Instinct - Season 1

Episode 12

When they returned to the base for their last night, they stayed up late and talked quietly amongst themselves. Soon, only Candace and Jane were left awake.

"Can we take a walk?" she asked, "I'm feeling restless."

"What?" Candace asked, "You look exhausted." It was true. Jane's eyes were glazed over with red circles underneath. She looked much older than she actually was. Candace was concerned, and realized that this would be a perfect time for the two of them to talk.

Jane looked at her a moment longer as if trying to get Candace to understand.

"Alright," Candace stood and headed for the door. They were both very careful not to wake the others.

When they reached the edge of the base, Candace threw up her hands lightheartedly. "This is as far as we go."

She turned to face Jane, but as soon as she did, Jane's hand flew up and her fist met with Candace's nose. Blood immediately gushed from her nostrils.

"Hey! What the?!"

Candace was shocked, but she regained her composure enough to dodge the next hit. Jane was throwing all of her weight into her punches. She wasn't holding back. Candace's mind raced to try and remember if she had done anything for Jane to be so angry about.

Candace realized suddenly that something was really wrong with Jane. Her eyes weren't glazed over because she was tired. No. It was a form of compulsion. Someone was controlling her.

"Jane, snap out of it!" Candace shouted, suddenly panicked. The others were asleep, and she knew she wouldn't be able to defeat Jane alone without one of them becoming seriously injured. She didn't want to fight Jane. She wasn't herself. Candace was on the defensive as Jane continually threw attacks in her direction. Candace continued to dodge as Jane became even more vicious, rabid even. "It's me, Candace. We grew up together... Any of that ring a bell?"

It was no use. There wasn't even a flicker of a response from the real Jane. Candace couldn't keep up with dodging the attacks. At some point, she was going to have to fight back. Candace cringed as she threw her first punch. It made a sickening crunching sound as her knuckles met with Jane's jaw. Candace hadn't expected her punch to be that dead on. It seemed as though Jane's reflexes weren't as good through her compulsion.

Jane stumbled back, but the pain didn't seem to register for her. "Not good," Candace breathed. Jane spun around, and Candace couldn't get out of the way fast enough. Jane's leg came crashing into Candace's side. She heard the same crunching sound, but this time it was louder, and the pain was her own. Candace went down on one knee. She put her hand on the ground to stabilize herself. She could barely think though the pain, and she could taste blood rising up in the back of her mouth.

Jane stood for a moment. Candace looked up into her eyes, and for a moment she didn't seem fully awake. All too soon, Jane stepped forward, and Candace stumbled to her feet, backing away. Jane struck out again, and this time, when Candace dodged, it felt like someone was ripping out her stomach.

Candace sensed Landen before she saw him. He stood on the far side of the trees looking at them from across the field. He rubbed his eyelids as if trying to determine whether this was a dream or reality.

It finally occurred to him that something was seriously wrong. He ran up to them.

"What's going on?!" He asked.