The strange girl did not waver, did not show any signs of emotion. Riley, on the other hand, felt like his stomach was twisting around. He took a deep breath as he watched the girl. How could she not react to such a sick story?

She turned the laptop to face her. "Sir, I need you to remember every detail. What did the man look like, what did he say? Anything that can help us." She typed something as she waited for his response.

Mr. Kilhan looked between Riley and the girl. "That's it. I can't remember anything else."

The girl ignored Mr.  Kilhan as she unhooked a small silver square from the strap of her bag.  She held it out and a light flashed, leaving Riley temporarily blind.

Riley rubbed his closed eyes. "What the hell?"

"A picture," she explained.

It took a moment for  Riley's vision to adjust back to the low light of the room. When they did, they rested on his father. The large man had his arms wrapped around his body and he was rocking himself back and forth.

"Listen," Riley snapped at the girl. "My dad doesn't remember anything else. I think it's time you leave."

For the first time, Riley was certain he saw emotion on the girls face, a small smile. But when he returned his eyes to her, it was gone.

"I am not leaving without your father. I need to bring him in for further questioning."  She focused on the screen and began typing again.

"He's answered enough of your questions," Riley said.

The girl turned the laptop back around and propped it up with the bible on the table in front of them. Riley glanced down at the image.

"Watch this video," she demanded.

Riley frowned and crossed his arms. He wasn't going to play any more of her games. But his father sat forward and pushed play. Riley rolled his eyes and pretended not to care as he watched over his father's arm.

"Focus on the lower left-hand side of the screen. Under the overpass," she instructed.

https://youtu.be/dnjnAMFZnWo

Riley watched a weird flicker of movement, then a police car showed up. Then ten police cars showed up. "Are all those cops necessary for two guys? I mean seriously,  what could they possibly be doing?" he asked.

"They aren't normal men."

It was his father who spoke. That's what scared Riley the most. He stumbled over a reply, slurring his words together. "What...what do you mean  dad?"

"Your father is right.  These are not men. They are genetically engineered embryonic mutations created in a stem cell research facility here in Miami. Over the last  year the older mutts-mutants have evolved and in many cases escaped."

Riley sat back against the couch, staring at the frozen screen. "So... what exactly are you saying?"

The girl picked up her laptop and began typing away once more. "Perhaps you should watch the news report. It will give you a better  understanding of what the public thinks." She turned the screen.

https://youtu.be/56x2zL5lAcM

Riley gagged. "He ate another man's face! Is this for real?"

"I assure you it is," said the girl.

Mr. Kilhan waved at the screen, "this is why people should not play God," he said, animating his words.

It should have made Riley feel better, watching his father slowly return to himself, but it didn't, he felt worse. Much worse.

"Why are the police saying it's Bath Salts, the drug?" Mr. Kilhan asked.

"It is in the benefit of the public to think this is drug-related. The last thing we want is a  massive uprising or panic-filled mobs."

Mr. Kilhan sat forward. "But they're lying."

The girl slid her laptop in the bag and sat, back as rigid as a metal rod, in a chair across from them. "As far as the police know, that is what happened."  She placed a hand on each knee. "Sir, if the public were to find out  about the experiments  we would lose financial backing  and have to close our doors."

"That doesn't sound like such a bad thing," Riley mumbled.

She sent him a quick  glare and continued. "I don't need to remind you about the numerous  medical breakthroughs stem cell research has garnered, or the many lives  saved. If we close the centre, Sector 54 and all other services that  keep the general public safe, will be terminated."

She let her words hang in the air, leaving Riley and his father to absorb the gravity of what she said.

Riley felt sick. The center must have created some horrid things to have to fund public security groups like Sector 54. And by the sounds of things Sector 54 is not the only one they financially back. There were man-eating mutations running around the streets of Miami, and out of sheer luck, his father had not been harmed by one of them. What else could there be? He needed to know more, he had to know more.

"What exactly is Sector 54?" Riley asked.

"It is what we call those responsible for finding and disposing of the mutts," she explained.

"Disposing?" Mr. Kilhan asked.

"Yes, killing," she said without a trace of remorse. It was a living thing she was hunting.  Riley had been raised to believe all life deserved to live. But did this life? Did the mutts deserve life? They weren't God-made. They were man-made murderers. A shudder went up his spine. It couldn't be that bad. Could it?

"So 54, does that mean  there are 53 other horrid experiments gone wrong and 53 other Sectors  created to stop them?" Riley joked, hoping to lighten the pressing panic  growing within.

She did not reply.

He looked to his father, whose expression appeared equally concerned. "There isn't 53 other Sectors is there?" Riley repeated.

"I'm afraid that's classified information."

"Excuse me?" Riley stood and put himself in front of his dad. "Classified?"

"Sir, Please understand..." she began.

"It's not Sir. It's Riley."

"All right, Riley, please understand I'm here to protect you and your father."

"You?" he said as he raised an eyebrow taking in her small frame.

Mr. Kilhan pushed Riley out of his way. "Don't be rude, son." He gave Riley a stern look before  turning his attention back to the lady.  "What do we need protection  from?" he asked.

"The mutations," she  said as she looked at Riley's hands that were clenched into tight fists.  "It was recently discovered that they have the genetic urge to terminate  any threats."

Both Riley and Mr.  Kilhan looked confused so she continued. "In the natural order of things  if a bear was threatened it would attack. Thus the circle of  animal hierarchy is made, the strongest survive." She glanced back  down at her bag and Riley wondered if she was thinking of something else  to show them.

"Listen Lady," he said,  feeling weird for calling someone so close in age to his lady. "Just  tell it to us straight. You're confusing me."

"We believe that the mutation you hit, Mr. Kilhan, is searching for you."

"Pardon me?" Mr. Kilhan clutched the side of the couch as he waited for her to explain.

"We feel," she cleared her throat, "that the mutation felt threatened by you, attacked if you will."

"I see," said Mr. Kilhan.

Riley felt his heart pound against his ribs. "But my dad's ok right? I mean the cops arrested the...the guy."

The strange girl looked away.

"The cops do have him don't they?" Riley pressed

"Unfortunately..." she paused, looking at Riley then Mr. Kilhan, "... it managed to escape."