Successfully feeding the subject was a big breakthrough in the project, and Miller was not the only one to think so. When she shared the news with the rest of the doctors, their somber emotions over William’s accident shifted to curiosity. The discovery of a blood-based diet bypassed their previous, legitimate concerns.

It was hard for Rowan to not get infected by the new fire of enthusiasm in her colleagues also. After all, she had been filled with wide-eyed wonder just the day before, when this world of underground laboratories and secret government projects were still new and amazing to her. As quickly as her apprehensions came, they disappeared again.

Unease lingered in the pit of her stomach and weighed her down, but something else bloomed in her chest as she listened in on the questions buzzing among the other doctors. When Miller cited Rowan as the one who deciphered the mystery of the subject’s diet, there was a round of applause, and Rowan couldn’t help her prideful smile.

Very briefly, she forgot about the fear and anxiety, about the way the subject was able to look at her without seeing her, or even how he taunted her with blood on his face. The success was addictive, and the approval of her peers and Miller, was euphoric. Her motivation returned with a vengeance, and she was sure it showed.

Which was why when Miller stopped her before going home that day, Rowan wasn’t expecting the proposal she made.

“Miss Platts, I understand how difficult this experience has been for you so far. It’s only been two days, and already you’ve experienced personally the subject’s violent nature on two separate occasions. Just a little while ago you were shaken enough to consider giving up on this project altogether.”

Rowan opened her mouth to interrupt, to insist she had been thinking foolishly, that she was revived with a new drive now, but Miller insisted on continuing.

“It’s clear you are not in the right state of mind to make this decision. A lot has happened today. So, instead of answering now, I want you to go home and think about what you really want. If you want to stay on this project, then I will expect you here tomorrow at the usual time. But…” She paused, considering her words carefully. She put on a stern expression as she finished. “If you think that your commitment for this project will ever waver again like it did today, don’t come back tomorrow.”

Shocked, Rowan found her breath catch. Dr. Miller’s words felt like rejection, and after all the praise, the harshness came like a slap across the face. “Doctor, I—”

Miller let her shoulders slack and tried to warm her expression. “Please don’t take this negatively. I simply want to give you an out if you wanted it. You have potential, Miss Platts, but this kind of work isn’t for everyone, and I wouldn’t want to be the one responsible for stealing away your career just because you ended up being more of a... Phelps.”

She reached out to put her hand on Rowan’s shoulder, an encouraging gesture, perhaps to soften the blow of her words. After everything though, being compared to Phelps felt more like an insult, especially now that it was being used to point out how she might not be as much like Miller as she originally thought.

“If you choose to leave now, while I’ll certainly be disappointed, you have my promise that you will be allowed to continue your research here at ECBS without interruption, as if this project never happened. I trust you to keep what has happened so far to yourself, because out of anyone I think you clearly understand what is at stake if there’s a leak of information.” Miller smiled carefully, going for a hard and fair approach as she concluded her proposal with a final warning. “If you choose to stay though, this offer won’t be made again. If you come to work tomorrow, I expect you to be in this for the long run. I need to know that I can rely on the people next to me, through anything.”

Rowan was sure Miller’s proposition was meant to make her slow down and really consider what she was getting herself into, consider her emotions and reactions and everything else that happened in the last forty-eight hours, but the ultimatum presented had quite the opposite effect on her. Instead of reflecting, Rowan simply felt more driven to prove Miller’s doubts wrong.

She allowed her fear to cloud her desires too much lately. She knew what she wanted. She wanted success, she wanted recognition, she wanted the outstanding career that Miller had committed her life to, and Rowan was ready to commit herself in the same way. No more letting her emotions get the better of her, dragging her away from her ambitions.

Miller wanted Rowan by her side, that much was clear, and Rowan wasn’t about to disappoint either of them by giving into something foolishly primal like fear.

After all, he couldn’t hurt her as long as she stayed out of that room.

This determination made it easy for Rowan to convince herself to return to the ECBS the following day, even though she slept restlessly and couldn’t shake the smell of blood. That was easily forgotten however, when she imagined Miller’s delight once she showed up, and this psyched herself up even further for the start of a new day.

She didn’t get the greeting she expected when she arrived, though. Miller was too engrossed in a conversation with Phelps, which had both their faces engraved with concern. Rowan shook off her disappointment and snaked her way into the conversation instead, taking a spot next to Miller to politely listen in.

“I’m not sure I agree with the direction you want to head, Margot. It’s obvious that this boy is highly disturbed. Is it in our best interest to indulge his behavior through bribes?” Phelps’ voice was colored with judgement, purple bags under his eyes suggesting he also experienced a long night.

“We haven’t got a single word out of him since his arrival. I see no reason why we shouldn’t at least try. And it’s not a bribe, Robert. It’s cooperation.” Dr. Miller could tell that Phelps was not convinced. She sighed, and signaled to Rowan, the first acknowledgement of the day. “Tell me what you think, Dr. Platts?”

Rowan stared, blank-faced for a moment, taken aback by the title she had just been given so inconspicuously. Miller never called her ‘doctor’ before, and just like that, it slipped into her speech as if it had always been there. The way she placed it was too deliberate, suggesting something else entirely to Rowan. This is what it could be like from now on.

