Page 115 of Shared Omega

As soon as we stepped out of our observation cell, he was able to pick up a trace of Truk’s scent. While Dog and Hines raced off toward the comm center, Kane and I followed Truk’s trail down the hallway.

Kane halts in front of a big metal door. It doesn’t look any different from the others we’ve passed. But the way his nostrils flare as he sniffs the air tells me this is the place.

In fact, I can even smell it too. Truk’s woodsy smell is in the air. It’s so strange and out of place in this hi-tech facility.

Kane nods and ushers me forward. There is a keypad by the door, and I punch in the code that Hines gave me.

The door slides open with a pneumatic hiss.

The room beyond is mostly dark. It appears to be some kind of hi-tech lab with work stations, swivel chairs, and computer terminals. From the looks of it, the room is empty. But then I hear a voice from somewhere deep inside.

“You will obey me, Alpha. Your resistance is only putting off the inevitable.”

It’s Dr. Frostgrave.

Kane and I step quietly inside, and I realize the room is much bigger than I first realized. A cold, bluish glow is coming from the far end of the room. As we prowl closer, I see that Frostgrave is there with his back to us, his attention focused on a glowing control panel.

And in front of him is Truk.

The Alpha’s naked body is hanging by his arms. His hands are encased in big steel cylinders, and dozens of tendril-like cables are running down his forearms and biceps, attached to his body with electrodes. His legs are similarly encased and wrapped in weird wires.

This must be the “pain glove” that Hines told us about.

Frostgrave speaks again, his voice cruel and sadistic.

“I am your master now, Alpha. I control you. Every muscle. Every nerve…”

He twists a dial on his control panel. There is no sound—in fact, it’s creepy how quiet the room is—but Truk’s imprisoned body twists in agony. His muscles pulse and flex, becoming striated with tension. His eyes roll back white and he grits his teeth.

But he doesn’t scream. He’s too tough for that.

I, on the other hand, am not.

I scream for him.

“Stop that!” I shout. “Stop hurting him you sick fuck!”

Frostgrave whirls around. Lit from below by the glow of his control station, his gaunt face looks absolutely monstrous. Behind his glasses, his eyes are filled with hatred.

Until he sees Kane’s massive form standing beside me in the dark, that is.

Then his expression shifts to abject fear.

“No,” he gasps. “It can’t be…”

His finger jabs at a button on the console.

“Security!” he screeches. “Come quickly! Laboratory 731! One of the Alphas is loose!”

There is no reply. His distress signal didn’t go through because Hines disabled the security systems.

“Looks like nobody’s coming to save you, Doctor,” I say.

“Too bad,” Kane growls, cracking his knuckles. “I would have enjoyed tearing them apart. I guess I’ll just have to settle for this one.”

I can’t help but savor the way that Frostgrave leans back in fear. His mouth is hanging open as if in a silent scream, and his body is shaking with terror.

“No,” he mutters. “No…”