Butterflies Volume II

Chapter 40

A converted farmhouse stood tucked between the forest, just as every lab Stan Edgar ran did. The stereotypical red building hid behind it a grand home, snow wrapping itself around it. As they crawled up the long drive to get there, Violet peaked her head forward to stare out the front window, catching a glimpse at the money he bathed in. What she could have had. All the world's most evil people seemed to live behind such bolstered iron gates, modestly dripping in money. Though in truth there was nothing subtle about it, just their vows to stay hushed about it all, something those with significantly less fail to do.

As they all exited the vehicle, Annie made the mistake of complimenting him. It was a mistake only because Stan admitted he rarely came, another note in his substantial worth. Violet folded her arms, trying to find fault in the home but coming back stumped. Annie was right, it was nice. And Violet found herself bitter he was still able to manage such wealth. It was Victoria's home too, her favourite home. No wonder she was able to do so well.

Billy stepped forward, noticing that the door was left open. He turned back to Violet and M.M., the two of them shifting to grab weapons. Billy headed inside first, followed by Violet, who let her hands dance purple at her sides. Though the interior was silent, no trace of a person in sight. All except a red handprint on a side door. It dripped, fresh, leading them to a trail.

It seeped down the walls, against beige. Although in small increments, it still flashed Violet back to the facility, leaving an odd feeling in her stomach. It wasn't often that she thought about it, only that it melted together with every other nightmarish thought she had. But still, she felt a finger around the space that was painted, wondering who it belonged to. It led them down to the basement, handprints like a Children's painting.

What they found, sent a lurch up Violet's spine. Clear plastic blocked their way, the splattering of blood coating it. Billy lifted it to the side and looked in, Violet close on his heels. She darted her eyes around, expecting a figure, expecting a person. The walls were covered in the plastic, protecting the stone that stood underneath it. Two hazmat suits hung beside them, the ghosts of whoever wore them still present in the dark holes of the eyes. Tables and equipment dotted the space, a small secret lab. Ironic. And the blood followed it, damning the scene but causing almost no damage at all.

"What is all this?" Annie questioned when she entered, followed by Stan and Kimiko.

Stan looked around confused, "I'm as surprised as you are."

Despite his property being turned into a DIY laboratory, he had no prior knowledge. Violet shot her head round to him, expecting him to be lying. But the shock on his face was just the same as theirs. There were several cages, all with fluffy remnants of occupants. And lying on the ground, falling into a drain, running from her, was a bottle of compound V. Violet gazed down at it, her stomach swirling, feeling the weight of whatever happened bare down at her. The compound V shunned itself away from her, her blood once again being the cause of violence she had no knowledge of. Guilt settled in like a familiar sickness.

Billy tapped her arm gently, pointing at one cage. A bunny wiggled its nose at them, its soft fur contrasting the jagged scene around them. Violet didn't need a reason to feel worse, to look into the eyes of one of the victims. Temp V was running through a tube into its veins, Billy giving her a squeeze before he approached it. He put his gun down and opened the cage, gently pulling the tube from its soft fur. Quietly he lifted it up, spinning around and letting it hop out the back door. Violet could have waved it off, if she wasn't imagining its scared cries for help.

When Billy turned back around, he noticed Violet's distant look, but also the smile Kimiko gave him. It was little moments like that his friends got to see who he really was. He hoped Kimiko could see briefly what Violet saw, what he wanted to be.