Brawn - Laurann Dohner [58]
He knew he should expect that they would be rescued but his hope had died. He’d never tell Becca, crush her spirit that way, but too much time had passed. Even if a miracle occurred twice in his lifetime and someone came to set him free from a cage, Becca would probably be lost to him forever. The memories they made would be overshadowed by the horror. She’d never be able to look at him without reliving their nightmare.
Another soft noise drew his attention, his eyes opened and he turned his head. The Species male in the other cage was off his cot and stood watching him silently. Brawn carefully extricated his body from Becca’s. He used the blanket to keep her warm, tucked her in and moved to the corner nearest the other cage.
“Are you well? I am Brawn.”
The male tilted his head, peered at him with confusion and he understood. “When I was freed from Mercile I chose the name.” He refused to say his old number, had sworn to never utter or hear it again and feared the male might try to address him as such. “Can you speak? You are 919, correct?”
“Yes,” the male rasped. His gaze lowered to stare at Becca, a soft snarl came from his throat and rage twisted his features.
Brawn moved, blocked his view of the cot and gripped the bars. “Easy. She is not the enemy.”
“They all are.”
“Not all. Some humans are good. They freed me and many others from the testing facilities.” He kept his voice low. The males who worked for the female doctor believed it was safe to talk softly so he figured it probably was. “How long have you been here? Do you know?”
The male shrugged his shoulders. “A while.”
Brawn understood. It was easy to lose track of time with no light to show the days pass. His gaze drifted to the other cage and the sleeping male who hadn’t woken since they’d been there.
“Who is he?”
919 glanced at the form. “358 is in bad shape. He breathes but he is weakened. They tested him for days straight with too many drugs too close together and in the insanity he harmed his body much by smashing into the walls.” He stared at Brawn. “He will be physically fine but when the drugs wear off I fear his mind will not fare well.”
“What about the other I smell?”
“880.” Rage tensed the male’s body. “He wasn’t known to me and there was a female with him.”
Alarm gripped Brawn. “Human?”
“One of us.” The male revealed his fangs as he snarled, showing off his canine traits. “They murdered her in front of him as punishment. They were here before we were brought. I never spoke to her and they kept them back there.” He pointed to the concrete wall blocking their view of the back of the room. “I could hear them softly talking and he cared for her. I think she was ill. When the humans killed her, he went insane.”
Brawn mourned the loss. He wondered if these were some of the missing Species from the Colorado testing facility who were unaccounted for. A female had been on the list. Their numbers were not known to him but he’d read the reports.
“He doesn’t speak?”
“Not to me but they killed her right after we arrived,” 919 growled. “He howled for days, tore up the cage and the stench of blood was strong. They had to drug him and tend to his severe injuries. I saw him pass out a few times. They have to go by when they drug and move him. I believe he tried to end his life by using the bars.” The man touched them. “His mind is gone. It happens.”
Brawn knew that well. “Were there any others?”
The male shook his head. “Not until you and her.”
“Have you ever heard the word Colorado?”
“No.”
The double doors opened and two humans stepped into the room. 919 snarled, backed away from the bars and began to pace. Brawn inched closer to Becca, watching the enemy with dread.
They approached the other cage and 919 snarled louder, backed up as far as he could get and the humans laughed as they pulled their weapons.
“What’s wrong?” The blond human snickered. “You have a problem getting sucked off by a machine? I wish