PREQUEL CHAPTER TIME

The corners felt cramped, walls completely white, and the texture became dull and boring after days on days of confinement. Days, months, years, full of nothing but confusion. Why would humans do this? She was different, that was the only answer for this treatment. Trying to break out was one of the last things she wanted to do, after what happened to... the other one.

She clutched the area where her womb would have been, silently sobbing as the humans took away her ability to reproduce. Putting chemicals that caused it to stop working to an extent. It certainly didn't help as it was both an asylum and a laboratory, at the same time. Most of the torment was for twisted research, but she refused to take anymore. She heard voices mumbling about what to do with the hybrids here.

Word is, the queen had escaped from Delta Squad, the ones who started it all. Now that the war had died down a lot, the humans had no need for them anymore. They had some soldiers there for simple patrol and guard work, knowing that hybrids aren't to be trifled with. So when something needed to be carried out, they were the ones to call for the job. Her chest cramped a bit as she looked upward to the familiar click of the door opening.

Her face lit up as she suspected the indisputable opening to freedom she so hopefully desired. She reached a pale weak hand as the soldier gently clasped a hand around her wrist and lowered her arm down as she tilted her head. This soldier had not worn his helmet, a flaw he would regret. He had dark hair and lighter hazel eyes. He didn't look that harmful, for a human, but kept a deadpan face looking down upon her.

"I-I don't understand..."

Her hand shook as she held it close to her heart. The soldier sighed a bit and drew a pistol from his belt.

"I was given orders to put you down. Don't worry, it only will hurt for a second."

He turned away to fetch ammo before being gripped by the shoulder and having her quickly sink her sharp kantus fangs into his neck, severely damaging his jugular vein, making sure his death would be quick. Blood trailed down her mouth and dribbled off her chin as she stared off, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The act of killing felt justified to her. Euphoric even. She held her breath as shrieks from other soldiers were heard from the nearby hall.

She leaned out of the doorway and saw that her move had thrown the labcoats off. The other hybrids had escaped due to the shock and terror of the situations. She stared out silently as sirens blared in the halls. Before turning and seeing a much larger hybrid that could definitely tear her apart, limb from limb if she wanted to. Feeling slightly anxious about the situation, she turned to leave but got pulled back by her hair.

"H-Hey! Let go!"

"So, you're the one who put this into motion?"

She slightly wiped a bit of the blood off her mouth as she tried to regain composure of the situation, but still felt her knees tremble.

"Yes... Why do you ask?"

"Well, with your strength, we could start an uprising against humanity. You don't really have a choice."

The much larger individual felt a slight tug on her arm, she turned to see what seemed like her sister in protest of the situation.

"Sanguine, what are you doing? This lady helped me!"

Sanguine released her grip as her captive tumbled down.

"You... know her?"

"Yes, her name is... Kandace, I think..."

Kandace kept thinking about that offer, to help eradicate human race was something she hadn't really cared for until up to now. It had been 2 years since she had given up her freedom to save an old friend of hers. Her only regret had been not being strong enough. She was no longer the frail child she had once been known for. She lusted for blood, and was willing to commit devious acts against every single soldier or civilian who stood in her way.

"I'll do it."

She held her hand out giving a sly grin, as she giggled.

"You can count on me."

A slight clunking noise was heard as they saw another kantus breed open the door and topple over. Blond-haired, with dark eyes, and blood seeping from the stumps of where both his arms were severed. He was breathing heavily, having been stressed about the situation. It was a little confusing on how he opened the door, but they didn't feel like questioning it. He looked around trying to get a better understanding of the situation and struggling to get to his feet.

"So, Stizza, you're a little late to the party."

He cleared his throat before standing straight and recognizing Kandace looking miserable, yet sinister. He had seen her before, she was close with the high priest, whom at the time, was a controversial figure. He managed how Skorge maintained his cool with a young teenager at his side. Whatever kept him in a positive attitude, he supposed.

"What do you expect!? I had to use my toes to open that door!"

