Chapter 6

The message from Jahko came just as mysteriously as every other communication from him. The next day in my office, a messenger dropped off a manila envelope with my name on the front. Nothing else. My assistant said the messenger walked into the office, set it on her desk, and walked out. No words were spoken. I imagine she would have taken more precaution bringing it into my office if we hadn’t received similar messages over the last so many months. 

Just another day in my life. The new normal, some would say. 

My old normal can’t come back soon enough. 

Although, I worry that my old normal will never be possible again. Sitting at my desk, holding the unopened envelope, I know the likelihood of that life coming back is next to none. 

I open my desk drawer to grab the old letter opener my father gave me when I graduated medical school. It’s simple, but beautiful; I’ve always loved it. I slide the point across the top of the envelope to discover my fate. The sweat on my palms was unnoticeable until the knife slips from my grip, and I slice my finger. 

“Shit.”

The blood begins dripping from the wound, hitting the envelope with an even rhythm. I grab a tissue to wrap around my finger and check my drawers for a band-aid. After finding one and covering the wound, I can tell the cut went deep. The band-aid is beginning to stain a dark-red color. The benefit of being a doctor is that I can just go into the other room and get some glue, so I turn my attention back to the envelope. 

One piece of paper is inside. An address, a time, and a date. A few days from now, and just before the lunch hour. Turning the paper over, I don’t see anything else. 

I open my computer and search the address for directions. The results tell me it’s an office building downtown, which makes it seem that much weirder. With everything going on, I would assume this would be a meeting in some dark alley, where I’m whisked away while a hood is drawn over my head, and I arrive in some dank cellar somewhere. 

Apparently, Jahko and his group aren’t afraid of being in the open. 

———————————————————————————————-

As I stand in front of the building, I double-check the address in my pocket; everything matches. The address on my phone, the address on the building, and the address on the piece of paper from my office with the drops of my blood still on it. It’s all the same.

Looking around, I see business-people of all types walking about. The lunch hour is rapidly approaching, and everyone seems to be walking with the urgency that their meal is getting cold. I walk up the front steps when suddenly I’m pushed aside by someone who’s walking at an olympic-level pace towards the building. After entering, I notice them nod towards a security guard and circumvent the security checkpoint entirely. After the guard nods to the gentleman in reply, he sees me enter, and from the look in his eye I know I’m not granted the same immunity as the other. He waves me forward. 

“Morning,” I say as I approach and begin to empty my pockets. 

“No need to empty them, sir. Can you tell me who you are here to see? Do you have an appointment?” he asks, taking a stance between me and the metal detector. 

I open my mouth to speak, but decide to choose my words carefully. At the same time, I notice that the bustle of people outside aren’t necessarily coming into this building. Besides the person I followed in, there’s no one else in the lobby but me and this guard. 

Strange. 

“You lost, or something, bud?” the guard asks. I didn’t notice, but he took a step towards me while I was lost in my thoughts. Remembering the piece of paper in my pocket, I pull it out to triple-check the address. There’s a suite number listed. I show him the paper.

“Ah, that group,” he says while rolling his eyes. He takes a step back to allow me through the metal detector. I don’t set anything off, so I turn back towards him while tucking the paper into my pocket. 

“Do I need a key or anything for the elevator?” I ask. 

“Nope, just a code once you get inside,” he replies. He pulls out his phone to check some list presumably. “4468 – The suite is unlisted, but you can reach it by going to floor 14. Once you get there, follow the hallway left. Don’t make a turn until the third intersection, then another left. You won’t be able to miss it from there.”

I attempt to visualize the path he explained in my head, mouthing out the directions as I go. 

“Okay, I got it. Thanks for your time. Have a great day.”

Waving goodbye, I turn towards the elevators repeating the code in my head so I don’t forget. 

