Example

It was Ethan and Madelyn who came to get Avery. Madelyn waited outside the room while Ethan helped Avery to get up and fully dressed. Avery had taken some of the pills that Soren left him, but the shot of painkillers had worn off and the pills were not nearly as effective. Avery was feeling like he had been run over and the throb of pain in his neck was almost strong enough to distract him.

"Where are we heading?"

Avery followed Ethan out of the room. He had refused help, he wanted to walk it himself.

"Outside. The boss wanted everyone there and it was the best place."

Madelyn's eyes narrowed as she looked at Avery, "Why are you going? It's obvious you should be resting. You could tear your stitches by moving around too much."

"Soren wanted me there."

Avery's first impulse was to lower his head in response, but Soren's words from before whispered through his mind and he stopped. It was anger, instead, that awakened in him.

"So, because Soren told you to go you're going to force yourself to go?"

"I have no right to refuse him when he owns me. Soren is also the only one whose approval I seek, so fuck off."

Madelyn opened her mouth to say more but Ethan stepped forward, hand raised.

"It's best you not anger the boss. You've been lucky enough to only see his nicer side. I've seen what Avery has."

"He would be mad that I talked to Avery?"

Ethan laughed and it was more bitter than humorous, "The boss doesn't do mad. I've run with some scary people and spent time in prison, none of them scare me the way he does. Hell, the first day we met he beat me up. He didn't even put forth an effort, just fucking played with me.

"If you want to push it, talk to the boss yourself, but stay out of his business."

Madelyn bit her lip but did not say anything further.

"However scary he might have seemed while feral, it's nothing compared to what he is while he's conscious of his actions."

Avery spoke softly as he gave Madelyn a hard look then turned to Ethan. Ethan nodded in agreement when Avery turned to look at him. Avery nodded back then turned his attention to the stairs before him.

Avery paused for a moment at the top of the stairs before carefully stepping down. He set the pace as the other's followed behind him. When they made it outside they found a crowd of people in the front yard. Avery knew that they had expanded who was there, but had not realized the scope of it until everyone was gathered in one place.

The only ones who were missing were the children. They had been put to bed early. What Soren had planned for this impromptu meeting was not something small children should see. Bentley Marsh and Rick Baun were there as they were deemed old enough at sixteen and thirteen, respectively.

Once everyone was there Soren stepped forward and addressed the group. His voice carried well, even at the back where Avery sat on the steps with Ethan and Madelyn.

"I'd like to start by thanking everyone for coming. I know that a lot of things have happened in a short time. Our everyday normal has been upended and odds are good that this will be our new normal."

Soren moved into a similar speech he had given the small group from Culton. Avery's attention was on the people, though, and not on what Soren was saying. The crowd of people were looking at Soren with reverence. Soren had, in some way, saved all of them from a fate worse than death.

He could tell the moment that Soren told them that he was not human, that his people were not human. He could almost feel the wave of emotions that passed through the crowd. There were low murmurs and gasps, wide eyes and partially opened mouths. But then it happened; the looks of reverence over took the shock.

The mask that Soren wore was one of a savior. The humans sitting and standing before him had been through hell, and had been pushed to the edge of hope. Soren had given them a safe place to stay, offered protection and food security. It was clearly written on every face that they would stay even if he had just confessed to being a monster.

"I will understand if any of you wish to leave after such a revelation. None of us will stop you if you do and we will give you food to take with you as well.

"Now, this is the part that requires no children to be around. I wanted everyone to see exactly how an evolved comes to be. It's not something that just anyone can do, it takes a lot of willpower and strength. Mason here has volunteered for a position as an evolved and has been approved."

Mason stepped out of the crowd and moved to stand by Soren. Issac stepped out as well and stood on the other side of Mason, a small container in his hand. Soren looked at Issac and nodded after he confirmed that Mason was ready.

Issac took out a syringe and sunk the needle into the flesh of Mason's arm.

"This part isn't pretty, so be prepared, but know that I will not allow anything bad to happen."

Issac drew out the syringe after he injected it's contents. Mason's body started to shift in front of them and he cried out. To many of the people there it was a familiar sight. At least one person they had been around had mutated that fateful morning. It was an unnerving sight for those gathered.

Once the change was complete Soren gave Issac a nod. Soren had placed a hand on Mason's chest and was growling at him, keeping him in place. Issac took out the second syringe and injected it. Mason screamed as the second transformation took place. It was the kind of scream that crawled up the spine and caused the brain to shut down.

A moment later Mason was back to looking human and collapsed to his knees. Soren crouched next to him.

"How do you feel?"

Mason opened his eyes and looked at Soren, "Tired, hungry."

Soren smiled and stood, he offered a hand up to Mason who took it and stood. Soren patted him on the back and directed Issac to take him inside. They had food ready for Mason. Soren turned back to the crowd, his eyes took in everyone there, even Avery in the back. Soren gave a small nod when his eyes locked with Avery then his attention went back to the crowd.

"Before anyone asks; no, this cannot be used on those who have mutated. The longer a person has spent time as a mutated the less likely it is for them to come back. They could be made to look human again but they would act no different than a mutated. I've seen what that looks like and it's not pretty.

"So, unless it can be caught right away there is no hope. The evolved who are with me either volunteered or I was lucky enough to come across them right after they mutated."

In the back Ethan snorted, which caused Avery and Madelyn to look at him.

"Boss used me as an example for a doctor, didn't get a choice."

Avery stood with a wince and started to move toward the door, the other two got up and moved with him.

"I'm going back to my room."

"Are you sure it's ok?"

Madelyn asked as she glanced back at Soren.

"I have permission. The speech is pretty much done."

Madelyn bit her lip and nodded. Ethan offered to help Avery when the other stumbled while walking, but Avery refused. He would rather chance a fall than accept help. When they finally made it upstairs Madelyn excused herself and went to the room she now shared with Fry. Earlier in the day, while Avery had been sleeping, Madelyn had been moved to Fry's room. Mason and Issac were now using the room that Madelyn had been using. The bed had been moved, with cots brought up for Mason and Issac.

Avery was out of breath by the time he stumbled to the bed. Ethan waited until Avery was laying in bed before he closed the door and left. Avery shifted to a sitting position after the door was closed and reached over to the bottle of pills. He started to shake out the recommended number of pills and found that he could not stop. Before he knew it he had emptied the contents of the bottle into his hand.

He stared at the handful of pills, the room lit dimly from the room in a way that left the pile of pills bathed in shadows. Avery laughed as he dumped all but three pills back into the bottle and placed the bottle back on the table. He washed the pills down with the glass of water that had been sitting next to the bottle.

Avery laid back down and turned his back to the bedside table as he pulled the blanket up and closed his eyes. Sleep eluded him for a long time as his brain replayed the death of his friend and the look on Soren's face when he had been feral and coming at Avery.