The group was ushered through the compound gates, the sound of heavy boots and shackled feet echoing ominously in the open space. Soldiers lined the path, rifles in hand, their faces obscured by masks.
Hermes scanned the area as they marched, his sharp senses picking up every detail—the hum of machinery from a nearby building, the faint scent of antiseptic wafting on the breeze, the distant crackle of a loudspeaker. The entire compound was alive with activity, workers and guards moving with unsettling efficiency.
They passed a wide yard where other groups of captives were being processed. Rows of tables were set up beneath large canopies, and soldiers were barking orders at the frightened beastfolk. Hermes caught sight of a woman with the hulking frame of an elephant being shoved toward one table, while a boy with bushy squirrel-like tail and ears was directed to another.
The path split into several directions as they neared the central buildings. At each fork, guards stood waiting with clipboards, barking out orders and directing captives into separate lines.
"Felines, over here!" one soldier shouted.
"Canines to the left!"
Hermes felt a nudge in his back as the guard behind him pointed toward the path marked for felines. He glanced at Edward, who was being herded toward the section for avians. Their eyes met briefly, and Edward gave him a slight nod before disappearing into the crowd.
"Move!" the guard behind him snapped.
Hermes clenched his jaw and obeyed, stepping into the line with other feline beastfolk. As he walked, he couldn't help but study the others in his group.
There was a girl ahead of him with the spotted ears and tail of a cheetah, her movements jerky and agitated as if she was ready to sprint at any moment. Hermes noticed a few others with feline traits—a boy with tufted lynx ears, a woman with tiger-striped hair.
He glanced around, his mind racing. The organization of it all was chilling. Separate sections for different types of beastfolk, soldiers directing them with precision, the compound itself built to house and control such a massive number of people.
It didn't make sense.
How could they have set this up so quickly? The cosmic event had only happened yesterday, hadn't it?
Hermes's stomach turned as a darker thought crept into his mind. No, this wasn't hastily built. The fences, the buildings, the guards—it had all been here, waiting.
They'd known.
He clenched his fists, his claws flexing involuntarily as the realization settled in. Whoever these people were, they'd known about the event long before it happened. They'd been preparing for it, planning for it, maybe even waiting for it.
His mind flicked back to the strange headlines he'd seen in the weeks leading up to the event. Reports of unusual phenomena, sudden disappearances, unexplained military activity. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now it all seemed to connect.
What were they planning? And how far did it go?
"Eyes forward," barked a soldier, shoving the butt of his rifle into Hermes's back.
Hermes stumbled but caught himself, glaring over his shoulder before turning his gaze forward.
They entered a wide, open area enclosed by high fences, the ground beneath them covered in gravel that crunched with every step. Within the enclosure, smaller sections were marked off with wire partitions, each labeled with large signs: "Felines," "Canines," "Avians," and so on.
Hermes was shoved into the feline section, the gate clanging shut behind him. He looked around, his ears twitching as he took in the sight. Dozens of people with feline traits were already gathered, their expressions a mixture of fear, confusion, and anger.
To his left, the canines were herded into their own enclosure. Hermes caught sight of a boy with floppy ears and a wagging tail, his nervous energy almost contagious. Beyond that, the avians were being sorted, their section filled with people bearing feathers, wings, and sharp eyes.
It was surreal. It was horrifying.
Hermes's claws dug into his palms as his instincts screamed at him to fight, to escape, but he knew it would be futile. The fences were high, the guards were armed, and the compound was a fortress.
For now, he had to wait. But as he watched the soldiers move with calculated precision, a fire burned in his chest.
They'd known about this. And if they'd known, then someone, somewhere, was responsible.
And Hermes intended to find out who.
…
The feline enclosure was eerily quiet as the captives waited, tension hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Hermes watched as soldiers patrolled the perimeter, rifles slung across their shoulders, while others barked orders to groups being led out of the enclosures.
Eventually, a soldier approached the gate to the feline section. "Line up! Single file! Move!"
Hermes exchanged wary glances with the others before stepping into the forming line. The gravel crunched beneath his boots as they were led toward a building on the far side of the compound. Its cold, metallic exterior loomed ahead, casting long shadows under the midday sun.
The interior of the building was just as unwelcoming, lit by harsh fluorescent lights that buzzed faintly overhead. The air smelled of antiseptic and chemicals, the sterile scent prickling Hermes's sensitive nose.
