Species the Unknown Strain


"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the eldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." - H.P Lovecraft


Chapter XVI

The distant echo of shrill infused screeching endlessly continued as a group of armed officers and agents halted immediately. Preston Lennox remained still taking in spine tingling shrieks that he'd believed were once distant memories, "Sound familiar, woman?" He questioned a tight lipped doctor hearing very similar sounds to another creature that was on a feral rampage. The man's resigned tone while lighting up a cigarette as years long will of abstaining from nicotine got broken finally. Ahead of them was a small line of men holding up riot shields, tensely advancing despite freezing upon hearing inhumane sounds as others behind had stun gun weaponry all charged for a unified therapy to make even hell seem kinder.

"It's Eve." Laura guessed while flashlights were quickly sweeping ahead as Press motioned for an entire formation of terrified men forward into a tunnel's depth, "She sounds..." The woman trailed off momentarily for a long time partner and friend who accurately finished, "Pissed? She-bitch sounds like that other one years ago, so who'd know!" The cold joking familiar feeling of nostalgia made him sardonically chuckle despite keeping a pistol loaded and with a safety off at all times. And years ago he'd lost enough friends to know it wasn't playing human.

Despite numbering over a dozen along with several other agents prepared to unleash enough lead for shredding a bear alive. Press mildly assumed it'd buy them several minutes if their radical attempt of shock therapy failed outright, "But why, Press? Isn't that more concerning considering Eve's never actually been hindered by everything she's encountered? Something...something is wrong!" Laura mumbled trying to make sense possibilities that left her effortlessly lost, nothing at all since her escape seemed to be going right at all.

Ahead where shrill screeching seemingly became more intense and echoes sent men hesitantly over metallic tracks. Not a single person dared to speak up, or rather only those who were somewhat aware of what was probably ahead. Bullets wouldn't anger her to this extent, we've already seen her shrug off enough to tear a person into pieces! So what am I missing, is it Alex perhaps? The woman struggled trying to piece together psychologically speaking, an entity that was more human than alien react distinctly, but at this rate she began doubting just exactly how much had been awakened within after years of observation.

"She'll be done in wrong, if we luck out." The man gruffly hoped while exhaling out smoke in a bid to ward off chills again, "In case you haven't noticed? She-bitch and the punk have been tearing through quite a few people today, so let's set it right and be done with it!" He motioned for officers walking rigidly shoulder to shoulder as federal agents kept rifles ideally ahead. It wouldn't too long before they came across whatever had been screeching. An enclosed environment had magnified it's sheer volume, not even a minute passed before it earnestly got a point where Press started humoring a migraine of the ages.

Above dimming lights were flickering consistently due to an entire network of rail and electric being cut off from behind them. The entire city had responded mostly to Press's internal relief, as he'd promised to the punk and again had to grudgingly admit something. Least he's got balls to make me do a job harder, ugh...I'm retiring when this shit is done. Even though said punk had chosen to run, it inevitably made him lament that if things weren't so utterly damned screwed? He'd probably humor enough in turning a blind eye, but in hindsight one kid's gripe with the world genuinely wasn't worth billions by contrast at all.

"Guns up." He called out while taking a pistol and keeping himself loosely prepared, "From here on out, I don't care if you're a boy in blue or one of Uncle Sam's goons. No one here got nothing on monsters today, so do yourselves a favor." Several helmets and armored covered riot police glanced behind due to an inhumane screeching echoing again. It seemed constantly amplified despite it growing closer and closer, it made ears tingle with an inescapable prickling that seemed to have hair stick up instinctively.

However distant interludes of silence were met with mixed awareness due to Laura who abruptly froze a midst frightened people. Wait! Laura paused paling once older experiences and memories from another had struck too close to terror itself. I know Sil as she went into a rage, but that can't be Eve! That's something else...someone else? She raised a flashlight over heads in seeing a bend in the tunnel that had been sealed off, if only trying to box in two distinct people of interest. She struggled trying to pinpoint a difference distant screeching and it simply ended by some sort of guttural bellowing that made a few wielding shields to freeze momentarily. The sheer tone made it akin to a lion's rumbling, a baritone echoing seeping further beneath flesh into igniting humane instinct to flee, or something closer to that assumption naturally.

Another several moments went past with no end the intensity alone, "Jesus! What in the fuck is making me think hell sounds nicer?" Press muttered curiously mainly when checking spacing between armed groups as stun weaponry were shaking in a few hands, "Woman! Tell me something that makes sense today, if you can please! Cause if that's she bitch number two doing all that, I'll quit drinking when pigs are flying."

Ungodly shrieking akin to glass being wracked across stone met all their ears swiftly. She's never made those sounds before, Press. I...I don't know, if she's angry or in pain? Nothing came into memory pertaining to Sil's escape, it didn't sound like anything she'd documented or even seen which said enough for her to feel uneasy. Yet despite all these anomalies did an ever real possibility begin churning due to past events recently formulating. Everything she'd known was almost entirely useless with every passing minute giving them absolutely nothing, Laura gritted teeth sheer out of frustration of having years of research amounting to every possibility.

"It's not only Eve...it's Alex." Laura mused lowly trying to fight off a frown due to uncontrollable shivering crawling their way back from past memories, "I've been trying to piece together everything we've seen and know, so far. He's changed, physically and I don't think he's entirely human anymore. Press, or least would think as one of us? I think he's probably like Eve when she changes into what Sil did after she...found a suitable partner. It makes sense why she's so furious comparing to what happened the first time, but I can't...I can't understand where there's nothing to stimulate such a response naturally!"

The man's eyes rolled mostly of out sheer exasperation, "Great! She bitch number two getting hung over about a punk? Maybe's he a loose kid!" He joked mainly to resist punching the nearest stone wall due to going in blind. It was all too damned familiar years ago, if not worse off since he and Laura were too damned aware of dangers.

Loose? A blond doctor reasonably humored until an epiphany struck her coldly. Maybe Eve actually drew out, Ross! If she chose him considering evidence, in seeking out Alex and Sil's own attempt in saving him years ago. Perhaps Ross is reacting to a new...threat, or rival? There wasn't any known data to back that theory up, or conclusive proof yet it seemed reasonable to assume the species had plenty of secrets. Little was known on whether multiple males, females and a limited social hierarchy was without human introduction, normally she'd assume they'd all assist for attempts but considering all three held humanity within them?

Laura eventually exhaled to wipe away sweat as she tried to formulate natural expectations, "We never allowed Sil, or Eve to interact with males due to their innate natures. However with Ross, I think you're onto something when you said someone's loose...he might be down here with us, or found a way here I'd guess? Because you and I damn well have never seen a male of the species, we got a glimpse before Ross escaped, so it might explain why we're hearing different calls being emitted in such frequent aggression." Glancing away momentarily trying to voice out a multitude of theories that seemed plausible and assumptions hardly made Press feel that confident, if hearing him groan to start light kicking track absolutely fed up.

The species aren't human, but they aren't what they could be since human nature seems like a contradiction to their purpose. Consume, wipe out life and being a cancer! She recalled the warnings of another who had been locked in an asylum for threatening to expose Project:Athena. Sil's conception wasn't of their own workings, but of something sent further ahead. And with Mars all but being confirmed, it seemed something wasn't matching with past histories. Laura swore behaviors wouldn't be proper except for Ross who'd shot himself, Dennis had nearly lost his mind in seeing one of his friends taking a shotgun and regenerating a skull.

However whatever had happened left nothing humane within Ross considering his spree to breed uncontrollably amounted to corpses found. The species was like a plague, a cancer and it turned a thriving planet into a useless piece of rock! Warnings from Cromwell, a former scientist and once esteemed consultant had warned if humanity ventured onto that barren world? A trace of the original strains that wiped out all life would be uncovered, ironically Sil's own conception as well as Eve's had traces of another origin yet similarly designed. In creating life, an overpowering need too and at all costs for control.

"So you think Ross is making a run at she-bitch, or is the punk and him having an old fashion rumble somewhere?" Lennox sarcastically hoped considering it'd solve plenty of issues, "Christ, I think we'd be too lucky if I see that happen! It's already bad enough and we're in close quarters, so I say stick to what you know woman. Because you're making me overthink this shitty spot!" He exclaimed when an entire line shifted around a bend finally. And revealed an incredible straightaway towards distant screeching.

Laura shivered unconsciously when looking upwards with a flashlight out of habit, "It would seem human, if they are Press. But the species is...is to what I imagine connected?" She eventually exhaled out of frustration due to long standing theories that Sil exhibited when finding a suitable mate and concluded she sought superior specimens, "Eve and Ross, they knew unconsciously of each other before he became whatever he is now. Once he started breeding uncontrollably, we did pick up fits Eve had once this became revealed. I suspect they're not entirely human yet possess both our and their own unique biology to become what we know they are supposed to act like...a plague!"

