Czi was irritated, but not so much at her own predicament since she was ultimately the one who landed herself into the vicious cycle. No, she was upset with the new girl who didn’t want to stick around long enough and listen to reason because apparently
she knew better.
“Fine! Just leave!...I don’t care!” Czigani’s voice echoed across the room as she watched Kelly unlock the door with the access card, and slip out into the stairway leading up from the basement. “It’s not like I wasn’t trying to help your sorry ass!”
Kelly was gone, and Czi curled up her fingers into a fist wanting so badly to punch something or someone. She’d already tried pushing and pulling on the cage bars earlier, but all attempts of escape were futile, only leaving her hand bruised and sore. Instead, she stared blankly down at the unconscious orderly, half of his face bloodied from the cut on his forehead, and yet for some reason he still had that stupid smirk on his face as though he’d just won a challenge.
“Fuck you, pervert!” She yelled at the body. “I probably should have just let you ravage that rich bitch and kept my mouth shut!...”
Czi let those words go and felt a lump growing in her throat as she leaned her head against the cold metal bars. Just the thought of something that debased and grotesque made her feel sick. No one deserved this place, nor did they deserve the horrific treatment and abuse that seemed to come along with a facility that was literally out in the middle of nowhere. Vivid thoughts sent her back to that final evening at the restaurant; the dozens of men, women, and children gathered around for good food and live music. Czigani had always loved to perform there, not just for the atmosphere, but for the people.
Her people. A gypsy heritage usually meant one of isolation from many other cultures, especially in America, and those who immigrated from Russia and the surrounding regions weren’t met with much kindness. There had always been a stigma among the
Romani when dealing with outsiders, as though every one of them were born of thieves, liars, and prostitutes. But, like every ethnic group, there were always those bad apples which spoiled the bunch, and sadly the ramifications for such actions usually ended in bloodshed. That night in the restaurant’s patio had been a terrible reminder of the growing ignorance and lies that seemed to spread like a plague among her people. Czigani had later found out that the police were looking for an illegal immigrant of “Ruska Roma” lineage who was wanted in other states and seen frequenting the restaurant. If Czi hadn’t acted out in defense for her people, however, things wouldn’t have escalated into what they did and she would have never killed the police officer. Things would have been much different.
“This was all my fault.” She whispered to herself, realizing that maybe she did belong in a cage like the animal she’d become.
The door across the room unlocked and opened, with the other taller and huskier orderly walking through holding a large bottle of vodka. “Alright Sammy, you better be finishing up with that…” He stared at the empty metal chair in the middle of the room. “...girl?” His eyes widened as they went from the chair over to the his unconscious buddy, then landed on the girl standing behind the iron bars. “You! What did you do, you scrappy little cunt?”
He hesitantly walked over toward the cage, holding the bottle neck as though he were carrying it as a weapon.
“He tried to come at me and hit his head.” Czigani said in a low, flat tone. “Poor bastard.”
“Where did that other woman run off to?” The orderly blurted out.
“Hopefully far away from you, that dumbass on the floor, and this whole wretched place.” She finally said after a few moments with a wry grin. “So why don’t you go crawling back to the Doc and let him know how you were outsmarted by a girl”
“They’ll be no need for that.” Doctor Zvikas’ soft, yet commanding voice echoed across the room as he emerged through the already opened door. “Danny? How many times need I remind you to shut and secure each door you enter through? It’s really not that difficult.”
“Sorry Doc, I-”
“I don’t need your excuses, Danny, just do it next time. Now please take young Samuel upstairs so the nurse may examine him.”
“Yes, sir”
The orderly paused and stared at the bottle of vodka in his hand, then looked over at the Doctor who’s raised eyebrow and piercing eyes basically told him everything he needed to know. He quickly put the bottle down, lifted the other orderly with both arms and carried him out of the room, closing the door behind him. Doctor Zvikas stood there silent for a few moments, holding his hands behind his back and staring at the girl in the cage as though he were sizing her up. A smile formed across his face and his eyes relaxed, giving off an overall non-threatening aura about him, something Czigani was able to pick-up for the first time. Whatever heightened senses were developing within her had allowed her some faint idea of a person’s mood, and for the most part, she’d come across hostility. But with Zvikas it was always different. No hostility in his voice, his body language, or even the general
vibes she got from him.
“So...are you just going to stand there and gawk at me or did you need something?” She said in an almost nervous tone, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
“My apologies Miss Novikov.” He snickered. “I am fascinated is all.”
