Prolog

Black clouds swirled in the sky and filling the air with the heavy scent of rain. Somewhere in the jungles of the Amazon, a three story building had been erected. It was surrounded by a high fence topped with barbed wire, and on its flat roof a helicopter stood with slowly rotating blades. The pilot sat in the cockpit, one leg dangling out the open door as he read a book. The thick forest brush had been cleared back several feet from the stone walls and three men, dressed in heavy armor and equipped with guns, patrolled the property.

The men were lazy in their guard, having been assigned this duty several months ago and never encountering a threat greater then a stray jaguar. They doubted anyone could find them; even they had become lost on their way in and secretly did not know what part of the jungle they were stationed. The only way to get to the building was by helicopter, because to travel through the jungle was suicidal. The structure had its own strong force of natural protection leaving the men to wonder why they were there in the first place.

Gazing from a third story window which looked out over a small courtyard, stood a man dressed in a white lab coat, his thick hands clasped behind his back. He watched the three soldiers huddle together, talking. One of them cast a worried glance to the darkening sky. The sentries weren’t a necessary force, he was confident no one could find him in this remote part of the world, but he liked them there, just in case something did go wrong.

On the ground, a door was flung open and two soldiers marched out dragging a man between them. The three idling guards sprang apart and snapped to attention to hide their guilt. A post had been placed in the middle of the courtyard and the struggling man was tied to it. His escorts left him and retreated to the building. The imprisoned man screamed after them, his voice muffled by the window so the scientist could not understand what he was saying. Two of the lookouts proceeded their patrol around the building and the third stayed where he was, studying the bound man with curiosity.

The prisoner was no one important, just some bum they had found in the city asleep in a corner with only a tattered blanket around his thin shoulders. He was perfect because no one would come looking for him therefore not jeopardizing the experiment that was about to take place, the final testing the professor was sure to succeed.

A door creaked opened and the genius cast a glance over his shoulder to see his colleague slip into the room. He was dressed in a stained lab coat and the bottom billowed out as he strolled to join the first.

“Dr. Mark,” the newcomer greeted.

“Dr. Dan,” the first said.

Dr. Dan looked out the window and down at the secured Brazilian man. He crossed his arms over his thin chest and a frown spanned his face. “You know this plan of yours is never going to work,” Dr. Dan said.     

Dr. Mark felt a stab of annoyance shoot through him. They’d had this conversation before and it was beginning to wear on him. “It will work. I will make it,” the Dr. said with forced patience.

“As soon as people begin to realize what is happening they will destroy you.”

Lightening flashed across the darkening sky and the rumble of thunder vibrated through the building. Tree branches swayed in the wind of the coming storm. The hostage had stopped yelling but still fought to free himself from his restraints.

“They will try, Dr. Dan,” Dr. Mark said with little emotion, “But by then they will need me to continue living.”

“You don’t think they won’t notice the changes in their body? That something is different? You’ll be stopped before it even leaves the country.”

“I will work slowly. By the time they do notice it will be too late.” Like an ocean wave, black clouds rolled over the tree tops, dimming the strength of the noon sun and casting the world in a deep shadow. A streak of lightening zigzagged through its midst. “Give me ten years. They’ll be begging me to rule them.”

“I’m begging you now not to do this. It will destroy the world, Mark.”

“I will make it a better place if I am in control. Diseases won’t be a threat, man will learn to love each other. There will be peace.”

Dr. Dan met his partner’s steady, determined gaze. His heart skipped a beat with the horror he had help set into play. There was no stopping it anymore, the progress was too far along to be turned back. And Dr. Mark would not change his mind. Dan looked back out the window. “There will never be peace,” the man whispered.

A few raindrops splattered against the glass as though giving them a warning before it began to pour sheets of water. The man tied to the post began to wither and thrash at his bounds in agony. His blood curling screams pierced the window causing a cold shiver to pass down even Dr. Mark’s back. Where the water touched the prisoner, his skin began to melt and disintegrate. Blood gushed from the wounds but even that disappeared into steam almost before it hit the ground. Unable to watch, Dr. Dan looked away with a growl of disgust.

“I want out,” he said. Turning on his heels he strolled towards the door.

Dr. Mark listened to him go, his icy blue eyes still fixed on the scene playing out before him. Skin, flesh, and bone were eaten away like it was raining acid until there was nothing left but slack, hanging rope, tattered clothing, and a wooden post. The guard who had been watching was bent over throwing up his guts.

“There is only one way out, Dr. Dan,” Mark said. He turned and drew a handgun from within the folds of his coat. The reports of the revolver were lost in a clap of thunder that shook the very glass in the windows. The scientist returned the weapon to its holster. Refusing to look down at his dead partner, the Dr. stepped over the body and left the room, closing the door softly behind him and turned his mind to the mission ahead.