Throughout her frustrations in understanding an alien organism did it become apparent she had limited information. All of these incidents, all of these humane decisions and only now am I trying to figure out why they're not acting like we studied! It's all extremely rational, they can't be this...this aware of danger to hide and run so damned easily! Ironically perhaps an answer was just right in plain sight, or rather an anomaly that she'd discovered. It all led back to Sil and her interaction with a young boy who was now being corroded physically and mentally, if by hope her generalized insanity didn't make everything absolutely irrelevant.

"Press, I think Cromwell and I were extremely neglecting a fatal possibility." The man's eyes rose all too impressed, "So you're saying you don't know jack shit for once? Is it Sunday, or do I have to mark it as a holiday?" He chortled absolutely amused despite taking drags on a cigarette, it seemed even an ego in this blond finally got curbed. It seemed god was being funny after years of supposed science and observation couldn't predict human vanity at times.

That dark sense of humor got a kick to his shins for good measure as Laura dryly bit out, "Press I think we as humanity in our own DNA is making them better off. And Ross didn't cause Eve to follow her expected instincts, we knew she would eventually find him. But I was wrong and it's gotten worse for everyone else. We didn't know about Alex's...condition prior which was the exact origin of everything that's wrong. I think...I think, oh god!" She whispered nearly in sheer horror as an urge to vomit extremely came on too strongly.

Press wryly smiled even though he waited for yet another series of bad news, "Eve's alien nature tapped into Ross since she had fits instinctively, god I bet she saw everything and knew where he was down to the literal location. Every detail and every moment...but she knew how, somehow." Almost as if a mocking sense of irredeemable horror made her pale considerably onto a level in nearly being physically ill did she whisper damming, "So what if Alex is doing the same for them? What if Ross and Eve know everything he does, how he acts and he thinks! Wouldn't that explain why neither of them have been found by anyone since they brought back something that can know what the other thinks without them consciously knowing?"

It seemed to fit why either Eve, or Ross had been defying expectations given the later was hidden from public eyes and ears. He probably found somewhere only he'd know, but if Alex is influencing them unconsciously? Oh god...then they would be far more effective in blending among us, to know where and act more human to avoid suspicion! Bodies were disappearing indicating a boon of intelligence, a lack of them being discovered foretold that Ross's breeding spree had peaked. Or a far more horrific outcome had naturally manifested, it pertained to offspring maturing since time passed long enough for herself to nearly hyperventilate.

The man eventually groaned lowly in a bid to not humor worse off possibilities, "You should have kept that kind of shit to yourself, woman. Now, I'm about to scream!" That colorful imagination a blond doctor left very little cheerful hope when he muttered, "Already this tops the first she-bitch, now we got a punk, number two and Ross going full on serial killer. We're screwed either way Laura, but since you're saying we can't kill these things without a punk...it's all about prioritizing a long game and we've fucking botched our short game so far."

Considering they'd outright called in enough resources and big enough guns, Press idly wondered how much time they were wasting entirely. Every hour hunting down a punk who literally could make anything they could throw at Ross worthless, nothing short of nuclear annihilation would kill these things compared to coming up with a biological weapon that would affect others. But at the rate they were coming up short? We'll be hunting down an infection everywhere, to which gets th e entire country on lock-down and god knows how long it'll take! This job could take years off my life, let alone figuring out whose what species from human.

An entire tense line of shield baring men shuffled stiffly over tracks to avoid breaking coherency despite distant screeching. More sound occasionally was met with an ear tingling pitch, or an almost spine tingling bellowing that practically dwarfed similar tones. Press puffed out smoke unable to remark sarcastically impressed, "Sounds like wolves and a bear are singing star spangled banner at this rate. Christ, if these were animals then I say we've earned a death match since I've never heard anything human in this place, woman."

Along smoothed out walls that created a sphere like structure did lights continuously flicker dangerously as power remained cut off. Yet ahead a junction stood out whereas a reddish light signaled emergency access for maintenance. A dull buzzing dolled onward into stale humming, it practically made it an akin to an electric transformer thrumming with latent electricity. Press and Laura jointly shook off an old memory pertaining to Sil's rampage, but others hesitated when pausing mid step. Lights were shinned on mass due to an oddity a midst noises as muffled crackling uplifted itself.

"What the shit is this!?" Within a mass of armed officers and shields did eye wincing yelling appear once again. Several among them were of radio's receivers following shrill peeling static of screaming, "It's not going down! It's not...OH MY GOD!" Press frowned due to several officers holding shields had stopped in hearing their own dying possibly nearby. Rapid crackling snaps became near frantic symphonies of lead bullets ejecting on mass, as beyond a doorway ahead at said junction indicated an origin.

Intense sounds of gunfire emitting were followed by screams of men through a doorway as an entire group halted. Flashlights, muzzles and stun weaponry were all aimed accordingly despite ear ringing screeching being heard, "Monsters." Press spoke up almost resigned which made various officers, or agent alike turn slightly, "Whatever comes into view, do yourselves all a favor and shoot with everything. Or else you'll never sleep right again, on my command open up and bring down whatever is tearing through them."

Shotguns being fired rapidly were met with a man's yelling in sheer terror as a muffled snapping made even Laura feel ill. Oh god, it's just like that night. She even sounds like Sil, it's like I'm reliving every moment that made me wish I hadn't made a mistake! Flashlight extensions on several weapons were sweeping madly, left to right in quickened succession desperate in catching a glimpse as to where, or even what was approaching nearby. And only tense breathing of shaking men in uniforms dared not in voicing out natural urges to panic inwardly.

Only a looming tunnel reigned over those who had lights sweeping ahead seeking signs of what had made it oppressively silent. Ahead flickering lights began illuminating an indented portion of tunnel, if only revealing where muffled gunshots had ended previously. A lone doorway linking to an adjacent tunnel meant for rail-lines. And despite stiffing silence making even a man's breathing sound loudly akin to thunder, an audible scream appeared. The sheer potency of hearing dying men calling out was met as ear tingling shots came sweeping over a shrieking so loud, it caused both Laura and Press to freeze in their steps immediately.

"IT'S NOT STOPPING!" Radio chatter came swiftly over those who'd heard shots from behind that doorway, as men cried out unable to stop or imagine what had been triggered loose. Dozens upon dozens of clanging shots met screams and shouts of horrific realization. Those who lived were witnessing those who'd seen and watched a monster that was tearing them literally limb from limb not even a hundred feet away from their position, "WHERE THE HELL IS OUR BACK UP! IT'S A MONSTER...OH GOD! NO...NO!"

A singular doorway rattled thunderously with screams of a dying man as Press's cigarette fell from his mouth due to surprise alone. Echoing screeches no humane vocal cord could replicate emerged, if only hearing a door's hinges rattling from pressure alone. "Shields up, fire immediately and keep this damned thing in place. Then give it shock therapy from hell, or you'll find out why missing is going to piss on your days." The man's voice remained steady to keep uniformed ranks in place despite a gruesome smile giving away years old horrors from another creature which had gone on a rampage similar, but not nearly as brutal as this creature from hell had declared.

An entire rank shoulder to shoulder fell onto knee's despite fogged interiors exposed internal terror as a metallic doorway rattled again. Screams quickly faded away, as Press raised his own pistol accordingly grinning grimly to remark aloud, "And here I thought I'd never hear worse things again, woman. But god damn me, I say you made number two stand out!" Behind half a dozen, if not more agents began clicking safety's off electric tasers which were loosely being adjusted. Most clenched teeth as well having sweat leaking down onto their faces as another ear wrenching shrieking distinctly got louder, it became clearer and had obviously gotten closer from where others had been killed moments ago based on panicked transmissions.

The entire tunnel went utterly silent beyond distinct echos fading away of a baritone bellowing seemingly from further ahead. Lights remained fixated ahead, if only several wavering due to a fading scream muted. Press aimed down sights as a familiar yet cold sensation reared itself after years of supposed closure whenever monsters from any man's nightmares weren't just figments of an imagination. He shivered involuntarily when flesh tingled, nerves flared to life and only steeled will kept him from blinking at all. And after years did old instinct flare upon an ear splintering shriek of hinges squealing all too suddenly!

A man who'd seen monsters capable in tearing any human apart wasn't among those who yelped from sheer shock alone. What was once a metal door was utterly thrown slamming into a concrete wall as pressure alone sent slithering cracks upward, if only revealing bloodied indentations of something rendering metal. And from within an ear racking shrieking so utterly high pitched, a series of cries and shouts from men standing shoulder stumbled backwards. Only half illuminated lights sparking dangerously in mists of white, or blue imagined a pair of eyes of some figure hunched over bodies unrecognizable!

"OPEN FIRE!" Lennox's voice bellowed outward barely holding while unleashing lead as automatic weapon struck immediately at a monster's shrieking body. Bullet after tore into an open doorway as something came sprint outward, shrieking beyond all comprehension. It's rage was palpable when swishing sounds of air came literally from underneath one man's riot enforced shield. Laura from behind kept her ears compacted with hands, but blotches of something warm and of liquid hit her stunned face in almost surreal fashion.