“Fascinated?” She said, tilting her head in a puzzled response. “Doc you’re not getting all pervy on me, are you? I mean sure you’re a good looking guy and all but-”
“No.” He interrupted her with his calm tone of voice. “I assure you that is not my intent.”
His words faded to almost a whisper at the end, and Czigani took a nervous step back away from the bars and snorted. “Doc, you’re talking in fucking circles. Just let me out of here okay, no more games. I won’t try anything.”
He stepped closer to the cage. “I’d like to believe that, Miss Novikov, but we both know that isn’t true. It is pertinent, however, that you stay here, not only for your safety, but the safety of our hospital staff as well. You’ll be properly tak-”
“Fuck you Zvikas!” Czigani instinctively lunged at the bars, her arm stretched out to grab for his throat, which he effortlessly sidestepped and countered by grabbing hold of her wrist. The girl’s heart was pounding and she could feel the surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, drawing on an unknown strength from within, and yet the doctor’s grip overpowered her and she was helpless to pull her arm back.
“I could easily break your arm like the branch of a sapling.” The doctor stood there holding firming onto her arm, his pupils appearing to shift from their normal blue color to an amber as he stared at her intently, yet still no anger erupted from him.
Czigani couldn’t take it, she felt trapped, overwhelmed, and a rage that increased every second was building inside her wanting to strike out and anything and everything. She didn’t know what was going on anymore, her head was throbbing, vision wavered in focus and colors, and she could feel an intense heat emanating from her skin.
“What the fuck do you want!” She screamed, a single tear running down her cheek. A tear she’d sworn she would never shed again, and yet there it was, as rage and revenge gave way to panic and helplessness.
“I’m merely observing, Miss Novikov.” His response didn’t break the calm tone he’d initially had, even while holding onto her arm, even as her veins began pulsating and hand twisted and contorted to try breaking free of his grip. “Observing and waiting…”
“Waiting for
what you sick fuck??” Czigani’s response echoed a few octaves lower than her normal voice.
“A rebirth.” Zvikas said with a half-smile, releasing her arm and stepping back a few paces.
The woman’s eyes grew wide as she crumpled over in pain holding her torso and letting out a scream that slowly manifested itself into a low growl. Sound of bone and cartilage crunched and cracked in unison as it’s form shifted, giving way to mass and bulk in muscle and flesh. The woman’s body grew, and her skin rippled as follicles of long dark hair penetrated outward from every part of her body, tearing the clothing apart in the process as her thighs, arms, torso, and head began transforming and molding itself to the likes of a beast. As her human appearance gave way to the creature freeing itself, her clawed and elongated hand grabbed onto the metal bar of the cage, still in it’s transformation stages. Her face, once that of a recognizable female girl slowly cracked, stretched, and tore away at the old skin, flesh, and bone, changing into that of a wolf. Rows of massive sharpened teeth sprouted from the muzzle as it grew straight out where her nose and mouth had once been. Patches of silvery hair grew in various places giving a unique pattern to the charcoal colored fur that now covered her entire new form.
A low growl emanated from deep within the beast as it turned it’s head slightly toward the doctor who stood there in awe as he witnessed the change. The creature’s light blue eyes reflected the ceiling light giving an impression they were glowing, as it stood up to it’s full height, which could be nearly eight feet tall. A sight that would cause any to flee in absolute terror, yet Doctor Zvikas simply stood there nodding and smiling in approval.
“Excellent.” He said in a hushed tone. “Simply a beautiful creature indeed.”
Czigani could feel the beast and see through it’s eyes, but had no control, as though she were a passenger on a joyride with a psychopathic driver. Except she was that driver as well. Her thoughts were scattered, blurred, random, and even her voice of protest, confusion and anger merely presented itself in the form of growls from the beast as it lashed out at the cage trying to claw at the man standing only a few feet away. She was that beast, and the beast was her, and yet at this point they were on completely different sides of the psychological spectrum.
“Now, as for Miss Denver” Zvikas said, rubbing his chin in thought. “Her strolling about freely will pose some
difficulties to say the least, as I assume her change will come fairly soon as well if my calculations are accurate…”
Doctor Zvikas turned on a heel and headed for the door.
“Do not worry Miss Novikov, your condition isn't permanent and you should be slowly settling back into your human form within a few hours. Presently, however, I need to attend to the other young lady as I fear her transformation will not be as kind to her.”
@Xandrya
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