Chapter 17: Reveal

The Present:

After Ferral pressed the button, it began rapidly blinking a blue light. He looked around to see if something would happen, but nothing did. So while it continued blinking, Ferral sat on the remains of a large water fountain. It was already eleven o’clock at night, and the moon's waning gibbous shone brightly through the clouds. He exhaled as he closed his eyes while waiting, ready to pick up any sudden sound. Ferral waited for another hour before opening his eyes and hearing the sound of something coming. As they approached, a large cloud drifted over the moon, shrouding the island in darkness. It was a man. The rattlesnake experiment, Jack. As he got closer, Jack was met with the silhouette of Ferral sitting on the fountain, his crimson eyes piercing through the dark.

“Well well, don’t you look menacing.” Jack joked. Ferral scoffed as he got up, “Took you long enough.” “Sorry, we weren’t expecting you to respond so soon.” “Whatever, let’s go.” As Ferral was about to walk past Jack, he moved before him. “First things first, kid. I’m gonna need that cellphone of yours. Privacy reasons, you know.” He stuck out his hand, but Ferral smacked it away. “I already took care of that, now c’mon.” Ferral followed Jack as they walked to the edge of the island. Once they got there, a small submarine-like vehicle sat in the water. Jack walked toward it, “C’mon, kid. It’s a two-seater.” “You guys really have stuff like this?” Jack opened the top part of it and sat in the front seat. “You’d be surprised just how more advanced the Organization is compared to the rest of the world.” He told Ferral as he jumped into the back seat. “It’s a wonder how they’ve never been caught.” Jack pressed a red button on the sub’s control panel, closing the hatch. “Like I said, we keep things to ourselves. Everything close to the chest.” He started the sub and started turning its two-handle wheel to the side, making it move. Then, he pushed it forward, the sub bursting forward through the water. It was fast, going at least 200 mph, Ferral thought.

“So kid,” Jack started, “What made choose to come with us?” “I have a goal, you’re gonna help me achieve it,” Ferral replied, “Simple as that.” “Must’ve been hard leaving hard leaving all your friends, am I wrong?” Ferral turned to look out the window, “No. I had a plan to bring peace to experiments, but they couldn’t see that. I’ll do whatever it takes, even if I have to give up my soul.” “That’s a large price to pay.” “If it works.” Jack chuckled, and the two sat in silence for the rest ride. It only took them an hour to reach their destination, Jack stopped the sub and pressed another button that started pushing them to the surface. They were in front of another island, this one surrounded by large palm trees, lush green grass, and a massive skyscraper right in the center.

“Where are we?” Ferral asked. “On a very small man-made island in Point Nemo.” Ferral gasped, “Point Nemo?! But that’s in the Pacific Ocean, and Devil’s Cove is in the Atlantic!” “That’s right. I told you, the Organization is more advanced than you think. After all, us experiments were being convinced as far back as World War 2.” The two got out of the sub and onto the land. “Of course,” Jack continued, “The first REAL experiments weren’t created and sent out into the world until 1966. They were who the normies call Bigfoot and Mothman.” Ferral was intrigued but also surprised that experiment creation had gone so far back as that. “Now in 2055, with our several secret production facilities, experiments make up 32% of the human population.” Ferral followed Jack through the small jungle and stopped in front of the large building. 

“How has no one found this place?” Ferral asked. “Well, there’s an antenna on the top of this building that hides this island from any satellites or other forms of scanning,” Jack replied, “And if anyone gets too close, certain….precautions acted out. As far as the world is concerned, we don’t even exist.” “But Atlas told the world about this organization, how has no one found this or any of the other facilities?” “The big boss of this organization has taken every form of precaution and contingency to make sure we stay hidden. Atlas’s blurt out meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.” Jack took out a keycard from his pocket and slid it across a scanner next to the door, a click sounded and the door slid open. The interior was pure white with silver linings and handrails. The building itself had at least twenty-seven stories, long catwalks connected the sides of each story. It was wide, hallways and various rooms scattered the inside with at least three elevators on each side. It seemed like a confusing place to work, Ferral thought, but maybe that was the whole point.

“C’mon, kid,” Jack said as he walked toward one of the elevators, “There’s someone who wants to see you.” Ferral followed Jack into the elevator and he pressed a button that led to the roof. It shot upward, making Ferral stumble at the speed, making it to the top in only a few seconds. They exited the elevator, Ferral looking around to see the early morning sky. It was a little over five ‘o'clock in the morning here, so the sun was barely starting to creep out. As Ferral followed Jack, he saw a man standing on the roof with them. His arms were behind his back as he watched the sunrise, clad in a black lab coat. “Hey there, boss.” Jack greeted and the man turned around. He had short ash grey most likely from old age, his eyes were a soulless black with dark circles under them, and he had a grey medium length beard. “Ah, hello Jack.” He replied in a calm but stern tone, then he noticed Ferral and his stoic expression turned into a smile. “Well now, you must be Ferral?” He walked over extending his hand. “Yeah, nice to meet you sir.” The two shook hands. “My name is Doctor Victor Stone. I’m the head of the Organization, and responsible for the creation of the last two and a half generations of experiments, including yours.”

Ferral scowled, letting go of his hand. “So, you’re the reason I’m even here in the first place.” “Now now, I know you must have a bone to pick with me, but I assure you I meant no harm to you or any of your fellow experiment’s suffering. Try not to take your anger out on me or anyone else in this building.” Ferral scoffed, “Whatever, can we get started? I didn’t come here for nothing.” Dr. Stone nodded, “Of course, but first, we should get this out of the way first.” “What’re you talking about?” Stone chuckled, “Well, I thought my slightly rugged good looks would’ve given you a hint. Ferral, my boy, I’m your father.”