One man simply split showering gore, blood and pieces of enforced shielding making others yelling out in shock, a few stumbled and desperately tried holding their ground. It barely gave them a chance, as some darkened tendril too quick for human senses at first glance, struck through several as lights illuminated what exactly came barraging at them. With an arm slanted backward, as dreadlocks sported an alien with it's mouth extended, teeth barred akin to an almost feral animal. Laura Baker's blood froze in seeing an inhumane creature, despite cutting down two officers into pieces through all crimson splattered mist...she recognized it without doubt.

"PRESS!" She yelled while hunched over seeing a man firing rapidly, if not striking the entity who bellowed shrilly through near wounds, "IT'S EVE! DO IT, DO IT NOW..." Eve's eyes sharply locked in when teeth bit down hard, bloodied flesh exposed elongated canines savagely! Saliva gleamed as another howling of agonized guttural pitches made more armed officers drop, a few began rolling around seemingly due to how shrill the sound ruptured bloodied ear drums. Gunfire poured onto Eve's form as a hand practically gripped her own skull, a few pieces of flesh got torn off yet those eyes remained honed...onto her and Press absolutely.

Another sporadic movement caught them by surprise as shields were raised, yet the entity simply leaped upwards using her tendrils into wrapping around piping. Men aimed shotguns, automatic weapons and pistols all trailed upward striking concrete continuously. Press only paused midway ejecting a magazine before seeing too much debris cascading downward, rock and dust alone made him scream at others beside him, "CEASE FIRE! SHE-BITCH IS..." That was the only warning before dust exploded with Eve's gaping face seeming extending, every feature beyond humane recognition as she came diving onto a row of riot officers who looked up a split second too late, they couldn't have reacted any better than herself.

Laura fell backward when Press's hand practically shoved her underneath him as a pistol opened fire sending casings violently everywhere. Clinking pieces of brass, or metal alike pilled when a man got hoisted upward. Muted tearing along with eye opening popping was with Eve's fist come through kevlar, muscle, flesh and a human chest cavity as if it were butter itself. And her heart ceased beating due to her victim's plight. It was the throat wrenching scream of a gurgling man got cut short, as another tendril came piercing another man's head cleanly off...as a fountain of sputtering fluids doused an entire area.

"BOX IT IN! BOX IT!" Lennox roared firing another series of shots, it caught Eve's head as dreadlocks like appendages whipped back out of sheer irritation, even sharpened movement slashed aside covered faces. Enlarged teeth were bared yet again, as Laura kicked herself backward getting away from growing pools of crimson. It seeming created an entire pond mimicking waves due to casings hissing from being freshly hot. All the while turning around towards half a dozen men whose tasers were naturally shaking, almost every covered face had eyes wider than only owl and some almost bolted away, but Press again saw signs to only command out three words, "DON'T FUCKING MISS!"

Whatever shield bearers mustered themselves due to an agent slowly moving forward firing another dozen rounds. Feral like eyes for slits narrowed immediately when throwing a corpse over shrieking violently, "RIGHT HERE, SHE BITCH!" He yelled out laughing almost beyond terrified, but memories alone from another monster made him possibly familiar in seeing it again. It was just like that other one, but far more dangerous and seeing men die again, he ejected another magazine without hesitation.

Eve's quivering frame ceased moving despite gripping her head tightly, if not outright shrieking again. Pieces of her face were torn apart, exposing underlying muscle yet not before simply mending to become nothing more than hindrances. Lead alone only slowed her down, but Press's smile turned into a snarling bellow, "REMEMBER ME?" Holding his ground behind several crying rows of officers who were getting bodies aside made him raise a middle finger. Shakily feeling an organ for his heart nearly imploding did sheer adrenaline send chills through both arms, Press beckoned a feral entity all too daringly, "COME AND GET IT, BITCH!"

Eve's expression twisted awash in bloodied droplets, if only shrieking while shaking herself viciously as claw like appendages with talon like nails gripping her temple's side. An almost whip like tendril retracted immediately when violently kicking aside a shield bearing man. Screams arose when a body got sent back first into stone emitting crunching due to plastic reinforced shielding spitting akin to glass. The man's face hardened immediately, if he didn't do anything then another dozen men wouldn't see their next days at this rate...his lungs burned alone due to watching an inhumane entity absolutely cutting through tactical geared police as if they were damned boy scouts encountering an enraged grizzly bear.

"LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT!" He screamed out snarling firing another six shots which struck an exposed chest as she lurched backward, if only flinging an arm aside with air whistling shrilly. Another shield got pierced, as bloodied splatter covered both a man's goggles and slumped over, due to an entire rib cage getting shredded akin to some explosive going off. Pieces of gore rained upwards, descending as whitened splinters of human bone got utterly pulverized. And then her legs rigidly tensed up, Lennox's eyes glared hard when he crouched downwards, sending another six more shots puncturing hardened carapace right where an abdomen exposed itself, muted thuds of reddish mist of lead send Eve's shrill guttural shrieking emitted furiously!

No warning came as a lithe build unnaturally slammed through several shield-bearers who crumpled underneath such force, a few outside had themselves tramped. Spiked feet simply bent what resistance and utterly crushed one man's crying face inwards, a series of bone prickling crunching and fluid spat upwards, Press never once flinched beyond waving her forward. A magazine dropped momentarily, it clacked loudly onto bloodied tracks making, through it out every detail him sneer disgusted seeing the nightmares coming alive again, "Right here, she-bitch...right here!"

Eve's head tilted momentarily, if not outright narrowing reptilians slits for eyes shrieking viciously before retracting the tendril's bloodied path. Splattering akin to mist dampened entire wall, it left streaks among flashlights either doused or frantically trying to keep up with an intended target. Jesus, she-bitch is just like the first one! Claws raked another who valiantly slammed from behind, yet the damned thing remained upright if only snarling deeply, as a nails stronger than reinforced material tore cleanly through before an elbow crushed an entire face inwards. Bone alone splintered beneath a saturated balaclava before another muted series of screaming hardly deterred an animistic stalking predator, sloshing through mud being akin to sludge, Press saw only absolute carnage in those gleaming orbs seeking rage alone!

It barely changed due to men charging together. Through crushed limbs, severed corpses and pieces of their fellow officers, not even three shield bearers clumsily coordinated. Press never needed to ignore, or hesitate because sacrifices were apart of a job. What little of an entire line of men tried in vain knocking an entity to the ground. Yet only feral growing only glanced over itself, if only using an arm with it's palm extended vividly tense. And veins bulged momentarily along carapace flesh due to a blurred shadow cutting through all three simultaneously...not even one blink caught wind of a whirling of splattering warmth.

That lone slithering tendril came piercing through a man's neckline, eyes widened until the skull slid forward with gushing fountains pooling downward. The agent's stomach churned seeing another man gripping his killer's limb, clutching the wreathing appendage as it were a serpent. Yet his gurgling rasping of blood choking his own throat, he tried in vain pulling yet only sloshing organs being yanked forward unraveled. Intestines of palish pinkish coloration fell with hands numbly dropping a shield, as he fell backward due to a foot crushing everything into literal meaty pastes...Eve's shrill hiss seemed almost mocking of laughter.

The dying man tried in vain arching backward slamming little remaining desperation into a leg pushing through crackling ribs. Eve's gaze dipped momentarily, if only leering until her leg simply pierced until reddish meat met earth and metal track jointly. But the last man managed in his own final moments, throwing a shield right at the tendril's oncoming angle! Arms came right behind, wrapping with him screaming in sheer desperation, "SHOOT..." Whatever words could have been spoken ended, Press nearly vomited watching every moment in such surreal fashion, he'd honestly wished it didn't remind him of another friend who died years ago.

Claws merely inverted themselves as an arm sharply shot backwards! Eve's carapace limb merely grabbed the only exposed part available, it was a goggle covered face. Two of her fingers deliberately a ring and index finger, impaled where eyes had widened naturally. Sickening popping followed by shrill squealing made arms desperately try reaching blindly, bloodied streaks followed by muffled hollowing wasn't enough as Eve's smile widened right at Lennox's frozen form. Those inhumane reptilian slits never deviated from intended recognition, not even Laura witnessed a detail which sent a man's blood chilled in sheer terror alone.

A lone middle finger remained raised itself mockingly despite four others digging through skin of another being. Sickening popping came within moments, a chunk of flesh simply seeped past gaps, before Eve simply yanked everything outwards. Hollowed screams turned into a baritone moan before an entire jawline got flung aside indifferently, a gaping maw of reddish fluid and tendons met Press only until the entity reared herself upwards. And wounds exposed themselves, blackened or purplish with pieces of lead shredding widened gaps where softer tissue lay...it was the only way guaranteeing he'd known due her shaking off hundreds, if not thousands on a breakout a day ago.

"You are one ugly mother fucking she-bitch!" Press voiced out half smiling and sneering made Eve's very head tilt over momentarily with his own pistol raised. A metallic slide racked backwards ejecting another empty brass round, more so with him spitting out grim lazily, he stood upright flickering a red beam which eyes followed immediately. Despite witnessing an entire massacre, Eve tensed up hissing viciously as a man smirked seemingly defying every natural instinct in fleeing, a half dead officer shallowly groaned drawing the entity's attention briefly.