They were herded into a narrow hallway, soldiers stationed at intervals along the walls. At the end of the corridor was a series of doors, each leading into small examination rooms. One by one, the captives were directed into the rooms.
When Hermes's turn came, a guard shoved him forward. "In."
He stumbled slightly but caught himself, stepping into the cramped space. The room was bare except for a metal table, a stool, and a counter cluttered with medical equipment. A woman in a lab coat stood by the table, her expression unreadable as she adjusted her gloves.
"Sit," she said curtly, not bothering to look at him.
Hermes hesitated for a moment before sitting on the stool, his muscles tense.
The scientist finally turned to him, her sharp eyes scanning his features. "Name?"
"Hermes Caine," he said, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach.
She nodded, jotting something down on a clipboard. Then she reached for a syringe. "Hold out your arm."
Hermes complied, watching as she drew a sample of his blood. She worked quickly, placing the vial into a nearby machine that hummed softly as it processed the sample.
As the machine worked, she began examining him more closely. She reached for his hands, inspecting his claws, then gestured for him to open his mouth so she could examine his teeth.
"Maine Coon," she muttered under her breath, scribbling notes. "Large build. Enhanced senses. Standard traits so far."
Hermes frowned. "What's the point of all this?"
She didn't look up. "To understand what you are now. What you can do."
"What I can do?" he echoed, his ears twitching.
The scientist glanced at him, her gaze cool. "Some of you have what we call 'gifts.' Rare abilities tied to the traits of your animal. Most don't. But those who do... they're of special interest."
Hermes narrowed his eyes. "Special interest?"
Ignoring his question, she retrieved a small device resembling a scanner and ran it over his arm. The screen lit up, displaying a series of readings that seemed to catch her attention. She frowned slightly, then adjusted the device and scanned again.
"Well," she said, a note of surprise in her voice. "It seems you're one of the lucky ones."
"What does that mean?" Hermes asked, his patience wearing thin.
The scientist set the scanner aside and picked up her clipboard. "You have a gift," she said simply. "Something unique to you and your animal."
Hermes blinked. "What kind of gift?"
She gestured toward his hand. "Focus. Think about the part of you that's different—the claws, the instincts. Imagine drawing power from that."
Hermes hesitated but did as she said. He stared at his hand, focusing on the sharp claws that extended slightly from his fingertips. He thought about the feral energy he'd felt earlier, the way his instincts had taken over when the soldiers raided his home.
A strange sensation tingled in his palm, spreading through his fingers. He gasped as a faint, ghostly light began to take shape around his hand. It shimmered like smoke, forming the outline of a claw much larger than his own.
The scientist observed him closely, her pen scratching across the clipboard. "Interesting. It's spectral—a manifestation of your instincts. Stronger than your physical claws but limited by your control."
Hermes stared at the ghostly claw, flexing his fingers and watching the spectral counterpart move in sync. It felt... natural, as though it had always been a part of him, waiting to be discovered.
"It's not particularly powerful," the scientist continued, her tone clinical. "But it's better than nothing. With training, it could become a valuable tool."
Hermes clenched his fist, and the spectral claw faded into nothingness. He looked up at the scientist, his mind racing with questions.
"How rare is this... gift?" he asked.
"Less than five percent of those affected by the event show any signs of a gift," she replied. "Even fewer can use them effectively." She jotted down another note, then glanced at him. "For now, you'll be placed in the standard holding area for felines. Further testing will determine your potential."
Before Hermes could ask anything else, the door opened, and a guard stepped in.
"Done?" the guard asked gruffly.
The scientist nodded. "Take him back to his section."
The guard grabbed Hermes by the arm, pulling him to his feet and shoving him toward the door. As he was led back into the hallway, his mind churned with thoughts.
A gift.
He didn't know what it meant yet, but he had a feeling it would be important.
And if these people wanted to use it for their purposes, they would regret underestimating him.
Hermes was marched through a maze of hallways, the harsh fluorescent lights overhead casting long, sterile shadows.
The guard leading him didn't speak, his grip firm on Hermes's arm as they navigated the labyrinthine compound.
Eventually, they arrived at a heavy steel door. The guard pressed a code into the keypad beside it, and the door slid open with a mechanical hiss.
"Inside," the guard ordered, shoving Hermes forward.
