Wasn't It My Right?

Chapter Eight

(Nyx's POV)

No way no how.

After all that shit I went through to escape, I end up right back where I definitely didn't wish to be. The goddamned fucking hospital. With all its needles, scientists, and a shit ton of humans. The tight feeling in my chest was suffocating. I clutched at my heart hoping to alleviate the pain.

To my left I saw Cole shift on his feet. I reigned in my emotions and let out a growl to warn him of getting close. They would NEVER get me in there. Fighting is what I do best. And I'll do what I have to in order to survive. These males thought they could just walk me right into a building without a hitch? Well they are going to get a serious fucking wake up call.

"I'm NOT going in there!!" I spat venomously as I partially shifted, sprouting a tiger tail, ears, and some faded stripes. My claws extended as I barred my lengthened fangs.

All the pedestrians in the area either screamed in fear and fled or found a place to hide for protection from the 'alien freak' in front of the hospital. All the noise was hurting my ears and kind of freaking me out. I haven't been around so many humans in a long time. It was affecting my senses plus my mental state.

Chaos resounded from all around. People were pushing and trampling all over each other. Kids were crying and shouting. I covered my ears and shook my head to try and escape the noise. I just wanted it to stop and be quiet again.

My wish must of been heard from above because next thing I know Marcus is calming the people and Cole was spouting a great bullshit lie.

"Whoa! Calm down everyone. It's just a costume and makeup. He was at a wild costume party! No need to get riled and cause a mess of things. So if you would please calm it down and go back to your day! Thank you."

I didn't take my eyes off of everything conspiring around me but slowly removed my hands from my ears. It was noticeably calmer in a matter of seconds. A few disbelieving and skeptical glances were tossed my way but nothing too major. Nothing changed my resolve though. I wasn't stepping foot in that facility. The males and River could come out here and ask the damn questions.

Ignoring Cole and Marcus trying to calm my nerves, I paced back and forth on the sidewalk. Everything is shit. Anything good that tries to happen in my life always comes back with a vengeance and unbearable pain.

I'll always be hunted. I'll always be either running or fighting to survive. Always untrusting of others, even to those that offer true help and worry for me. I'll always hold a fear deep within guiding my actions unconsciously. I don't know how I can recover. Or even IF I can recover.

'I just want it all to go away like it never happened.' I thought somewhat defeatedly as a small whimper escaped my throat.

"Shit. He's losing it Cole. We need to get River and the Doc down here. I don't think we can get him in there without a fight or further injury."

"I know, dammit! But even if we do get them down here what's to say they can get him to move either? We need to ju--." Before Cole could continue what he was saying a little girl around five walked out of the hospital doors. She seemed to of been just wandering around like most mischievous children do.

She was around 3 feet and 6 inches tall with white creamy skin and bright blue eyes. She wore a hospital gown and some matching pants. What really stuck out though, was the small pink beanie hat she wore atop her head. Instantly one could tell she had some sort of cancer from the loss of hair. It was a horrible thing to know that such innocence can be corrupted at a young age. She probably never got the chance to ride on a roller coaster or visit the zoo.

She ignored Marcus and Cole warning her to stay away from me. The males didn't know it but I'd NEVER harm or allow harm to befall any child. Especially if they were with me. What I wanted to know was why she was coming over towards me?

She was a cute little kid. Seemed like she smiled often, even with her current condition. Her smile was wide and bright giving the feeling of warmth and safety. To me, all kids gave the feeling of safety. When you can't be strong at certain points in life, they are strong for you. They change your mood when it's sour or fill you with hope when the feeling of nothingness consumes you.

Bravery. That's what I saw in her eyes as she advanced in my direction. No hesitation or fear of the reality that monsters clearly existed. Her steps never faltered and her smile always remained.

She came to a stop right in front of where I stood on the sidewalk. I stared down at the little girl wondering what she was doing and why she was here.

"Hey mistew, you have pwetty eyes. And cool kitty eaws. Aw you a kitty man? Can I touch them? Pwetty pwease?! I pwomise not to huwt 'em." She said as she clasped her hands together and shined her sparkling ocean eyes up at me, smile very prominent on her face.

I had stopped pacing the sidewalk the moment she halted in front of my path. My breathing was calmer and my muscles were visibly less tense. Kids had that affect on me. Smiling slightly I crouched down to her height and tilted my head a bit towards her for easy access.

To my amazement she didn't hesitate to touch me like most people would. Her small hands softly stroked my ears making me release all the tension still in my body. After a few minutes she stopped and I glanced at her. Her shirt had a small sticker on it with, I'm guessing, her name. It read 'Genie'. A cute and unique name to match her personality.

She noticed me looking at the name tag and giggled. "My name is Genie. I'm five! What's youw name?" She questioned with excitement as she held up six fingers.

