Changes (8 page)

“I don’t huh?” Collins moved back to the counter. “I used to be like you, my friend. I used to be quiet and unsure of myself. I used to fall all over myself with women. I used to be afraid of my own shadow. I used to tuck my tail between my legs and never stand up for myself. It seems so long ago. It’s forever ago it seems.”

Jimmy shook his head. He still didn’t agree, but something also kicked in through his thoughts. A mini light bulb went off inside his mind, and again, he just didn’t know what to think. “How did you stop it?” Maybe he was. Maybe he wasn’t that forceful. Maybe he was a wimp, but for some reason, he heard what this man was saying. He listened to him. He had something about him that felt real. He seemed honest and he trusted it. He didn’t know why, but he just did. “How did you change it?” If what he said was real, it sparked his interest.

Collins laughed, but only briefly. “I didn’t.” He turned back to the doors, and bowed his head to his feet. His straggly blonde hair fell in front of his face. “It changed me.” He smiled as his head came back up again.

“Huh?” Jimmy’s eyes locked onto his. Any interest he might have had vanished without a trace.

The smile grew wider. “I can help you my friend?” Collins walked back to the counter. He once again placed both hands on top of it. “I can help you in more ways than one?”

“How?” Jimmy now needed to ask more than ever. His eyes grew wider. His ears were open. His mind flew open and cleared. Besides, it might help him understand what the hell he was even talking about doing.

“You have to let the animal in you out my friend. You have to let it out. You have to get in touch with the side of you that’s wild. You need to get it to come out. We people have much, but sometimes, we need more.” Collins’ smile faded as his face grew serious. A hint of strength overwhelmed his brow.

To Jimmy, the look sent a chill down his back. “What are you talking about?” He shrugged and stood up with the chill feeling like it kicked him to get up. He couldn’t believe what he heard. None of it made any sense. If it wasn’t for the look, he wouldn’t know what to think, but with that look, he felt even more intrigued. There just wasn’t any other way to describe it.

“I’m talking about the need to be free, the need to let yourself out, the need to be something that you already are.” Collins walked to him and met him at his side of the counter. “I can help you with that.” He took him by the arm.

Jimmy couldn’t believe how strong the thin man’s grip actually was. How hot it felt too. “I can’t be someone that I’m not.” He looked to him, and shook his head. With everything, he had to swallow. He felt scared and worried with the grip bringing every emotion out and moving.

“You don’t have to be someone that you’re not.” Collins stared him down. “You are only what you are.” He smiled again.

Again, Jimmy shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know.”

“What is there to know?”

Jimmy again shrugged, and looked to the desk. He saw the clock, and saw that it was now 1:15. He was late. “I have to get going.” He grabbed his wand and clipped the radio to his belt. He had nothing else left to say, so he turned for the stairs.

Collins released his grip. “I understand.” He sighed long and deep. “Sometimes you need the animal to come to you.”

Jimmy again nodded and stopped at the first step.

“I’ll see you again, my friend. I’ll find you again.” Collins turned and ran out the front doors, and didn’t look back.

Jimmy reached the top of the stairs and watched him leave. He took in a deep and refreshing breath when he was gone. “That was odd?” He didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know what else to think. Even so, he still felt different. He felt respected. He felt real. With it all, he just sighed.

He turned and started down the hallway, and started his tour.

He finished his last round a little after six. Now all he had to do was wait for seven and the time to go home. It had been such a long night, and he couldn’t wait for it to end. The quiet started getting to him some. The night hadn’t quite turned out the way that he wanted it to. He paced around the lobby as he waited. After a few moments, that feeling wore off, so he retook his chair and sat down with a heavy huff. He felt tired. He felt somewhat confused. He stared at the CCTV screens, and watched the motion of the cameras flash around the building. Watching everything, he couldn’t help but feel lost within them, until he saw movement on one of them. He could see a small group of people making their way up the sidewalk and heading towards the lobby. Seeing them, his mind went to wandering some.
It’s kind of early to come to work isn’t it?
He sat and stared. He didn’t expect it.

Watching the group, he counted five men and one woman, and they looked like they were all dressed in suits. All except for one of them who was dressed in a dark colored uniform. Instantly, he knew who it was. Seeing the large blonde haired man made him try to swallow again, but still he couldn’t. It also made him worried some. In fact, it made him feel scared. They looked like they were walking with force. They looked to be walking with purpose. It told him one thing.
There’s something wrong. The big bastard must have called them in. That’s why they’re here. That’s why they’re coming in so early.
Something happened, and he hoped that it didn’t include him.

The group of six people reached the front doors and each of them came inside. They were all talking with a much older man, with fast white hair, and wearing a fine looking dark blue suit, and he seemed to lead the group. He was obviously the one in charge.

