Disclaimer: Hm…I still don't own it, and I won't claim it. Original characters (of which there is an abundance in this chapter) are mine, though. Hence the title ORIGINAL characters.

Mira's POV

"I'm here alone,

And I can't sleep, I want to see you…"

Nightmares. Maybe that's why they call it Hell. The nightmares won't go away, and there's nothing to do here but sleep and brood. I've never been very good at either. Even when I wasn't in Hell I had nightmares, but now they were worse. So much worse. Vivid and terrifying, I always saw that White Wolf running, running towards something, three other Wolves following him. They never got very far—demons and monsters tore them to shreds before they even had a chance to yelp. And I felt like it was my fault.

I glared to the side when I heard someone walking towards me. Cher's face peered at me through the bars, eyes wide as she looked at me in amazement. She kept her distance, as afraid as any human would be around an unbroken Wolf.

"You're amazing."

I ignored her. Darshia (bastard) probably sent her to get something out of me. Wasn't gonna happen.

"Why does he have you locked up like this? Do you hate humans or did you attack someone or—"

"Idiot." I turned to look at her, making her jump. "You know why I'm here."

She shook her head. "I don't understand any of this. He won't explain anything to me."

"You work here. You have at least some understanding of what's going on. And if you seriously don't, then why are you still working here?"

"Because I WANT to understand. I need to know why this is happening, why you're being locked up, what they are doing to Cheza…all of it. I just don't understand any of it. And if I understood, maybe I could help you." She grabbed the bars, looking almost desperate.

My hand shot out and grabbed one of her wrists, my grip tight enough to make her uncomfortable without hurting her. "I could break your wrist right now. I could kill you without a problem." I could feel her starting to tremble, and a twinge of guilt twisted my stomach. This wasn't really what I wanted. "Do you know where the Flowers are?"

"Flowers?" She gasped in pain as I tightened my grip. "You're hurting me!"

"Come on, blondie—I'm not stupid. You reek of Flowers. You must have been near them recently."

"…Are you talking about the Flowers in the Book of the Moon? The Lunar Flowers? They're here?"

I let go of her wrist and looked at her in confusion. "You really don't know anything?"

"I already told you I don't."

I slowly allowed myself to relax. "You don't have any preconceived notions about Wolves, the Flowers, any of it?"

"No." Cher rubbed her wrist, watching me carefully. "Are you going to tell me something or not?"

"He has us captured because he's looking for the Key."

"The Key?"

I sighed softly. "They call it 'the Evil' in the Book of the Moon."

"Why does he think it's whereabouts are known by a Wolf?"

"A Wolf will be the Tainted One, who has ingested Evil." I stretched as much as possible in the dinky cage. "All I now is that he's doing tests of some sort to find the Evil."

"He's not a Wolf. How can he enter Paradise?"

"Technically, no one can enter Paradise until the White Wolf and the Key are there and open it. Darshia may find the Key, but he doesn't have the White Wolf."

"What about Hayo?"

"He doesn't count. There's no way in hall that someone like HIM could open Paradise." I sighed again. "Darshia's probably looking for the White Wolf, too."

"Are they rare?"

"To say the least. Hayo's an albino, so technically he's not a real White Wolf."

Cher thought for a moment, then murmured softly, "So why are all of you here? Shouldn't he have an idea of where the Key is, if he's been looking for it for so long?"

I shrugged. "He's also a sadistic bastard. He probably likes hearing them scream."

"Cheza said someone was screaming, too. Who are they? Why can't I hear them?"

I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them to my chest. "They are the Flowers…hidden away here, somewhere. You can hear them crying and screaming, so afraid, hurting so bad, wanting to get away… I don't know if they're actually hurting or if it's only a reaction to our pain, but something makes them scream." I glanced at her, watching her eyes grow concerned and sad. "Being Wolves, we want to help, to make them stop. Anyone who could hear it would want to end it. It's impossible to describe."

"How can Darshia hear it if I can't?"

"There's no doubt in my head that that insane son of a bitch can hear them."

Cher glanced around the cages. "Why are they so quiet? You would think that we're alone here."

"They've given up." Cher looked at me quizzically. "They don't want to hurt anymore, so they don't acknowledge the reality of what's going on. It's something like being dead."

Cher looked horrified, her hands flying up to her mouth as her eyes widened. "That's horrible! Why hasn't it happened to you?"

"Because I won't let it." I gave her a meek smile. "Someone's coming. You should go. But come back some other time, alright? It's lonely here."

"I won't let you die like them."

"It's weird…I actually believe you. Get moving, blondie."