Glancing at the males from the corner of my eye, to gage their reactions on the current situation, I found them leaning up against the hospital wall smiling gently at the scene playing out before them. They seemed a bit surprised but happy that I had calmed. They chatted quietly as they observed the girl and I.

Turning my attention back to the girl, I quietly told her my name was Nyxton and that I was indeed a cat man. This made her eyes gleam brighter than ever and a happy laugh escape her mouth. This was the first time anyone thought of me being different as a good cool thing. Children were definitely the best.

Whispering back she asked, "Aw you sick too, like me? Is dat why you came to the hospitaw?"

My ears drew back, flat against my skull. For a moment I had forgotten where I was. Talking to Genie had caused me to lose focus on the task at hand. Slowly I nodded yes to her questions.

With a face I could only describe as her thinking face, she asked another question. One I felt a five year old was too young to be asking or even thinking about. "Aw you scawed like me too? Is dat why youw out hewe?"

I stared for a moment. How could she have a mindset of an adult at her age? She should be out enjoying life but she can't. She's stuck in a hospital room with probably no friends to talk to and hourly medical treatments that are surly painful. How sad a life she is living. But she can still smile like this. That's a survivor, no question.

Shaking away my thoughts I slowly nodded once again. This caused her to smile again. She grabbed for my hand in hers and told me she will hold my hand the whole way to the doctors room that way no bad guys can get me and I won't be scared anymore. A rare real genuine smile graced my features as I stood. Tugging me into the hospital, I reluctantly followed. The males were floored by what was happening right now but followed without a word. Probably afraid it would bring me back to my senses.

'I wish.' I sadly thought to myself.

I was still very extremely nervous but if she could be strong for herself and still offer to be strong for a grown male then I could try to stay in control of my fears. It sort of worked and sort if didn't. My body would shake every now and then and I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering everywhere to look for any potential dangers. My tail lashed about striking passerby's and nocking equipment over. I didn't give a shit though. I had bigger fish to fry right now. Like the fact we were now right in front of the doctors room I needed to enter.

Genie smiled up at me and said I did good. 'Thanks squirt' I numbly thought as I released her hand with great difficulty. She gave me a surprise hug on the leg before smiling and saying, "Bye kitty man! I'll come visit you if my mommy says I can." With that a nurse took her away to her room, Genie still waving away.

Cole and Marcus had already opened the hospital room door when I turned back around. The whole team, including River and the Doc, had seen the whole thing and were now looking at me with mixed expressions. Most of them on the shocked and happy end of the spectrum. Not amusing to me in the least bit.

"Come on in Nyx. I promise we won't do anything you wouldn't like." River spoke gesturing to the room and the many chairs to sit on.

I inspected the room. It was fairly huge, especially for his whole team plus me and the Doc to all fit but have a surplus of room left over. It was white as to be expected of a fucking hospital room. Windows adorned the far wall bringing loads of warm sunshine. I missed the sunlight very much. It was still snowy and cold considering it was winter but I liked the warm cool breeze either way. All the windows were closed but one.

I'm pretty sure the males did that to help me feel not so enclosed and trapped. It helped somewhat but I was positive that feeling wouldn't leave anytime soon. I mean ten whole years in a cage is a long time.

The bland room also contained the Doc's desk stacked high with work papers, a few mini tables with lamps and a coffee table as well as a few other decor on the walls. Curtains the shade of a forest lime green hung to the side of the windows adding a pop of color. Trust me, this room needed it and more.

Maintaining eye contact with every male in the room, I maneuvered my way to the chair closest to the open window. This way I could have my back to the wall and see every movement as well as not feel so claustrophobic. I didn't sit just yet because no way was I allowing these males to be higher than my eye level. I'm alpha. No other shall be allowed to stand above me. At least, my inner beast wouldn't have it.

I stared at the males as they stared back. Some of them looking away when I started to growl from the eye contact. Challenging me would not be wise. River was the first to sit down finally realizing why I had yet to do so. The other males followed suit. After everyone had taken a seat, I tensely sat in the smallish cushioned chair flicking one of my tiger ears. I had yet to transform back to my complete human form due to the stress and fear coursing throughout my body.

"Damn, he's going to break that poor chair. How much does he weigh?" Ty joked to his teammates.

"Dunno but he ate 3 full rib packages, 2 full pork chops, 1 package of 5 chicken legs, a whole fish, and 7 steaks raw on the way back to the hospital. And he still looks hungry." Marcus explained as Cole nodded his head in agreement.

Everyone, except the Doc, gasped in shock, some disgust, and amazement then turned to me with wide eyes. I was looking out the window at the bustling humans down below as they went on with their lives when I felt the males' eyes on me.

