Gardens of Destruction

Jana awoke abruptly, disoriented at first, then the memories of the previous day’s horrific revelations flooded back. She was still in the bungalow they had been assigned, and outside, the murmured voices of passing soldiers could be heard in the cool morning air.

“Mom, there’s no internet!” Valentina complained, breaking the silence.

“You sleep a lot, mom!” Valentina remarked as soon as she saw Jana wouldn’t sleep any longer.

“And you, little one, sleep too little!” Jana replied with a gentle smile, playfully pretending to be a lioness about to pounce on her prey, making Valentina squeal with delight.

Despite her playful demeanor, Jana’s unadorned appearance wouldn’t intimidate anyone. Even her nails were were not sharp, posing no threat to a potential adversary.

Heading to the bathroom, Jana was less than pleased with her reflection. Her hair was a mess, and the bags under her eyes seemed to deepen each year. “I’m getting old,” she murmured resignedly. Jana wasn’t vain, but she liked to keep herself looking perfect, and the negligence in others always irked her. She hoped Valentina would also learn the importance of good hygiene.

“Mom, can I go outside?” Valentina yelled from the next room.

“Absolutely not without me!” Jana called back from the bathroom, strict yet caring.

“But mom, I’m bored in here! Hurry up!”

“Coming, don’t rush me, just a minute!”

Jana had to get ready quicker than she would have liked due to Valentina’s persistent urging.

Finally stepping outside, they were greeted by crisp, but chilly air, promising a fair day despite a gentle breeze.

“Good morning!” came a familiar voice.

“Good morning to you too!” Jana replied, turning to see Captain Davidson, the military man she had met the previous day.

“Is everything okay with your accommodation?” Captain Davidson asked, his tone polite but somewhat forced.

“Everything’s fine, thank you,” Jana responded, wondering what he wanted from her now. “We’re just heading to breakfast.”

“Enjoy your meal,” he said, walking away.

Mark Davidson had risen early despite a late night. He was keen to learn more about the new incidents, especially about the bird and other animals. Hoping to glean more information from Dr. Petroff, he was aware of his charm with women. Yet Jana seemed quite standoffish, probably misunderstanding his interest in her. As he watched Valentina, his eyes misted over, and he absently touched the pocket of his uniform, hoping the haunting song wouldn’t return.

After breakfast, Jana found the babysitter and began instructing her on handling the little tornado, Valentina. She doubted anyone else’s ability to manage her daughter, but the babysitter didn’t seem worried about being left alone with the girl.

“Mom, can I come with you to the lab...oratory?” Valentina tried to pronounce the word correctly. “Ugh, I hate that word, it always trips me up. I promise I won’t be in the way!”

“Remember, hating makes you ugly,” Jana chuckled. “And the answer is no. You’d be bored there quickly, I know you.”

“But mom...” Valentina began to protest.

“No whining! I don’t want to hear any more objections!” Jana’s tone shifted to sternness. “You’re going with the babysitter. You can’t miss out on your schoolwork, and you’ll be home soon. Come give me a kiss and off you go.”

“At least let me have the internet...” Valentina started, but stopped under her mother’s firm gaze.

As Jana walked through the corridors towards the laboratory, she pondered whether she was a good enough mother. Like many career-focused women, she grappled with guilt for not spending enough time with her child, fearing she was missing crucial moments of Valentina’s childhood.

“Good morning, Dr. Petroff, how was your first night here?” Professor Bernstein’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, nearly causing a collision.

“Good morning, Professor. Thank you, we’re fine. Just last night, the military tried to wake us up, but it quieted down quickly,” Jana replied, adjusting her lab coat and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yes, I’m aware. Actually, there was a good reason for the commotion. They’ve brought in more samples of that strange species.”

“Like the bird?” Jana asked, her eyes widening in surprise and curiosity.

“Exactly, two elks this time. Huge animals, but deformed in the same manner,” Bernstein relayed the story as he had heard it from General Patterson.

Jana took a deep breath, bracing herself for what she was about to see. The thought of spending the day working with these bizarre creatures was both unsettling and exhilarating.

“Well, let’s go inside!” she said with determined enthusiasm and followed Bernstein through the laboratory door.

Inside, a crowd had gathered, gaping in horror at the sight in the isolators. Jana’s own breath caught at the scale of the modifications. Forgetting her fears, she felt a rush of scientific fervor to begin her research on the deceased animals.

“Professor, could we limit the audience? I’m eager to get to work,” she whispered discreetly to Bernstein.

“Right away!” Bernstein replied, his voice carrying authority. “If you have no duties in this lab, please leave,” he announced, and soon the room cleared.

Jana, her hair now tightly secured in a ponytail, a habit of hers, donned her lab gloves and approached the isolator, a modern model with external sleeves allowing manipulation without direct contact.

She started with the bird, searching for commonalities with experiments she had conducted over the years. Her plan was meticulous: microscopically examining every sample, conducting a dissection of the eagle to map its organs and identify those not found in other birds. She planned to collaborate with a biologist for this task. Her aim was to test whether the non-biological muscles and nerves functioned traditionally using electromagnetic pulses. She also hoped to determine the cause of death for the elk that wasn’t shot, critical for understanding the functionality of these hybrid organisms. A theory was forming in her mind, but she wasn’t ready to fully articulate it yet.

After sharing her plans with Bernstein, he offered his assistance. “I’ll be your assistant today!” he said, flashing a grin.

“I’m flattered, but if you have other tasks, don’t feel obligated to stay. I can manage with my colleagues. I’ll ask for help if needed,” Jana responded with a charming smile, eager to dive into her work.