They drove in silence along the backcountry roads. Erick could feel the officer's icy gaze watching him in the rearview mirror. It was slightly unnerving. He pulled up to what looked like a small clinic. He was confused about what happened to go to a hospital? Would this little country clinic even have the capabilities to give him a full exam? Would his assistant even be able to find this place to bring him his things?
The officer sauntered around to the back of the cruiser to open the door. "Get out, follow me" he grumbled curtly. He led him inside where the intake nurse was sitting behind a desk. Her eyes widen at the sight of Erick standing there disheveled and half-naked. "Over there, sit" the officer directed looking over in the direction of some empty lobby chairs. Erick thought to himself the audacity of this man. If he believed he was who he claimed to be, there is no way the officer would treat him with this much disdain. He made a mental note that he would have found out his name and expressed his displeasure to the man's commander.
The officer leaned in over the desk towards the intake nurse. They both continued to glance in his direction as they spoke in hushed whispers. An irritated Erick smirked, giving them a slight wave to acknowledge he knew they were staring. Even though they were across the room and attempting to speak quietly, Erick heard every word. He was baffled at this sudden improvement in his hearing; it was as if their voices were magnified.
"Yes, we found him wandering out of the woods. He couldn't explain his lack of clothes or what had happened to him." The nurse replied, "Don't you find that suspicious knowing what last night was? Do you think that maybe he was unaware he was changing?'' The officer quickly cut her off, "Of course I suspected it! Why the hell do you think I brought him here instead of Memorial hospital?" The nurse just nodded as she looked down and began to type in her report. "My biggest question is it's as if he has no idea what happened. Does he not know what he is or what he is going through? Please make sure you have security and keep an eye on him. Something just feels off to me." The officer looking directly at Erick noticed how wide his eyes were watching the two of them speak. Could he hear their conversation?
What in the world were these two talking about? The shocking appearance on Erick's face twisted into a confused expression. What is this change they are talking about, and what do they mean what he is? He is a man. What other possibility is there? Feelings of anger and rage began to overwhelm him. He had felt all along that the officer's demeanor was off, like he knew more than he was saying. Erick acknowledges that his explanation for what happened lacked plausibility, but he was just trying to find some reasonable interpretation of the situation. What did that man know? Did he recognize Erick but how? Is it not like he ever had a criminal record?
Erick brought his hands up to his temple and put pressure along both sides as he squeezed his eyes closed tightly. His feelings were overwhelming enough, but this stabbing headache was not helping him think clearly. Why did it feel like fire was coursing through his veins? Argh, he screamed internally, overcome with agony. His gripe along his temple tightened, and his eyes snapped open as he felt a trickle of blood where his nails had pierced his skin; like the night before, his vision went black, and he thought of himself collapsing to the floor.
The officer who had never taken his eyes off Erick was suddenly running over to him. "Shit!" The officer witnessed the golden glare in his eyes during the brief moment they opened. He knew the fears in their suspicions were correct as he rushed to his side. "Get a gurney and the restraints now!" He roared in the direction of the nurse who was already scrambling to assist him.
With the push of the alarm under her desk, the nurse triggered an immediate response. Two burly men that appeared to be 250 pounds of pure muscle, both towering well over six feet tall, came sprinting, dragging a gurney behind them. With astounding speed and precision, the men and officer had lifted Erick's crumpled body to the gurney and applied enough restraints he wouldn't be able to move an inch. The urgency in the officer's voice could be felt when he said, "Get him to the back room and make sure the door is secured!"
Slowly blinking his eyes open, Erick began to come to. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust; where was he now? Wasn't he in the lobby? How did this happen again? What was wrong with him? Were those bars on the window? As quickly as he woke, the searing pain overwhelmed his body once again and caused him to pass out.
This time as Erick woke up, he overheard voices talking outside of his room.
"Yes, I am certain I saw what I saw."
A second voice he didn't recognize responded, "And your positive he is unaware of his ... situation?"
"Well, if he is, he certainly didn't mention it. Although, I am telling you the only other emotion I can sense besides pain is confusion. I don't know how he isn't aware of his bloodline, but I would bet my life on it that he is clueless."
"Interesting," the unknown man hesitated. "Well, we don't need to bother with a cat scan. We know he doesn't have a concussion. Can you reach out to the elders to see if they have any idea who this gentleman is? Where is his family?"
"Doc, how could this happen? Shouldn't it be too late for him to change? According to the media, if this is Erick Conner like he claims to be, he is 25 years old?"
"I don't have an answer. I am as baffled as you are. I know that we have to get to the bottom of this, and quickly!"
"Understood."
Erick was more confused than ever eavesdropping on that conversation. Did the two men have some sort of explanation as to what he was experiencing? His questions would have to wait as everything went black again.