All Rowan had to do was be on Miller’s side.

“We can’t allow the subject to die, and blood is the only substance he’s ingested so far. Denying it to him would be starving him.”

Rowan hadn’t thought about how agreeing with Miller also meant opposing Phelps, and she only realized afterwards, when Phelps’ expression dropped to disappointment. Miller seemed perfectly pleased by the response though, like she was well aware that she forced Rowan to pick favorites and overjoyed to come out on top.

“It’s settled then. Blood bribes it is.” She gave a playful smile as she placed a hand on Rowan’s shoulder blade and led her along, approaching the wall that separated them from the containment room. “Let’s have a chat with this little bastard, shall we?”

The shame rolling around in Rowan’s stomach was eased by Miller’s attention, reaffirming her decision. This is where she wanted to be: at Miller’s side, involved first hand with everything. If she had to step on a few toes to get there, so be it. Phelps would understand the situation she was in. Besides, she could apologize later for hurt feelings along the way.

Rowan was not allowed any further time to dwell. Miller signalled to the technician, and as the folding wall slowly parted, the buzzing around the room hushed.

Blood still painted the floor and glass, although it was further smudged from when she last saw it. The pattern suggested he used his hands to try and gather up a midnight snack. On the floor was the blood packet, now completely ripped opened and licked clean. Anyone who had not seen him drink from it directly would wonder if there had ever been liquid in it at all.

The boy reclined on the mattress, now removed from its bent, bed frame and placed on the floor in the corner of the room. Dried blood flaked off his skin overnight, but the color absorbed into his pores, staining his fingers and around his mouth so they looked flushed. He pretended he didn’t know they were watching, but Rowan could see he had already focused his hearing. His neck straightened just slightly, his sharp gaze going blank as he listened. It was hard not to see what he was doing now that she witnessed it before.

Miller received a ear piece, which she set in place. Once snug, she tapped it twice and spoke.

“Good morning. My name is Dr. Margot Miller. I’m a biologist for The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States of America.” Miller folded her arms across her chest while she spoke, her voice casual and collected as it echoed through the telecom. “My normal research would usually be working on finding that pesky cure for cancer, but considering my knowledge for human biology, I’ve been assigned to this case in hopes I can figure you out. Since, as we all have seen, you’re a bit of a medical mystery, aren’t you?”

In the other room, the boy blinked, but gave no reaction to her words.

Miller continued, determined not let the subject’s silence rub her wrong. “You’re being held in the Eureka Center for Biological Studies, in Eureka, California. We took you into our custody on Monday morning after authorities were called with a report of five dead and one unconscious at a hospital in the next town over. Your handy work, we’re assuming?”

This statement produced a reaction, the smallest smirk twitching onto the boy’s lips. It was only there for a moment, and if Rowan hadn’t seen it before, she would have wondered if it had even been there at all. It sent a chill along her spine, knowing he was laughing to himself over his murders.

He didn’t say a word, though.

“Let’s not play hard to get now. We know you speak and understand the English language, so you’re not fooling anyone by playing dumb.” Miller’s tone lowered a fraction from irritation.

Once again, the subject didn’t even blink in their direction.

Miller scoffed beside Rowan, impatient with the subject’s failure to comply. She glared behind her rimless lenses. “We want to ask you some questions, so we can find out a little more about you. But we can’t ask you questions if you’re not going to answer.” Miller paused, and when she once again received no response from the stubborn boy on the other side of the glass, she added the bribe. “Cooperate with us, and we’ll make sure your dietary needs are met.”

Finally, a full acknowledgement. With Miller’s offer on the table, the boy flicked his gaze in their direction. The blacks of his eyes shined sinister entertainment, knotting up Rowan’s throat. Then, the boy stood, taking a few casual steps towards them, falling in and out of Rowan’s line of sight behind the blood stains swiped across the glass.

From the look of it, his feast the day before greatly improved his health. In fact, he could have been mistaken for a different person entirely. With his strength back, he held his spine straight, increasing his perceived height by a few inches. His skin regained its color and moisture back, and the deep, black circles under his eyes shallowed.

If he was able to throw a bed across the room before, when he seemed weak and feeble, now he could likely throw a house with little effort. That prospect made Rowan nervous, and the tension sat on the back of her neck. The ease he had in his pacing didn’t help. It seemed as though he could be through the glass at any moment if he so pleased. If that was the case though, wouldn’t he have already done it?

He halted in front of the glass, facing Miller, because Rowan was sure he knew all along where each and every one of them stood. Rowan retreated involuntarily at his closeness, but Miller stood unmoved, not caving to the boy’s scare tactics.

He let the silence linger a long time, soaking it up and enjoying the palpable tension in the room. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he opened his mouth and replied.

“I’ll cooperate, Dr. Miller. I’ll answer any questions you have, but I have conditions of my own.” He stopped briefly, just to enjoy the stunned silence of the room, before finishing. “I’ll speak to the doctor who fed me. Face to face, no hiding behind walls. If you send anyone else in, I’ll kill them.”