Warriors: The Hunt Begins

Dominated

Kent runs in front of me and blocks my path. I growl in frustration as I almost run into him.

"What the fuck are you about to do, Red? Kill a bunch of innocent people?"

"They aren't innocent anymore. They're whistleblowers and they need to be silenced. Get out of my way so I can do what needs to be done."

"I can't let you kill innocent people, Red. There are children there."

"It doesn't matter, Kent! I know it isn't fair and I wish it didn't have to happen, but they need to die. They've seen too much."

"What if we talk to them?"

I laugh and shake my head.

"Get real, Kent. We were chased away with guns. If we go back, they won't stop and listen to reason. This can not get back to Zenith or it will be all out war in an instant and no one, not even those precious people you're trying to protect, will survive it. You either let me do this, or you kill me because I'm not changing my mind. The needs of the many vastly outweighs the needs of the few. It's dog eat dog out here now, and I am not going to be anyone's fucking happy meal again."

I jump over him and start running for the village, but hear Kent behind me.

"Don't try and stop me."

"I'm not. I'm coming to help."

I stop running and look at him.

"Help? You were just telling me that I couldn't kill them and now, you're going to join me?"

"If it's either kill you or join you, then my choice is clear. You might not be willing to be a chew toy again, but I told you, Mallory. I will not lose you again. I don't care in what way it is. I won't fucking do it. I was an assassin. This is nothing to me. Those people mean nothing to me, but you're everything. So, if you want to do this, I'm in."

"Shadow, can you hear me?"

"Yeah. Where are you?"

"In the woods. Listen. I need you and Zoom to leave now. Go into the woods, shift, and run."

"Why? Are there more guards?"

"Something like that. Please, go."

"What's going on? You sound weird."

"Nothing, Shadow. Just please go."

"Not until you tell me what's going on."

"God damn it, Shadow! Run!"

"No!"

"Fuck!"

I lash out at a tree and chunks of wood go flying.

"Let me try, Red. Shadow, we need you and Zoom to come out to where we are. We need to talk."

We sit and wait. Aew minutes later, we see the boys running over.

"Will you tell me what's going on, now?"

"You aren't going to like it, but it has to be done. I'm sorry, Shadow. We have to kill them."

"Them? Who's them?"

"Shadow."

Zoom nudges him and nods his head back towards the village.

"She means the humans, babe."

Shadow shifts back instantly and looks horrified. I feel guilt for the first time since I've been back, but it doesn't last long. Anger takes its place. This needs to be done.