Dark Halos

Looking for a Sign

Muted voices of shouts can be heard on the other side of the metal walls. The thunderous footsteps of the Damn Hybrids created small debris to fall from above. It was dark, the only source of light being blocked by the body on the other side. Turning on the flashlight again, I angled it to the ground. The spacious interior had to lead somewhere.

I placed a cautious hand to the wall, it was cold to the touch. Nothing was on my hand as I pulled it back. Glancing back, I can see where I just was by how much blood was left. Checking my watch, my message was received. I'm just unsure if anyone can reach me in time.

The light was starting to hurt my eyes again, turning it off to replace the source with the staff that emitted a soft glow. Getting on a knee to take it out of my black bag. Pausing when I heard a grunt coming from the other side of the property. Stopping my movement to see if I was hearing anything. Swiftly turning my staff to the corner, I heaved the bag on before making my journey to see what's in this place.

/ / /

Backup was called for once the Damn Hybrids made their presence known. Some of the groups had already gone on their missions, one group came back. Reporting that they received a distress signal from one of the two groups that were on sight. A few of the Damn Hybrids were neutralized as others dragged away the bodies of fellow members.

They took notice of all the bodies that were taken, trying to see who all became a victim. The numbers weren't high but they could of been lower. Others were missing such as number 5027, 2752, 2753, and a few others. It was unsure if they were taken or just ran from the eyes of the Damn Hybrids.

New developments were written down about anything that was unfamiliar before. Information such as the type of day they can come out to stretch their legs, the advancement of wings sprouting from their skin, and the paralysis of a few members. Connor Anderson 4834, arrived with his group leader not long after the beckon was sent out. The leader went to talk to the others while he went to look for Daniella. He received her message not long after the mark was sent for medical service.

Asking around, no one knew where the others went. They explained the situation that happened before. A quarrel of love when Anon Jones confessed to Daniella Galvez, she denied his affection, he admitted to committing a crime to have her in his possession, and then she was shot.

"Shot? What do you mean?"

A girl by the name of Ophelia Millers 4982, was the one that recognized Connor as an acquaintance of Daniella's. "He confessed to doing something real terrible before getting the recipe to create bullets. They're experimental and he added something different to them. He was going to ask her to be on his team and travel down the Undergrounds with her. Hoping this was the answer to killing the monsters. She denied his advances and he shot her in a fit of jealousy, thinking she was seeing someone else."

"He shot her!?" he didn't know what to say. Seeing that she was not here, he might of kidnapped her. "Do you know where she is?"

"The last I saw, she was leaning against the metal contraptions. The yelling of everyone caused the creatures to come out. That's when everyone got into action," she pulled out her watch. "Anon and Catherine ran off to protect the others."

Connor glanced over to the contraption that held one of the Damn Hybrids in front of it. He could see no distinction of tranquilizers on the body. Walking slowly to the body, he can see the trail of blood that was probably Daniella's. Streaks of red could be seen on the apparatus of the metallic sheen. The worst thing that could of happened was that she was crushed. Then there would of been more blood on the ground.

The creature was large enough to enclose the metal device. Scales that covered the exterior of the dark frame, claws that are the size as an average size man, venom that oozed from underneath the scales as metallic secretion. It resembled a dragon now with the addition of wings, looking more reptilian without them.

Something seemed off about how the place was shaped. Stepping over the large snout of the creature, a corner of a dark interior could be seen. Stepping back, he could see the tranquilizer was starting to wear off. Heading back to warn the others about the monster, and a location where someone might be trapped.

/ / /

My footsteps echoed as it turned more into an underground cave. The staff helped in lighting my way without being sightless on this excavation. No one was around to keep an eye on my back as there was a decline into the ground. Stopping at the entrance of the dirt, it was the size of the Damn Hybrids. Although, there were none in the room. The curious side of me wanted to go down deeper. I decided that I wanted to live one more day by remaining close to the entrance where I came in. A small scrapping sound could be heard down in the tunnel. 

Making my way, I decided to search on the other side of the room. There was nothing out of the ordinary aside from piles of dirt. Movement can be heard on the outside of the hole where I came in. I was going to see if the creature was awake when a soft glow illuminated from the dark. Setting my staff down, I walked a little close to what was the source of the light. Crouching, I can see a small hole that was created within the small piles of soil.

Placing my bag down, I unzipped it to take out a pair of gloves. Pushing my bag close to the exit in case it opened up. The piles were covered in a wet layer of liquid, making the layer at the bottom to become mud. The top layer that covered the glowing object had a protective shell on it's own membrane. Letting off a soft blue glow that bounced off the walls. These were eggs, the offspring of those Damn Hybrids. Upon closer inspection, small embryos could be seen floating inside.

Looking at my watch, I clicked the recording button. Showing the room I was standing in. A low rumble could be heard on the other side of the passage. I made sure to capture the glowing youths in their incubation. This had to been created recently for the mud to be fresh, if they were in incubation, then they wouldn't be this big. Maybe they needed the moisture from the human host to create the cells for the eggs before growing until they no longer fit into the stomachs of those before. Shining the watch's flashlight, the figures inside could be seen moving to gather warmth from the source. 

Placing a gloved hand on one of the eggs, the thing inside moved. A part of me wanted to move it away, but the maternal side that I never received held me firm. These were the creatures that killed so many of what I'm fighting for. But what if there was a way to train them not to kill us? I know it sounds crazy but a type of theory that can shape their behavior and outlook of the destruction they had caused. We could take one to raise and collect data straight from the source. Making weapons to protect ourselves while making sure no one else gets hurt.

The wound from my lower breast started to act up again. The bullet must of already disintegrated from the inside. I tried to stand from where I was as the room started to spin. Leaning against the wall, a headache started to form. Thick heavy pumps started to pound against my skull as I breathe in any air I could get. A small string of light could be seen from the entrance I came through. My mind was in a haze as I wrapped one of the eggs in an emergency blanket before carefully placing it in my bag. If I were to die, then I would want the others to have a solution for advancement against these Damn Hybrids.

The cavernous entrance that I lingered before excreted a loud scream. It was hard to tell if it was human or monstrous, that didn't matter. What mattered was my own survival and for the next generation of Dark Halos. The sound of thick claws tapped against the aluminum-like floor. Lifting my head from the wall to see an outline of something in the gaping hole. Black scales that camouflaged in the depths, a silvery sheen of venom coating its external layer, claws stained with something dark. It was hard to move from where I was, the pressure of the backpack on my abdomen. A few more strains of light seeped through, the creature blocking the path was starting to wake up. It's a risk, but I know I have to toss my bag out. Even if it means risking my life to do it.