good at getting out of places I am wanted."

Theo nodded intently, never once grabbing his notebook. One thing he learned from years of research on behavior is to treat sensitive subjects with ease. He didn't make any quick movements. He would store all of this in his head, and then write it down later. That's the least he could do.

He finally responded after a few seconds of silence, "I see. Have you tried to get out of here? Or did you just... give in?"

"Of course I didn't give in!" He turned to look back at Theo, his new tongue flicking out of his mouth in annoyance. "But there's only so many times you can get barbed wire in your knees before you accept that there's a smarter choice."

Theo nodded again, not flinching at the raise in the subject's voice. "Sounds uncomfortable."

"Really? And here I thought you were considering this a vacation home."

Theo shrugged, "Possibly. Possibly not. I guess we'll never know, will we?" Theo sighed, "What was your life like before this? I know you're telling the truth about being a rebel. Besides that, who were you?"

"No one." Subject SC9247 shrugged.

"You weren't 'no one' if you ended up here." Theo simply put it, crossing his arms, "we all start out as somebody. I would like to get to know that somebody in your case. I don't want to dig in your mind. I just want to have a conversation, person to person. Can we do that? Can you elaborate for me a bit more?"

"Can we have a conversation, person to person?" The subject full turned his body to Theo. "Despite what you all say about me, I'm not stupid. You're a scientist high enough on the chain to say you kept your hands clean of this 'nasty experiment business' and I'm your prized labrat. There's a fucking camera in the corner beaming this conversation straight to the ears of whatever freak gets off on watching me all day. No conversation we will ever have will be person to person." He turned back away, curling even tighter on himself. "So fuck off."

Theo smiled a bit wider, raising an eyebrow. He stood, watching as the subject flinched at his movement. After a sarcastic scoff, Theo walked over to the cot and pulled a key from his jacket.

His eyes widened, baring his teeth as his last stand.

Theo paused again before unlocking the handcuffs, removing them. He simply dropped them to the floor beside the subject, and took his place back on the floor across the room. He watched for reactions, not saying a word.

The subject blinked, cocking his head to the side not unlike a confused puppy. He looked to his wrists, the ruby red scars now on full display. He looked back to Theo.

Theo finally spoke, "You're not an animal. You won't be in handcuffs anymore. In this cell, at least. The door is strong enough to hold you."

The subject laughed. It sounded almost manic, like a man dying of thirst watching the latest mirage fade away. "And who are you to decide that? You're not in charge here. You're going to piss off whoever is on the other side of that." He shakily pointed to the camera, his arms clearly weak from constantly being restrained.

Theo's face looked puzzled for a moment, before he followed the subject's eyes to the camera. Theo lifted his arm and waved at the lense, "I guess we're both rebels, huh?"

"Holy shit." The subject looked at the floor, rubbing his wrists. "You're going to fucking die. But your funeral."

"I don't think so. I think I'll be just fine." Theo sighed loudly, "Now, let's try this for a third time. What's your name?"

The subject looked to the camera before sighing. "Janus."

"Janus," Theo repeated it, memorizing the name. "And where were you born, Janus?"

"The Big Apple." Janus leaned against the foot of the bed. "Before she sank."

"Did you like it there?"

Janus snorted. "No. It was fucking awful. Smelled like piss."

Theo nodded, "Is that the only reason you hated it?"

"A strong ninety percent."

"What about the other ten percent?" Theo adjusted himself.

"The food, the people. Just a shitty place."

"Interesting. I've never been," Theo leaned back, putting all his weight on his wrists, "wish I could've seen it before all this shit happened. Anyways. Why were you a rebel?"

"Because the government fucking sucks and I hate it." Janus rolled his eyes.

"Valid. I hate it too." Theo finally stood, "Don't kill yourself with those handcuffs."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Wasn't planning on it. Just a suggestion, I suppose." Theo walked towards the door, grabbing his notebook on the way out, "Nice to meet you, Janus. I hope we'll meet again."

"I won't have a choice in the matter, so good luck with that." He crossed his arms, closing his eyes.

Theo just nodded, opening the door. He stood on the other end for a second before shutting it. He wanted to see what Janus would do. If he had the opportunity to escape... would he?

Janus opened his eyes, looking back to Theo. His tongue flicked out and he uncurled, his knees hitting the ground. His interest was piqued.

Interesting.

Theo shut the door, sighing as he turned to face the empty white hall in front of him. He bit his lip and looked to the camera at the end of the hallway. After speaking to Janus, he was conflicted. His mind raced, full of options. He could stay, and do his job. His mother needed it. He could half-ass his job, and still get paid. He could put his personal opinions aside and make this purely about science.

