Toy Wolf: We'reHuman, #2

By Jae Shanks

Captured for a murder he didn't commit, Conor is forced to adjust to a life of experiments, and to his odd cellmate, a bitter vampire named Stefa.  
As the scientists question what he is, he will be pushed past his breaking point and perhaps past his own dwindling sense of morality. Hunting his own kind seems like a slippery slope, but if Conor ever wants to see daylight again, compromises must be made. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jae Shanks
• Release date: Apr 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386644781

Jae Shanks

A sound designer currently living in Kansas City, Jae Shanks has been writing since she was in middle school. Although originally from Austin, Texas. She's quite at home here in the Midwest with its tempestuous weather and religion of coffee. When not in the theatre or writing, she is constantly cooking something new with local ingredients.

Book preview

Chapter One

Ilanded on the cell floor with little ceremony. The door slammed shut behind me, and I stayed with my warm face pressed against the cold concrete. My insides were knotted with another dose of silver, but other than that, today hadn’t been unbearable.

I heard a creak from the metal bunk bed, and Stefa landed lightly next to me.

Hey Wolf, she said softly. Bad day?

I shook my head and let her help me up from my position on the floor. When she had first arrived, her purple hair had been vibrant and confusing. Now, I used it to track the time. She had nearly three inches of dark brown hair above the purple.

I hope they’ll bring us dinner, she said, sitting with me on my bed. I haven’t eaten for so long, even you look tasty. And Wolf, I hope you understand how desperate that is.

I smiled and nodded. The shock collar around my neck kept me from speaking; it was supposed to stop my wolf form from howling but interpreted speech the same way. It also kept me from shifting into my wolf form. Stefa didn’t seem to mind carrying the conversation and would often fill in my side anyway.

Speaking of, I think you might be the only werewolf here, she remarked. "We have vampires of course, and I hear there are others, but someone was saying how most werewolves die in the first two months. You’ve made it four."

I flashed her a smile and she snuggled up next to me.

You’re so warm, she purred. I can hear your blood pump in your chest. It’s calming.

Stefa hadn’t bitten me yet, despite threatening nearly every day. Mostly, I wasn’t certain she could; they had fitted her with a mouthpiece that kept her fangs from showing. The first month she had spoken with a muffled lisp, but now, I barely heard it. She also wore cuffs on her wrists; Stefa had explained that they were magnetic and the scientists used them for control. I would have preferred cuffs to my collar.

It was odd how cold she was, and how little she smelled. She didn’t smell like blood or death. These were things I wished we could discuss. Still, having someone here was better than being by myself. It made the prodding and the experiments more bearable. She wrapped her arms around my thin shoulders and rested her head.

Some days we will sit like this for hours, but to my surprise, the door slot rattled and a tray clattered on the ground. Stefa stretched and released me to bring the tray to our laps. They had brought her a cold bag of blood and a protein shake for me.

Stefa held the bag against my bare chest as I drank down my shake. It was gritty and unappetizing, but I hadn’t eaten much in days. Stefa didn’t know if they would forget to feed us, or were purposely starving us. Neither made much sense since they wanted us alive for experiments.

I feel so sorry for the other vampires, she mused. They have to either drink cold blood or let it warm and congeal. Disgusting. You’re not a bad cellmate, Wolf, though a mite chatty. I feel like I can barely get a word in edgewise.

She was teasing, of course. I was slowing learning how to detect her sarcasm.

Well, while you’re occupied with your dinner, I’ll tell you how my day went, she said. They wanted to test our reflexes again; I supposed trying to see if we were faster or slower when we haven’t fed in two weeks. I was faster, but I’m a bit older than the other vampires they have captured. Stefa shook her head. Most of the vampires here are only a year or two from being turned. They’re basically feral; no wonder they were caught.

Stefa had never told me how she had been captured. I imagined it was not a happy story. I worried about my family when I had a chance to think about them, but knew that they, regardless of what was happening at the farm, were better off than I was.

She checked the bag of blood and removed it from my chest.

If you would? she requested.

I let my canines grow just a little, and I used them to rip through the plastic without spilling a drop. The scientists had no idea that I could partially shift; it was my last secret and one I was desperate to keep. Stefa knew, but that was because there were few secrets between us.

She nodded her thanks, taking a swig of the blood with a happy sigh. Her face immediately lost its hollowness and she smiled.

After our tests, they wanted us to fight each other for blood, she said. I refused. The little ones need it more than I do. Three more died today; I can’t imagine the others lasting more than a month of this. I know we’re not human, but sheesh. It seems like a waste of resources. I doubt they want to go hunt more of us. Or make more of us. I don’t know how this place works.

Stefa took another long sip and leaned against my shoulder as I set my cup back on the tray, wiping the sides of the cup with my finger to get the last bit of nutrients. Stefa hadn’t eaten in two weeks; I couldn’t go so long. My normally thin frame was skeletal and I wondered how I would fare in wolf form. Full moon wasn’t for another couple days.

Stefa finished the bag, not throwing it on the tray until she had relieved it of every drop. She took the tray and placed it back against the door. The guards mostly left us alone, and both of us knew that was because we took great pains to make their lives as simple as possible. We did not protest, we did not try to run, and we did not fight back. From what I had heard about the other vampires, Stefa was as much of anomaly as I was. I hypothesized that this was the reason we were cellmates.

Get some sleep, she told me. I’ll keep watch.

Vampires didn’t sleep, or at least, that was what Stefa told me. I lay down on my stomach, and Stefa’s cold fingers touched my back gently, seeing if I had any more welts or bruises.

