Reina layed on her back staring up at the ceiling above her bed, being unchained was new to her and she didn't know what to do. The sound of her metal door sliding open jolted her away from her thoughts, quickly she sat up and swung her legs off the bed.
"Easy." A voice said, Reina froze unsure if she should relax or be more tense.
"How did you get in here?" Reina asked, her hands gripping the edge of her matres.
"We're allowed to wander the wing if we wear these damn things." The man replied, pointing to the collar around his neck. Reina's eyes traced his body, he was muscular, his white t-shirt clung to his muscles, his gray sweatpants hung off of his body perfectly. He gave her a second to look him over, he leaned against the doorframe and ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair, his blue eyes looking over her malnourished body as well.
"I don't want to wear a collar." Reina replied finally, her eyes snapping back up to meet his.
"Then you can't leave your cage." He countered, shrugging slightly.
"Did he put you up to this?" Reina hissed, standing up and walking forward to stand directly in front of him.
"Who? Dr. Stoon?" He replied calmly, looking down at her.
"Who else." Reina said lowly, not fully in control of her emotions.
"No, I came by my own volition." He explained, crossing his arms. Reina turned away, running her hand through her long blonde hair, pacing around the room.
"What do you want?" Reina questioned, turning back to him.
"Figured you need someone who knows what's happening to you." He replied, his blue eyes taking in her condition.
"I don't need your help." Reina snapped, her eyes flashing green before returning to their blue/gray.
"Really? You feel lost don't you. Like you don't recognize yourself, you're trapped in your own skin, you can't control your emotions, you're fighting with something else." He began, stepping further into the room and sliding the door closed behind him.
Reina stood silently, her back turned to him, he was right... But she couldn't trust him, not yet.
"You know I'm right." He pressed, silently walking closer to her. Reina turned quickly, her eyes glowing green, her mouth open in a hiss to show her fangs, her hand raised with hooked claws ready to slash down on his face.
His hand lifted quickly, his eyes remaining locked with hers as he caught her wrist. Reina hissed again, black and orange stripes appearing on her skin, fur beginning to replace her skin. His eyes turned orange, patches of tan appearing across his skin, he leaned towards her and roared. The walls of the cell seemed to shake, Reina's eyes faltered as her facial expression softened, she stumbled back, her stripes fading away followed by her claws and fangs.
"What the hell are you?" Reina mumbled, placing her hand against the cold concrete wall behind her.
"A lion. And my name is Shane." He replied, his fangs and claws receding, followed by the tan patches on his skin.
"Reina." She replied, her eyes dimming until they went back to normal.
"How long have you been here?" Shane asked from where he sat on the floor with his back against the wall, one leg propped up with his arm resting on it.
"I'm not sure... What year is it?" Reina replied, looking at him from where she sat a few feet away on the floor with her back against her bed.
"2040." Shane replied, resting his head against the wall.
"No. That can't be." Reina chuckled, thinking Shane was joking, when he remained silent she froze. Her hands beginning to tremble as she leaned forward to look at him, her eyes wide.
"How long have you been here?" Shane repeated, tilting his head to look at her closer.
"3 years..." Reina whispered, tears burning at her eyes, she leaned back as a single tear ran down her cheek.
"How long ago did they give you the serum?" Shane asked.
"A month or two ago."
"You were given the new formula... Which explains why it's taken you so long to evolve."
"New formula? Evolve? Shane what are you talking about?" Reina questioned frantically, leaning forward again.
"I've been here for 9 years. I was given the first working formula, so all I have is heightened senses and the lion." Shane began, tilting his head back and closing his eyes.
"And me?" Reina pressed.
"You have heightened senses, and your animal, just like me... However, you also have an element." Shane explained, staring up at the concrete ceiling.
"An element?" Reina questioned, sitting criss cross.
"You're just full of questions aren't you?" Shane chuckled, shaking his head and looked back at her.
"Answer my question." Reina warned, leaning forward and glaring into his eyes.
"That attitude isn't going to get you far in this place." Shane countered, seeming unfazed by her attitude.
"Whatever. Get out." Reina growled, standing and walking over to her door. Shane leaned forward and looked at her with a questioning look.
"Are you deaf?" Reina glared, opening the door and standing beside it.
"No." Shane replied, his voice low.
"Then get the hell out." Reina hissed, crossing her arms and glaring at him menacingly.
"Don't you want a tour?" Shane asked, standing up and approaching her.
"Not really, no." She replied coldly, turning so she stood in between Shane and the rest of the cell.
"Alright, suit yourself." Shane shrugged, walking out of the cell, he stopped in the hall and turned to say something.
Reina slammed the cell door shut before Shane could say another word, she walked back to her bed and collapsed into it. Staring back up at the ceiling, her mind racing with the new information that Shane had given her.
'An element?'
Reina sat up and swung her legs over so her feet were on the ground, she looked down at her hands, her elbows resting on her knees. She closed her eyes tightly and focused on each individual part of her body, hoping something would work. After a few moments of nothing she finally dropped her hands and sighed, opening her eyes and throwing her head back. She looked down at her hands again, she jumped up and stared at the ground. Along the ground surrounding where she had been sitting, ice coated the ground and had even began spreading up the bed frame and nightstand.
"What the fuck." Reina whispered, turning quickly she headed for the door, she flung it open but the moment she attempted to walk out she was thrown back.
Reina rolled across the ground before slamming her back against the concrete wall, she rolled onto her back groaning in pain. Her eyes opened slowly, glowing green, she sat up slowly the sound of an alarm overwhelmed her senses. Four armed men came running down the hall, and stopped outside of Reinas' cell, their guns aimed at her, she looked up at them and hissed. Her flight or fight response fired up, her heart began to race, her claws scratched the concrete floor. Reina stood, snarling a warning, her fangs glinted in the bright LED light being admitted from the hallway.
"Stay back!" One of the Workers yelled, aiming his gun straight at Reina.
Orange and black stripes spread across her skin, one of the Workers seemed incredibly nervous, and Reina could sense it. She was losing control, and feeding off of his anxiety. Reina locked in on him, she stepped towards him snarling, he whimpered in fear before firing a shot that dug into the stone at her feet.
Reina saw red, she lost all control, she leaped forward, her skin ripping apart, her bones breaking.