Caught you slacking for once, finally! Aiming low for an absolute chance in succeeding, Press fired several times with gritted teeth, nimbly striking an exposed knee cap causing a guttural yelp, "NOW!" He roared at his lungs limit towards men behind while crouching lowly, he gave an order which managed in shaking several free of their rightly found horror. Surreal sensations of see an entity flipping a faceless twitching body alone wasn't enough, pure adrenaline induced training kicked in due to audible hums of weaponry being set to active electrical payloads. Press knew without a doubt they only had split seconds before an entity caught on to his scheme in diverting attention.

Those reptilian glass slit eyes widened fractionally until a snapping hissing came over both shoulders of the man. Eight embedded needle like hooks struck Eve, Press chortled once due lines skimming his face's cheeks in having hairs sticking upward. She looked down mystified by cocking her head feeling absolutely nothing. And before anything else happened he simply warned her while shooting another bullet into her chest causing irritation, "Hope you like fucking therapy she-bitch! Cause I think it might shock ya too hard."

Eight triggers all squeezed jointly until crackling sounds emitted and within moments Eve simply convulsed with eyes widening. Her limbs immediately locked, sporadically yet gradually jolting akin to being a medical patient going epileptic! She tried fling herself back-wards, failing while falling onto her back and feral in sharp quickened flings of hands trying to grasp at embedded hooks. Utterly and constantly shrieking at such volume, it made Press cover his ears reflexively while struggling to yell over, "Keep it up! Keep it going!"

Dreadlocks were violently lashing from behind her head as she rolled, arched herself and kept a hand against her own skull. Shrieking endlessly, if not for Press who walked forward simply seeing a tendril retracting sluggishly behind where it'd killed enough good men, "Tell me!" Taunting those eyes which were rolling back behind eyelids, gurgling rasping when foam like fluid started filling an entire mouth when muscles tensed so fiercely, it'd have broken any persons jawline naturally. Aiming down a pistols sight left him mostly indifferent to fluid leaking from eyes which were a sign of success, "Does it fucking hurt? If so, keep crying because I'm fucking done with she-bitches like you."

Eve lunged upward bellowing yet barely jerked a head upwards straining to glare through rolling pupils seemingly. Press leveled a pistol, "Oh, shut the fuck up." He fired twice striking dead center of a forehead causing facial expressions freezing momentarily. Her entire body kept twitching despite a bullet gradually stopping halfway, if only leaving bruising which stilled stunned for all grateful intentions, "Christ, I was being rhetorical."

Motioning towards crackling officers who shakily tried stepping over pieces of what were once people made him shout again, "Keep frying this bitch, constantly for God's sake! And radio back topside, I want steel or anything to make this thing not twitch an inch." He eyed an almost convulsing wreck of guttural gasping until he shot a round again. It struck an already mending skull line, Press scowled realizing brain trauma wouldn't be viable considering bruising almost regressed. Thankfully they'd been prepared ahead of time, if finding where this she-bitch had held up and remarkably, he almost pitied another creature for seeing this thing.

Several more tasers embedded themselves making Eve's tensed form nearly snap an arm as hands were clenching beyond counting. Another round shot into a forehead again, "And do not stop shooting one bullet, or anything into it's head! Keep it stunned, solid rounds don't do squat anymore...someone get armor piercing next, it'll slow her down." Press reached for another magazine, if only exhaling irritably realizing he'd used all of them on his person. Inwardly doing math and humoring how many resources it took on an off-set chance, he swore retirement looked more appealing by the damned minute at this rate.

Sixty rounds just for prepping up a one hell of an electric therapy session, God, if Laura hadn't ignored giving these things the chair...Christ, I'd have used bigger guns than playing mercy today. Soon enough more officers came up from behind along various other agents, or supporting staff who paused momentarily in stepping into ankle deep bloodied pools from nearly what was left of a dozen shield-bearers who'd been their delaying action. Dozen cops, plus more for stopping she-bitch in her tracks but least that's half of our problems solved, get her out of dodge fucking yesterday and it leaves that punk left over there...if he's smart, he'll disappear for a while Ross's bodies will at least give us something to find.

Another loud bang made him roll eyes due to a man's shotgun blasting Eve's head aside sharply as pieces of appendages seemingly sliced away. Dreadlocks like appendages got shred briefly, if only starting an inhumane mending, "Solid slugs, son." Press mentioned after clearing away ringing which bordered on chronic, it'd be a long day ahead of them. And regardless, he reached into a pocket retrieving cigarettes mainly out of sheer need for coping in seeing an exposed face's organs lying six feet away.

Stepping away while more uniformed units kept up a half a million volt session got him to see a blond woman standing shakily. Her face looked beyond pale in making him grimly humor, "You sure this is gonna work, woman? Cause I ain't doing that again." Inhaling nicotine deeply managed in preventing too much of his own gut wishing to spew out contents. Exhaling after a moment, he reached downward pulling her upward while pinching his nose's bridge. He'd need some serious dosages of aspirin, or by god's grace, morphine to quell the mother of all migraines after getting hearing loss possibly within days.

"I...I hope so, Press." Laura's voice remained for once remarkably meek as he smiled plainly, "First time for everything, so humor! You're sure human is in that?" Thumbing behind in seeing eyes rolling akin to a seizure while foam like fluid kept getting regurgitated. There wasn't any speculation as he took in an entire massacre, "I don't know why you keep saying these things are human, Laura. Your first she-bitch should've told me, but your second one just makes me wish I'd done more because these guys aren't going home. And worst part is?"

Lennox earnestly looked upward seemingly coming to a conclusion which made him feel beyond surreal to chortle lowly, "You could've put down that first one when she tore into that punk ass for a kid years ago. Fuck me sideways, I don't even hate him at all, all cause you and Gamble really love pushing sympathy. But this right here..." Motioning towards medics who were shouting for stretchers to try to salvage what was left of others who were modestly recognizable, "Shouldn't be happening at all, so do yourself a huge and honest to fucking Christ inspired favor. You better be damned ready to make hard choices for your monster."

Laura Baker much to Press's immediate amazement simply stared at Eve's gagging form as violent jerking sent a hand clawing upward. Some sort of half sputtering growl turned nearly into a moan yet teeth kept baring themselves instinctively. All around clacking sounds of tasers followed by an immediate gunshot kept the entity's body from moving, she simply remained perpetually locked in what were prolific seizures overwhelming a nervous system mimicking humanity's own ability to feel pain, or anything beyond. It was beyond excruciating since high voltage could liquefy internal organs, yet her alien physiology kept herself unable to be fully eradicated.

She truly wanted a nightmare to end for once after years, "If you stop at all, she'll adapt...quickly." The woman tightly spoke up predicting a feasible outcome while exhaling defeated, "One hour before signs of motor control come back, Press. Get those restraints and we'll get back to the lab, but we still need to contain Alex. Sooner we get here away, sooner we can take steps in locating Ross and him, or we use her in drawing them out."

Smoke lazily got exhaled through a nose despite the wry smirk, "Finally!" Press remarked while keeping eyes on a convulsing alien, "A straight answer that makes sense. Keep this up, I might actually need to sit down." Chortling vividly made a scientist glare sourly, if only rolling eyes to venture over half torn up bodies. If there was any less of a chance, she'd take that responsibility for creating those who had died by a monster's fury. Guilt and resignation seemingly kept crushing what hope she held for humanity within the Species itself.

Whimpering made her gaze drift in seeing an officer clutching another man whose gasping expression struggled for air. Yet seeing what was left of pinkish intestines crushed together into one crimson pool, she saw how clothing simply darkened from how much fluid got soaked up. The very fluid where flesh struggled to provide oxygen, her eyes saw dimming nonrecognition from medical personal who put a needle most likely morphine in easing a passing. Fingers ceased trembling, if only for an audible gasp of exhaling air left dying eyes staring upwards vacantly...another victim of her own doing, another innocent and human life gone because of her own decisions, it never seemed to be any easier comparing it Sil's rampage.

Sloshing fluid mixed through bloodied mud left little ease when two whole pieces of a corpse split vertically gave anatomy in perfect clarity. Dissection of an entire human body, she saw sacks of flesh drooping indicating lungs had been cut cleanly, bone stuck up as darkened blotches for organs revealed an immediate death. She nearly hunched over, if barely catching her mouth from spewing vomit once sickening smells of gas and exposed flesh really permeated an enclosed tunnel wafting upwards, it similarly became so close to hunters within a forest simply gutting opening a deer save for hitting it's bladder. The sheer aroma was overpowering her own senses in near kick starting a gag reflex, quickly!

