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  I’d worked side by side with Dr. Forrester, a man who’d been my caretaker as well as mentor, my expertise in human anatomy and metaphysics kept on the down-low. No one was supposed to learn about my credentials. Top secret, or so Dr. Forrester had barked several times. The experiments I’d witnessed had left me in continued shock as well as anger. I loathed what the scientific world considered the next step in evolution. Creatures immune to disease, their minds programmed against warfare. How many humans had lost their lives in an effort to recreate what God had done millions of years before? A cold shiver trickled down my spine. I had no idea where Dr. Forrester had acquired the volunteers needed and in truth, I didn’t want to know. His secrecy as to certain details had heightened his self-designated holier than thou stature.

  I had a minor in psychology, an innate ability to get into the minds of the technologically perfect concoctions of science. What a crock, but that was the excuse to bring me along. Spliced DNA. Growth cells. Advanced metaphysics. All in an effort to continue the human race, but on this trip? I was assigned to study the minds of the new breeds on a secret mission. Supposedly few in the government knew these beasts existed.

  In other words, I was to ascertain whether or not they were nothing but vile killers. Jesus.

  And what if they were human monsters waiting to wreak havoc? There was no other recourse for people on Earth. All the rumors about other life beings from distant planets ready to take their share of humans had been unsubstantiated. No little green men had flown into Earth’s atmosphere, initiating conversation or friendship. But I wondered why the sudden need to visit the facility on Earth Two, the decision seemingly made overnight. What did I know?

  Earth was a ticking time bomb for annihilation.

  Governments were falling, tyranny and greed encompassing much of the world. Everything I’d adored as a child was gone, ripped away by wars that had also forced our kind into extinction. We were nothing but drones, going through steps of living without really doing so.

  Murders.

  Rapes.

  They were an everyday occurrence. Perhaps that’s why I’d followed the orders, allowing myself to become a pincushion. Now, I sat on a shuttle with ranking scientists, the most brilliant in the country, some considered the most influential on Earth. In truth? I couldn’t care less. The foreboding in my mind continued. Dr. Forrester’s lies were close to the surface. I’d seen real fear in his eyes. He was scrambling to conclude his project before his deceit was discovered. He had no idea I’d found out at least some aspects regarding what he was doing, the horror keeping me awake at night. Still, I had few answers, only questions that riddled me with nausea. The bulk of truthful information had been enshrouded behind padlocked doors, only Dr. Forrester and one other unknown accomplice allowed behind into the hallowed corridors.

  And I’d tried more than once.

  Suddenly, a face floated in and out of my mind’s eye, a slight glimmer just like in my dreams. Or what most would consider nightmares. His face. Rugged. Handsome. Dangerous. The visions had to serve some kind of purpose. My eyes ached, my hands trembling. I was overwrought and filled with trepidation.

  The brutal trip certainly hadn’t been on my radar. I couldn’t stop asking why without ever receiving a decent answer. I’d never had any desire to leave Earth, even with the horrific difficulties and political strife. I still envisioned the world I’d only briefly caught a glimpse of as a child, sun-filled days of adventure, laughter, and freedom.

  As if that was ever going to happen.

  I wasn’t an explorer. However, as the hospital administrator and head of my department, Dr. Forrester had demanded my attendance. He’d been the man responsible for paying for medical school, and I had thought he was my friend, but in the last two weeks, I was no longer certain of anything. I’d speculated he’d selected me because I had no family, no boyfriend, and zero plants to take care of. No one would miss me if the shuttle crashed. I hissed and clenched my fist at the thought. Two weeks of intense testing on other beings. Fabulous.

  Why did I have the feeling no one would make the return trip?

  “Sorry about the bumpy ride, folks. Weather conditions are shit. We’ll be fuckin’ lucky to land in one piece. Cocksuckers who sent us have no...” The pilot’s husky voice shot through the cabin, the words trailing off as he snapped off the communication device. I’d read Greg Marlin’s resume, a glow and show of accomplishments, including his status as a war hero. He was also considered a rebel, a man not to be trusted, at least according to the hype. However, his flying stats were legendary.

  “That’s confidence for you,” Brenda Atkins huffed under her breath. As the only other female traveler, she’d kept to herself, refusing to sit beside anyone in the battered shuttle. Her face held a green tint, a small airsick bag firmly planted in her hand. Dr. Atkins was brilliant, but her people skills were almost as Neanderthal as Samuel’s. Still, I was surprised they’d asked her to come. Maybe her brilliance outweighed the typical male need for power.

  How in the hell was I going to get through two weeks with these people?

  The shuttle dipped to the right, the angle severe enough that anything and anyone not battened down was pitched to the outer wall. Brenda wasn’t the only one moaning this time.

  “Why the hell are we doing this?” Samuel muttered, taking several deep breaths.

  Mr. Brave had turned into Mr. Chicken.

  “For science. For humanity.” And a huge paycheck, or so we’d been told. As long as we followed the government’s rules, reporting our findings in a positive light, our bank accounts would be padded. We’d be considered rich.

  Another lie. The others had been stupid enough to buy the line of bullshit.

