A Mother's Sin

I' ve always known what animals were thinking.

It' s a secret I keep, even from my boyfriend.

So when my best friend, Chloe, invited me to her cutting-edge Primate Cognition Center, I agreed, expecting just another odd day of animal thoughts.

Then I met Brutus.

A massive gorilla housed behind thick glass, his thoughts weren't mere animalistic grunts.

They were clear, chilling: "Her skin. So smooth. I want it. Tonight. I' ll take it tonight."

Hours later, Brutus escaped, his tracker leading straight to my apartment building.

Mark was working late, and I was alone.

Chloe' s police deputy brother, David, rushed to help.

I heard his muffled struggle outside my door, followed by Brutus' s casual thought: "He was strong. Good fight."

Then, Brutus used David' s dead body to knock on my door, a gruesome puppet.

When Mark called, saying he was coming home, I warned him, but he disconnected.

His last terrified thoughts flooded my mind as Brutus ambushed him in the garage.

Mark was gone.

Brutus was gone.

But then "Mark" called me.

His voice was off.

His behavior was wrong, serving me food I' m deadly allergic to.

A horrific truth clicked: Brutus wore Mark' s skin as a grotesque disguise – a calculated revenge against my mother, who had experimented on him.

My presence was now the target of his cruel, human-like rage.

Chloe arrived at our apartment, yet "Mark" lied about her being late.

My gut screamed.

I found Chloe on the balcony, bound and gagged.

Her terrified plea, once free: "It' s not Mark! It' s Brutus! He' s wearing his skin!"

Everything clicked.

With a kitchen knife glimmering in "Mark's" hand, it was time to fight for my life.

The morning rush at "The Daily Grind" was finally slowing.

I wiped down the counter, the smell of coffee and burnt sugar thick in the air.

A fluffy poodle whined softly outside the cafe window.

He dropped it. The man dropped the sweet bread. So close.

I glanced down. A piece of croissant lay near the poodle' s paws, just out of its reach on the busy sidewalk.

I picked up a napkin, "accidentally" knocked a small piece of a day-old scone off the counter, and swept it into the trash near the door.

Later, when I took the trash out, I made sure the scone piece landed near the poodle.

It wagged its tail, its thoughts a burst of pure joy. Sweet! Yes!

This was my secret, the one I told no one, not even Mark, my boyfriend. I heard them. Animals. All of them.

My phone buzzed. It was Chloe, my best friend.

"Sarah! Are you free this afternoon? You have to come see the Center. Dr. Albright is actually letting me show a friend around certain areas!"

Chloe was a research assistant at the Primate Cognition Center, a new, fancy facility built just outside town, tucked away in the woods. She was always excited about her work, a little too trusting of the "cutting-edge" science they were doing.

"Sure, Chlo. What time?" I said, already feeling a familiar unease about that place.

"Two o'clock? I'll meet you at the main gate."

"See you then."

Mark was a software developer, steady and kind. He' d be working late tonight on a project, so the apartment would be empty.

The Primate Cognition Center loomed out of the trees, all sleek glass and imposing grey stone. It looked more like a fortress than a research lab.

Chloe met me, practically bouncing. "It's so amazing, Sarah. We're learning so much."

She led me through sterile corridors, past labs with one-way glass. I tried to ignore the faint, anxious chatter of smaller monkeys, the low hum of machinery.

"And this," Chloe announced, stopping before a massive, reinforced enclosure, "is Brutus."

Behind a thick pane of specialized glass, a huge gorilla sat. He was enormous, his eyes dark and incredibly intelligent. He watched me.

I focused, a habit I couldn't break, and his thoughts hit me, clear and cold.

Her skin. So smooth. It looks soft.

I flinched.

Chloe didn't notice. "Isn't he magnificent? He's part of a cognitive enhancement program. His intelligence scores are off the charts."

Brutus stared, unblinking.

I want it. Her skin. Tonight. I'll take it tonight.

A shiver went down my spine. His thoughts weren't animalistic hunger. They were possessive, calculating.

"He's... intense," I managed.

"He's just curious," Chloe said, smiling. "Don't worry, this place is Fort Knox. Triple-redundant security, electrified perimeter, round-the-clock surveillance. Nothing gets in or out without authorization."

I nodded, trying to shake off the gorilla's silent vow.

It was just a thought. A weird, disturbing animal thought.

The facility was miles from my apartment. He was behind multiple layers of steel and glass. Impossible.

I forced a smile for Chloe. "Impressive."

But Brutus's eyes followed me as we walked away.

Tonight.

The apartment felt too quiet when I got home.

Mark had texted earlier, his business trip extended by a day. He wouldn't be back until tomorrow night.

I made some tea, put on some music, tried to read.

But Brutus' s thoughts echoed. Her skin. Tonight.

I told myself it was ridiculous. I was letting my ability spook me.

The phone rang, shattering the quiet. It was Chloe, her voice tight with panic.

"Sarah! Oh my god, Sarah!"

"Chloe? What's wrong? You sound terrified."

"It's Brutus! He's gone!"

My blood ran cold. "What do you mean, gone? How?"

"I don't know! He disabled everything! The cameras, the door locks, even the perimeter fence alarms in his sector! It's like he knew the whole system!"

Impossible. That was what Chloe had said.

"They activated his subcutaneous tracker," Chloe rushed on, her breath catching. "Sarah... the signal... it's... it' s coming from downtown. Near your apartment building."

Miles. He had traveled miles.

The ridiculous, impossible threat was suddenly very real. And very close.

"Chloe, are you sure?" My voice shook.

"The head of security is tracking it himself. It' s definitely his signal. It's strong. He' s close to you, Sarah. Very close."

My gaze darted to my front door. The cheap lock felt flimsy.

"I... I have to go, Chloe. I have to call the police."

"They're already on it, Sarah! They're mobilizing, but... he' s a gorilla, a very smart one. They said stay inside, lock your doors, don't make a sound."

I hung up, my hands trembling.

The music I' d put on earlier now sounded mocking.

I ran to the front door, fumbled with the deadbolt, slid the chain lock into place.

I dragged the heavy bookshelf from the living room, grunting with effort, and wedged it against the door.

My apartment was on the third floor. He couldn' t just climb up, could he?

I peeked through the blinds. The street below was dark, rain starting to fall.

Nothing.

But I knew he was out there.

The tracker said so.

And his thoughts had been so clear. Tonight.