Hybrid: The Awakening

Chapter 16-Diana

Date on Earth: Saturday, October 7

I was feeling terrible, which wasn't surprising. After all, I had gotten kidnapped, was currently running away from aliens, and was absolutely exhausted from long hours of walking with no breaks. Not to mention the suffocating guilt that was constantly hovering over me everywhere I went.

But when I saw the town over the hill, it felt like there was finally a silver lining. Despite everything, I managed to feel ecstatic. Relieved. Even a tiny bit of hope that maybe things would start to look up.

Of course, I had forgotten that nothing good lasts.

"Seriously?" I exclaimed angrily. "Who called the cops?"

"Someone must've recognized us," Tristen said, hurrying over to a trash bin and dumping his food.

I refrained from screaming. Couldn't just one thing go right?

"What's the plan?" Tristen asked.

"There are only four of them," Tesha said. "You three are powerful enough to defeat them."

I raised an eyebrow. "'Defeat them?'"

"Yes. You all must stop underestimating yourselves. The Jh'ai have blessed you. But if you need assistance, I will be right by your side."

"Woah, woah, woah!" Asher said as Tesha reached for her gun. "We can't fight them!"

She tilted her head. "Why not?"

"Because," Asher emphasized. "They're not the bad guys. They just want to get us to safety.

"But if they capture us, they will be putting you three in even more danger," Tesha said, and I snorted. She was so clueless.

"Well–yes, but they don't know that. All they know is that we are missing and their jobs are to get us back," Asher explained.

"That still doesn't help our situation," I reminded them. "Are we just supposed to let them take us?"

"Of course not!" He exclaimed. "We'll have to sneak away."

"Run from the police?" Tristen said. "That rarely works, and we don't even have a car."

"Well, do you have any other ideas?" Asher crossed his arms.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, we'll try to run away. Only problem: how? The cops are literally at the front door."

"Is there a back exit?" Tesha asked. "We could slip out before they notice."

I shook my head. "Nope, only the two exits at the front."

"Unless..." Asher looked over his shoulder. "There might be an exit through the kitchen."

"Pfft, do you really think they'll let us in there?" I said condescendingly.

He smirked. "I never said anything about asking." I raised my eyebrows. It was easy to forget he wasn't as innocent as his appearance portrayed him.

"What if there isn't a door?" Tristen pointed out. "We'll be stuck."

"It is worth a try," Tesha said. "After all, when isn't there a risk?" She looked at me as she said it, and I found myself smiling softly at the use of my earlier statement.

Tristen sighed. "Well, whatever we're doing, better do it fast. Cops just got out of their cars."

Sure enough, when I looked over my shoulder, four cops had started walking over.

"Let's go!" Asher said, as he started speed-walking to the back. We followed him as casually as we could, trying not to draw even more attention to ourselves than we already had.