The car halted with a light screech in front of the police station. He bore a bleak, gloomy mien as he stepped down from his car, heading towards the front entrance. A couple of dressed officers rushed in and out of the station, the hustle and bustle of the job evident in their steps. Grayson strode into the station. The loneliness and pain he felt about his missing wife was written all over him. It has been a sad couple of days without her, he yearns to see her again.

  "I need to see the detectives in charge of my wife's case" He spoke to the woman behind the desk.

  "What's your name, Sir?" She inquired, staring at the monitor in front of her.

  "The name is Grayson Paige. I reported my wife was missing a few days ago" He replied, tapping his fingers on the desk, impatiently

  "Oh, the detectives were called in for backups, for a kidnapping case. . ."

  "They have found my wife!" he cut her off, his face was suddenly filled with ecstasy.

  "Not exactly Sir. . .” She said slowly, his face gradually drew dark “. . .They found a certain Mr Elliot who was reported missing a few weeks ago. The hideout of his kidnappers was just discovered and people were sent there as backups_just in case things got messy".

  His fist hit the table, as rage poured in. Frustrated, Grayson ran his hand through his hair. He bore a hostile look on his face, the woman was frightened for a moment.

  "So, they haven't discovered her whereabouts? " he asked, looking at her intently.

  She shook her head, ". . .But t-they are doing e-everything t-they can, Sir" she stuttered "You just have to be patient, Sir!".

  She spoke the last statement in a slow tone, trying to calm him down.

  He let out a breath and walked out of the station in a state of fury.

  * * * * *

  She was staring through a thick glass wall at the mutant. He was kept in a confinement, it was small with a bed, a table and a big bowl of fruits at a corner. The mutant was dressed in a big gray jumpsuit that fitted him perfectly. She could notice how clean his hands were, no blood stains, no dirt. He was more refreshed than ever. Being better than how he was, when he first came to the lab.

  A few days ago, the researchers in the CIA needed samples of his blood to run some tests, it wasn't an easy feat getting it from him. Agents were called, twenty of them to restrain him.

  They surrounded him like he was some kind of wild beast. Throwing knots of tied ropes on him, hoping to pin him down. They had an issue restraining him as he was a strong foe. The moment he showed a sign of weakness, they jumped at the opportunity. Pinning him to the ground, as the samples were taken. It would be a day to remember for a very long time in the CIA.

  The first few days he arrived was a wreck. He growled and destroyed half the lab. The scientists were quick to act before more damage would be created by him. As he growled and threw things and furnitures around, being preoccupied to care about the frightened tiny beings at the other side of the lab. . . The room got suddenly filled with a powerful sedative gas, coming through a vent in the ceiling. After thirty minutes of growling, barking and snarling, it finally reached the appropriate sites to act in his system, making him weak and pulling him to sleep.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  For the past few days, he seemed to get better. He was less aggressive and more calm. He had a strange addiction to peaches since it was the only fruit he ate from the big bowl. Noting that, a lot of peaches were brought for him.

  She has tried to get some information from him but nothing seemed to work. The scientists believe the mutation may have disoriented his memory. “It might return due to a form of shock or with the help of the antidote” They said at her first inquiry.

  As time flew by, the chances of it returning proved to be quite slim. With his memory gone, he was like a child—a big overgrown man-child, a mutated man-child.

  Yesterday, she made an effort of buying him a chessboard with the thought of it curing his boredom. . . It surprised her that he was eager about it and happened to like it. She showed him the ropes of how to play chess and was quite shocked at how fast he learned. Weird! She never thought that she would ever get close to the monster that killed Beth. She was meant to be loathing his existence. Was it because he wasn't as bad as she thought he was? Maybe, he killed Beth out of fear, thinking that she was working for the people who turned him into the monster he was.

  She scoffed. She could not believe of the thoughts and theories she had about the entire situation. She could not possibly be having a soft spot for the monster.

  Right now, he was playing against himself, a battle most people fail to accomplish. He bore a serious look as he thought of the next step to take. Watching him play, reminded her of someone she missed, someone long gone, Her Dad!.

  Her eyes widened at the thought. She hasn't thought of him ever since she was given Beth's mission. The pain she felt at his loss rushed back to her.

  Every afternoon when she was little, they had a great match of chess. They both had the eagerness to win. Whenever she looked up at him, he had a serious look—an expression she has become all too familiar with. His brows drew together, a thin line formed above them, seriousness etched in his eyes. Two of his fingers rubbed his temples as he thought of ways to defeat his smart daughter. She smiled as she watched him think of new strategies to win.

  She remembered the look he bore, the first time she won him. The surprised expression he had made her tickle. Winning her old man in a game of chess always made her smile.

  She reminisced the happy days they had together. A smile made a way to her lips.

  If her Dad was still alive, she was certain that he would have gotten along well with the mutant. She could see him now, he'd be playing with the mutant. Bearing, a familiar serious look—rubbing his temples as he thinks of ways to defeat his mighty foe. Tears ran down her cheeks at the thought of him. She missed him badly.

  "Ciara!" A familiar voice called out.

  She quickly wiped the tears with the back of her hand and turned to the direction of the voice. Jason approached her, bearing a solemn look. She could tell, something was out of place.

  "Jason, what's wrong?" She asked, stunned to see him that serious.

  "We have a problem!".

  "What's the problem?" asked Ciara, inching closer to him.

  "Okay, I was going through the police files again to know more about Mr Elliot!" He glanced at her, She appeared to be listening "I just found out that they have found him!".

  She chuckled goofily at the statement, " That's impossible, he is right here!" She pointed at the mutant.

  "No, he is not!” He said defiantly “He was kidnapped and they recently discovered his kidnapper's location. He was rescued earlier today!”.

  She blinked severally allowing his words to sink in.

  "Maybe the mutant is Harry, the other missing guy!" She said slowly, masking the fear that was creeping in.

  "That's what I thought too. . . but, Harry's dead body was found in his car which was seen close to a junkyard in the city and the cops are investigating his case!" He looked at her.

  She staggered a little and placed her hand on the glass wall to prevent herself from falling.

  Slowly turning her head to face the mutant, she asked the dreadful question.

  "If Mr Elliot was found and Harry is dead then who is the mutant?".

  Jason was staring at the serious looking mutant. He sighed as he shook his head.

  "I have no idea!" He replied.