f the jackal cuts through the dark still night as the moon hangs overhead...the haunting call of a lone owl outside the bungalow does little to erase the images

o come to terms with what she saw, struggles to understand...so many questions but no answers. No one to answer the questions that cloud her

, her mind in a whirl Eve leaves the warmth of her bed and joins the t

*

cure, held tight against the metal frame of the chair. Movement out of the corner of her eye attracts her attention and she sees a figure in a white lab coat approac

large hypodermic syringe comes into her view. Her heart pounding in her chest, breath coming in short gasps she looks up into the face that now looms over her. Her scream of absol

*

s they stand, their eyes fixed on the direction of the disturbance...and then silence. She strains to hear movement from the metal shed, but all is now quiet, the cats relax and a shudder moves through her muscular body...she needs to check on the creature and at the same time Eve realizes

ny sound of danger coming from the direction of the metal hut. The sunlight greets her, warm on her hairless face and together with the two cats she slowly makes her way tow

g into her and it snarls in her direction��its wicked fangs catching the sunlight. In one fluid movement, it throws itself at the bars in frenzy, struggling to get at her. Eve stumbles back as Romeo enters behind her;

id that oozes hate, rage, and fury. The Manrilla��s eyes never leave her as she backs into the doorway and closes the door��his snarls and short barks

more��the concrete cracks more and with one final push, the bar comes away from its bed, creating a small opening. The creature sits

*

eart pounding in her ears she enters the classroom, steps around the broken computer screen and makes her way towards the forbidden door��she hesitates...the doorway is still open f

oving quickly, Eve goes back to the far wall�� the wall with pictures of Eve One, Eve Two, and Eve Three��with trembling hands reaches up and removes them and stores them in a pock

f keys until she finds one that fits the slot, and lets the chain holding the gate closed fall to the ground��the gate swings o

*

he was born behind bars. Eve grunts encouragement to the chimp, urging the animal out, and then using sign language tells the chimp that it is free. Looking at Eve with both terror and wonder in its eyes the chimp slowly moves out through the open gate and the last Eve sees of it is as it disappears over the fence and into the thick foliage of a large tree.

he has no idea what waits for her on the outside, but it can��t be worse than what is inside with her��she needs to put distance between her and the hybrid��she needs to feel safe again. Pity for the snarling rage driven animal eats into her and she approaches the hut, the sounds of Hercules smashing his ma

re will be free. With one last look at the grotesque primate that father created, she steps outside, closes the door and walks away��the sounds of the Manrilla��s rage follows her as she enters her sanctuary to be greeted by

ne thought going around and around her head����I am not animal, I��

; the sound of birds calling fills the air as the massive gate looms in front of the trio. Eve finds the keys in her pocket and hesitantly approaches the main gate leading to the outside world a large lock hol

far off distance, she hears the rage filled howls and barks of the Manrilla. A shiver runs down her spine, her hand trembles as she struggles to fit key after key into th

massive heads as they turn towards the threat. The howls die away, and Eve waits, her ears tuned to the wind, the sound of a body slamming against metal comes to her, and with relief she steps through the open gate with purpose, answering

finds the fruit, a banana tree heavy with ripe fruit��her hunger satisfied, for now, the trio move along the narrow bush trail, the gates hang op

*

n the air in the hut... once again Hercules turns his attention to the second bar...rocking it back and forth, the cement crumbles and slowly the bed anchoring it