Episode Nine News Broadcast

S hanna

I tucked Ro into bed. He's on the far side of the room from Alex, who is still licking his chops from the third steak I gave him. At least for a moment, Alex was fully himself. He looked at me with an expression of deep love, then said contritely, "I'm sorry."

How could I stay angry at him after that? God knows what's happening in his body and his mind right now. But somewhere deep inside, he's still my beloved Alex.

Chass and I are now in the living room, both of us scrolling on our phones, trying to find any source of news. Ro's firearm is between us. Every few minutes a scream or growl or maniacal yip echoes in from the street.

I'm going to see if there's any news coming from any source, then I'm going to gather the nerve to peek out the front drapes. That terrifies me, but it must be done.

When the most heinous of the changes to women's rights began happening several years back, some Americans marshaled the financial resources to buy an island in the Azores. These weren't the type of people who could afford to buy their way into the Towers. That required many millions. But there were enough like-minded people that they managed to buy the island and build on it.

They also have one of the world's only uncensored sources of news. It's the first place I try now that I'm not busy keeping my husbands from eating each other in the bedroom.

The signal is faint and there's no video, but Chass and I can make it out.

"We've been worrying about this for months," the female newscaster says.

Just hearing a female reading the news reminds me of how long it's been since women were allowed in the workplace.

"Our sources informed us that several governments had stepped up funding for genetic research. We didn't know exactly what they were experimenting on, but we could only imagine it wasn't good for the general populace. We'd been worried something was going to happen the moment all the rich and powerful were safely ensconced in their Towers."

I want to grab Chaska's hand, but we need to have immediate access to the gun, so I just put the gun on my lap and snuggle closer to him.

"The timing on this latest round of immunizations, that it was mandatory to be administered in the span of only 24 hours, that they increased the penalty for those who refused, all pointed to the possibility this was how they were going to inject the world populace with whatever they've been cooking up in their labs."

I wonder if my former lab was part of the plan. It wouldn't surprise me. My boss would do anything for the next funding dollar to come down the pike.

A human shriek pierces the night, then a female screams, "Help!"

Chass is off the couch, his hand gripping the gun as he races to the front door. Another bloodcurdling scream and then silence tells us all we need to know about the life-and-death fight going on in the street outside.

"Nothing you can do but get yourself killed," I tell him, though I'm sure he's already had the same thought.

He stands, perhaps still contemplating going out to save her, then closes his eyes, shaking his head.

"We have sources checking in with us from eleven countries around the world, including the U.S., Britain, and Canada. The mayhem seems to be everywhere."

Damn. For a moment, I'd hoped this was just an American thing.

"Early information indicates people have been injected with animal DNA. Not only bodies are being changed, but personalities. People are taking on the temperament of the animals they've been spliced with."

"Yeah, tell us something we don't already know," I murmur as I tuck myself closer to Chass who has joined me on the couch.

"Women were immunized in different centers than men. It's unclear why, but our sources believe men are being changed at a very high rate, 80% or more. Women are only changing at perhaps 10%."

"Maybe you and I are the lucky ones," Chass says, leaning to kiss the top of my head.

"Unfortunately," the newscaster continues, "it appears many females are dying soon after the injection."