  We were nothing but guinea pigs.

  There was some truth in what we’d been told in an effort to coerce. The Earth’s atmosphere was eroding, some scientist predicting only two or three years before a full collapse. This was entirely our fault. Every human was to blame. Earth Two was our only viable chance at survival. The creatures created in a lab would help formulate the new world, including all phases of infrastructure. They would be able to endure the harsh elements with limited need for food and water in order to build cities, creating a safe world to bring everyone from Earth. That was the pitch we’d all heard during the past two years. Something seemed off to me, as if the success of the experiments held an entirely different meaning, but I was nobody on this trip.

  An after-note.

  “This shit better matter,” another male voice penetrated the space. The statement was a chilling reminder of the necessity of the trip.

  “So since you didn’t ask what else there could be to slicing DNA with convicts, I’m going to tell you. You do realize that this planet is inhabited by an ancient alien species,” Shane Bullock commented casually. Everyone looked in the reporter’s direction. He grinned in response. “Where do you think they’re getting their other volunteers from? Perfect if you ask me. Convicts and aliens. Dandy. However, my guess is the aliens aren’t happy. The Republic doesn’t want you to know any of this, of course. The aliens already living on the planet are violent and very dangerous. They are also cunning, and my guess is that they have plans to colonize Earth. And do you know what I heard? They have plans to take over the universe as well. There’s even some chatter that they are the reason for Earth’s declining condition, something they can rectify.”

  “What the hell?” Samuel huffed. “That’s not what we’ve been told.”

  I shifted my gaze in his direction, a lump forming in my throat. My illustrious caretaker had vaguely suggested there were others living on the planet, just like the media. But this? I found it difficult to believe. Maybe not. I thought about what few secrets I’d learned. Maybe the reporter was onto something.

  “Uh-huh. I suggest you open that very closed mind of yours,” Shane retorted. “Do you really think we’re the only civilized race in the universe? Wait a minute,” he said, laughing. “We’re not civilized, more like animals fighting to procreate.”

  His words were off the cuff, but I could tell he believed them. Another red flag.

  A moment of searing heat engulfed the shuttle, another surprise given the expansive shields the shuttle was required to maintain. I could see the scorching sun as it reflected off the windows, blinding as well as gorgeous. Shielding my eyes, I dared to lean over the doctor, hungry to take in the desolate landscaping.

  “Hotter than Hades here, twenty plus below zero just over those mountains. Then it can switch on a dime,” Samuel chuckled. “Should be a fascinating planet to colonize but imagine the cozy nights sitting around a fire, a nice bottle of cognac.”

  I didn’t bother answering, even though his stiff cock managed to dig into my side. I’d had a crash course in learning about Earth Two, studying everything I’d been given. My work had been sequestered, keeping me locked in labs for the past two years, Dr. Forrester providing information only on a need to know basis. However, the dichotomy of the radical weather conditions was well known, making travel in certain areas treacherous. The zones were much more pronounced than Earth, but humans would learn to adapt.

  Or die.

  “Buckle up, ladies and gents. It’s going to be a rocky landing at best. We’re heading into a near blizzard so batten down the hatches.” Greg’s tone had a singsong lilt. The man actually enjoyed this. For all his commendations, very few agencies wanted to work with him. The particular facility had no other pilot providing supplies or travel.

  Maybe that should have been my warning to steer clear.

  “Blizzard?” Dr. Chen managed. Even from where I was sitting, I could see the terror on his face. He’d been a last-minute replacement, coming on board only minutes before takeoff. His reputation was stellar, but from what I’d heard, his personality caustic.

  “Those extreme weather conditions,” I answered, already able to see the change, mountains covered in snow. We sat in silence as the skies darkened. As ice began to pelt against the windows, the shuttle’s engines labored, rumbles occurring under our feet.

  “Please, God, don’t let me die!”

  I didn’t want to hear Brenda’s horror-filled exclamations. When we’d been coerced on this mission, every one of us were told the obstacles we’d be facing. Weather conditions were capable of changing within hours, not seasons, another reason for the brutes being manufactured. I couldn’t think of them any other way. They were mere slaves.

  And I’d been taught slavery had been abolished centuries before. Who would actually volunteer for such atrocities?

  Another hard lurch was followed by a slowing of the engines. Snow whirled by the windows, the immediate drop in temperature creating an ice fog. Everything happened quickly, the shuttle shaking violently.

  We hit the ground with a brutal thud, skidding forward several hundred feet. The whir of the engines was followed by a cracking sound.

  Then silence.

  Eerie silence.

  “Thank God,” Samuel said, exhaling a heavy sigh. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

  “I’m perfectly fine and if you call me sweetheart again, I’m going to rip your throat out.” Lashing out wasn’t in my best interest, but he needed to know the score from the get-go.

  “Jesus. No need to be a bitch,” he muttered. “I don’t want to have to report your behavior to the authorities.”

  Go the fuck ahead.

  I pretended I wasn’t paying any attention, instead peering out the window, an unsettling feeling pooling in the pit of my stomach.