————————————————————————————–

Making a left at the third intersection of the 14th floor, I’m amazed at how large the building is, and also how empty it is. I haven’t seen anybody since stepping off the elevator, and I don’t hear any noise coming from the offices I’m passing. An ominous feeling begins creeping up my back and tickling my neck. 

Walking down the hallway that supposedly contains my destination, I begin to notice lights coming from offices to my right. Seeing signs of activity after navigating the enormous building quickens my pulse ever so slightly, and my hands start to get sweaty. I still have no idea what I’ll find here, and the mystery of it all is compounding the anxiety. Reaching the door where I can hear some commotion on the other side, I stop for a moment to catch my breath. Taking in one deep breath, and slowly releasing it, my pulse slows, and the anxiety starts to wane. 

That is until I notice the silence coming from the other side of the door. 

The hustle and bustle that previously told me this must be my destination has ceased. I lean closer to the door to catch a note of anything, but there’s nothing. I raise my hand to knock on the door, when suddenly it opens and a woman is standing there staring at me. 

“Dr. Isaacs, I presume?” she asks. 

“Y-yes,” I manage to stammer out, the uncertainty of my fate growing by the second. 

Then, as if she could sense the apprehension emanating off my body, she flashes some of the most brilliantly white teeth I’ve seen in a gorgeous smile. She steps aside and gestures for me to enter the room. I pause, looking between her and the small lobby now open to me. 

“Please, join us. We’ve been waiting for you,” she insists. 

I look back at her, with that picturesque smile of hers, and find myself walking into the lobby, unsure of what motivation my feet found to propel myself forward. I hear the door shut behind me, but her sudden presence next to me makes me jump. She places a reassuring hand on my shoulder and once again gestures towards an unknown destination. 

“Please, doctor, right this way. Jahkobah and the others are waiting for you in one of our conference rooms.”

I can’t help but look over at her in disbelief. They’re waiting in a conference room? What twilight zone episode have I found myself in? She’s acting like this is some sort of business meeting between professionals. What sort of business could they be conducting in this skyrise? The two of us head towards a glass room, lined with panels covered with some sort of texture to provide privacy. It’s all very professional-looking and expensive.

She opens the door for me, and I walk in ahead of her. The conference room within is lined with extremely sharp-dressed individuals, each perfectly manicured, looking like an immaculate version of the last supper. Jahko is sitting in the middle, with a dark-grey suit that looks like it costs as much as my house does. 

I’m suddenly acutely aware of how ridiculous I must look in my button-down shirt, dockers, and loafers. Almost as if on cue, I start pressing my shirt down against my stomach as if the act of wiping my hand across my front will magically transform my ragged-attire.  

Looking down, I see that’s not the case, and I find myself nervously shoving my hands into my pockets, waiting to be addressed by the group. 

“Clayton, thank you for joining us. We’re thrilled you could make it.”

I look up and see Jahko now standing at the table addressing me. He opens his hand towards the seat across the table from him and nods at me.

“Please, take a seat. Would you like anything? Water? Coffee?” 

“Water. Thank you.” 

“Vanessa, could you please bring a glass of water for our guest?”

In my periphery, I hear the door I came through open and close again. I nervously look around one more time, while Jahko continues to stand, waiting for me to sit. I nod in acknowledgement towards him and walk towards the open seat. 

Either my anxiety is at an all-time high, which is completely possible, or everyone in the room is staring at me. Most likely, both things are happening, and when I sit I can’t help but notice the sweat on my back as my shirt presses into it. Luckily, I wore a light colored shirt today, so the stains shouldn’t be noticeable. 

Jahko takes his seat across from me. 

“I understand this may be stressful, so I won’t overwhelm you with introductions. Most of the people in this room will become familiar to you eventually. For now, we’d just like to discuss the next steps of treatment. Everyone in this room has received some of the solution from Mr. Benividez’s blood, and the results have been outstanding. We’re hoping to keep the momentum rolling.”