"What's your name?"

"Mira. And your is Cher, I know. Go!"

She turned and ran off, her heels clicking down the hallway as she skittered. Hayo stepped into the hallway as soon as she was out of sight. "Getting friendly with the humans now, are we, Mira?"

"Shut the hell up. Like you have any right to talk. You're screwing around with Darshia. What's it like being someone's lap dog?"

Hayo smirked at me, pale red eyes flicking with amusement. "I'll be the one to open Paradise and live happily ever after. Sometimes it's hard being a White Wolf—Everyone's so quick to judge."

"You're a damn albino. White Wolves are pure because of their soul, not a damn genetic mutation caused by their momma's smoking crack."

Hayo's eyes narrowed on me. "Jealousy is such an ugly emotion. If you had followed Darshia, maybe you'd be out of that cage and headed for Paradise."

"If I had followed Darshia, maybe I'd have a collar and bark only when someone said 'speak'." I scowled at him, hating him even more than I hated Darshia at that time. "No one bosses me around. My end is going to be of my own doing, not someone else's. And Paradise would never open to or accept a creep like you."

He cocked his head. "Oh, really? And how do you know this?"

"Because I've seen the White Wolf in my dreams." I felt a grin twist my lips. "He's infinitely hotter than you."

Hayo rolled his eyes at me. "Dreams are dreams. They're the result of your mind struggling to make sense of everything that happened during the day. I doubt if your handsome White Wolf even exists."

I ignored him and looked away. That arrogant smirk of his was enough to drive anyone insane. My ears twitched as I heard my lock click open. He's just playing with you, I thought to myself, refusing to move. It won't work.

"Don't you want to come out and play?" Turning my head, I realized that he cage was open. The only thing in my way was Hayo. "You can be free, if you get through me."

My eyes narrowed on him. "You jackass."

"That won't make me move."

I turned away, refusing to acknowledge him. He was reaching for my cage door when I leapt at him, but he wasn't off guard. He tore into my shoulder before he fell, me snarling and foaming after him.

We landed several feet away from each other, both of us bristling and bleeding. I could care less about my wounded shoulder; something in his eyes told me there would be worse to come. Carefully, eyes never leaving mine, Hayo started circling me, long claws ticking gently against he floor. Slowly, I followed his movements, refusing to let him get ahead of me, yet refusing to pass him. Blood, my blood, stained his pale fur crimson, matching his eyes.

He moved first, lunging at me with a low growl. Snarling, I twisted away, barely keeping my distance from him; I leapt up on his back, bristling as I ripped into the space between his shoulder blades. Howling in pain and rage, Hayo slammed me against the cages. The other Wolves started snarling and barking, finally seeming to come back to life as I slowly sank to the ground, my lungs feeling like they were going to explode. It couldn't end here. I wasn't going to let him win.

Slowly, I stood up, legs shaking slightly. Ignoring the pain, I slowly began circling him, listening to the soft, constant plip of my own blood dripping on the floor.

Hayo lunged at me again, and I leapt to the side, skidding slightly as I landed. The albino bastard landed right in one of my pools of blood; he started sliding, unable to stop himself on the smooth floor. I caught hold of his leg as he slid; sharp pricks of agony ran down my neck as he grabbed my throat. His grip tightened as I felt his bone breaking beneath my teeth—I wasn't going to last much longer.

"That's enough, Hayo."

Hayo's body instantly relaxed. He released my throat and darted to Darshia, who had two guards with him.

"Take her to the medical center." Darshia turned away. "Keep her alive, for now."

I barely had the strength to struggle as the soldiers started gathering me up. They weren't afraid. Even if I had been able to bite them, I wouldn't have been able to hold on to or pierce their armor.

Damn, I though, my vision turning black. Why the hell did I do that?

Hayo smirked as I was carried by. Someday, someone was going to wipe that damn smile off his face, even if it wasn't me.

Author's Notes: YAY MIRA! She's actually a representation of me. grin She has much more of a potty mouth than I do, and she's a lot tougher, but on the inside…kokoro de… she and I are a lot alike. In most respects. Anyways, next one is Tsume's, so we're getting back on track with the whole fanfic thing. Sorry all the OCs are taking over, but…well, they're necessary. The plot wouldn't work without them. Gotta get to love them, if they're sticking around. And Hubb? Don't know when he's making an appearance. Sorry, any fan girls (I wasn't even aware that you existed oo). Next chapter is all about the Book of the Moon and Hell, so…enjoy! AND THANK YOU, KINTORA! You give me hope to continue this You are a hero. salutes