It’s a mess, she sighed. Not you, Wolf. Just...today. Go to sleep.

The next day was more of the same. We started with weights, and the two men always complained about how little weight I could lift, but I was getting a little stronger. Next, they had me run, which I never understood why I was running in human form; I was much faster as a wolf. My feet had become calloused from the rough treadmill, and they talked around me as if I couldn’t hear them. Or, alternatively, they thought I couldn’t understand them.

His endurance is incredible, one doctor murmured. To myself, I called him Frank. His name was Hector or something, but if they could call me ‘Lupus’ then I felt it was only fair to name them in return.

Heart rate is good, said the other, who I called Grins. Grins would smile at me as if we were friends, and I named him to remind myself that smiling, even with humans, could still be predatory.

Frank bumped the speed, and I stretched my stride, glad I hadn’t burned myself out on the previous stretch. Sweat ran down my back and chest, through the maze of electrodes stuck my body, and dripped onto the treadmill. I didn’t mind the running; I got water afterward.

What are you doing this weekend? Grins asked Frank.

Jeremy and I are going to see that new film, the one about one of those superheroes? I can never keep them straight. Jeremy could tell you, I'm sure. You?

Alicia wanted to invite you over for dinner; I think she’s attempting tamales again.

I stumbled a little but didn’t fall. I hated falling on the treadmill; the rough texture would leave long painful marks.

I like tamales. Sure, we’re in. I’ll let Jeremy know.

Grins glanced at the readout again and bumped the speed once more. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could run and hoped I didn’t collapse on the moving treadmill like last time. He sighed.

If only his blood would tell us something, he said. I mean, the numbers are impressive, but Dr. Bryce is going to murder us if we go another week without a breakthrough. She’s bringing one of the board members tomorrow; they wanted to take a look at the vamps.

"It kills me how little progress they make and still get rewarded, Frank muttered. It’s just blood. Lupus here is so much more. Someone like him could blend into society and have a real edge on others without the drawbacks of being a bloodsucking corpse."

He paused. We could have him fight the vamps.

Grins nodded, his signature smile spreading across his face. That would do it. Prove that we should be spending more resources trying to find his pack.

My mouth twitched, but I suppressed the snarl I wanted to express. Shock collar or no, there was nothing that would stop me if these people got a hold of Susie Lynn and the rest of my pack. I stumbled once more and refocused my attention on running. My breathing was getting more labored with each passing minute.

I’ll talk to Dr. Bryce see what she thinks, Frank agreed. Perfect. You might as well stop Lupus now, we don’t want to wear him out.

The treadmill slowed, and I allowed my aching legs to walk for the cool down. I was getting faster I could tell. I hoped that this meant that I would someday get the chance to sprint out of here and escape, but so far, I hadn’t been given the opportunity. I also didn’t want to leave Stefa here if I could help it and hadn’t figured that into my plan. Grins took the electrodes of my chest and back while Frank prepped the counter with the various necessary vials.

Lupus, come! Frank barked.

I obediently stepped off the treadmill and followed him to the counter. They drew my blood every day. I couldn’t figure out why; they never did anything with it as far as I could tell. I held out my arm, sweaty from running. 

We’ll want to make sure he is fed today if he’s fighting tomorrow, Grins said, bringing me a water bottle. I’ll call Jackie when we go to lunch.

I drank slowly, knowing from experience that I would get sick if I didn’t.

And we’ll probably want to find the key for the collar; the vamp could choke him in it as it is, Frank suggested, wrapping the tourniquet around my arm. Did you put it in your desk?

I think so. Better make sure.

Grins walked away from us and I shut my eyes, disliking the needle’s daily attempt to find my veins. I thought that this couldn’t be difficult, but the way Frank did it was always unpleasant. Grins was better, but I found he didn’t like touching me. I wondered if he thought I would contaminate him.

Got it!

Grins came up behind me, and I felt a weird clicking at the back of my neck, making me shiver.

Lupus, hold still! Grins snapped at me.

I tried to stop moving, but the skin around my neck was sensitive. The latch released and he removed the metal from my neck. Frank finally stabbed the right vein and began filling the vials he needed. Once Grins stepped away, I could finish my water before someone took it.

There, he said. God, he has callouses from the damn thing, do you think we should pad it?

It’s off, you can fiddle with it, or take it down to Bethany. She’d know.

Even the air conditioning felt abrasive against the skin on my neck. I winced and set the water bottle down.

Silver, no silver? Frank inquired, pulling the needle out of my arm.

I placed a finger on the spot like Stefa had shown me to stop the bleeding. Grins frowned.

Silver, he said. It’ll be well over twenty-four hours before any fight, and I don’t want to take so many chances when the collar’s off. Damn, I’m going clean this thing.

He tossed the collar on the table, his nose wrinkled in distaste. Frank grabbed the syringe and I gritted my teeth, waiting for the prick, and the familiar nausea that it induced. I swayed, gripping the table to keep from falling. Normally, I spent a whole day with Frank and Grins, but it seemed that they were about to return me to the cell. I wished I could ask for more water.

Lupus, come! Grins said, and I followed him out of their research wing, back down to the cells. He opened the door, and I stumbled into the cell before he slammed the door shut.

Stefa wasn’t back yet, and I curled up on my bed, waiting for the worst of the pain to subside. Normally I had Stefa to help distract me, but I had been cut loose early.

Wolf? Hey, hey, don’t be dead.

Stefa woke me with a shake, peering into my face. I blinked at her and gave a smile. She had a cut above her eye, and her shirt was torn. I sat up; the nap had