Anna stood, breathless, staring at what used to be Jon. 

He was fastened hastily to a chair with old belts in the corner of the darkened room. From the only window, a beam of late-afternoon sunshine illuminated his convulsing figure. All over his body, black feathers were sprouting and then retreating back under his skin creating wave after wave of feather dust and blood. Out of his face came screeching guttural noises as his nose and mouth morphed continuously between flesh and beak. And his eyes, they remained an inky black that stared into nothing as this creature beat against the belts that strained against its desperation.

Anna backed up shakily and fumbled for the door handle. They didn't have much time.

Julia was pacing at the other end of the living room when Anna returned. She slowed to a stop and looked to Anna. "Is he..."

Anna couldn't meet her eyes. "He's the same."

Julia slowly sank into an old wooden chair, hand pressed against her lips, eyes far away. "What are we going to do?"

Anna leaned against the wall. "He can't stay here, not like this."

"It's not like we can move him." Julia balled her hands into fists. "They can't find out about this--"

"I know, I know." Anna sighed and looked at Julia. Her hands were still in fists, pressed against her knees. She stared at her hands, rocking slightly back and forth as rage and terror alternated in her eyes. Anna stepped towards her. "I know someone who might be able to help."

Julia's eyes shot up, her gaze cold and pointed. "What do you mean?"

Anna looked only at the ground. "I--when I was working at the museum, one of the Phadian scholars and I would, we would discuss his work and this condition is one that he was...familiar with."

Julia slowly rose. "You knew this was coming didn't you."

Anna stayed silent.

"You knew that crazy nutjob who did this to Jon and you didn't say anything. Anything!"

Anna whispered, "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"What was that?" Julia asked. "I can't hear you over the deafening sound of your betrayal."

Anna looked up. "It wasn't supposed to be like this!"

Julia took a step back as Anna's eyes grew hard. Before she could continue, there was a loud thud in the other room. Julia stumbled over to Anna who was standing completely frozen, eyes fixed on the door.

"Anna, what do we do?"

"We have to leave." The shrieking that had been coming from behind the door stopped.

"I'm not leaving without Jon."

Slowly the doorknob began to turn.

"Jon is gone."

Julia's eyes widened and she ran towards the hallway. The door creaked open and Anna stood, breathless, staring at what used to be Jon.