Deviator

Fight

2039
Alec

We slowly sneak closer to the bridge that connects The City with the Wasteland. As always it is manned by Protectors. We have to get in without getting killed and that is where Andrew and his Anthroe Army comes in. I signal for the other Hunters to stay low, hiding in the grass. Out of sight from The Protectors, I slip over to Andrew. He has left the Anthroes further back, so The Protectors won't suspect anything beforehand.

"Are we ready?" I whisper to him. It takes a while before he answers. His eyes wander from the bridge to me a couple of times and he sniffs into the air as his eyes roam over me from head to toe. Slightly hesitant, I place my hand on my bow. Just as a precaution. Unfortunately, I've seen this behavior more and more and I fear that it means he soon will lose the last part of his humanity. I know that he too fears it has come to that. "Andrew...?" I whisper his name in hopes to get through to him. He sniffs me a bit more before he finally accepts that he recognizes me, or at least decides that I'm not edible. I don't really know what is going through his head when he hits this stage of degeneration. I am sure however, that none of the other hunters should come closer right now. "Andrew!" I whisper-yells at him and he blinks once or twice as if he is resetting himself. He then looks at me, without sniffing this time, which I believe is a good sign. I think.

"Alec...? When did you...?" rapidly he looks around before looking back at me. "Oh... it happened again, didn't it?"

"Yes." I try to hide my concern, but of course he has already noticed. "It was just for about a minute or so. You are fine."

"Yes... I am fine... for now..." he mutters silently. He shakes his head a couple of times as if he needs to shake down the animalistic side within him. "So, where are we in the plan?" he asks me.

"We are at the point where you and the other Anthroes are going to attack The Protectors at the gate."

"Oh right... of course." He nods a few times. "I'll go back and get them ready. You guys just keep hiding. And stay in clear distance. I can control them most of the time, but the scent of fresh blood and shredded flesh makes it harder to get through to them, so don't move past them until everyone of them has something to feed on. And even then, you need to move really fast." He looks at me with an intense stare and adds, "And make sure to keep a safe distance to me too. If I am still clear-headed, I will follow you but we can't take any chances. If the hunger hits me... I won't be able to control it."

"The Hunters will keep their distance." I reply.

"You too, Alec. They can't lose their leader."

"You don't like my scent anymore." I send him a crooked smile. "I think I'll be fine."

"That is a terrible risk to take. Remember you have someone waiting for you back home." He puts his hand on my shoulder, and I see something in his eyes I have never seen before, and I can't decipher it. "If I were you, having what you have, I wouldn't take any unnecessary risks."

I nod slowly. I do see his point. Andrew doesn't need me among his Anthroes, but Magnus do need me to survive.

"Good luck, Andrew. And try to stay clear-headed."

He sends me something that is supposed to look like a smile and a thumbs up. I retreat to the other hunters and quietly report everything to Simon. After all, right now he is the closest thing we have to a scientist for the time being, so I need to keep him updated on Andrew's mental decay.

"Damn...That doesn't sound good, Alec. It really doesn't." Simon sighs deeply before he continues, "if he degenerates much more, a cure won't do him any good. There won't be enough healthy brain tissue to save."

"I know. We promised his revenge and a cure and now we might not be able to keep that promise."

"For now, Lets just focus on the revenge and then we'll see where we are at with the cure after we have taken down The Council."

"Yeah... I just don't like that we might not be able to hold up over end of the bargain. Especially when he is sacrificing as much as he is." While I'm talking, I'm watching as Andrew is making his way to his pack of semi-conscious Anthroes. Suddenly we hear yelling, then the alarm goes off at The Protectors on the Wall and before we know it, more Protectors appears. A lot more than we had expected there to be at the gate.

"Damn... do you think Andrew has enough Anthroes with him?" Simon whispers as he keeps his head low and hidden.

"I hope so... It doesn't look good though." My body is aching for me to join in. "I should help them" I whisper through gritted teeth.

"Forget it, Alec. We need you here."

"I can't just leave my people in a lurch like that." I hiss at him and just as the words leave my mouth, I realize that it's not just the Hunters I see as a part of my pack. For whatever reason I feel some kind of responsibility to the Anthroes too. And that feeling is so deeply imbedded into my bones that I'm physically struggling to hold myself back. Simon digs his nails deep into the skin on my arm.

"Stop it, Lightwood!" he growls "I don't care how much kindship you feel you have with them just because you were one of them for a few minutes! You have a greater responsibility to us. To The Hunters who has followed you blindly into a fight that will probably be their death!"

"Alright... Easy..." I put my hand on top of his. You are right. I'm staying." Slowly he releases my arm but instantly I grab his hand. "Don't let go. I need the pain to remind me where I'm supposed to be right now. Because a part of me wants to fight by their side."

Simon nods and digs his nails into my skin again. I clench my teeth in pain while welcoming the vigilance its providing while I just have to lie here and watch more and more Anthroes fall at The Protector's weapons.

Blood, screams and growls fills the air while one after another, the Anthroes rips big chunks of flesh off The Protectors that they have finally reached.