“We went through a lot of trouble to find you.” He drew out a syringe. “I need 10 ccs of your blood. Remove your jacket and roll up your sleeves.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She muttered. “Who knew I’d be kidnapped by some weird blood bank collector?”
He grabbed her arm and like a seasoned phlebotomist tightened a rubber tourniquet above her elbow and poked the needle through her vein. Too cold to struggle with a man built like a wrestling champion, she remained still. He drew out a vial of blood and capped it.
“Wait. Is it because I survived Ebola?”
He smiled, in a sinister, evil scientist sort of way. “We don’t give a rat’s ass about Ebola.”
“Okay, so you are not into humanitarian causes, or creating a biological weapon. Why do you need a blood sample? Don’t you already have my DNA?”
“A simple confirmation test. Nothing to concern you.” He handed the vial to another man. “Test it.”
“Yes, sir.” He took her blood sample and left the cave into the snow. Odd. No testing kit inside the cavern?
“Just to let you know, I don’t have any STDs,” she snarked.
“Rest Rachel, our master will explain if the test is positive.”
Master? Where was conspiracy Jim when she needed him? She scowled. “And if the test is negative?”
The big man in charge smiled and left with all but one man. Her guard.
At least they hadn’t required a urine sample. A few minutes later, the men outside the cavern cheered. Her blood results? What could make them so happy out there in the snow?
The leader returned; a broad smile on his face. He took out his mobile. He frowned. “Damn. I can’t get through!”
“Sounds like you had good news to tell your master.” Rachel fished for information.
“Fortunate for you, the test turned out positive.”
“Positive for what?” What tools had they used for blood analysis? And why did they step outside in the middle of a snow storm to run such a test?
“Like I said, you will learn soon enough.”
A goon called from outside the cave. “Sir, we just spotted a bear.”
&
nbsp; Rachel snarked, “Must be the Yeti, since bears are hibernating.” He shot her a scolding look. “You know, sleep in the winter and wake in the spring.” The leader sniffed the air. “No, it’s a bear.”
Odd, he acted more canine than human. The phrase is seeing is believing not smelling is believing. If bears had a strong odor, she’d never experienced it. “I say Yeti.”
He regarded her. “Come, let’s take a look.”
Rachel followed him out and joined him and his men. Iced air slapped her face, but she didn’t retreat. She turned her attention to where they stared through the fog of falling snowflakes.
A monstrous bear stood above them. She’d expected to see a small Himalayan black bear, not a large brown bear. More people claimed to have seen the Yeti than the extremely rare Himalayan brown bear.
Apparently, they had chased it out of its cave and disturbed his hibernation. No wonder it was pissed. “He wants his cave back.” The beast turned its head and stared at her. Why was it focused on her? Obviously, her scent was different than the men’s.
The leader scowled. “The smell is wrong.”
Rachel sniffed, thinking she would get a whiff of something similar to a wet dog, but nothing. “How can you smell it from this distance?”
He snapped at her. “Get inside!”
“Fine. But I bet it’s not going to give up its den.” Rooting for team bear.