Page 34 of Monster. Me.

Reed sets a bottle of medication on the table with such force that the entire thing rattles.

"Your choice. Just don't say we didn't warn you."

The bastards leave. The door closes behind them, and I'm left alone with my blood pressure climbing and every muscle in me preparing for a fight.

But I end up waiting a long time.

Curled up on the bed, my body twisted tight as a coiled rope, I sit there for nearly two hours before a single set of footsteps in the hallway announces Dr. Lomax's arrival.

A sharp electronic beep sounds, and the door unlocks.

The man steps inside.

He's a lean, gaunt omega, probably pushing forty. He has short black hair, yellowish skin with the unhealthy tone of someone who's spent years smoking, thick dark eyebrows, and a narrow, sharp nose.

He's dressed more like a funeral director than a scientist. Black suit. Thin, odd-looking tie secured with a gold pin.

His eyes are cold and motionless, almost reptilian. Wire-rimmed glasses complete the image.

Of course he has a clip on his nose; only betas aren’t impacted by my pheromones.

He crosses the threshold, stops, and simply stands there staring at me like a predator eyeing its prey. And apparently I'm the monster?

"Good to see you, Dr. Lomax. There was something I wanted to discuss with you."

Silence.

"I'll go through with the procedure, even though it's one of the most painful tests you run on me. But I'd like something in return that might make it easier to get through."

Silence.

"There's one of the varias I happen to like, Marlow. We've already interacted a little, and you could say he showed me some kindness after seeing Wilhelm beat me with a baton. I'd like him to be present during the procedure. He doesn't have to do anything. He could just be in the room. I won't resist. I won't interfere with the test. I just want him there."

Silence.

Dr. Lomax turns on his heel and walks out.

That's it. No answer. Not yes. Not no. He simply leaves. What the hell?

I let out a long sigh.

Well, I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe he'll bring Marlow. Maybe he'll completely ignore my request. If he does, though, he'll have to accept that I won't be especially cooperative.

MARLOW

I make it back to my room before Rupert returns. My heart is still beating fast as I pull my clothes back on.

Seriously, why am I acting like this? That's the crucial question I should be asking myself. Why did I go there in the first place? To be honest, I can't come up with an answer that doesn't make me sound clinically insane. No matter how deep I dig, none of it makes any sense.

Hellooo!

I'm in this program for a completely different reason. He's a monster, an experimental subject, someone the world has already written off, while I'm supposed to be trying to build something with Rupert.

Or maybe I should finally tell Dr. Lee that what Rupert and I have going on clearly isn't going to work?

Damn it. What a dilemma.

Circling around the room, I keep second-guessing myself. Am I really going to make some stupid decision because I'm weirdly fascinated by a mutant who's locked up down here?