He smiled. Or...

After a wave to the camera, he started speedwalking down the hallway to find his room.

He was going to get them both the fuck out of here. But, he needed a plan first.

Janus shivered in his spot on the floor. The handcuffs were back, big fucking surprise. The guards who came to take him to his vital testing almost beat him to death with them before remembering that wait, he was needed alive to experiment on. So he was lucky enough only to have his rations cut in half. Hooray! It must be December because that feels like the Christmas spirit.

He hit his head against the bedpost. His skirt was damp from the ice held against it today. The cold water clung to his skin, to his scales. He wanted to scream and rip it off and then rip the scales off too for good measure. But he wouldn't because that would just be pathetic. His shirt wouldn't be wet forever. He could deal with this.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door before it clicked and opened. The same scientist from before, Theory, entered, a bag slung on his shoulder. He was breathing heavily, "Get up. We're leaving. We only have twenty minutes."

Janus held out his hands. "Nice to see you again. What's next? Heat compression?"

Theory sighed and rushed over, dropping the bag in the process. He pulled out the key and unlocked the handcuffs again, "Let's go, Janus. You can walk, right?"

Janus lifted an eyebrow. "I'm allowed to...?"

"Now, you can do whatever you want. I'm giving you a chance to get out of here. Either you stand up, and come with me, or you stay here and risk getting killed in a few weeks, up to you. I'm leaving," he walked towards the door, grabbing the brown leather bag again.

Janus blinked. "Are you fucking crazy?" He stood up, trying not to wince at the way his legs felt like lead.

"Yep," Theory blinked, "Come on. No time for talking."

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Fuck." Janus half-stumbled his way to the door, glad enough that he didn't eat dirt. He could make this work. He had worse.

Theory led the way, trying to slow down to Janus's pace. His voice was a mere whisper, "Listen to me very carefully. Everyone is on lunch. We should only see a custodian or two. If anyone asks, I'm transporting you to another cell block. You don't speak. Not one peep. And you need to pick up the pace."

"I'm trying." Janus gritted his teeth. "It's not my fault you have legs long enough to jump the Hudson."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Theory smirked. They reached a door that led to a staircase. Theory opened the door for Janus, gesturing with his hand, "You go first."

"We couldn't have taken the elevator?" Janus sighed but clenched his teeth and started down.

"Do you want to risk getting trapped in an elevator with other scientists? I didn't think so. Now let's go."

"I'm going!"

"Well, we need to go faster."

"I'd like to see you run after being chained to a bed for two months."

"Longest I've been chained to a bed was an hour. And I was fine. I get what you're saying, though," they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Really? I didn't peg you as the freak type." He looked Theory up and down. "Or a bottom."

"And if I am a bottom?" Theory scoffed, "Let's focus. Let's get this show on the road. We can do this."

The laboratory beyond them was dark, despite a few blinking red lights and the light coming in from the few windows. Theory led him around the corner, looking down at the clock on his wrist, "We're running low on time. We spent five minutes descending those stairs."

"I'll call Nascar and see if they can send reinforcements."

"Thanks, Superstar," Theo remarked, stopping at the top of the next staircase. He hesitated before looking over at Janus, "I'm picking you up."

"Wait, what-"

Theo acted quickly, lifting Janus and throwing him over his shoulder, "You're light. Gonna be cake."

"Jesus fuck!" Janus grabbed the back of Theory's shirt, not even caring when his new claws pierced the fabric. "If you drop me, I'm going to hurt you."

Theo descended the stairs quickly, his bag banging against the steel railings. He placed Janus down when they got to the bottom, near another door that led outside. "Okay. No more stairs. Now we need to run, okay?"

Janus tried to find his footing, too much heat being in his face and not in his legs. "Sure, sure. Whatever."

Theo grabbed the ID card from his pocket and swiped it against the security pad. The door unlocked.

"Your name is... Theori?" Janus blinked. "With an I?"

"Yes. With an I," Theori said as he pushed the door open, revealing a massive helipad, "Isn't your name spelled J-A-N-I-C-E?"

"No!" Janus huffed. "It's like the god. J-A-N-U-S."

"Huh," Theo smirked, and looked back to his escape partner, "We run. On three. We need to make it across this helipad and to the gate that leads to the parking lot. No stopping. We keep running. No matter what we hear behind us. Ready?"

Janus steeled himself. "Let's do it." He bounced on his heels.

"One..."

"Two..."

Janus took off, eyes narrowed at the end of the helipad. He couldn't stop. Not with the burning in his lungs or the spots dancing in his vision.

