Part 2: The Chimera

The lights passed quickly.

“One, two, three…” the captivated Four whispered to herself as she counted down the time before the next one passed. The farther she looked away the posts seemed to barely move, but as they got closer they passed by in a flash. Her large dark eyes stared unblinking at the light… like a moth engrossed in the flickering dance of a flame.

Amina, in the driver seat, eyed her new otherworldly companion with concern. Four’s head whipped back and forth as each light pole passed, her reptilian digits twitching in her desperate count. A forlorn expression spread over Amina’s face as she looked back to the road ahead. Despite her height, Four had crumpled herself in the passenger seat so tightly that even the slightest tap of the brakes threatened to cause her to rock and unbalance. That coupled with the mumbling and fidgeting made it clear the years of trauma and torture had broken something in Four’s mind.

“Hey, uh, don’t do that. You’re going to hurt your neck,” Amina says as Four once again whipped her neck as they passed another light pole.

“Don’t… talk. Lost count,” Four angrily hissed in response.

“You were counting them?” Amina asks, confused. “Why?”

Four sat silent for a few minutes, but then shifted her body so she’s facing forward. “When… I need to… I can… find my way. Back.” She said as she sunk back into herself, pulling her legs into her gown. Her face now almost completely obscured by her knees, all except for her piercing stare.

Amina had to think for a minute, but then the meaning behind the words dawned on her. Four was trying to make a mental bread crumb trail. She was preparing herself if she needed to escape and return to the safety of the ruined laboratory basement, even despite everything that happened there. That terrible place had been her home and in some warped way, she saw it as a safe haven. At the very least, it was less foreign than the world she now found herself in. “You can’t go back there,” Amina says with a stern tone. “You don’t have to worry about getting away from me. I only brought you with me to keep you safe.”

Four furrowed her brow, “Why… would you? I am… a monster. A killer.”

…A Killer…

The words sucked all of the air from Amina’s lungs. Four had killed those people, there was no question about that. With the sharp talons on her feet and hands as well as the strength to kick a metal door off its hinges, she could snuff Amina’s life just as easily. Still, the chimera acted more like a scared child than a murderer.

“I don’t think you’re not a monster,” Amina finally said, barely above a whisper. “You’re a just person… with scars.”

Four sat up. She seemingly understood the literal and metaphorical meaning behind what was said. In fact, there was one part hung with her. The one part that, to her, meant the most. The reporter has called her a person. Not a test subject. Not just some… thing. A faint smile almost appeared on Four’s face, but it quickly dissipated as she realized… the reporter had never said she wasn’t a killer.

“I… don’t remember… hurting them...” Four finally admitted aloud, hoping to make Amina understand. “There was this... man… I didn't know him... He said words… I don’t remember… the words.”

Amina listened, silent, as Four adjusted and sunk even more into herself, now not even her eyes were visible behind her knees. “I do remember… feeling angry.” she tried to explain. “I was so angry… then… nothing. I woke up… all their blood… I… hated them… but I didn’t mean to…” Four’s voice trailed off as she began to rock herself in silence.

As she rocked she felt a warmth on her arm that makes her entire body tense. She lifted her head to see Amina's hand, gently rubbing her scales. The chimera looked over as the reporter stared straight ahead, light from the passing light poles reflected in her pooling tears.

The reporter then pulled her hand back to wipe her eye, “It sounds like it wasn’t your fault. Whatever that guy did... he made you do it. It's his fault.” She then smiled, “Oh, and my name’s Amina, but the way. You can call me that or Ami, whatever works.”

Four tilted her head as the faintest of smiles graced her face, “Ah… mina... Thank you.”

Amina sighed in relief as her home came into view. With the car safely parked in the garage and out of view from prying eyes, Amina finally released the tension in her shoulders that she had been holding for the entire drive. She looked over to see Four trying and failing to open the car door. The small handle proved to be a challenge the chimera hadn’t anticipated. A few worried and frustrated whines escaped from Four’s mouth, but she’s relieved when Amina comes around to open the door from the outside.

As the unfortunate chimera woman cautiously stepped out into the light of the garage her appearance looked even more alien. It was almost like her entire presence was muted in tone, like a faded photograph. In the clear light, Amina could now see the slight red tint to her skin was clearly some sort of irritation or skin condition and not blood as she had originally thought. A thought that does actually bring her some slight relief. She could also see the scars that she had only glimpsed in the moonlight. Now they were hauntingly vivid, crisscrossing Four’s limbs in straight and orderly lines. A stark contrast to the chaotically pieced together visage of primal reptilian and avian characteristics along with God knows what else.

The chimera followed behind Amina, bent and cowering as the reporter headed to the door leading into her home. She watched as Four's eyes shifted from corner to corner of the garage, almost as if she expected this all to be some elaborate trap. As soon as they made their way into the house, Four quickly scurried to a corner and sat. Her gaze darted around like a feral cat brought inside for the first time, trying to get its barings.