Jahko pauses for a moment. I look around the table at the various faces staring at me, and they seem normal enough. However, I still can’t shake the sense of scrutiny coming from everyone. These people are looking to me for some type of cure, yet here I sit like some under-dressed slouch stammering away at every question asked of me. I’m hardly presenting a confident image, and they must sense that. 

“I hope I can still be as helpful as ever,” I reply. I kick myself for such a weak answer. It’s timid and passive, and there’s no way these people will think I can be of any help to them. I look down at my hands in my lap and start chewing the inside of my lip. 

“We hope so too, which is why you’re here.”

The voice wasn’t Jahko’s; it came from my left somewhere down the table. I lift my head up to address the source, and see a blond-haired man in a black suit that looks just as expensive as the rest. He’s wearing glasses, but there’s a part of me that wonders if they have a purpose or are just for show. 

“Isaac, I’d like to introduce our own resident doctor, Drahvo. He’s been a close friend of mine for years, and has studied all sorts of medicine. I’m hoping the two of you can work together seamlessly,” Jahko says. 

Doctor? He has his own physician and yet he’s come to me with all of this nonsense over the last year? I debate asking what specifically he practices, but my spine has yet to show up to this meeting. Instead, I nervously swallow and nod in acknowledgement again. 

Drahvo picks up a controller from the middle of the table and points it towards the large screen at the end of the room. A video begins playing and immediately I can tell it’s a shot of blood cells interacting with something else. The shape of the cells are interesting. They have a cell wall, similar to a plant’s, but move much differently. Eventually, I can see the cell wall isn’t as thick as a normal plant cell, and it seems to be interacting with the cells around it. The wall seems to probe the nearby cells with a small spike, and then quickly retreats back into shape. Some of the blood cells are unaffected, however others begin to morph in real-time. 

The affected cell begins to shrink, and seems to be changing composition at the same time. It could be an optical illusion, or the cell is actually growing a wall. Before long, a smaller version of the original cell is sitting in the middle of the screen. Then it starts moving towards another cell, and repeats the process done to it. After probing the closest cell, it grows by fifty percent and creeps away off screen. The affected cell doesn’t change this time, but the ramifications of what I’ve seen are obvious. 

Drahvo clicks the remote and the screen pauses – the mutated cell sitting dead-center. 

“Not many people have seen this footage. We’re hoping with the evidence we have, alongside access to those of us who have received your treatment, you can begin to develop a defense against this virus,” Drahvo says. 

I open my mouth to ask why they would choose me, but maybe pressing my luck wouldn’t be wise here. They’ve brought me into the fold, so to speak, and by viewing this footage, I’m sure they wouldn’t want me out from under their thumb. At this point, my only option is to push forward. I clear my throat before speaking.

“The obvious question is why are some cells affected, and others are not. Is there any rhyme or reason to it?” I ask. I think it’s best to prolong the why of my being here to ensure survivability. The last thing I need is to be seen as expendable, and leave Kathryn and Serena to fend for themselves. 

“Some, but it’s all speculation at this point. We need more definitive data, which is why we’re hoping you can provide some assistance.”

Seeing the results displayed on the 75” monitor certainly drives the point home, but lack of an answer by them means one of two things: either they know and don’t find it necessary to tell me yet, or they truly have no idea why the disease seems 50% effective. 

“Understood,” I say, “when can I start seeing these individuals in my office?”

The pause by Drahvo, and slight look over to Jahko, tells me my office and lab won’t be utilized to continue my research. I nervously rub my hands together at the thought of what will come next. 

“For the sake of secrecy, Clayton, we think it best to continue your research here,” Jahko replies. He rises from his seat, buttoning his suit jacket simultaneously, and nods to me with his award-winning smile. The message is clear. I stand up, rubbing my palms on my thighs in anticipation of the hands I’ll shake on the way out. However, the rest of the group remains seated. Jahko walks towards the door, so I follow suit. 

