Man vs. Beast

Dr. Jeykell sat quietly, reading his notes on the last experiment. The test subject, a rhesus macaque monkey, had exhibited very little change, if any. Expecting a dramatic outcome, the Doctor was frustrated by his recent efforts to release the base animal urges of the monkey.

Charles Darwin and the British Parliament would've been horrified by the Doctor's blatant disregard of the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876.

Pulling the creature from it's confinement, Dr. Jeykell injected another dose of his mixture; the milky liquid disappeared from the syringe into the tiny pulsing vein, causing him to struggle and whine.

After rubbing the injection spot and stroking the coarse hair of subject A, back into the cage it went, receiving a piece of cut up fruit as a reward. The monkey's small leather like hand reached out for more of the sweet, juicy treat; the metal grating prevented it from getting more than a few inches though.

The Doctor's voice was low and soothing, "Now little one, let's see how you do with this new mixture."

Man and beast stared at each other. The monkey making little sounds similar to whimpers with each attempt to coerce more food from his captor; large, round, and soulful eyes stared up at the thick spectacles, which made the Doctor's eyes seem giant and menacing.

After two hours, the Doctor, seeing no reaction or any notable changes, slumped on his lab stool. Leaning over, resting his elbows on his worn experiment table, Dr. Jeykell shoved tired hands into his premature graying shock of hair. A man of forty-six, he had a history of bad health, with his heart troubling him of late.

"This has got to work. I must find the answer... the key is here, somewhere."

Turning the lights out as he exits his lab, Dr. Jeykell headed to his private rooms, after carefully locking the heavy wooden door.

Shortly after his departure, a hissing growl came from the cage,  the small leather-like hands had grown long nails, rattling and shaking the metal structure with fierce anger...