Almost every sheer effort in keeping herself from grimacing sent distant memories aligning to Sil's own endeavors. It was too similar, too close and yet Eve may have out did her predecessor in every aspect in disavowing humane life, Laura's eyes clenched shut trying to avoid hearing soft words being spoken to those who probably had seconds left for breathing. Is it wrong, I didn't want any of this to happen! Too many have died, Sil at least showed...restraint. Eve, what in God's name can make you just slaughter them like cattle? Those questions were utterly irrelevant as past experimentation in killing said creature found precedence, Eve loathed humans given there wasn't any deliberate act of maiming them severely.

Every body had limbs torn asunder, or innards ripped open outwardly without hesitation and mercy alone. She caused these men in suffering terrible agony, it simply didn't add up as to how vicious her nature and actions all indicated. Have I lost sight of why I even gave you a chance for Sil? The potential in saving lives, but maybe I've been trying to re-write my own failures, between you, my friends who sacrificed their lives for everyone years ago and now... The woman's eyes fell onto Eve's near seizure like movements, eyes continuously rolling upwards seemingly stuck in an ever consuming need for screeching.

Vocal cords underneath a neckline simply straining until portions of greenish flesh turned darkly from pressure alone. Violently jerking kept arms angled as Eve writhed back and forth, arching a spine which began popping distinctly, Laura simply stared taking in a creature's desperation in escaping a long needed capture. Innocent people, both by you and Ross, are never going to be able to believe what they've seen. And yet I'm only saying what we know, there's still our worst fears out there. Wiping away one tear due to staring past into one darkened tunnel left only resigned self-reflection, she knew without doubt Alex's own capture was probably going to even more sickening in stomaching.

Humanity's greatest threat for extinction would fight tooth and nail, if not outright try to do everything in escaping now. Both of them had possibly mutually separated, it indicated foresight into wasting time and giving each of themselves a chance into fleeing. Wasting time, expending energy and having us continuously trying to catch up. Sil never tried, she kept searching for someone to bare her off-spring but you are human enough in using every option to get away. You learned from someone who wanted to do that above all else...I am sorry, Alex. Truly, I wish I wasn't so arrogant and awed in seeing Sil revealing what we thought was only theory, you're just as much a victim as anyone else presently.

A loud horrid bang echoed thunderously, a shotgun fired ejecting one lone reddish casing jolting Laura immediately. She witnessed an obvious jerking of Eve's skull, due to being so close it sent her face into bloody muddied puddles. Rippling waves only exposed an eye as the reptilian clear pupil focused momentarily onto her own indifferent expression. Both creator and created saw each other in a splint fleeting glance yet foam got spat through a moaning shriek, as lips bared teeth in absolute raw hatred when Eve's arms jerked sharply again. But remarkably something metallic clanked against tracks drawing Laura's gaze downward numbly.

A midst writhing legs were torn pants utterly soaked in crimson fluids yet something glinted from flashlights illuminated greenish carapace skin. What the hell? Wryly frowning did she lean down, if not careful from kneeling in grim did an object dripping in crimson reveal itself, cool metallic links revealed details of what had fallen from Eve's clothing. Half guttural snarling and shrieking muffled by foam momentarily stunned Laura in seeing limbs flailing viciously, as if she'd tried stopping her inspecting it.

A key-chain? Two bronze like keys attached to a small linked chain to it's circular ring. The key-chain itself had some sort of cross like shield indented into it. It was just brass and lightly colored over silver metal, but Eve's eyes narrowed when men shouted, "GET MORE TASERS HERE! FUCKING THING IS FREAKING OUT, IT'S MOVING A LOT MORE!" Several officers came running over, if not outright firing three more sets of crackling needle electrical currents into Eve who wheezed out a groan and practically bit her tongue in half.

Keys for what? Laura blinked several times until seeing an iconic motorcycle's logo imprinted on both sides of bronze. Alex's bike...he gave them to you, didn't he? Perhaps they believed one of them would be able in escaping on one method, doubling back to sneak past blockades whereas they'd probably stashed a vehicle somewhere nearby. Perhaps something wasn't entirely right either, if she had something personal than maybe Alex's own mentality, it lead into credence for cooperating with Eve on some instinctive level.

"He helped you." She murmured likely confirming fears of speculation whatever could've been a person was being corroded away, internally. No one willingly helps a kidnapper, not so quickly and working together confirms the infection is degrading him just like you, Eve. You were learning from him whether he knows it, or not, I suspect whatever I unleashed gave you something to keep you closer to him. Oh god damn it, please for all of heaven's sake, I hope I'm wrong. Exhaling loudly did little confirming signs of the Species's infection right until staring past into darkness, a woman blinked owlishly where in fact distant tunnels seemingly were naturally still? Why was it so suddenly, silent?

Beyond shuffling footsteps within sloshing fluids and gagging from beside herself, Laura stared squinting through stiffening darkness. Lights along an entire tunnel remained bright, if only barely due to them flickering briefly. Right before Eve showed up, I heard something that wasn't her, or Sil. It was deep and sounded definitively male...oh, no! Distant bellowing had constantly been heard, she heard long before radios had crackled in warning and yet Eve who didn't sound like all had charged them in a feral manner which indicated another being entirely.

"Woman!" Lennox voiced out from behind making Laura flinch due to a hand shaking her modestly annoyed, "You alright? Find something..." Her hand numbly had fingers loosely clutching a key-chain dripping crimson as smoke wafted forward. She couldn't stop an audible chill running up her spinal cord, the tunnel were too damned still and utterly quiet, no more signs of distant bellowing save for eyes seemingly seeing shadows shifting. Distantly through natural limitations, Laura Baker managed in looking at Press utterly paler than freshly dead men.

Within moments every human seemingly in joint involuntary movement all stopped and stared transfixed due to nerves flaring up. A distant echoing grew closer, circulating seamlessly around confining concrete, deepened baritone in nature and beyond anything they'd heard rivaling a guttural entity minutes prior. And everyone within range stood up rigidly, either with a weapon drawn or froze wide eyed. Sheer volume over any long distance dampened most sounds, or calls and only one animal rivaled such intensity. Laura's face impossibly paled further in seeing flickering bulbs along sides dangerously, as if a surge coursed through lines. All light ceased momentarily cutting out audible buzzing from mechanical components, but retrained despite dimming considerably along an entire visible track line ahead of themselves.

Calling it merely roaring did it no damned justice, it wasn't simply bellowing but something so primal it made hairs on arms stick up reflexively. Electrical impulses fired dangerously, Laura trembled hearing this baritone echo reverberate through thickened concrete walls seemingly compounding it, naturally or not inflating an intensity unseen yet it lasted for ten fleeting seconds endlessly drowning out humming electrical equipment. Howling keenly bestial yet humane expressing pain comparable to small booming rivaling thunder within storms, for those closely described any word in making every singular human who heard it freeze in place, even Press's hand loosened immediately with him hissing in air stunned.

Not even a moment after did a howling echo when her partner whispered half stunned, "What in the actual fuck was that!?" Key's fell prominently landing within bloodied pools obscuring a imprinted cross and shield as Laura's hushed voice weakly gave an accurate answer, "What else? I think you meant who else? And I don't want to find out, he sounds like an actual animal and we need to move now."

An entire subway system remained eerily silent enough for Laura's eyes to stare fearfully. Fearful when animals in nature warranted even most hardened hunters, if pressed with no where to escape or standing their ground defending their own mates? History spoke for itself when even people did things for their loved ones, "Oh, my god! We need to get Eve out of here, right now! Because we don't have enough people to stop him, and we don't have enough electrical voltage for both of them, Press please if Alex is coming back because of Eve's situation...Christ help us, we can't risk in getting her out of here and risk having another chance to draw him out into the open!"

Ironically enough Laura Baker should have marked done a moment which too often had herself wishing otherwise. The man's face tightened briefly while smoking his cigarette which burned brightly on an end, "You know for once, Laura..." He spoke up oddly conflicted despite smiling shakily since his jawline swished side to side immediately agreeing with an honest to god suggestion, "God damn me but I think that's the your best idea! And I have to say, first time I actually fucking agree with you ever since I took this job."


The flickering lights sputtered illuminating everything in surreal detail within a confined tunnel better than sunlight. I glared hard in seeing five sets of eyes, all of them literally glowing in hues of red and none of them dared moving an inch. Fury, adrenaline and every single instinctive demand for being at their mercy, I wanted them all dead. Not one of them, living or having any damned hope, if they wanted me for a god forsaken reason? I had only time, enough for Eve or myself, to get something done given I could see their bodies coiled akin to springs.

My claws flexed digging further into skin nearly cutting yet I curled my lips widely. Not so damned smug, aren't all of you? Two in front lightly had themselves braced on concrete walls, they twitched momentarily with hues for eyes narrowing, either in reluctant or they outright didn't want first blood. Two others were crouched just in front, if only having hands openly angled towards those barbed tendrils, I smiled baring teeth taunting them in particularly, but again no amount of temptation triggered movement. And the sheer tension radiating, I knew damned well I could tackle them easily in a single fight. I stood alone...they had numbers, I had my strength and they had their cheap fights, they played naturally dirty which was beyond eager fueled by raw desire alone.