They heard heavy footsteps down the hall. The humans were prepared to shoot on sight, presumably with the nastiest weapons they had. The hybrids realized that this conversation should carry on somewhere else. Sanguine carried Stizza over her shoulder, being a hybrid of human and berserker, was much stronger, and taller than the other experiments surrounding her. Upon escaping, the sunlight felt brutal.

The beautiful colours of the sky, the landscape of the field, it all felt mesmerizing to Kandace. She hadn't been out for years, and it all felt foreign to her. The soil between her toes and talons of her much smaller kantus feet felt comforting. She then realized that now wasn't the best time to gawk at the scenery and continued running feeling ever so powerful with the warm summer breeze dancing through her crimson locks. The humans stopped running to catch their breaths as they watched Kandace cheerful about her breach and Stizza mocking them.

Somewhere, the surviving locusts had been forced to move to a new location, where the newer palace had been made. None that the humans knew about anyways, seeing as the attack had caused them to lose another large majority of their forces. Myrrah sat upon her new throne, and watched as her royal advisor, high priest, and general, Skorge glanced out the window nearby. She looked a little upset knowing that he'd remained gloomy for years, and hadn't been acting like his normal self.

"It's quite sad, isn't it, my queen?"

Myrrah winced as she lied through her teeth, knowing what he was going to talk about. He had complained about not being strong enough. He blamed himself for being defeated so easily, and saved his strength for the humans.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if she's alive. Should I just... forget?"

Myrrah sighed sadly as she turned her head in pity.

"I... don't know, Skorge..."

Soon a drone slammed open the door, catching the attention of both of them.

"H-Humans! Half-humans!"

"Enough out of you! I'll deal with the matter in my own time!"

Skorge took off to the area the drone had specified, and stopped to discover commotion going on outside of the Theron's clinic. He peeked over the crowd to see the other locusts in awe at the sight of the newly improved freaks of their army. Coquelicot thankfully had some snazzy clothes on standby, having knowing them closely enough to remember what they liked. Sanguine cut off half the side of her curly mahogany hair, as Clarity sat back watching Stizza checking out the new set of arms he was eventually going to get.

He was sketching the blueprints of the designs and mechanics of this set of arms for the suffering amputee, when Stizza was approached and hugged affectionately by his half-brother, Oxblood.

"I see you are doing well, half-bloods."

Skorge pushed his way through the crowd as the drones and kantus bowed in respect. Stizza looked less than ecstatic to see Skorge again. Skorge was alerted by the sudden sight of red hair. It was Kandace, who looked like someone he would've never recognized had it not been for the hair. Skorge was instantly silenced by the shock of seeing someone he thought would never appear again.

Her hair had been much longer than last time, she no longer wore the blue and gold kantus uniform, but had shredded most of the asylum dress she wore and had worn that instead. She tore it because it had information that either had the name of the asylum, or "01" scrawled on it in red. Unable to risk being sent back she removed all evidence on her attire. She wore spike wristbands, and striped stocking covered her legs, followed by boots with spikes on them. Not to mention, she reached adulthood, and developed a prominent and feminine figure.

She stared at him with bewilderment, knowing it had been too long since she last saw him, and was more than just happy to see him.

"I-I... heard you were back so I wanted to give you this."

Skorge held out a folded cloth, as black as night with the shimmering gold pendant with her name embedded on it. She comfortably put it on, as she looked up to Skorge, who was giving a normal smile.

"You're... fine with it?"

"It's much warmer, because you gave it to me."

Skorge got a little startled by that gesture and turned to leave, blushing a bit.

"Is something wrong Skorge?"

Stizza jested him as Coquelicot shot him a glance, discouraging him from teasing Skorge, and making the situation worse.

"You! Hold your tongue! I'll make sure you can't walk either, Stizza!"

About a couple weeks later, Skorge was struggling to cope with his overwhelming emotions for the companion he once knew as a friend, and had tried to keep his distance, unable to deal with it in a proper manner. Unaware of this, Kandace felt quite alone, and quite disappointing of this reunion. Kandace sat on some steps questioning the scenario, as Skorge watched from a distance, feeling guilty for her suffering such confusion.

