Hidden Oaks (Box Set)

Hidden Oaks (Box Set)

Ana Raine

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Copyright ©2019 Ana Raine

BIN: 009097-02944

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

315 N. Centre St.

Martinsburg, WV 25404

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Margaret Riley

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

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Table of Contents

Hidden Oaks (Box Set)

The Secret of Hidden Oaks

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

The Secret of Harbor Springs

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Epilogue

Liberate (Hidden Oaks 3)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Ana Raine

Hidden Oaks (Box Set)

Ana Raine

The Secret of Hidden Oaks: While working on his Master’s degree in psychology, Carson is offered an internship at a private research hospital. But Harbor Oaks hides a dark secret. His patients are Changelings, shape shifters, being held against their will, and Carson soon discovers he’s really the subject of the scientist’s experiments. His only hope of escape is Tate, a shy, quiet doctor with an agenda all his own.

The Secret of Harbor Springs: Carson and his mate Tate team up with Gaven and Lily to escape Federal agents who are trying to bring them back to Hidden Oaks. Carson holds an unusual power over other Changelings -- a power the Federal task force charged with rounding up Changelings will go to any ends to make their own.

Liberate: Carson and Tate have been running for months, trying to evade the JIA so they don’t end up lab specimens for the ruthless organization. With their future on the line, Carson realizes the most important part of his life will forever be his mate, Tate, but how can he trust a man who never tells him the whole truth?

The Secret of Hidden Oaks

Ana Raine

While working on his Master’s degree in psychology, Carson is offered an exclusive summer internship at a private research hospital. He can’t imagine a better career opportunity. But Harbor Oaks hides a dark secret. Carson soon discovers patients are being held against their will. They’re all shape shifters the government fears present a danger to society.

After meeting Tate, a shy, quiet doctor with an agenda all his own, Carson begins to question his own sanity. Carson soon realizes he’s really a subject of the scientist’s experiments, rather than an intern.

Carson knows what’s going on at Harbor Oaks is wrong, but to challenge the hospital’s policies could endanger his own life. More importantly, he could lose Tate forever.

Chapter One

The taxi dropped me off at a set of tall gates.

I heaved my heavy suitcases out of the back and made my way to the guard shack. I was going to be in Portland for the summer and I had to bring all my psychology books. I was here to study, after all.

I was particularly happy to be so far away from my father for an entire summer.

A dark-haired security guard eyed me suspiciously. You have business here?

Yes, I answered, feeling a bit intimidated. I had a very nice suit I’d bought for an occasion exactly like this. As soon as I’d gotten my acceptance letter into graduate school in Chicago, I’d gone out with all the money I had left and stopped at every fancy store I could find, even the ones with gleaming watches on display. Not that I could afford those shiny watches, but all the same, I was excited just to go inside.

I should’ve worn the suit after all. However, the acceptance letter from Hidden Oaks had specifically told me to dress casually. I’m here for an internship.

The man stared at me suspiciously. What’s your name, kid?

I didn’t bother telling him I was twenty-two and definitely not a kid. Carson Porter.

His face changed completely as he smiled. Why didn’t you say so, Mr. Porter? Glad to have you here. I’ll call an orderly to escort you to see Dr. Kline.

Although a bit surprised at his change of attitude, I was grateful when a casually dressed orderly arrived and took hold of both my suitcases. I was dead tired after my trip across the country. I just wanted to meet Dr. Kline and take a nap.

The institution was exceptionally large, one of the largest in the country. I knew most hospitals had to cut back on beds because of lack of funding, but Hidden Oaks had a bed capacity of one hundred and thirty as opposed to the average eighty. There were so many trees, that even if someone had lived nearby, they wouldn’t be able to see into the vast grounds.

That’s the apartment complex over there, see it? the orderly said as he stopped, setting down my suitcases for a moment so he could use his hand to point.

Yes. The complex he was referring to looked like a mini-hospital. There were at least three levels, though the windows were so sporadically placed it was hard to tell how many floors there really were.

That’s where you’ll be staying. Along with most of the staff, he explained as he led me across the grounds.

I was taken off guard. Most of the staff lives on site? I knew that sometimes hospitals had places for family members to stay if they were traveling a long way, but for the entire staff to live on the grounds surprised me.