Yet the further one made my anger boil into absolute priority as her eyes glinted brighter than any of those other four creatures. Ornate looking horns, curling just level with a jawline as she kept scheming something most likely. Lithe builds, they were waiting or stalling, finding another way after I'd got up with Eve's god inspired help. Without her somehow driving them to their knees, I scarcely knew how or why, but it had stopped them cold. Expelling heated air seemingly made mist through flickering lights practically pissing out sparks, "What are you waiting for? An invitation?" I hissed out words in sheer guttural laughter, I couldn't even imagine what Eve had done to them, but god in heaven I wanted to see them writhe on their feet.

Not so easy, when someone knows what you're up too. Come on, you sneaky fucker I swear my mind's an open book! I gradually rose a clawed finger tapping my temple's side while glaring hard at something very specifically. Her vicious snarling lowly emitted in rewarding me, just verifying I wasn't going to have more than one voice inside my head. Insane as I sounded, I preferred one I'd known and I wasn't humoring anymore, they wanted to rape me senseless. As if I were nothing more than some mindless animal, I may have become something closer than I imagined, but by god I'd show them I was more a human than I hoped.

Four of these five creatures subtly shifted jointly together, I didn't let it faze me beyond anticipation in blood flow hastily increasing. My heart thundered continuously, but not out of fear because they didn't hit harder than I'd be capable in doing, if I knew even my physical limits which still scared me a hell lot more personally. Come on, come on...what are you fucker's waiting for really? Savage anger alone kept driving me to take an initiative, undeniable pull by rushing forward got too damned tempting until I bit my inner cheek out of sheer caution because I'd right back in their tendrils, I couldn't afford being dog piled potentially.

Watch your back at all times! I thought absolutely keen on keeping this group right front of me, I'd have better reactions within reason. Something needed to give eventually, I needed them as far as possible because of another issue which became almost too damned difficult ignoring. Trickling sensations made even muscle seemingly relax, I blinked owlishly. Gradually yet almost absolutely I swore I could taste, if not simply smell such sweet scents of fruit a mix in spice sensations got my eyes wide.

That ornate horned creature's red glinting eyes slyly narrowed followed by an impish smirk as she cocked her head allowing dreadlocks for hair to sway. It's mouth parted slightly speaking equally coy and triggered my urge growling naturally, "You have mine already, we can wait for as long as you wish." I didn't like what that implied, more so it wasn't playing coy in seeing sarcasm for taunting them. Whatever they, or she specifically wanted, these damned things were learning on par with Eve apparently!

Several hissing and snarling creatures leaned forward showcasing they weren't doing so without prompting. Two in front mirror each other, arms on opposite sides ready for a joint strike and from behind two had knelt slightly. Piping above exposed electrical wiring, so I imagined they'd get above me...exactly how they got me for a first time. Now it really all made sense to me, pieces of a puzzle and I wasn't confidently clever in solving them naturally, but I could say without doubt on what and how they were planning. Tackling them head on, I decided wasn't in my ability of having them out muscle me again.

Not happening twice, not on my life! Sneering visibly left a canine exposed when I jolt backwards! Air hit my back whereas several locks of hair slapped against my bare back, but that faint smell of spicy fruit made me exhale sharply, "Not on my life, you're all gonna to have work for it." Guttural infused words taunted her intentionally, those scents and smells alike, I kept trying to shake myself from wanting to get closer. It really started bothering me, potent like rivers of almost mirroring perfume save for someone dosing themselves with an entire bottles worth.

Distance mattered above all else, I had nothing to keep them without suffering anything to deter them into a narrowed fight! Wait a minute, you walked into them...those doors, I came through earlier. Both have shotguns, fully loaded and I can't reach those ones. My eyes narrowed on corpses of torn up officers, some had rounds littered around themselves yet I was tempting myself. Bullets didn't work on them, or else they would've put up a longer fight. But what else did I have, if not using an imagination in getting an opportunity for snapping their damned necks!?

Not once did those reddish eyes dim audibly, save for slyly being excitably pleased. But four others moved quicker than I imagined. I didn't have time beyond snarling. Move, now! Instinct alone got my legs moving through thunderous steps, I sprinted inwardly gauging chances and distances, I needed something in evening these odds. And within moments, I found myself launching away seeing only sharpened edges of lights due to air howling past, I felt pieces of wooden track practically buckling wherever I crushed.

The doorway wasn't too far beyond an entire curving tunnel yet from behind prickling sensations arose in sheer earnest. Bolting somewhat on an angle, I snarled chancing a glance behind and immediately found myself stunned beyond disbelief. Figures easily kept within an arm's length, they were practically crawling and leaping at such angles, I swore they were demonic beings due to their eyes standing out a midst contrast of light and shadow. Serpentine tentacles frantically found purchase seemingly letting them using their momentum, if only outright contorting themselves like crawling waves as three were above yet from behind me, the subway tunnel amply held enough room for two others to seamlessly running shoulder to shoulder and their eyes glowered brightly in keeping up effortlessly.

Jesus Christ, I'll say it again: this is unreal! Wrist snake like tentacles kept latching just ahead as I sharply turned nearly flipping myself from an entire wall, I knew a maintenance corridor wasn't too far. And seeing flickering bulbs made my eyes squint naturally, but tinted reddish panting made my legs burn strongly fueled by adrenaline induced anticipation. If they weren't grouped up, I know I can definitively tear one of them apart! It felt utterly surreal, I wanted desperately for tearing their god damned heads off, I wanted them to regret even believing I'd be at their mercy. I might as well have turned myself in hoping otherwise without question.

Sprinting over tracks left little save for reflexively jerking left immediately due to a shrill sense of air as I heard stone get shattered. Their tentacles barbed points were trying to latch onto my back, I kept weaving left or right, eyeing them constantly without warning until seeing reddish paint whereas a firearm remained. Fuck off! Shouting internally out of sheer frustration, I immediately braced stopping by sliding across metal and wood, I bared teeth through sharpened pain of splinters and kicking up what little dirt, if only sliding to wrench a shotgun free. And I slammed open a doorway, it thundered nearly straining off hinges as I dove inward, using a shoulder to support rolling before veering around absolutely pissed off.

Reaching towards a knob, I just caught sight of figures leaping downward as I slammed the doorway shut while absently slapping it's meager bolt lock. Backing away while checking one shotgun, I clicked a swift away from an s-engraving making it absolutely less than annoying. I rasped out calming an uncontrollable heart rage, inhaling deeply as well as heaving out inflamed air, all while outright loading the weapon's grip intent on making a stand finally, an audible metallic of it loading a slug sounded comfortably aloud. Idly I almost thought it were a plastic toy since no weight were felt, I never knew how to use any firearm. Yet being a quick learner, I took aim with an arm extended right at where the doorway shook momentarily, hinges squealed highly due to metallic sounding hits of fists bending it inwardly.

Screeching visibly emitted beyond an abused metal door, it shook thunderously as a knob got yanked cleanly inwards sending screws and chips of splintered metal. I bared teeth bellowing out a guttural challenge feeling adrenaline induced urges in seeing them again, "COME ON!" Claws extended from a free hand, I flexed fingers feeling them biting through toughened skin, I felt myself leering when dented up metal pushed inward sending pieces of hinges twirling into literal cheese, they were undeniably angered for wasting time on a door-frame...but if they wanted to play a numbers game, I'd make it fairly even.

Pieces of metal buckled inwardly, markings practically folded due to sharpened appendages literally clawing through material. Leering undeniably thrilled, I watched moving just half way leaving only a smaller confined corridor to funnel them right into what amounted to painful stalling. Fist curved indenture circles kept slamming against an exterior frame, I only closed both eyes garnering every bit of confidence as something coiled within my bare hand. Eve said to me, about how she could see in my head by simply knowing...well, I sure as hell know I can survive them! Ratting hinges kept squealing in sheer protest as an entire doorway shuddered loudly when I stared at open hole whereas a knob had been as shifting shadows rapidly cycled, I imagined only a solid line of them trying to believe they'd wasted time in finding me.

Cool liquid lid past my right cheek due to sweat desperately in vain trying to stem off heated waves surging from within a thundering chest swelling. My teeth utterly bared, grinding due to enforced patience until all that rattling stopped...hissing rivaling snakes and inhumane tones alike still remained save for movement. In adrenaline induced surreal clarity, I watched transfixed due a tendril snaking it's way underneath what little space. That's one hell of a deadbolt lock, a shame it bought me only thirty seconds. Praising an almost pinched stretched piece of solid metal, I kept that estimated time-frame for another day hopefully.

Barbed tipped tendrils suddenly gripped the bottom as flesh tensed up, I witnessed blackened veins bulging as an entire door groaned vividly. Whitened streaks buckled upwards, pieces of paint flaked away peeling backwards as an entire bottom folded gradually backwards. Akin to doe forming a bread wraps, skin prickling audible groaning and stressed out material gave way, a few sets of hands managed finding purchase jointly using their own strengths. Shrieking echoed, it nearly sounded aggravated in hindsight yet they expected me to run?