“You’re ok," Amina said in a soothing tone, not wanting to upset her new friend any more. "Do you just want to stay there for a bit?” 

Sheepishly, Four noded her head in response, and then promptly got back to her survey.

“I’m going to go find you something to change into and then we need to wash you up.” Amina said as she left the room. “I'll be right back.”

As Amina headed to her bedroom she quickly pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. While she searched her closet for something for Four, she held the phone to her ear with her shoulder, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up. She grabbed and tossed several items, trying to find something that might fit the much taller woman hiding in her living room corner.

“Amina? What in the…?" Peter asked over the phone. His annoyed tone from being woken up was very apparent, but before he could finish his thought Amina interrupted him. 

“Hey Pete, so I was thinking about what you said about getting some rest,” She said while she looked at the length of a t-shirt.

“Uh-huh,” he replied, “You know it’s 1 am, right?”

“Yea, I’m dealing with some insomnia,” she responded, keeping her real motives to herself for now. “I was just wanting to ask, you think I can take a sick day tomorrow? I wanna try to get my sleep schedule back on track.”

A smile spread across her face as Peter responded in the kind of exasperation she assumed he would, “Please. Take two. Just go to bed and don’t call me again.”

“Deal,” Amina said with a sly grin. With something less gory for Four to wear, she headed back to the living room to find that her new house guest had already ventured out of the corner. Four had spotted her fish tank and was intrigued. “Hey, come on.” Amina said as she motioned to her, “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Cautiously, Four again followed the reporter close as she’s led to the bathroom. However, when Amina started the water running, Four became agitated and began to back up. “No… no please,” Four said with genuine terror on her face.

“What’s wrong?” Amina asked as Four stared shaking her head, terror in her eyes. Amina slowly got up and calmly walked over as she spoke, “It’s ok, Four. Just tell me. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”

“That water…” Four said with a snarl, “...too hot… always… too hot. They always say it’s to clean me... sterile. But too hot.” Amina carefully tried to walk closer but Four hisses and flails. The reporter recoiled as a gleam of red streaks her hand. 

“FUCK! Ah! Shit…” Amina screamed as she grabbed a towel that’s hanging on the wall and pressed it against her bleeding wound.

Four’s tone immediately changes from fear to utter sorrow as she slumps to the floor, “NO! Didn’t… mean… Ah-mina… I…”

“It’s ok,” Amina said, trying to calm her, “it’s not deep. It was an accident.”

Four looked up to her friend with utter shock evident on her face. She couldn’t believe that the reporter didn’t immediately retaliate.  “Accident… yes… it was.” She said as she looked down with shame. “But still… I hurt… you. You are… nice. I’m… not.”

Amina wrapped the towel around her hand and then extended her other one to Four, “C’mon, now. Don’t be all mopey. Just let me help this time, ok? No fighting.” Four simply nodded in response as she took Amina’s hand, her grasp soft and filled with worry that she might somehow hurt her friend again. Hand in hand they walked back toward the tub. Amina then, slowly, coaxed Four to sit down beside her on the floor. The chimera trembled as Amina slowly brought her reptilian hand over the steamy water.  “See, it’s warm, but not super hot,” Amina said, trying to ease Four’s concern. “How about we touch it together, huh? Then you’ll know it’s safe.” As Four teared up with fear and shook her head furiously, Amina still kept speaking softly. “It’s ok, we’ll go slow. Just close your eyes.”

Four strained to hold her eyes shut while Amina, very slowly, with their fingers intertwined, dips both of their hands in the water. The warmth caused Four to open her eyes in shock.  “It’s… nice… warm,” Four said, relieved.

“See, told you,” Amina said with a smile. “Now come on. Wash up before it gets cold.”

As Four stood up and turned away to lift her gown over her head, a wave of pity washed over Amina. The history of Four’s abuse was written all over her body. Her back was covered in a hodgepodge of patchy skin colors, like a macabre quilt. A large dark patch between her shoulder blades ran up the back of her neck, covered with small quills and Amina couldn’t help but watch as the quills bristled and fell as Four breathed. She finally forced herself to finally look away to afford the chimera some privacy, but the lingering image of what those monsters did to the poor woman threatened to never leave her mind. Four cautiously stepped into the tub and slowly allowed herself to sink into the water. A relaxed sigh involuntarily escaped her lips as Amina motioned to the clothes on the counter.

“I hope these fit ok,” she said, “it’s just temporary until we can get you something else.” 

“Please… don’t… don’t leave me…” Four said, worried as Amina turned toward the door.