  Visibility was zero, the world a white blur. I could only hope the pilot had been able to get us close to our destination. We heard footsteps seconds before Greg took long strides into the passenger area. A grin popped on his face. Dressed in army fatigues, two guns secured on his belt, he looked as dangerous as the persona preceding him. “Well, we safely landed. That’s the good news.”

  “And the bad?” Dr. Chen asked as he struggled to his feet.

  Greg didn’t as much as give him a single glance. “The bad news is that there’s damage to the fuselage that I’m going to need to repair before we can return. Two weeks should take care of it. Maybe a little longer.”

  I heard the hesitation in his voice. “And?” I asked as casually as possible.

  He shifted his gaze, glancing up and down the length of me. “And we’re still two miles away from the facility, which means we get to walk. Ain’t gonna be pretty. That much I can tell you. Fuckin’ blizzard.”

  A collective groan occurred.

  “Doesn’t the compound have vehicles? Can’t they come retrieve us?” These were the first words Dr. Consuelos had offered since leaving. Martin Consuelos was a biologist, a man who’d been at odds with Dr. Forrester on more than one occasion. While I admired him, I had several questions about why he’d even agreed to the mission.

  “They have several all-terrain vehicles as well as snowmobiles, and there’s a chance I could convince them to collect us if I could contact them. All communication is shot as well. We’re on our own, but we can do two miles in a few hours if we stick together.” Greg glanced out the window. “And we need to stick together and arrive at the compound before dark.” He moved toward a small cabinet near the front, keeping his back to us as he unlocked and opened the door.

  “Why?” I asked, moving closer until I was able to see an entire cabinet full of weapons and my guess full military grade. “What aren’t you telling us?”

  Turning, he closed the distance, towering over me and inhaling. “A little lady like you needs to be protected.”

  “What the hell are the guns for?” Samuel demanded, turning his skeptical attention to Shane. “I didn’t think this planet had criminal activity.”

  “I told you,” Shane snarked.

  Greg snorted. “You’re going to learn the real story the hard way.”

  The man was a true pig, but we all needed him as a guide. I stood my ground, lifting a single eyebrow. “I can handle myself, including the use of a gun. I brought my own.”

  Greg seemed amused then gave a respectful nod. “Good to know.” He finally glanced at the other passengers. “You want to know what kind of critters live in the mountains and forests? Well, I’ll tell ya. Dangerous man-eating beasts. They will hunt you for nothing more than enjoyment of the act. They are predators unlike anything you’ve ever known. And if they catch you, you will die.”

  Chapter Two

  Cassia

  Shane had been telling the truth. Some sort of beings, angry beasts were lurking in the forest, watching our every step. I sensed their presence. I smelled their primal scent.

  And their hunger.

  They weren’t simply carnivores of the night, but living, breathing, and thinking creatures, watching our every move. Why wasn’t I terrified?

  The snow pelted against the entire party as we set out, our limited clothing soaked after only a few minutes. Visibility was limited, the ice fog thick, ice crystals covering every inch of vegetation. We followed Greg, forming a line and everything around us held an eerie appearance. There was no possibility of talking, the temperatures dangerous. We could easily perish within minutes.

  At least the pilot seemed to know exactly where he was going, his long strides hindered by fallen limbs. Everywhere the forest was thick, becoming denser as we headed deeper into the line of trees. The shadows remained foreboding, keeping all of us on edge except for me. I sensed we were being studied. The tingling in my fingers had nothing to do with the freezing temperatures.

  We were being stalked.

  I knew this in my gut.

  There was no way of telling time, but every action seemed to be in slow motion, our breathing labored given the horrendous conditions.

  Then there was a single growl.

  The deep base note reverberated in a manner that wasn’t possible, stopping everyone in their tracks.

  “What. The. Fuck?” I heard one of the scientists exclaim even over the whistling wind.

  Greg threw out his arm, stopping our progression, turning sharply in the direction of the noise. I could tell by the concerned look on his face that we were in trouble. We’d been told there were nocturnal animals on the planet, but predators? Were we actually being hunted? “Shit,” he muttered only loud enough for me to hear.

  I shielded my eyes from the falling snow, scoping the surrounding perimeter. If we were being watched, there was no sign of the beasts.

  Crack!

  “Get moving!” Greg finally shouted, motioning us forward. Everyone was in a panic, completely frozen. Our illustrious leader refused to wait, picking up his speed, his long, muscular legs allowing him to get further ahead than the majority of the group.

  Preservation kicked in and I attempted to keep up, exhaustion already draining my strength. The snow was getting deeper, drifts preventing any real speed. The air froze as I breathed, ice crystals forming on my lips and chin, beads sticking to my eyelashes.

  An ominous howl floated above us but this time, there was more than one. Greg didn’t bother stopping or looking back, even managing to pick up his pace.

  “Wait!” The single word left my mouth and went nowhere.

  Silence.

  The calm before the storm.

  The group stopped, searching in every direction.

  There was no way to describe the sound, the enraged bellows coming from the depths of the forest.

  “Fuck. I hear them!” The voice sounded like the reporter, but there was no way to be certain.