Page 2 of Monster

Luca tossed one of the men against a wall, but he faltered. Before he could move again, he dropped to his knees. Whatever they’d stuck him with was strong.Vision blurred, he struggled to remain focused.

“Don’t fight it,” Harding said, his thin lips tightening into what almost looked like a smile. “I’ve taken down beasts bigger than you.”

“Beasts?” he asked, frowning. His voice sounded warped, like a 45 played at 33 1/3.

“We know what you are, Luca,” Harding said. “You and your wife… and the monster growing in her belly.”

“He’s no… monster,” Luca spat, though his mouth struggled to force out the words. He was slowly losing control of his body.

Panic washed over him.Luca tried to push himself to his feet, but dropped again as a fist connected to his jaw.

Still, he pushed.

Must… save… them…

Luca rose to his feet, legs shaking under him. The rhino spirit within roared, giving him more strength.He lashed out, his fist connecting with one of the men, knocking the officer to the floor before he felt another needle sink into his neck.

Tears slid down his cheeks as he dropped to his knees again. His last thoughts were of his wife and unborn child when the darkness took over.

Lost in the darkness, he somehow knew he might never find a way out.

Hours later, when he reawakened, Luca was bound to a table, a bright light blinding him.

“He’s awake,” he heard a woman whisper.

“Well, hello there,” a male voice followed.

Unable to see, Luca could only tell the sound came from his left. He tried to lift his arms, but there was no give in his bonds. His heart quickened in his chest, the animal spirit within him unaccepting of his imprisonment. Luca fought the bonds, but there was no budging.

“It’s been a while since we had a were in our lab. I’m rather excited,” the male voice said. “Nurse, let’s test his pain tolerance—so no anesthesia.”

A sharp pain crossed the middle of his chest and abdomen—a vertical slice from breastbone to navel. Luca sputtered, the pain so intense, it took his breath away. Two more slices, horizontal ones at the top and bottom of the first, came soon after…

Luca’s lungs heaved as he sucked in as much air as he could. Seconds later, a scream rose from his lips when he felt his skin peeled away from his ribs.

“Oh, we’re just getting started,” the man said.“You’d best hold off those screams for when I start cracking and removing ribs.”

The whirr of a saw sounded, filling the room they were in.

“Wait,” he screamed before sucking in a breath of pain. He clenched his jaw as a wave of nausea washed over him. “My family…”

“Don’t worry.They’re on their way here now.”

Bile rose in Luca’s throat. He tugged at his arms, fighting the bonds at his wrists.

“Nurse, if he struggles too much we might have to get our patient another dose of tranquilizer.”

“Doctor? A moment,” came from a slight distance.

The saw went silent, and Luca thanked the reprieve.Although, he knew it was likely short-lived. He heard footfalls moving away from him, precious seconds he wouldn’t be carved into. While he waited, Luca continued to fight the bonds, even after he felt another needle pierce his flesh. The world soon began to swim again, the light blurring into a halo.

He saw Ella’s face in the light. Her soft smile. The halo of light circled her pale blond hair as she stared down at him.

“We’ll be okay,” she whispered to him before her ruby red lips pressed against his.

“What do you mean they got away?” Luca heard a growl of displeasure.“Find them. Now.I need that baby.”

“Yes, sir.”

A baby? Umberto? Had Ella had the baby?

A smile came to his lips as he realized the doctor had said something about “got away.”

“Are you safe?” he asked Ella.

The vision of his wife smiled down at him before she faded into nothingness.

He shut his eyes, sending out a prayer that they’d get as far from the hell he was in as possible.

Luca drifted back into the inky void on that plea.

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