The Only

Chapter Twenty-Four - Karl

Karl zipped the body bag closed around Miranda. Her bright red hair disappeared behind the harsh, black plastic.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

He didn't need to do an autopsy. It was evident how she died. But he did want to know what synthetic drugs she was taking. Perhaps he'll take some samples to study later?

Dreadful.

That's what emotions did to you — caused madness. That was the risk you took when you displayed feelings so openly. It was best to keep any sentiment to yourself. Sharing only resulted in vulnerability, and vulnerability led to, well, apparently, death.

Karl turned away from the body to see where in the large room he could store the gurney. Miranda would have to lie quietly until a pyre could be built. That's all the instruction Erol gave, that Nocturnes are almost always cremated since their bodies take a very long time to decompose.

"Put her over in that corner," Monty said, taking a break in his pacing vigil over Cesar. "That's all she deserves."

Since the Witness, Monty hadn't left the lab, wanting to spend as much time with Cesar as possible. For the last hour, he had marched across the floor as if he were a sentry on duty.

Karl hated the intrusion.

It disrupted the energy in his lab, distracting him from his work. "I told you, I'll text you if there is any change. Cesar is resting now. That's what's important. Go ahead and take care of your business."

"No," Monty said, pausing in his patrolling. "I'll stay. He needs me."

He needed protection was more like it. Come to think of it, it was probably best that Monty remain in the lab. With all the stuff that was happening, it was good to know that there was some muscle nearby in case someone wanted to rip out Karl's throat or break his neck.

A low moan came from the bed.

"Brother!" Monty sprinted to his side.

Cesar smacked his lips. "Water," he whispered. "Some water please."

Karl rushed over to the sink, ignoring Monty's incessant snapping. Careful not to spill any, he made it to Cesar's side and helped him drink.

After several sips, Cesar eased himself back down on the bed and sighed. "I...I..."

"Shh, don't talk," Karl said. "We got him Cesar. We got Erol."

Cesar grabbed the sleeve of Karl's lab coat. "It was Erol, but it wasn't." His voice cracked. "It was a ruse. A changer who takes another human's form."

Monty sucked in his breath. "That is forbidden! Changing human form causes madness. It is strictly against The Way."

"All must be careful," Cesar said with a nod.

"You must rest, Brother."

"I will heal. Whoever attacked me didn't anticipate my strengths due to combined genetics. He killed Yasmin," his eyes filled with tears, "but he couldn't kill me. One thing about being the only one of your kind is that others repeatedly underestimate you."

Karl's hand shook as he moved to set down the glass of water. Only one of his kind? What if you're not one of a kind? What if Neima isn't the only one?

Cesar closed his eyes and began to drift off.

"Wait." Karl prodded Cesar's arm.

"Let him rest," Monty said.

Karl ignored him and gave the patient a shake. "Cesar, where are Roland's blood samples?"

"The imposter took them," he replied groggily, and then fell asleep.

Karl rushed to the refrigerator and yanked it open. The vials clearly marked Yasmin, Lucas, Sebastian, Reza, and Erol were missing. But the vials he labeled into test groups were intact, including all the ones extracted from Neima. Obviously, the killer didn't grasp Karl's logic.

The doctor smiled and stifled a laugh. The killer clearly had an inferior mind.