“I told you that it must be him?” The older man came in the lobby with the others following him closely.

Jimmy bowed his head some, watching them come in. His mind raced harder and his thoughts became ragged.
The bastard must have told them about me being in the labs. He must have told them that I wasn’t doing my job. Did they find out that I looked up personal information on the computer? Was it me that they were talking about?
He had so many questions. He had no answers.

The group left the front doors and headed straight to the stairs. They didn’t look at him once. They continued with their conversation as they walked up them to the second floor.

“I’m telling you Mister Ross, he hasn’t left this place since coming here,” the large, blonde haired man answered. His voice sounded angry, but at the same time, he sounded worried. He had fear behind his words, and he carried it in his actions.

“It has to be him? Things have been quiet for too long. Things like that don’t happen, and I don’t believe in co-incidents,” the older man continued with his voice raising some as they reached the second floor.

Jimmy watched them disappear. His heart sank as he realized they passed him by. Hell, they never even looked at him once.

“I’m telling you Mister Ross, he hasn’t left the site.” He could hear the large man state from somewhere above him.

He didn’t completely relax until he was sure they were gone. Then he breathed. Then he blinked.

I wonder what that’s about.
He looked back to the screens.
If they weren’t talking about me, then who the hell were they talking about?
He wasn’t sure what to do next, so he stood up from the counter and walked to the stairs. He took the right railing with a slightly trembling hand and looked up to the second floor with equally trembling eyes.
If it wasn’t me they’re here to see, then who?
Only one other person came up quickly in his thoughts.
Collins? They have to be talking about Collins.
He was, quite frankly, the only other odd thing in the building that he knew about.
I wonder if it has anything to do with him.
If that was the case, than he should try to help him.
Collins is a cool guy. What do they want with him?
He started to worry. He did like the man. He looked odd yes, he acted semi weird true, but all in all, he thought he was all right.
Collins offered to help me. Maybe I should follow them, and see if I can help him?
It sounded like a good idea, even though he still didn’t know what he could do to help him.

Without thinking further, he slowly walked up the stairs, and when he reached the top step, he could see the group down at the end of the hallway straight ahead of him. At the very end of it, he watched the group then turn right.
They’re heading to the labs.
He stopped. He stared. He wondered.
If it is him they’re talk about, than I have to do something. I have to help if I can.
He decided.

He left the stairs, and walked slowly. He moved with purpose. At the end of the hallway, he stopped at the corner of the intersection, and there, he looked right and peered silently around the corner. He could see the group turn left. They never once looked back.  

They’re heading there all right.
Slowly, he slithered around the corner and moved on. At the next intersection, he stopped again and peered around the corner to the left. He watched the group turn right. He continued, came to the right turn, and looked again. The double doors were there on the right. They walked right to them and opened the doors. He watched the doors close with a silent click.

He kept to the wall, and slid along it with his back, trying hard to be quiet as he reached the double doors and stopped. He looked through the window in the door, and from there, he could see the group continue down the hallway and then turn right.
They’re heading towards his room.
Using his card, he placed it to the keypad and opened the door.

He continued on, following the group. He turned each corner like the one before it, and each time, he could see the tail end of the group turn and head away from him. He continued moving on, came to the intersection, and there he stopped. He could see the group at the double doors leading to Collins’ room. He heard the beep of the keypad and heard the doors open, and then heard them close again. He slithered, and slid over to the door, put his back to the wall, just to the right of it, and from there, he could hear their voices. He could hear them talk.

“We know you’ve been getting out,” he heard a deep man’s voice say. He believed that it had to be the older man, with the fine suit. “We just don’t know how you did it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about? I haven’t gone anywhere. How could I? You’ve locked me in here since you brought me here.” He heard what he believed to be Collins’ voice say next.

“So, you’re telling me that those deaths had nothing to do with you?” the older man’s voice came in. He sounded worried and completely unsure of himself. He sounded almost like he was a parent that had just found out that their child was sneaking out at night.

Listening, it made him even more worried for his friend.
What the hell are they talking about? Why are they treating him like that?
He sighed heavily, and winced with a slight moan.

“There are more of us than you’ll ever know, Mister Ross. How would I know who could have done that to those people?” Collins’ voice said. “All I know is that I haven’t done anything.”

“How many of you freaks are out there?” another voice came in, deep and sounding rather unforgiving.

He recognized it as the big guy with the blonde hair that threatened him last night. He could never mistake that voice, or the chill it gave him when he heard it.

“Freaks huh?” Collins came in, and a laugh came out. He sounded sharp and powerful with it, almost controlled “You would like to know that, wouldn’t you
pretty boy
?” His voice grew somewhat harsh with a snarling restiveness within it.

He leaned against the wall.