The orderly’s expression darkened and his strides became quicker, making it hard for me to keep up. Pretty much, yeah. The social workers don’t because they only come once a week, usually. But the therapists, doctors, and nurses live here.

The orderly seemed like he wanted to say more, so I waited. When he was quiet, I asked, Aren’t we going to meet Dr. Kline?

Yes. But he wanted me to give you a moment to get settled in to your room.

Ah, okay. The door creaked slightly when the orderly held it open for me to enter. The inside was beautiful and well decorated. There was what looked like a parlor to my right and a kitchen and dining room to my left.

The table is really just for looks. Most people eat in the hospital cafeteria, the orderly explained. Your room is on the second floor. He heaved the suitcases up the steps.

Here, I can get this one. I took the suitcase with my books and lugged it up the stairs. The orderly led me to the last room on the right and handed me a key.

Make sure you lock your door. He slid the key inside and turned until the door gave way. Whoever had prepared my room had made it look rather homey. There was a small bed toward the window, with extra blankets folded on top of a bench pressed against the wall. There was also a dresser and a desk and chair. I saw a small door and peeked inside while the orderly caught his breath.

He smiled and wiped his brow. I’ll wait downstairs. When you’re ready, I’ll take you to meet Dr. Kline.

Okay, thank you. I was still pretty confused as to what the protocol for Hidden Oaks was, but decided I should ask my questions a little at a time. I unpacked my books and put them onto the windowsill that jutted into my room, creating a sort of shelf.

The ride to Hidden Oaks from the nearest city had been at least an hour and a half, so perhaps having most of the staff live here was actually practical. Or maybe everyone just wanted to get away from their family as much as I wanted to get away from mine.

I changed into a dark sweater because even though I’d been instructed to dress casually, I felt less than presentable in a T-shirt and jeans.

When I went back down to see the orderly, I noticed how cold the house was. He was quiet and didn’t say anything to me. He just shut the apartment complex door behind him and walked back over the grounds, not even glancing behind at me.

I shivered in the cold of the hospital. The main floor looked just like any other facility I’d been to. There was a waiting area and then a series of desks toward the back wall. There was also a very large white door I assumed led to where the patients were. I’d read about Hidden Oaks, but perhaps I’d missed the part about this being a high security facility.

The orderly led me through the waiting room to the left where there was a long hallway with several dark oak doors. I knocked on the one the orderly had stopped at and was left alone.

Come in. The voice was heavy and tired.

An older man, probably in his early sixties, was sitting behind a very large oak desk. He had an old computer on his desk and several open books. He rubbed his eyes, pointing out his dark shadows before showing every wrinkle in his face by smiling.

You must be Carson.

I nodded. Yes, sir.

When he nodded at the empty leather chair in front of his desk, I almost tripped over myself in my haste to sit down. I was so tired my vision had started to blur.

Dr. Kline didn’t extend his hand toward me, so I simply sat and waited.

He sighed heavily. I’m sorry for the mess, he said, waving a hand over the several open books. But I was… researching.

I tried to see what he was reading, but all of the books were missing a cover. I looked away because I didn’t want to feel like I was prying. I focused on a half full bottle of red wine. He saw where my gaze had gone. Would you like a glass?

No thanks. I tried to steer away from all alcohol.

Dr. Kline stared at me over his glasses before clearing his throat. You certainly look normal.

What?

Normalcy is important here. It helps the patients and the staff remember what it’s like to be a normal human.

What was he talking about?

You see, the idea of normalcy in itself is a fallacy, don’t you think?

I’m not sure…

Tell me, you enjoy music?

Yes.

The patients, they love music. But the music has to be perfectly timed. Perfectly right for them to thoroughly enjoy themselves.

I was eager to prove myself. Music therapy you mean.

Dr. Kline gave an exhausted smile. If only everything could be explained scientifically. But life is not so easy.

I’m confused, Doctor.

He took a deep breath and opened a drawer in his desk. I flinched when he slammed two boxes onto the table between us. He took the brown lid off one, exposing a syringe. I’m going to tell you a secret about our patients. And afterwards, if you want to leave, I will inject you with this and all of your memories will quickly fade. However -- He took the red lid off the other. There was a piece of paper and a pen inside. If you want to stay, then you will need to sign a contract of secrecy.

My chest was aching from how nervous I was. Fear for losing this internship was pushed aside as a new unknown fear quickly arose. I licked my lips before asking, What kind of secret?

