Under the Moonshine

Twenty One | The Hybrids

Peter tapped the door, sealing it once again. He was still groggy, a bit light headed yet felt heavy inside because of what had just happened.

"That fucking beast," he whispered to himself and opened the drawer, searching for a bottle of medication. The odd smell of chemicals lingered, the chilly air damping his skin, making the scratch wound on his face hurt more.

Painful as hell.

He injected himself a clear liquid. It was evident that the wound pained him, his skin tore, flesh almost lurking in the surface. He badly needed stitches, or maybe an operation. That beast was contaminated with rabies, and he had no plan being attacked by that virus.

When Peter felt normal again, he punched the code and opened the glass door, his feet walking straight to the right. A metal door with a security lock stood at the end, a flickering red light on the side.

Again, he punched a code and pressed his thumb until the light turned green, a beeping sound echoed as it swung itself open. Peter entered the secured room, and right that instant, painful screams reached his ears. At each side of the long room were metal cubicles, enough to contain one person. Everyone suffered from agony, as if it was a personal hell for all of them.

It was the Hybrids room. Peter walked straight at the very end, where the guy with lean body stood still like a statue. He tapped the thick glass to get the guy's attention. He looked at him, eyes cold blue, head cocked at the side.

"Are you ready?" Peter asked, anger oozing from his vein.

The guy nodded. "Yes."

"It's time," he said. "You have to get rid one of your brothers. Come back to me when you're done ripping his head off."

Again, the guy nodded.

Peter once again punched a code in the keypad to unlock the metal cubicle, freeing one of his hybrids.

"Go kill Taren."

"I will," he said in husky voice and started to walk away.

- - - - -

It was three in the morning.

Emily was still wide awake, sleep evading her. Her brain was on the verge of exploding, just to be honest.

Max was on the floor, quietly comforting his master. A teeny tiny sound reached his big ears, the familiar smell of his alpha told him that they were not alone. He stood up and made a crying noise, his mouth pointing the window. Max jumped and circled around, barked once, telling Emily that his alpha was on the way.

"What's wrong, buddy?" she asked.

Max wagged his tail, jumping up and down, his head turning on the window. Emily got the clue and hurried to the window to open it. Right after she clicked the button to unlock it, a figure jump in on the balcony, his innocent eyes directed at her.

"Taren," she whispered.

Emily held out her hand to him, once again welcoming his innocence.

His elegant suit was torn and his classy looked turned into ragged fashion. No matter what, he still looked good. Taren climbed into the window, Max jumped into him and cried in joy. He scratched his head and neck and embraced his furry friend, overwhelmed at the scene.

Emily felt troubled at the same time secured, if it even made sense. But one thing was for sure. She felt relieved seeing him safe. Seeing him unharmed.

"Can I hug you too?" he asked.

She didn't answer in words and instantly threw herself at him.

"I didn't mean to do that, Em," he uttered, tone low. He wrapped his arm around her tiny waist, filling in the gap that separated them. He needed to know that he was still accepted by the only girl he would love, and still belonged to the only family he knew. "I promise I didn't mean to... I didn't even know I would turn out like that. I'm sorry, Em. I'm sorry- "

She squeezed her eyes and pushed the lump forming in her throat. "Shh, it's okay. It's okay." She felt some unknown pain pulsating deeper in her chest and she wanted to be freed by the weight of what was happening.

Max barked again, wanting to be included in their bubble.

Footsteps came in, then a knock on the door. "Emily? Are you okay?"

Olivia knocked to the door again, desperate for an answer. She turned the knob and swung the door open. She gasped upon seeing an unfamiliar guy in her daughter's bedroom.

"Who are you?"

Emily freed herself from Taren's hug, shocked. She never dreamt to be caught up by her mother with Taren. Especially not in that state. Not in that very moment.

"Mom," she called out. She wanted to lie. She wanted to invent some stories but she knew it wouldn't work out. She needed truth about everything and it must start with her. "This is Taren."

Taren and Max just stood there with their puppy eyes, awaiting a response from a shocked Olivia.