"Three! Janus, what the fuck!" Theori ran after him until he caught up, "I said on three!"

Janus waved him off. He couldn't talk. That was precious air. He had to make it. He was not getting recaptured on the fucking helipad.

They reached the long gates at the same time. Theo didn't waste time, pushing the gate open. A loud, blaring alarm sounded as if to alert the rest of the base. They didn't have much time.

"Run!" Theo yelled, starting to sprint.

Janus was going to make it. He was so close. After so many failed attempts he was actually close. He felt something shift in his skin and suddenly he could sprint. He was going to make it.

Theo reached a black, tinted Mercedes, "Get in!" He slid in the front seat.

Janus opened the passenger door and got in, pulling the seat back to not be visible from the window.

Doors started to open from beyond the gate at the heart of the military base, so Theori floored it. Hard.

He reversed swiftly, not once taking his eyes off the road.

And, in a matter of seconds, they were free.

Janus slowly lifted his head, watching the trees speed by. It had been so long since he saw trees.

Theori was breathing heavily, his hands lightly shaking. He looked to his center console once they got about a mile away, before reaching and pressing a button.

Suddenly, Sweet Home Alabama came on.

And Theori started singing along.

Janus watched him for a few seconds before he started laughing. He slumped into the chair, covering the still human side of his face, the side that was still his. This wasn't real. He was dreaming. He was going to wake up in his cell, less human than he already was, his mind going away with it.

But it felt so real. Theori's car smelt like a cheap cherry car freshener that always gave him a headache and the car rumbled beneath him and that stupid fucking song was playing. It felt so real. He held onto the plush of the door with his human hand, his hand. It felt softer than anything he had felt in months.

He held it the entire drive, even when his fingers cramped.

Theo watched for fifteen minutes as Janus tried to stop the bleeding with a torn cloth, when there was a perfectly good gauze in the RV they rented. He looked like a lost puppy, the way he incorrectly washed out the wound. He didn't even sterilize his hands beforehand. Theo sighed.

Theo didn't really think they were going to make it out of that hellhole. He was stuck in an endless loop once they got out, trying to drown out the voices with old country music-- stuff his mother used to listen to when she was little. Not only did Theo just throw his chances of helping his mom out of the picture, but he also most likely made himself a wanter criminal.

Janus seemed just as shocked. They didn't talk the whole car-ride to the Camping Grounds, and the poor guy looked absolutely miserable. Theo could tell there was something going on inside that brain of his, but he didn't dare ask. Not just yet. He wanted to ask why he actually trusted Theo. Maybe he had nothing left to lose.

Finally, when Janus attempted to close the bandage, Theo spoke, "Need some help with that?"

Janus flinched, his head darting back to face Theo. "I'm fine." He looked back to the mess of his wound. Some scales had pulled against his skin, creating a gask along the divide.

"You don't look fine, Janus," Theo stood from his seat next to the beds, and knelt infront of him, "Did you even sterilize this? Did you put any ointment on? We're out in the forest, the thing could get infected."

"I put some hand sanitizer on it, it's fine." He hissed as his claws tore through the bandage he was trying to place.

"Did you wash your hands?" Theo raised an eyebrow, "Before you started touching it?"

"Like I said, hand sanitizer."

Theo peeked at the wound, making a face when he noticed dirt was clumped up, dirt sticking to it, "Ah, yes. Like santizer removes dirt. Right. Now we have to clean it out, you realize that right?"

"It's just dirt, it won't kill me." Janus huffed as one of the old bandages curled off his scales, not liking the smooth surface.

"Actually it could. Larvae live in dirt. And if they enter your body, they can eat you from the inside out." Theo put it bluntly, cocking his head slightly.

"Might be less painful than if the government catches me." He pressed the bandage down hard, failing to surpress a wince.

Theo grabbed his hand, stopping him. "First of all, stop. Second of all, they won't catch you. Give me the badage." He held out his other hand.

Janus coiled up on himself again. "I'm not helpless. I can patch myself up."

Theo didn't answer and instead took the bandage forcefully, throwing it straight into the trashcan behind him. He walked over to the sink, cupping some water with his hands, before tossing it over the wound, "Sorry. This might hurt."

He took a napkin from the counter and curled it into the perfect shape. It wasn't long until he was just inches from the wound, attempting to clean all the dirt from it.

"What the hell are you doing?" Janus flinched back, his teeth bared. He stared at Theo's hand like he was holding a knife instead of a napkin.

"Cleaning it."

Theo held Janus still with his free hand as he dabbled the wound with the napkin.

Janus hissed, his entire body tensing. But he held still, staring at Theo's hand that held him still now, the tip of his elongated canines still on display.