Come with me. Dr. Kline stood up, revealing his true height.

I’d never been tall, a few inches shy of six feet. But standing next to Dr. Kline made me feel much shorter. He was wearing a white lab coat, with dark pants underneath.

Our treatment here may seem… harsh. Perhaps even cruel. But this is a long-term facility. We do not easily admit patients, nor do we easily let them go. I’d kept up with his words the best I could, but once we passed the desk with two nurses dressed in blue scrubs, I couldn’t completely focus on what Dr. Kline was saying.

I expected to see standard hospital rooms with open doors and orderlies walking through the halls. Instead I saw isolation rooms with glass walls for observation. I stopped at the first room, which happened to be empty. There was a large bed, plush blankets, a dresser, and a space in the corner with a curtain where the bathroom probably was.

Dr. Kline was touching a keypad near the empty room. I saw that every room had an individual keypad. The occupant of this room is in therapy right now. The therapy hall is where we just were. When the rooms are empty, we make the walls transparent. Most of the time, however… He pressed a few buttons and the walls changed color. First dark blue, then black, then dark yellow, but all of the colors hid the room from my view.

The colors will keep changing. Dr. Kline hit another button and the wall was once again transparent. Until the patient is happy with a color. We try to maximize their privacy. They have a keypad, too, that helps them change colors.

I saw a flap in the door. They don’t come out for meals?

Dr. Kline coughed. Most of them are not pleasant to eat around.

Before I could ask for clarification, he escorted me down the hallway. The rooms were all different colors, but none of them were any shade of red.

We got on the elevator and stopped at the fifth floor. The sixth floor is for the scientists. Only if you are asked may you go to the labs. The elevator hummed and beamed a bright white light just before the doors slammed shut. The fifth floor is the hardest to handle, but also the one you may have the easiest time relating to.

I saw about thirty rooms going down the hallway, but we stopped at the first one. The orange color began to melt down the side of the walls, exposing the room little by little until the walls were completely transparent.

A young woman, probably in her late teens, was standing next to her bed, dressed in a blue dress and a sweater. She was stroking her bobbed hair.

We do not like to do this. Dr. Kline’s voice became serious. He reached up to push his gray hair out of his face. He pressed the large red button just below the keypad. At first nothing happened, but then the room silently lit up in glaring red lights. The young woman gripped her hair fiercely in her hands as she began to shake.

I beat on the door. We have to go in there, I screamed, but Dr. Kline did nothing to aid the distressed woman. She needs help.

Dr. Kline shook his head and tried to grab my wrist. I saw that nurses and doctors were exiting the door on the other side of the hallway. When they saw me, their faces were a mixture of pity and disbelief before, like drones, they silently slid back into the other rooms and shut the doors.

What is wrong with you? This is inhumane, I said as she collapsed to the carpeted floor inside of her room. Her body had not stopped shaking.

They’re not human, Dr. Kline explained.

You’re delusional, I said, taking a step away from Dr. Kline, but unable to stop looking at the young woman. I was sure my vision was playing tricks on me, because the young woman’s arms were gone and in their place were fur-covered legs. Her dress split down her back and as she howled in agony, I saw her entire body was quickly being covered in fur. Her screams were over soon.

Instead of looking at a young woman, I was staring at a dark feline. I thought it was a jaguar. W-what…

All of the patients here are a danger to society and to themselves, Dr. Kline explained, hitting the red button again so the lights went out, leaving only natural light. Before my eyes, the fur receded back into the jaguar’s body and flesh began to cover her legs and back.

What are they?

Dr. Kline smiled and pressed the color button before touching my shoulder lightly. We call them Changelings.

* * *

My hands were still shaking, my knees knocking against each other as I fidgeted in the chair in front of Dr. Kline’s desk. What was wrong with them? What was wrong with me? Surely, that was some sort of trick and that young woman really hadn’t transformed into a jaguar? All lies…

Have you decided? Dr. Kline asked softly, as he pushed the two boxes toward me.

Stay or run away? Both options were equally unappealing. The drug he wanted to give me that would erase my memory would probably only work as long as I didn’t have any triggers. How could I forget when there were animals everywhere to remind me?

A knock on the door made me twitch. I turned to see the heavy oak door being pushed open. I was afraid of who was going to enter, not sure if a patient was