"S-Skorge?"

Skorge flinched and clung to the wall, being spotted by Clarity, the young 15-year old sniper who had seen him standing around. Quietly, and urgently he gently yanked her by her side-ponytail and dragged her to another hallway hissing under his own breath.

"What do you want?"

"You were watching Kandace so I wanted to ask you what was going on."

Skorge felt his chest tighten, as he sighed miserably.

"Lockehart... Have you ever been in love?"

"With a couple girls, but they were too human..."

"Ah yes, you are into different mates..."

Clarity had a small smile on her face as she placed her hands on her sides under the immediately quick realization of the situation of what was going on.

"I see. You're in love with Kandace, aren't you, Skorge?"

Skorge hung his head, a little embarrassed, and was blushing significantly.

"Y-Yes..."

"Well, I suggest you tell her. She's wanted to see you for a long time, you know."

Skorge clenched his fist and stood up straight triumphantly, looking determined as he held a confident smile on his face.

"You're right! Why should a locust warrior have to fear affection?"

Clarity heard her sister calling her as she gave Skorge a slight pat on the back before leaving.

"Just, don't do anything reckless. Skorge marched his way into the hallway Kandace was occupying, and approached her from behind. She slightly rolled her eyes, and turned her head away.

"Now you come see me?"

"N-No! It is much more complex than that!"

She shrugged in frustration before being quickly gripped by the shoulders, much to her surprise.

"It's just... I'm oddly attracted to you, and I do not know how to deal with the matter."

Kandace blushed a bit, before giving a small smile.

"Really? That's uncharacteristic of you."

"Well, you're mature now, you slay a lot of humans, and you have a lovely appearance."

Kandace shyly turned her head.

"To be honest, I think I had feelings for you too. I was just unsure of it..."

Skorge slightly leaned in, as Kandace swallowed nervously, not having been in a situation quite like this. Skorge clamped his mouth, fangs and all, onto hers and held Kandace close to him, which left a rather unsightly pair of bite marks on her face. Skorge noticed this and stared wide-eyed that his fangs were certainly lethal weapons.

"Don't worry, I'm a quick healer."

"K-Kandace! What are you doing?"

Kandace noticed out of the corner of her eye, Stizza looking of disapproval about what was going on as of now, as Skorge let out a menacing hiss.

"Calm down, Lieutenant. I want to stay with him like this."

"He isn't on good terms with the Soul Killers! I'm concerned about that!"

During those weeks, the small group of locusts of Kandace's roundtable had formed a pact uniting them together. Stizza believed that Kandace had quite the potential to be a powerful leader, and wanted to be more of an older brother figure towards Kandace, and didn't want any harm to come to her.

"I'm not afraid of them. Why should I care what they think?"

"They're powerful forces and heroes of the horde! They kill those who speak ill of them!"

Kandace folded her arms and looked rather agitated as she glared at Stizza.

"If they were heroes, where were they when I needed them the most?"

Kandace turned around and walked out as Stizza looked away, feeling guilty, as he looked around in the awkward scenario that submerged the atmosphere.

"...When I get my arms, I should trim my hair..."

Skorge caught up to Kandace as she walked down the hall, it was a little awkward now, having known her as a lover instead of a companion.

"Speaking of which... when you needed me the most. I should've been there."

Kandace stopped, looking slightly concerned about his health.

"Y-You were injured... I didn't want them to hurt you too..."

Skorge felt Kandace lean in close to his chest, as he gave her hair a gentle stroke. Even if he was hurt he was going to have to risk himself. Now that he has more on the line than just a close friend. He had a lover, who was a merciless fighter, despite her questionable appearance and behaviour.

"You wanted to stay like this?"

Kandace nodded her head giving an affectionately confident smile as Skorge offered a hand to her.

"Shall we?"

She giggled as she gripped Skorge's icy-cold hand.

"I am in the mood for killing some humans right now anyways."