Funnel them right into me! Muscle underneath my very being swelled into compacted expectation, I swore I would break them until nothing stood at all. Well, well, well! Let's see how they like trying to squeeze their way into my fight! I found myself quietly laughing unable to quell temptation when I eased myself seeing an entire lower halfway of what was once a metallic maintenance door. Another series of jerking grips finally made half of it giving way finally...with sheer vicious squealing into being folded upwards!

One immediately came crawling on all four limbs, screeching once a way throughout had been forcibly opened. It looked akin to a spider save for teeth baring singularly determined, with it's lithe build using clawed fingers digging into stone flooring, I smirked seeing it's shimming head jerk up in one lone rapid motion seemingly frozen. I cocked myself slight on an angle, if only leveling a shotgun's barrel right where both of its reptilian slits for eyes narrowed. I stare right back briefly, a piece of glinting metal drew it right where the cross remained, it's colder familiarity seemingly fell away within blazing waves of infused fiery adrenaline.

An index finger squeezed a trigger while clicking my tongue, "Gotcha again!" By god I swore the voice coming out my own body tinged on an ever mocking streak of smug enjoyment. It simply slipped out so easily, it seemingly became too inhumane and I found every reason to think it wasn't natural in any slightest chance. But anything else became utter exhilaration! An immediate loud blast crack erupted right into this things damned face!

The creature's face simply shredded sending pieces of darkened flesh skyward, reddish misty and idle dreadlocks fell apart. It howled desperately trying to catch an eyeball rolling outwards, yet not before I leaped upwards using my lone hand, in grabbing some overhanging pipe into yelling over it's agonized squirming. I promised someone's neck was getting crushed, a shame it's not that bitch outside sending you to me first! I came downward crushing the creature's flailing form, it had no chance when clawed muscled feet pressed onto an exposed throat...crackling pieces of splintering bone bulged came through darkened fluid spewing past teeth.

Twisting sharply made it hoarsely call out absolutely agonized, "Scream more!" I demanded sneering in sheer disgust in see widened slit eyes, or one and a half given the other limply fell over landing on the ground. "I owe you all for a lot more!" I screamed aloud laughing, I kept forcing pressure when clawed hands frantically were trying to push myself off, although a shell from one firearm fell as I pressed the lone barrel sizzling flesh above it's own rising chest. And another crackling thud struck it dead center sending flesh shredding aside, it kept thrashing violently while tearing into my legs side half-blinded.

Quickly in a bid to shrug searing fire from my own skin, I jerked back sending an overly prepared clawed foot right into an exposed skull. Bodily spasms sent it with shoulders quaking, all within a moment seemingly in place, if half rasping out air as fluid spewed from where it's mouth seemingly found itself crookedly out of place. And yet it's eyes followed me, it kept hounding whereas I sent another powerful kick towards a wrenched opening. It never slid through, least not willingly until tentacles wrapped around an exposed rib cage...others only assisted it.

The creature got yanked backwards spending pieces of skin a midst jaded out edges as half-folded doorway shrieking fully again. They don't care about their own safety, they just want to stop at nothing until I'm pinned again! Bloodied stretches of a doorway leaked fluid, if only until another creature came full on sprinting through the gap. And just like before, I aimed a shotgun's smoking barrel right into the damned things extended maw for a jawline. They kept trying on yanking a door-frame cleanly off hinges, but I swore sheer weight alone made them incredibly panicked because every moment kept myself out of their reaches.

Another slug struck deeply shredding aside flesh, bone and this latest creature flayed wildly trying to lash upwards. It's hand angled sharply, "Hell no!" Flesh ruptured only exposing fluid and whereas a tipped tendril shot outward, "Not happening!" I bellowed aloud as I leaned backwards seeing only an opposite exit way, if only just grasping and wrapping a barbed appendages seeking to drag myself onto knees. And in those moments, I heard my entire spinal cord popping from pressures while catching via a shotgun in stabilizing myself.

Crushing down on its wrist tendril, I spun around dragging it partially through it's own kinds blood and pieces of flesh with shells littering a floor itself. My foot came thundering downward, splintering an entire chest line as I found myself roaring undeniably infuriated. Just fucking die! I stomped over and over again, crackling pieces of bone met my ears and numerous other splattering droplets stained an entire hallway. And several idly fell onto my cheek, as a ceiling kept admixture of gray and crimson freely dropping akin to rain itself.

No matter what I attempted, I couldn't shake a livid sensation in being unable to put down these damned things. I stomped so damned hard, I felt concrete through its entire body! Chunks of reddish meat even got splattered upward hitting my chest, but it kept flailing wildly biting upwards, as if a feral dog who'd been trying to slice into my knees. DIE, DAMN YOU! I howled internally twisting until only solid ground met my heel, yet this damned thing kept squirming and I had enough when it's jawline practically extended angling upward trying for another way...I wasn't humoring its tongue tendril any more.

In a fit of rage, I jammed the shotgun's sizzling barrel right down this creature's throat. It gagged with eyes widened as I snarled disgusted, "Shut your fucking mouth!" The trigger clicked before an audible explosion of reddish mist came upwards, I had to glance away sheer awareness to avoid wiping away fluid, I couldn't risk getting that gunk for blood into an eye, I barely had time to consider and that muffled gurgle rewarded me yet again. Crimson flooded an entire hallway, so much so I practically slipped when seeing its hands reaching upward, in a half blinded agony but it kept squirming viciously regardless.

Balancing myself accordingly, as a foot pivoted in place. I sent another unrelenting kick of this thing sliding backward towards a doorway. Half of it's tendril for a tongue slid, it was barely holding together by strings of flesh and pieces of teeth were damn well cracked. Yet it lived, it kept on clinging as hands from underneath ripped it away. An entire doorway kept being frantically pulled from under, as more hinges were squealing audibly making my ears ring naturally. Bracing for another round of something trying to come streaking underneath, I leveled the weapon right where something's face would've been coming at me head on.

Silence met my heart rate which began slowly calming down. What? I cocked my head mostly confused feeling dreadlocks slapping against my lower back, they weren't giving up by any stretch of an imagination. Why the fuck aren't they all coming at me...something is very wrong right now. Because this is new! Once a second of their own had been yanked through a gradually widened up stressed out metallic hole. I only heard deep guttural growling, if practically reverberated akin to rage as a symphony of shadows kept flickering due to lights beyond said doorway.

Cautious in expecting something to fly out from underneath, I backed up several steps trying to peer out for signs of them. Yet nothing stood out, literally. I twitched expecting due to an oncoming rush, if anything their sudden stoppage alone sent waves of concern within me. The fuck is going on, here? Oh, shit, please don't tell me... Cold sensations akin to realization hit me fully, either they were learning what I'd do to them, or they'd found another way around. And either option scared me senseless, I knew damn well Eve learned fast but compared to this insanity?

Even an entire door-frame ceased getting yanked apart given how whitened streaks of solid metal had kept encroaching upward. It was too damned quiet, I didn't like it nor did I want to find out what these damned creatures were attempting. Run, or fight? Two words kept pressuring arms which tensed up, I began squeezing a weapon's stock out of sheer paranoia. And it began crunching visibly, I had to exhale in letting up seeing hardened material cracking right before my eyes. Something was too damned wrong right now and I had god damned nothing in doing anything save for running, or holding my ground against these things!

Another droplet started trailing down my side as I wiped it away trying to humor what exactly these things were doing. But another sensation crawled over my body, I snarled reflexively wiping sweat which kept on continuously running. I felt these sensation building until I finally wiped away everything seemingly dripping...my eyes glanced downward when liquid kept pooling as it started slipping underneath my own foot. Ripping crimson waves were moving past my stunned feet as liquid fell freely past my chin, a few droplets alone kept on rippling and gradually I backed away utterly bewildered.

"Blood doesn't move!" I whispered seeming massive puddles of crimson fluid cycling ahead underneath where a soaked outline had been. I stared hard seeing droplets seemingly getting dropped by other rippling rivers, it was a snake due how many ripples were sliding across an entire floor once soaked. It was beyond surreal, I was watching literal fluid called blood rolling over itself seemingly without any sort of sign. And I'd only felt something crawling to get myself aware again.

Holy shit! I blinked rapidly readily unnerved when I got myself backing past waves of crimson flowing back into a subway tunnel. Not a singular trace, or drop remained, as pieces of flesh simply began withering into blackish fluid. I watched every little minuscule detail, if it didn't begin turning into some hellish mockery of sludge? And despite having some sort of grasp on seeing parts of these things moving to wherever they'd been previously, it was like they were going back to themselves quite fucking literally.

But then I understood that these weren't remotely people, or anything I'd ever seen. These were god damned honest monsters. Yet I didn't want to imagine how this was so damned frustrating, did it even matter I could tear them apart? What in the actual fucking Christ is going on?! Bullets wouldn't do much given they did enough in stopping them, but I swore they were taking it too damned easily. Hell I kept gashing teeth together, I practically crushed their damned skulls so far in to themselves it'd been a literal skull fuck at this point.