“Thank you for your time today, Dr. Isaacs,” Drahvo says. I turn to address him and notice everyone at the table staring back at me. Another spike in heart rate as I awkwardly acknowledge the group and turn to leave. 

Jahko must sense my discomfort. He pats my back a few times, then lets his hand fall down the side of my body in a strange form of affection. Regardless, I appreciate the gesture and walk down the hallway from where I came. 

While walking next to Jahko, I debate asking so many questions, but my mind is racing and I’m not sure where to start. By the time we get to the front door, I hesitate as I turn towards him. 

“When will I hear from you next?” I ask. 

“Soon enough, Clayton. Your visit today was very important. I know it may not seem that way, but everyone is excited to have you on board. You’ll hear from us.” 

His smile distracts me from all doubts in my brain. The fact that I’m walking out of here alive must be a good thing. Right now, I need to focus on the task at hand, and not whether my help is really necessary or not. That has been answered. Now it’s time for me to provide answers. 

“I won’t let you down.”

“I’m sure you won’t.” 

I extend my hand and he grasps it firmly. With that, I push the door to the suite open and make my way out. I’m curious as to why he called me in for such an important meeting, yet ushered me out so quickly. Was this some kind of sniff test for the rest of his group? For them to judge me like an interview? I would have assumed there would have been more questions, but maybe that’s not how they operate.

Halfway down the hall, I realize all the anticipation has shrunk my bladder considerably. Turning down the main hallway that contains the elevator, I notice the sign for the men’s room and push the door open. 

The shock of running into someone escapes via a small exclamation from my mouth as I see a man leaning over the sink, washing his face, or at least appearing to be. 

“Sorry! Didn’t realize anyone was in here,” I say without thinking. 

The man straightens up and looks over at me through the mirror. He laughs to himself before answering.

“This is a multi-use restroom, bud. We can both be in here at the same time.”

He shakes his head, still laughing, as he shuts the sink off and grabs some paper towel. It’s at that moment that I realize I’ve seen him before, but I can’t place it. I decide not to respond to his comment, and head towards the urinal. Unzipping my pants and getting to business, I try to focus on anything else while he dries his hands before leaving the bathroom. As soon as the door closes behind him, the feeling of relief overwhelms me and my shoulders shudder. 

“What are the odds,” I say to no one in particular as I shake myself dry and zip back up. Turning towards the sink, and approaching the mirror, I see the disheveled reflection of myself in the mirror. Before I can reach the handle for the water, a loud bang reverberates through the walls of the building. 

“What the – ” 

Immediately, my brain registers where I’ve seen the man before. Downstairs, in the lobby, walking briskly to some unknown destination. What are the odds that the two of us would be visiting the same, presumably abandoned, floor on the same day. 

Another bang rips through the walls of the building, so I run towards the door and throw it open. It’s coming from the direction of Jahko’s suite, so I hit the corner as fast as I can until I see smoke at the doorway I just left him at. My brain, finally catching up to the rest of my body, warns me to slow down and proceed with caution.

As I approach the doorway to the suite, smoke starts sneaking its way out, pressed against the ceiling covering each square inch of it. I pause at the door, and wait to hear for any commotion before peaking my head around the corner. 

Nothing.

A slight noise catches my attention from the hallway outside the conference room. I check both ways and then dart towards it. The noise happens again. It’s a wet, crunching sound of some kind. Like a brittle object buried under something soft being broken. I stop in my tracks, waiting for it to happen again. When it doesn’t, I take the last few steps toward the open door of the conference room. 

The scene inside is enough to make me retch; so I do. Bent over, with vomit covering my mouth, I gasp for air that isn’t there. Another stream of bile shoots past my lips and this time it brings me to my knees. Coughing the excess away, I push myself back to my feet, wiping my face with the back of my hand.  Smoke is clearing from the room, and I can start to see in more detail, the scene before me. 

