Soon after you’ve both dressed, a new face comes into the cell block, to ask what you both would like for breakfast. The orderly is a young Oriental named Chen. Writing down a double order for bacon and eggs, he discreetly slips a folded-up paper to Caroline – out of view of the security camera – then heads for the kitchen.
“What…?” You trail off, remembering that you are probably being constantly heard, as well as watched.
After Caroline reads the slip of paper, she manages to pass it over to you without the camera picking it up. She does this by snuggling up to you for a kiss. You read the message written on it.
‘I’m an undercover Animal Liberation agent (cryptozoological branch),’ it begins. ‘You have been tricked! Dr Bright IS a government scientist. But she is working for her own profit. You are being used to eliminate the local drug dealers, so that she can control the market here. I’ve been ensuring Topaz’s safety – and I want to help her and yourselves to reach the sea! Tonight, before moonrise, you will be again fitted with the silver-laced collars, as per last night. However, I will be there to supply them to Dr Bright – minus the silver! I will also sabotage today’s injections, designed to hypnotically condition you for tonight’s hunt. Have faith!’
"Better flush that down the loo,” Caroline whispers to you, very faintly, as you kiss her cheek.
“I will,” you reply.
*****
After another dull day of tests, you and Caroline are refitted with your obedience collars. Doctor Bright does the job herself, watched on by Chen, and an armed Burke.
“What’s the mission for tonight, Doctor?” you ask. “My mind’s foggy, after that hypnotic session.”
The Doctor looks concerned for a moment, but then she smiles. “The local newspaper has been making speculations of my activities at the manor house, after they picked up on local rumours. The Editor must be silenced! Also, he is involved with the town’s drug runners (you smell a lie, here). My team will take you to where the Editor and his back-up will meet with our ‘tip-off’ in woods outside of town. There, you will eliminate them. Do you have any objections, my trained werewolves?”
Oh, great…, you think. Your journalist friend, Dipak, will probably be there…
“No,” you reply – zombie-like.
“We will obey your commands, Doctor,” Caroline announces, without emotion. “As werewolves, we are your agents of death. It is in our nature to hunt and kill.”
Chen looks worried at Caroline’s words – hoping that she is just acting along. But Doctor Bright gives a dazzling smile.
“Burke will take you both to the vans, then. Enjoy…your supper. Make sure you do the job right!”
As Burke and the Doctor begin to lead you and Caroline away from the testing lab – your mate gives you a wink. Simultaneously, the two of you lash out. You send the Doctor’s tranquiliser gun flying into the air, before pining her against the wall – whilst Caroline rugby-tackles Burke.
Leaving Chen to watch over the stunned Doctor, you engage Burke as he shakes off Caroline. However, your friend takes advantage of the moment to transform into a wolf-woman. She then snarls and plucks the wide-eyed lackey off you – before proceeding, without biting – to break Burke’s kneecaps.
“Sorry about that!” Caroline announces to a squeamish Chen, once she reassumes human form. “Now – direct us to Topaz.”
He nods. Stopping only to rip off the collars around your necks, Chen leads the way, whilst you frog-march the gagged Doctor along – leaving an immobile Burke to moan away in a corner of the lab.