Monster Like You

Chapter 21

No matter how much he grumbled, Nathaniel had already fallen in love with his new life. He liked his job, and liked the opportunity to move freely. He understood that Corps was looking out for him and that Gervase's offer was dictated by a desire to keep him close, but it seemed a fair enough deal. After all, he could have been left in the basement or killed. I should have been grateful.

However, from time to time he was overwhelmed by longing, anger and a desire to quit. Or even better - take the documents and money and escape. If he wasn't sure that they would find him anyway and "close" him again, he might have done so.

While Nathaniel was in no hurry to make sudden movements. Maybe Vet is right, and they all just need time? First of all, he himself. Once he sincerely believed that he was the real Nathaniel Bond...

This faith was burned out of Cori Penn with a hot iron. She managed it so well that every time he was addressed as the other one, he caused almost physical pain. But perhaps it will pass over time. Everything passes.

Kiaran either realized it himself, or someone told him what had changed Nathaniel's mood so dramatically on Friday night, but on Monday he looked a little confused. However, he did not raise the topic of the party, he only talked about work. Nathaniel wasn't eager to discuss it with anyone either. It was enough that he opened up with Vet. He didn't even want to start figuring out why he did it.

On Tuesday night, Nathaniel couldn't sleep. Due to the accelerated regeneration, three hours were enough for him to get a full night's sleep. For almost two years of existence, he was used to falling asleep around one in the morning and waking up after four in the morning, but this time Nathaniel tossed in bed longer than usual, and still could not fall asleep.

That's why, when the floor creaked softly in the living room, he heard and became alert. He had no pets, no other tenants in the apartment either, the sound insulation was excellent, so the noise could not come from somewhere outside, the floors and walls did not creak by themselves either, Nathaniel had no doubt about that.

He sat up in bed and listened. There was definitely an outsider in the apartment. And not even one, Nathaniel decided after a couple of seconds. He could not imagine who and why could get into it, but the invasion did not bode well.

Trying not to make a sound, he quietly got out from under the covers, got out of bed and hid behind the closet that stood at the entrance to the bedroom. Just a few moments later, two men entered his room, dressed from head to toe in black, and therefore almost indistinguishable in the dark. Their faces were hidden, and they were holding some sticks in their hands - Nathaniel couldn't make out what they were.

The uninvited guests very quickly realized that the bed was empty and exchanged glances. They hadn't seen Nathaniel yet, but finding him was a matter of seconds. The only thing he could do was strike first.

Nathaniel Bond was once really good at hand-to-hand combat. Over the years of service in places like North lands, this has saved his life more than once. After retiring from the army, he abandoned training, wanting to separate himself as an investigator from himself as a soldier.

But those who resurrected him in Penn's laboratory needed a soldier. His training resumed. Now that he was helped by the chameleon's strength and speed, his results were even better.

The stranger who stood closest to him took out of the game with one precise blow to the temple, but the second managed to prepare for the attack. Nathaniel immediately found out what kind of sticks the attackers were holding in their hands: they were tasers.

The powerful discharge cramped the muscles, darkened the eyes. If Nathaniel had been an ordinary person, he could have "turned off", but the nature of the lizard coped with the damage in the blink of an eye, returning the body to full combat capability. He also managed to neutralize the second attacker quickly enough.