Bodies strewn about and ripped up. Blackened skin and soot from the table and chairs cause discoloration in the bodies, but for the most part the situation makes sense. An explosive, or two, were set off in this room, and then someone, or something, ran in after them and started tearing apart the people inside. It doesn’t appear anyone is alive. 

But then, movement towards the back. I take a few steps forward, and then freeze. 

Jahko is standing, but slightly bent over, with a large mass hanging in front of him. Squinting my eyes doesn’t help with the smoke like this. I take another step and it clears a bit. Then I finally see what’s playing out in front of me. 

The jaws of Jahko are extended far beyond normal human size. Blood covers either side of his face and the front of his pristine suit is drenched in it. Looking closer, I can see the mass dangling in front of him has two arms on either side of it. Then the legs come into focus. It’s quite obvious at this point, Jahko is sucking the blood out of the human body in front of me. Sporadic twitches of the hands and feet are all that’s left of whoever that was. 

In a state of shock, my eyes drift back up towards his face, and I see his dark, pitch-black eyes staring straight back at me. His mouth still covers the full throat of the man he’s holding, but his attention is clearly now on me. 

I take a step back, both brain and body fighting against each other. My brain is screaming at every muscle and nerve in my body to run the opposite direction as fast as I can, however, my body simply won’t respond. All I can do is stare into those pools of inky blackness that seem to pierce straight into my heart. 

Suddenly, Jahko’s eyes slowly morph back into their “normal” state. He drops the body in front of him and it hits the ground with a sickening thud; the arms and legs splayed out in unnatural directions. Jahko wipes his sleeve across his mouth and steps over the body. 

“Do you know this man?” he asks, pointing towards the body behind him. 

“N-no. No idea,” I manage to stammer. 

“Shit – I didn’t think so.”

Suddenly, he’s back to normal, adjusting his suit and doing his best to look as professional as he can, as if nothing ever happened. I start to blink incessantly, my brain seemingly trying to play catch up to the madness it just witnessed. 

“Drahvo!” he screams, “are you out there?!”

The sudden arrival of a man behind me makes me almost pitch forward onto the bodies of people lying in front of me. 

“All good, Jahko. Luckily, I stepped out for that coffee when I did,” he says at the bodies strewn across the floor. 

“Thank fucking Christ,” Jahko says pulling a cell phone out of his pocket. He walks back over to the body he dropped to the floor and grabs the man by the hair. Roughly, he pulls the head backwards and the open wound on his neck rips open even more. The sound is disgusting, and seeing the human neck exposed in such a way with arteries, tendons, muscles, and his esophagus, out in the open is enough to make me vomit one more time. Jahko obviously doesn’t care for decorum in this situation as he roughly handles the dead body and positions it to snap a photo. 

As he throws the body back to the floor, blood shoots from the monstrous neck wound and splatters across the wall behind Jahko. This has no effect on him as he swipes and taps various points on his phone while walking towards us. 

“Another hunter. They’ve obviously figured out our FOB, and it’s been years since they’ve gotten this close to us. I just forwarded you this picture. Send it to the rest of the group and start a search on family, friends, and acquaintances. We need to track down answers.”

It isn’t until he’s done speaking that I wonder if any of this is directed at me. I open my mouth to let him know I have no idea what the fuck is going on, when suddenly Drahvo speaks. 

“Yes, boss.”

With that, he runs out of the room, phone in hand, dialing a number. I turn back towards Jahko as he slips his phone back into this suit jacket. The blood is beginning to dry on his face, and the doctor in me can’t help but stare at his jawline searching for the point where his skin must separate to allow his jaw to open in such an unnatural way. 

He rests a hand on my shoulder and lets out a heavy sigh. 

“This location is compromised. We need to get moving. Call Kathryn and tell her you’ll be home tomorrow.”

“Why’s that?”

“The three of us have to get as much data out of this location as possible and to a secure location. Trouble’s on the way.”