THEM (Season 1): Episode 2 by M.D. Massey Page B

didn’t know about the origin of these creatures, and I couldn’t help but wonder if somewhere out there, there might be a way to send all these things back to where they came from.
    Right as I was finishing that thought, we started up the road to the vet clinic. I figured I’d better fill the kid in so he knew what he was walking into. I told him about Gabby and the doc, and why we were holed up here. I also hinted that Captain Perez might not be so keen on ’thropes.
    “Oh, that’s understandable. I mean, not all ’thropes are friendly, so I get that. I promise, I won’t make any trouble for you guys. And if things get too heavy, I’ll just make myself scarce.”
    “Well, as far as I’m concerned, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” This seemed to mollify him, and I was glad because he looked a little nervous about meeting more humans. “Just let me do the talking—I’m sure everything will be just fine, once they get to know you.”
    We walked around the back of the clinic, rounding the corner of the kennels and dog runs in order to enter through the back door. Bobby noticed all the dog carcasses and skeletons in the runs and kennels, and let out a long sigh.
    “Man, humans do some messed up shit.”
    “I agree, but I gotta say that after watching you gut that guy last night, that might be the pot calling the kettle black.”
    He stuck his lower lip out and squinted one eye. “Point taken. But you have to admit, that punter had it coming.”
    “No arguments here.” As we approached the building, the back door opened and Captain Perez walked out. Before I could open my mouth to introduce Bobby to her, she pulled out a pistol and shot him in the chest.
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[7 ]

COUNTRY
    I looked at her in shock for a moment, and then drew down on her with my HK. “Drop the pistol—now!”
    She rolled her eyes and held the weapon up for me to see. It was an air pistol, similar to ones I’d used as a kid for match competition. I looked over at Bobby to see the extent of the damage. The kid was clutching his chest with one hand, and had a syringe dart in the other. He was looking back and forth from me, to the doc, to the dart in his hand, and his eyes were sort of unfocused and glazing over.
    “Oh, man, that was so uncool.” He looked at the doc with an expression of disbelief on his face. “Man, he said you were a bitch, but I wanted to at least give you the benefit of a doubt.” Then he looked at me and shook his head. “Scratch, I don’t feel so good.” At that, the kid collapsed to the pavement.
    I looked at the doc and gestured with the barrel of my weapon. “I said, drop it.” There was a menace in my voice that I don’t think she’d heard previously. She rolled her eyes and complied.
    “Oh, relax, it’s just a sedative. He’ll be fine in a few hours. Maybe less, considering his metabolism.”
    I looked down and saw that the kid was still semiconscious, but he was definitely out of it and not having a good day. I still kept the gun on her, because frankly I was a little pissed. “Mind explaining to me why you did that?”
    “Mind explaining to me why you brought a wild animal home?” She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, her expression defying me to object. “That thing next to you is as dangerous as any large wild animal, and I’d say even more dangerous than a full-grown tiger or lion.”
    “Lions don’t wear Wayfarers and wax poetic about catching the perfect wave.”
    She rolled her eyes at me again. I was starting to get annoyed. “You might think he means us no harm, and the truth is that you may be right. However, he may not be able to help himself when the full moon rolls around.”
    I dropped the barrel of the weapon a few inches. “You sure seem to know an awful lot about lycanthropes. Mind telling me how you came by this specialized knowledge?”
    “Help me carry him in, and I’ll tell you want you want to know. But I’m not saying a word until