We Do What We Want

Captured.

1/5/1467

The weaponry room echoed with the clinking of metal as Alex methodically gathered her weapons. Her fingers skimmed over the last set of pistols and daggers she'd need for the mission. "Liam, Ryder, are you both prepared?" she called out, her voice calm but sharp, like the blades she carried.

"Affirmative, Alex. The hound's ready as well," Ryder replied from the other room. His voice was steady, though the tension of the upcoming mission rippled beneath it. He turned toward the heavy-breathing creature by Liam's side. The beast, muscular and trained for hunting, was restless, its nose twitching in anticipation.

Alex stepped into the room, her gaze calculating as she assessed her team. Ryder was busy adjusting his gloves while Liam kept a firm grip on the hound's leash. "Good," she nodded. "Let us move." With a swift motion, she summoned the portal, a shimmering rift that led them from their realm into the human world.

——————

They stepped through the vortex and emerged into a dimly lit alleyway. The full moon hung high in the sky, its pale glow casting long shadows over the city streets. Stars dotted the dark canvas of the sky, but the trio had no time to admire the view.

"Ryder, give the hound the scent," Alex instructed.

Without hesitation, Ryder pulled out the two pieces of evidence: the mask and the white cloth, both tainted with the scent of the winged girl and the man. The hound sniffed the items, its nostrils flaring as it locked onto the scent trail. The animal tensed, its body rippling with excitement as it picked up the trail.

"Release him," Alex ordered.

Liam unclipped the leash, and the hound darted out of the alley, its powerful limbs propelling it forward in a blur of fur and muscle. Without a word, Alex scaled the nearest wall, using her supernatural agility to leap onto the rooftops. Ryder and Liam followed, though they lagged slightly behind as they struggled to keep pace with her.

They leaped from building to building, silent shadows against the night. The hound below them weaved through the streets, its nose guiding it toward their target. As they neared the city's edge, Alex noticed the buildings thinning out, replaced by dense woods just outside the city limits. 'They might be somewhere within the forest. It's not far from the city.' She thought to herself.

She dropped down from the rooftops, landing gracefully on the ground. "Hustle, you both!" she called back to Ryder and Liam, who were panting and visibly fatigued from the chase.

——————

They entered the forest, the towering trees forming a canopy above them. The moonlight barely pierced through the dense foliage, but the hound didn't falter. It led them deeper into the woods until they came upon a small clearing, where an old, run-down house sat, isolated from the world. The structure was barely standing, its wood rotting and windows shattered.

The hound crouched low in the bushes, growling softly. Alex joined the animal, her eyes locked on the house. She gestured for Ryder and Liam to stay low and remain silent. They crawled into the bushes next to her, their breaths still labored from the run.

"You do this... huff... every time?!" Ryder whispered, trying to catch his breath.

Alex ignored him, her focus entirely on the house. Inside, she could hear movement. Footsteps, faint but unmistakable, paced back and forth. Voices followed—a man's harsh tone, then a woman's high-pitched whine.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT YOU GOT HURT! NOW GO LAY DOWN BEFORE I PUT YOU TO SLEEP MYSELF, AND IT'S GOING TO BE PERMANENT." the man's voice boomed from inside the house. Alex's lips curled into a grimace; she recognized that female voice immediately.