The heavy steel door clanged shut behind Hermes as the guard shoved him inside. The sound reverberated through the small, concrete-walled room, making it feel even more suffocating than it already was.
Hermes glanced around, his sharp eyes taking in the sparse furnishings—a metal bunk bed bolted to one wall, a small table with two mismatched chairs, and a slit of a window near the ceiling letting in a faint shaft of light.
Before he could process much else, a voice came from the upper bunk.
"Great. Just what I needed. A roommate."
Hermes froze, his ears twitching at the sound. He tilted his head up to see a girl perched on the top bunk, her spotted tail swishing lazily over the edge. She had short, messy hair with cheetah-like markings that matched the ears atop her head, and her golden eyes glinted in the dim light.
"You're the cheetah girl from before," Hermes said cautiously, stepping further into the room.
She snorted, her ears flicking dismissively. "Wow, thanks for noticing. Got a name, or should I just call you Catboy?"
"Hermes," he said flatly. "And you?"
"Rin," she replied, hopping down from the bunk with a fluid, feline grace. She landed lightly on her feet and crossed her arms, sizing him up. "Let me guess. Maine Coon?"
"Yeah," Hermes muttered, his tail flicking behind him. He still wasn't used to how it moved, reacting on its own like some independent part of him.
Rin tilted her head. "Figures. Big build, all fluffy. You look like one of those cats people put in dumb internet videos."
Hermes shot her a glare, his ears flattening against his head. "You're awfully chatty for someone locked in a concrete box."
"Helps pass the time," Rin said, smirking. "Besides, it's not like you're thrilled about all this, either."
Hermes sat down heavily on the lower bunk, his claws scraping the edge of the mattress as he gripped it. The events of the past day were still a blur in his mind. One moment, he'd been a normal teenager getting ready for school, and the next, his entire life had been upended. The hair, the tail, the claws, the raid on his house—it was all too much.
He looked up at Rin, his sharp eyes narrowing. "How are you so calm about all this?"
Rin shrugged, leaning against the wall. "Calm? Not really. Freaked out? Definitely. But panicking doesn't help. Besides…" She trailed off, her gaze darkening. "It's not like I have much choice, do I?"
Hermes frowned, his ears twitching. "How'd they get you?"
"Same way they got you, I'm guessing," Rin said bitterly. "Kicked down the door, pointed guns at my family, dragged me off while I was still trying to figure out why I had ears and a tail." She gestured to herself, her golden eyes flashing. "This… whatever this is… it wasn't part of the plan, you know?"
Hermes nodded slowly, his claws flexing against his palms. "You think they knew this would happen? That they were waiting for it?"
Rin raised an eyebrow. "What, you mean these soldiers and scientists? Maybe. Or maybe they're just really good at improvising." She paused, her ears twitching. "Honestly, I don't care. All I know is that they're treating us like lab rats."
Hermes leaned back against the wall, his mind racing. It was too much of a coincidence. The compound, the soldiers, the experiments—they were too well-prepared for this to have been random.
He looked at Rin again, noticing how her tail flicked with irritation and how her claws tapped against the wall. She wasn't used to this any more than he was.
"You're still figuring it out, aren't you?" Hermes said quietly.
Rin gave him a sharp look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"This," Hermes said, gesturing to his ears, tail, and claws. "The instincts. The senses. The way everything feels different now. It's like… like my body isn't my own anymore."
Rin's expression softened slightly, and she sighed. "Yeah. It's weird. Sometimes I feel like I could run a marathon in five minutes, and other times, I just want to curl up and hide. It's like my head and my body are fighting over who's in charge."
Hermes nodded, the admission resonating with him. He hadn't put it into words yet, but it was exactly how he felt. The feral energy humming beneath his skin, the sharpness of his senses—it was as exhilarating as it was terrifying.
Rin straightened up, her gaze steady. "Look, I don't know what's going on here or why it's happening, but I do know one thing."
"What's that?" Hermes asked.
"They're not gonna win," Rin said, her voice firm. "Whatever they're planning, whatever they're doing to us—I'm not letting them break me. And neither should you."
Hermes stared at her for a moment before a small, determined smile tugged at his lips. "Deal."
Rin smirked, climbing back up to the top bunk. "Good. Now get some rest, Maine Coon. You're gonna need it."
As Hermes settled onto the lower bunk, his mind still buzzing with questions, he felt a flicker of hope. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time since this nightmare began, he felt like he wasn't completely alone.