I grunted in annoyance before standing to pace the area around the chair I previously sat on. My nerves were antsy and the room was becoming suffocatingly stuffy. The males sensed this and decided to continue on with the interrogation. Let's face it, that's exactly what it was. Well to me anyways.

"Doctor Jax could you please proceed with whatever needs to be done health wise for Nyxton while we do a little Q and A. I want to get him settled as soon as possible. Being at the hospital seems to have him on edge which is understandable considering the circumstances." River informed the Doc before turning back to me and pulling out a few papers and a brownish-yellow folder looking thing. I sniffed the air to see if I could scent what it was but got nothing but the smell of paper and ink. Must be the pen ink.

"Of course. I'll read some of the health concerns I have and about the surgery we did as well as recovery and dietary schedules and the like. First is some health concerns. Nyxton is too under weight believe it or not. Since he is not human I estimated what his weight and health should most likely be. He currently weighs around 178 pounds when he should be weighing around over 235 pounds. From what Marcus described, Nyxton is able to eat well right now. I have a roughly made up food plan that he needs to follow in order to get to the right weight range." Doc Jax explained as he handed over the paper with the food details scribbled on it to Leonard, the one in charge of cooking in the team.

"Next, the surgery went well, though we did have a few worries and bumps along the way. The bullets have been removed and all wounds sutured up. With his healing abilities he should be as good as new within two to three days max. I found an abundance of scar tissue littering every inch of his body though. The worse of the marks being on his upper torso and back. Just imagine what had to be done in order for a person with a super fast healing ability such as Nyxton to sustain scarring. It wasn't a pretty sight that's for damn sure. Those bastards were sick fucks." The doctor grimaced in disgust as the rest of the males took in the news.

I didn't give a shit what the scientist, or 'Doctor' as the others preferred, had said. I'm alive and breathing at the moment so who gives a shit about what happened in the past.

The past.

Something that should be forgotten. Buried deep where no one could find it and dig up information. Information that could break a person if given the right opportunity.

I wasn't a fan. I wanted my past to disappear and never be brought up again. Hearing about the past would make me remember. And remembering was the last thing I wanted. I was free. Why couldn't I stay that way? Wasn't it my right? At least if not as a human, possibly as a person?

I snarled at the idea as my tail lashed around. This caused a few of the males to ask me to stay calm. I abruptly halted my pacing when I heard those words. I turned in their direction and started to stalk toward them with rage boiling under my skin. Who the hell did these males, these human males, think they were talking to? Certainly better NOT be me. I snapped my teeth, displaying my emotions.

My actions caused the males to all back up and put their hands up in surrender. Trying to placate my mood was not going to save these pussies. I was mad and when I was mad I got violent. I wasn't like this before. Not until I was taken captive. I treasured life. I hated to see violence. Even worse, I hated being on the receiving end of that violence. Shielding others from violence was my goals as a young cub. Not anymore. Fend for yourself was my new life motto. If you didn't fight for yourself, no one else would. Results...? Death.

"Please relax Nyx. We didn't mean anything by it. We don't want a fight to break out if we can help it. There are sick people surrounding us. Sick children. So please calm your nerves. I'm sorry if we came across as commanding. We had no ill intentions. I promise." Ty proclaimed. I could sense no lies from him.

That was a low fucking blow. Using the sickly and children to calm the situation. They knew full well I didn't give a shit but bring up the children and it's like taking out a wild card to rein me in. Growling lowly, I fisted my hands but conceded and backed up to my original spot. My rage however, did not dissipate. Just to prove my point I flipped them all off. That earned some chuckles of amusement for sure.

Doctor Jax took up the discussion once again. "Anyways, based on observation, and as you have just glimpsed a second ago, Nyxton has anger issues." This earned a round of 'no shit sherlock' expressions.

"His inner animals do not seem to take lightly to being talked down to or challenged. Aggression is the most dominant emotion he has displayed since the rescue. There is no telling how long he will have it. Anger could just be part of his personality. We will need more time to be sure. Nyxton shows signs of PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. This will be one of the main issues I'm concerned with. Some common symptoms he displays thus far are hypervigilance, anger, and anxiety. Flashbacks and depression can occur but we have yet to witness it. I would advise everyone to not scare or startle him in anyway that will cause a bad reaction. Him being a big guy can cause some serious damage not just to himself but definitely to you too. If you witness him having a flashback call me immediately. The usual way to help patience with this disorder is to have friends and... family around. With that said, I'll let you take over River. I'll write up the rest of his information and pass you the folder when it's complete. You can pick up his prescriptions from the pharmacy down the road." Doctor Jax then proceeded to exit the room to give the team time and privacy to talk.

'And so it begins.' I thought bitterly.