With those sorrowful words, the normally staunch reporter lost a little composure, but then turned back and reassured her new friend that she would be nearby. Alone in the bathroom, Four allowed the water to take her, slowly sinking until only her knees and head could be seen. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift in the calm and warmth. While Four bathed, Amina grabbed her laptop and fell, exhausted, onto her couch. She plugged in her flash drive and began once again cycling through the lists of file names. Unfortunately, each database and document file she tried to open was locked behind a password now that she wasn’t using the lab terminal.

“Great,” she said in a huff, “I'm no hacker. Maybe Erving can get something out of these.” She continued to scroll until she saw the familiar naming convention of the video logs. For whatever reason, those files remained unlocked so she chose a random one from ten years ago. The familiar face of the woman from the last video she watched appeared on her screen

“I’m Dr. Martha Summers and I am taking over the project after Dr. Roberts’ departure." The scientist said curtly, "We were all saddened to hear of his accident, and he will be missed as a vital part of this program.”

Amina's brow furrowed as the woman's demeanor made her suspect the concern wasn’t genuine. “Roberts, huh?" Amina thought to herself, "He must have been the guy who tried to quit. Real convenient, the guy had an accident right after.” She then reached for her notepad and started jotting down notes and time stamps. If she couldn’t get into the other lab files, the videos would have to be enough.

“We have procured our next subject.” Summers continued without emotion. “At the direction of our liaison, we have procured a young girl under the guise of experimental therapy for her compromised immune system. It wasn't hard to fake her death given her condition and our benefactors have paid for the funeral with the addendum the casket would be closed. That should resolve any issues with her family. As for the girl, we have begun the process of preparing her for surgery. I plan to start with a series of skin grafts to get her body accustomed to the foreign material. That combined with her compromised immune system will hopefully result in a lower immune response when we attempt more drastic surgery. We will progress in stages until we are happy with the result.”

The reporter couldn’t help but stare at the screen in horror as Dr. Summers coldly talked about the parameters of her experiment. That's what Roberts had meant. It was the thing that for him crossed the line to the point he would rather die than take part. They had wanted to make him experiment on a child and he couldn’t do it. The way Dr. Summers said it though, cold and uncaring, without even batting an eye… it made Amina’s stomach turn. Even so, she knew she couldn’t stop without knowing all that she could, so she continued to watch. Video after video the cruel doctor described the process in which they altered the poor girl’s physical form into something inhuman, how they subjected her to test after test, day after day. Some of the videos even showed Four at different ages, the changes to her body slowly adding up over time until Amina finally saw the sad woman she had brought home. Even though it horrified her, Amina couldn’t bring herself to look away from her laptop. The world simply faded around her as she became lost in the unfortunate life of the chimera. She didn’t even notice when Four entered the room in her new clothing.

“No! Please…! It’s… too hot!” Four screamed in the video after the scientists placed her in some sort of chamber to clean her. When they finally let her out, Four weakly walked into the view of the camera, scalded and sobbing.

“Burns…” Amina, thought to herself, her hand covering her mouth. “That’s what… the red spots are… my God…”

“I told them… too hot,” a low hollow voice said, breaking through the reporter's focus. 

Amina turned to see Four, bent over and looking down over the back of the couch at the laptop screen. Her t-shirt hung baggy on her slender frame, and it fluttered as she trembled. “It hurt… it… always hurt. It… still hurts… sometimes.” Four then walked around the couch, the pajama pants she’s was wearing not doing much to cover her long legs. She slowly sat down, and brought her legs up to her, cradling her knees to her face again.  “They… wouldn’t listen. They didn’t… care,” Four said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “They treated me… like an animal. But… I’m not. You said… I’m a person. I am... I am a person.”

Amina, listened, speechless. Then, as if by instinct, she opened her arms. The fourth chimera, hesitantly, moved toward the reporter and for the first time since becoming something other than fully human, she felt the touch of a loving embrace.

“They’re not going to get away with this,” Amina whispered. “I won’t let them. I don’t care if I have to track them down myself, all alone...”

Through her sobs, Four simply responded, “You… are a good… friend.”

They sat in silence for a bit while Four allowed her emotions to run their course. Amina then lightly rubs her arm. “C’mon,” Amina said. “You need to get some sleep. I’ll show you where the spare bed is.” 

Four couldn’t bring herself to move. She held Amina tight, as if she was worried if she lost sight of her that she would be alone again. “Don’t… leave me… alone…” she whispered. She then looked up, her dull black eyes like bottomless chasms of shadow. “Please… Ah... mina. I’m… I’m scared.”

“Alright,” Amina relented as she reached for a blanket draped over the arm of the couch. As Four rested her head on the reporter’s stomach, Amina said, “We can just both sleep here tonight.” 

She then spread the cover over them both and  lightly ran her fingers through Four’s hair, until the chimera finally fell asleep.