Run

Rubinus

I had to run. Run and run. To save him. To save them. To save the people. Run. I am Bryony Forrest and this is my story:

Rubinus

Its 2115, Earth. Scientists where I live, in London, started adding robotic parts to animals in 2100. ‘Do not change, upgrade, upgrade to a better future,’ says an old sign nearby my home. They upgrade animals to help them fight wars. In Scotland, they found a unique creature. It looked like a wolf, but bigger, it was human-sized. My father, lead scientist of the ‘LUI’ (London upgrading industry), was responsible for upgrading this creature.

They named the wolf ‘Rubinus’, which is ruby in Latin as his coat had a slight red shimmer. You could only see the red in the sunlight, otherwise it was light brown. My father, Edward Forrest, cared for Rubinus, but added specially engineered parts to his joints for supernatural speed and agility.

One day, my father invented a shape-shifting device that could make Rubinus look completely human. He fixed it into the back of Rubinus’ skull, but it went horribly wrong. The device worked, but Rubinus became violent and lashed out at my father.

When Rubinus attacked he was in wolf-form, but otherwise he was human. The blow instantly killed my father. I know this because I witnessed it. I ran upstairs to warn my mother, Beatrice Forrest, but I was too late. Rubinus had attacked and she lay dead on the floor.

I panicked, ran downstairs and hid in my father’s workshop. I knew it was no use, I was crying violently, which Rubinus would most likely hear. Rubinus was the same age as me, 15, but still full of power. I heard shallow breathing and saw human feet transform into big, strong claws and then back to feet.

“Don’t hurt me, please, please don’t hurt me,” I said, rocking on the balls of my feet.

“It’s okay Bryony, I won’t hurt you, but your parents had to be stopped. Mutating innocent creatures, turning them into beasts – like me,” said a distinct boy’s voice.

“No! No! You’ve destroyed my life. They could destroy you, I wouldn’t care. You’re a beast, a monster!” I yelled, coming out from my hiding place.

“Bryony, you don’t mean that, I know you don’t. I know you are happy that I am almost human,” said Rubinus, stepping close to me.

I slapped him in the face and kicked him in the chest. I heard a loud snarl, but I faced the other way. I turned briefly to see his round, beautiful yellow eyes and then I ran. I ran and I ran to the place I felt safe, Marchers Field.