Once finished, Theo threw the napkin away. He hesitated before removing his shirt. Janus' mouth closed slightly, his head cocking to the side as he took in Theo's chest. It wasn't long before he turned his head away. "So... are you a smoker or...?" The question hung unfinished, but the weight was still there.

Theo didn't look at Janus, instead focusing on the wound. He fit the shirt over it perfectly, reaching over to get the medical tape from inside his bag. "No. I've never touched a cigarette in my life. My... father was, though." It was obvious what they were talking about, and Theo usually hated the scars. But throughout the last few months, he'd learned to accept them. They were trophies to him now, a sign that he survived.

Janus gave a small nod, still looking at the floor. "I..." He swallowed, his human hand clenching. "I was a street kid. In New York. Lived on my own for a long time."

"Oh?" Theo finally looked to Janus, suddenly interested. "A street kid. Did it ever get better?" Theo ripped a piece of the medical tape off the reel with his teeth.

"You learn." Janus laughed to himself, but it sounded bitter. "I learned."

"I'm sorry," Theo sighed, taping one side of the shirt to his leg, "Nobody should have to go through that. Learn, I mean. To do things like that. As a kid, too."

Janus shrugged. "No use being sorry about it. I'm here, aren't I? For better or worse."

"Right," Theo finished taping the short, "How does that feel? The shirt? Too tight?"

Janus shook his head. "No, it's fine." He looked back to it, bending his knee, fists visibly clenching at the way the scales pushed against his skin. "Thanks."

"It's the least I can do," Theo leaned back, surveying his work. After giving it the nod of approval, he stood up.

Janus snorted. "I think you've already done the most someone could do."

Theo turned to glance around him once more before sitting down on the small, dusty couch, "What do you think of Canada?"

Janus blinked. "Jumping around. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Do you have anyone you can call? Anyone waiting for you?" Theo studied him, a hint of seriousness in his voice.

Janus snorted. "Right. Because people with involved families disappear for months at a time for government experiments with no issue or press."

Theo threw his hands up sacrastically, "Sorry. Never been in that situation, so I wouldn't know."

"You should try it some time. It's great for your health. Good replacement for a diet plan."

"Let me know when it's on sale." Theo scoffed, "Everything is so expensive these days. Maybe Canada has better payment plans."

Janus paused, his tongue flicking out of his mouth in consideration. "You do realize that you're like number one on the Government's Christmas list, right?"

"And you're even higher on that list," Theo raised an eyebrow, "Do you really wanna stay here and risk getting bombed, or caught, or seen?"

"I'm not saying we stay here! But going cross country, crossing a border. That's risky too. Do you think we can manage it?" Janus frowned.

"You're telling me, you were a rebel, and you didn't have connections to people that... specialized in staying hidden?"

"I know some people." He sighed. "But being gone for a few months doesn't help. Especially since I left for a job and never came back. If I show up alive, most are going to be pissed. It's a 'succeed or die trying' kind of place. They're going to think I ran off at the last minute."

"I doubt they'll think that. There's a literal war happening in the cities." Theo yawned, "I doubt they'll think you just up and left them. I'm sure they think you got caught up in something... which you did. Technically."

"Right. I'll just tell them I was captured by the government and experimented on. That will give everyone so much faith in me."

"We don't have to say that. We can say that you got trapped somehow. That roads were blocked off. That you couldn't get back."

"For two months?" Janus scratched at the scales on his face.

"It's possible." Theo shrugged, "Anything is possible now. With the war and all."

"We'll see. We'll... figure it out." He frowned. "Do you have a knife?"

Theo made a face, "For what?"

"I don't know, Theo. We're on the fucking run and people want you dead?"

"I'm planning on stealing a gun from the front office. The guy that was asleep at the register had a shotgun sitting next to him." Theo laid back, getting comfortable on the couch.

"Shotguns are big. Not easy to sneak into places. People look for guns, they don't look for knives."

"No, I don't have a knife. But we can load up on those once we finally find somewhere to eat. For now, I think the shotgun will be okay. Atleast it's some type of defense," Theo said, "And plus, I didn't really think of bringing one. Probably should've, though."

"Hindsight, twenty-twenty, all that bullshit." He sighed, starting at the claws on his hand. "We need to find someone who's willing to get us across the border."

"Your connections should help us with that, right?" Theo glanced at Janus.

"Hopefully. You seem like a recently reformed goody-two shoes, so if my people can't help us we're fucked."

"Let's just play it by day. That's all we can do," Theo closed his eyes for a second, "Day by day."

"Sure. Day by day."