“Yes I would, you son of a,” the big guy growled.

“Gentlemen please?” the older man came in. “There’s no need for any of this?”

“This bastard has had it in for me ever since I came here.” Collins’ voice remained strong and unwavering.

He admired the sound. He wished that he could sound like that when he needed to.
The little guy is tough. Maybe he can help me after all.

“I said enough of this,” the older man, Mister Ross, winced. His voice sounded forgiving, and again, he sounded almost like a parent, but this time, one that needed to separate two siblings from a fight.

A collective sigh came from the room.

“You’re being truthful about not being the one?” Mister Ross obviously sighed as well. “You’re telling me that you haven’t gotten out?”

“I’ve been nothing but locked up in your little cage here,” Collins said as footsteps cast about the room. “I’ve been here being a good little boy.”

“Something is doing those things, and you’re the only one that we know about?” the blonde haired guy spoke again.

“Hey man? It isn’t me,” Collins said. “I haven’t done stuff like that for a long time. I won’t. I can’t”

“Good.” The older man seemed to wince. “I don’t want to have to lock you up again.”

“Mister Ross?” the big guy spoke.

Collins interrupted him. “What the hell do you call this?”

“Remember, you came to us on this? When we met you in New York City, you came to us?” the older man stated coldly. 

“I didn’t come to you to be a rat,” Collins sighed. “I came on good faith, and you guys keep fucking it up.”

“How dare you?” the big blonde-haired guy blared.

Jimmy started to hate the sound of his voice. It sounded pompous. It sounded spiteful. Hearing that, he hated him now more than ever.

“Gary, would you please shut the hell up!” the older man raised his voice to a boom.

Jimmy smiled. He loved hearing that. If he could only have seen his face when he was blasted at like that, it would have been worth it. He wished the windows in the doors weren’t mirrored. He would have loved to see it.

The big guy huffed.

Jimmy smiled again.

Satisfied, Mister Ross began again. “No you didn’t come here for this, I understand that. We’ve made you comfortable. We’ve given you everything you’ve ever needed. We will not risk exposure on this, Mister Collins. We won’t risk all that we’ve accomplished up until now.”

Another sigh came.

“I’ve upheld my part of the bargain. How about you guys do the same? When am I going to start seeing some results?” Collins voice sounded more distant.

He must have moved farther from the door.

“As soon as we can isolate the samples, we’ll get to helping you, Mister Collins. We should be able to help you with all that you wanted from us and more?”

The collective sigh from the entire room came again.

“I hope so for your sake, Mister Ross.” Collins sounded very distant.

Jimmy guessed that he had to be on the other side of the room. Maybe, he was at the wall.

“What is that supposed to mean?” the blonde man came in again. He could hear his voice turn almost sarcastic.

It sounded to Jimmy like he was having fun with what he said.
He’s enjoying it.
He looked down at his feet. His black shoes glared back at him against the white tiled floor. He didn’t understand anything that he heard so far, and it made him become unfocused some.

“Nothing really,
pretty boy
just that you can’t keep an animal locked up forever? Eventually, it’s going to want to get out. By then, you won’t be able to stop it. You won’t be able to keep it contained.”

“Are you threatening us,
freak
?”

Jimmy could tell by the sounds that the room turned tense. A lot more was happening then he would ever know about, and he felt sure of that.

“Gentlemen, please!” the older man shouted now. He still sounded contained, but he was obviously losing his patience. “When we get to being able to stop the mutation, you will get what you came here for, Mister Collins. When we get what we need, you will get what you want. You have to have patience that we’ll get there,” the older man’s voice turned calm all too easy.

“How can I trust you guys?” Collins’s voice came stronger again.

He must have moved back towards the door.

“I have not invested in to everything to have it fall apart in the end, Mister Collins. I will keep my end of the bargain. As for you—you will stay out of sight. I will not let this be ruined. I will not let this go.”

Jimmy could hear the footsteps pick up their intensity and move towards the doors. Hearing them get louder, he instinctively became nervous. When they stopped, he calmed again, and breathed a collective sigh. He couldn’t let them know that he was there. He had to be prepared to run as soon as he believed they were leaving. He just couldn’t be sure when that was.

“I gave you my word, Mister Ross. I keep my word.” Collins’ voice grew dimmer again.

“Good.”

The footsteps became louder.

Hearing them, he knew it was time to go. He moved quickly back down the hallway. He looked back every few seconds to make sure they didn’t see him. Quickly, he moved back through the double doors. Quickly, he passed the offices. Quickly, he came to the stairs, ran down them, and reached the counter all out of breath. He sat down just as he heard people talking at the top of the stairs. He pulled himself forward, flush with the desk, but didn’t look up, and just kept his eyes down low.