Stories from the capsule: The hunter

ONE

"The metallic smell sickens me. I look down at my hands in an attempt to try and collect myself. It's all been wiped out. Blanc, blurry and vibrating; my head spins and in God's name I can't recall not even a second of it. Why so much of it? What did I need it for? Every inch of this room is red splattered, glass shards scattered everywhere like glitter shinning against the moonlight. Something is sniffing at the door, examining the stained wood and with a gentle motion opens it wide stepping into the mess. My mess. I sit on the cold ground, petrified of my own nature, marveling at this majestic creature standing above my face. The cold, wet feel of the wolf's snout comforts me somehow and when I lean forward, weak and drained, I hear footsteps and I was swiped away. My vision abandoned me along with my other senses. Warmth was all that was left."

"Tana, is that all? Can't you reach any further?"

"Do you have to do this every time; she is pushing herself already. The rest is gone, just let it go."

"There's no harm in trying. Delete interaction. Initiate shut down. Kurt place her back in her capsule. Oh and bring me Alistair's report for this week."

"Yes, sir Palos. Will that be it?"

"No, one last thing; never forget what they are. We study them for the greater good. THEY don't even know what they are but someone has to figure it out. What makes the difference and why. We are not the bad guys here. Never forget. Now go."

I nod my head in agreement just to get out of his sight. What a sick man. Almost evil, so cold, putrid even. If anything they are more human than him. They, my mind goes to Tana; poor soul, caught in a loop like a broken record. Not that anyone cares anymore besides me I guess. That's probably because I spent all this time caring after them. My job isn't the best in this complex but it is most crucial. If I miss anything they regain consciousness and we will all die.

Look at her in form, veins glistening dark blue, sharp claws, stiff muscles; a warrior in armor. Not all of them form the same; Tana is of the Krvled species which characterizes their cold, timid and hard nature but there are others such as the Vatra who are warm, unapologetic and stubborn like nothing you would have seen. 397 species were found in total over the last twelve years that we've been studying them. Almost as long as when these anomalies first started appearing among us.

Some say their existence was always present but unknown to us ignorant humans. Other will say that the P.C.H.D. accident infected those who had any genes of k.RA.ma meaning those who have an unspecified origin. Supposedly people who got "infected" were somehow genetically mutated and so at random they started transforming into all sorts of things or attained powers that were incredibly unique. Some people undergoing those changes either freaked out or got drunk with power and lost control. Now that is where we come in, the Hestia institute, we provide a safe home to these people and in exchange we study them, categorize them, sometimes even train them, all for the greater good. From the moment they decide to enter our care, the subjects are coded and sort of belong to us from that moment on. However my department is special; we specifically deal with severe cases of sudden outbreaks, weird accidents and crimes involving them. For instance, Tana; she had her first form a few days ago which sounds normal so here's where things get tricky, she doesn't have a clue about how it happened her remaining memories are bits and pieces of the bloody aftermath. This is where we stepped in and four days later we are still at square one. What intrigues me about this is that I actually knew this girl, we used to go to the same school. She was always quiet and kept to herself, I don't know much about her parents but they seemed good people; the question is where are they? Why isn't anyone searching for this girl? Scared of human footsteps but comforted by an animal's touch, if that isn't weird then again, in this world what is weird anymore.