Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 5: Back To Friends

Katherine stands in the sterile lab, her white coat stark against the cold, metallic surroundings. Beside her, Thomas looks equally out of place, his brow furrowed in concentration as they observe a girl through the glass partition. She stands out in stark contrast to the clinical environment, her skin luminous and pale as pearls, and her wavy, tar-black hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders.

Katherine can't help but feel an unexpected jolt of attraction. “Some girls make me question my sexuality twice. And she’s definitely one of them,” she tells Thomas, her gaze locked on the girl.

Thomas shoots her an incredulous look, his playful scowl making her laugh. “Hey!”

“Okay, don’t worry, twin boo. She’s yours,” she teases, nudging him with a wink. Laughter bubbles between them, warm and familiar, until they both feel the girl’s piercing blue eyes on them, their moment interrupted.

The scene shifts abruptly, the surroundings fading into a more shadowy figure. A woman stands before them, her features obscured, but the authority in her voice rings clear. “Wicked is good.”

In an instant, Katherine is transported again, this time to a training room. She is clad in black, facing off against a muscular guy whose confident smirk fades as she gains the upper hand. She lands a solid punch, sending him crashing to the floor.

“Is that all you can do?” a male voice booms from the sidelines, cutting through her triumph. She sighs, her frustration bubbling over. “Again!”

“You can’t be serious! I did my best!” Katherine retorts, exasperated.

“It wasn’t enough!” the voice snaps back. “It never was! Start again!”

Everything blurs again, the training room dissolving into flames. Katherine stands amidst the inferno, watching as everything around her turns to ash. A smirk curls on her lips, a victorious glimmer in her eyes. “Suckers,” she whispers, the thrill of feral chaos coursing through her.

Suddenly, the scene shifts once more, bright lights blinding her as she regains consciousness. She finds herself lying on a bed, a thin sheet draped over her. Faces hover over her, moving swiftly, running tests, their expressions a mix of urgency and concern.

As she turns her head, her heart swells at the sight of Thomas in the bed next to hers. They reach out instinctively, their hands finding each other’s. She squeezes his hand, a silent communication passing between them, both too weak to do anything but wait.

Katherine feels the warmth of their bond anchoring her amidst the chaos. She leans her head back against the pillow, whispering, “We’re gonna get through this, right?”

Thomas squeezes her hand in response, his eyes filled with determination despite their shared weakness. “Always,” he promises, his voice hoarse but steady.

The connection between them a lifeline. In this twisted world where nothing is certain, their bond is the one thing she knows she can rely on.

Together, they are stronger, and no matter what lies ahead, she is determined to fight for their freedom and protect the one person who understands her completely.

The surrounding shifts again, melting into a white void where disembodied voices swirl around Katherine like a storm.

“Katherine.”
“Wicked is good.”
“Don’t make it easy on them.”
“Everything is going to change.”
“She’s insane!”
“Wicked is good.”
“Katherine, you have to choose.”
“Thomas, we’ve got to get the hell out of here.”
“I have to tell her first.”
“Let him go!”
“Wicked is good.”
“This shouldn’t have gone this way if you and your twin brother didn’t betray us, Katherine.”