All along an entire ceiling wreathing lines were being drawn into corners of a battered up doorway, if not seeping into cracks underneath jointly. It look akin to a funnel with myself dead smack getting an overly hellish seat. There was no escaping from these things, if I ran, they'd eventually catch up to do what they intended in doing earlier. And fighting them here, it barely did much beyond prolonging for them in learning new tricks. Both options left me practically pissing into the wind, I didn't expect much beyond hoping...Eve could show up, I alone knew she'd rip these excuses for monsters apart if I hadn't done so.

Eve? I internally spoke watching every singular drop of blood fading away in front of a doorway once again. If you're listening inside my head? No one replied back as I grimly chuckled finding a lack for that response mostly ironic, god must have damned because I really had gotten used too it. Whenever you get over to where I'm at? Please give these things a reason for trying to get at me. I hoped enough, I trusted her despite our plan in splitting up. But everything changed due to whatever these damned things were, I had no idea where they'd come from personally because I had reasons for fighting for my life.

Deepened baritone growling emitted within myself daring them as nothing remained within a once bloodied up hallway. It was as if nothing had been there, utterly clean and unnaturally pristine save for markings. Ejected shotgun shells, an occasional claw like mark from where grooves forcibly chipped up concrete and only myself. Shrill drawn out volumes hissing met my own growling in varying levels of pitching tones. Come on, I dare you fucking excuses for bitches! Pure anger surged beneath inside veins, I felt every inch of muscle tensing up seeing subtle signs, a shadow lengthening akin to snakes and crunching dirt.

Those hissing intervals weren't a figment of my imagination. I just knew they were all mocking my frustrations. They knew my dilemma intimately, they'd already proven I could've been overwhelmed and just like anyone else getting jumped? There was no defense against so many, either you lived or you were at the mercy in a fight. And these things didn't have mercy. A series of movements came from beyond a doorway which held at best a few more minutes...I felt blood rushing past ears with every heart beat thundering consistently.

Immediately four tentacled barbs all struck straining metal as whitened fractures buckled rapidly making my eyes narrowed in simmering rage. COME ON! I unleashed a baritone sounding roar mixture of yelling, even to my own understanding...I felt less human for numbed sensation shifting beneath my own flesh. Yet it echoed briefly making efforts in straining metal pausing. I hoped with all my damned heart I was telling them, I wasn't running nor was I going to make their efforts any less easier than possible.

Within several moments I raised a weapon only capable in having pause yet the metal began buckled in shrill squealing. More screws came off hinged as hands came from above edges, they were pulling together and as one simultaneous effort for strength alone. The frame jolted violently completely breaking off when I stood halfway. I didn't even flinch hearing a shattering clattering as what lay beyond secured my attention. And once again, I witnessed those eyes burning within darkened shadows underneath flickering lighting.

Ornate horns curling slightly over when those reddish iris's seemingly peered right back into my own glass orbs. Thickened coloration of blackened and green patterns for dreadlocks like hair casually got brushed aside. Around it were two twitching bodies, I only absently noted forms sharply contorting as crunching and clacking of bones realigning permeated sharply. It confirmed what I feared, they could literally piece themselves back together and I had fuck all clue in putting them down. Yet it was particular female whose gaze never once broke...she had an expression I'd only ever witnessed on Eve during that hotel room.

Arms were loosely on its sides before trailing upward towards it's naked chest as I saw those god damned eyes burning internally. The ornate creature smiled coyly, as it again tilted a head over inspecting an environment keenly intrigued. It began tapping it's chest right above where an exposed cleavage resided. Several times it tapped seemingly where an organ accelerated bloodily fluid called blood, whereas a tongue traced outward sliding side to side. And it cocked itself with a hand on it's hip smugly showing off.

Euphoric was all that it expressed within one word I could ever described. It was loving every moment of this madness, I didn't even need to believe otherwise. But it remained standing deceptively coy, by playing innocent when it pointed directly at my entrenched stance. And it spoke absolutely thrilled, "I promise, we won't harm you." Her finger's nail for a claw extended tentatively exposing a gleaming fluid reflecting off lights. It kept licking lips, slowly and deliberately, savoring what amounted for primal hunger alone.

I refused even speaking because it was trying to piss me off, royally. No other reason could've been placed since they were taunting me, "Fine!" A guttural voice softened mostly out of sheer excitement when it traced it's own lips tantalizingly. Flesh shifted around its jawline, I knew any warning from a mile away. And whatever they'd planned, they were hell bent on offering what amounted to a world wishing otherwise.

"Playing hard to get?" She laughed quietly finding my bared teeth potentially splitting open skin, "I really am liking that a lot more about, you!" I didn't respond beyond raising a middle finger with my only other free hand, I used it beckoning her specifically forward. Two could play a game of intimidation, if they wanted to keep going but unlike them? I could lay down the hurt just as damned much for making me fight for my own life.

Those eyes illuminated once again seemingly trying something despite waiting as I was fed up with being on the back foot. If they wanted me so damned badly? I grasped a colder golden cross idly flipping it while sneering, "There's your invitation again. Try me!" Several sources of hissing practically all came together overwhelming what little space was between us, they were too damned eager in taking up another offer. Either they were getting off, somehow or they found whatever I kept on saying absolutely thrilling for fending them off.

Both of it's reddish eyes narrowed coyly seemingly humoring an obvious ploy because one of its hands twitched excitably. It kept glancing between as if trying to solve an issue, or rather one which I'd created by using common sense. There was nothing they could do, they had numbers, I had my imagination and eventually it'd boil down to how much longer. I chose my fights, I did what I had on hand and God gave me strength for finding somewhere in holding out. And I inwardly hoped, I knew if Eve was closer on hand...my grin exposed enlarged canines deviously imaging that'd it be like in evening these odds.

"What's wrong, bitch?" I called out feeling words slithering akin to a raspy snark, "I ain't running anywhere, come and get it. Right here!" I swayed the shotgun's bloodied and nearly dented up barrel, if only allowing an arm curling muscle underneath. Swirling motions sent both of my limbs into near iron tightened tension, I could feel a slithering appendage practically weaving underneath my wrists demanding release. Still it was god damned infuriating I had limited options, I couldn't risk having these things behind me at any point and I couldn't put them on a back foot, because I had them right where I could've hoped tackling them head on without being overwhelmed.

It leaned over ever deceptively coy glancing upwards a few times before settling on a grin worthy of being considered devilish, "That's rude!" She stated simply in a faux groan until sauntering a few steps forward with both hands naturally skirting over curves. Fucking hell, enough of this warped bullshit! Yet through sheer will alone did my eyes never leave her own. No matter what I didn't dare risk straying eyes, I couldn't god damned do anything beyond baring teeth irritated.

It stood nearly within a doorway much to my paranoid gnawing away trying desperately in assuming what it'd attempt. Despite being several meters away, I noted tall tailed signs of quivering and rapid breathing indicating desirable enjoyment, I didn't understand it nor did I ever wish to humor why this thing kept prolonging a conversation. She's buying time, or setting me up. Because I got them working on how they'll drag my ass out, I doubt they can find another way around with just one of them playing coy.

Gradually those red iris's began fading gradually until familiar reptilian like slits returned staring hungrily pleased as I backed away slightly. Yet it began leaning forward much to my surreal disbelief when another smile curled deviously, "You're...scared." It's voice cooed almost delightfully as discovering something incredible. I'd have laughed, if not wasn't equal truth and false, it was a bit more complicated considering I wasn't scared of they were doing. It was they could do, I had no more ideas beyond enduring whatever they planned out.

Still I was getting very tired of humoring monsters for an entire lifetime, "Fuck around and find out." I replied immediately sneering while keeping a near weightless firearm strictly pointed where it kept on running its mouth naturally. Tension built up within my arms as muscle continuously coiled so utterly tight, I almost snapped ligaments within a forearm. Thickened veins began pulsating through lines boiling up beneath skin rivaling reptilians origins. Nagging sensations bit away at what patience I held onto, I truly clung expecting anything and this thing was casually coming closer...step by step, it practically oozed superiority for Christ's sake!

Both arms were lift imitating an indifference which startled me partially, I recognized playful signs so eerily similar to Eve and...Sil. Whether I was damning myself, or not, I couldn't help except seeing similarities to monsters of both past and now present. I may have forgiven Sil, I forgave Eve and lesser men in my shoes would've done otherwise. I wondered idly perhaps every fiber of my body needed to slow down. Was I was truly losing what made me myself, God alone knew I didn't have the guts in forgiving one another person...myself.

Yet I still despised myself for falling into this fucking cycle of insanity. Once again curiosity painstakingly took root when I asked simply, "Who are you?" Those eyes gleamed within flickering strobes of lights giving out. And there were akin to glass itself, if only just due to a reddish hue gradually returning. Another step subtly made it cock a hip, especially leaning forward just within a doorway's wrecked boundary. But from there no signs of encroaching were allowed due to my chest deepening growl warning very clearly.

She exhaled hissing gleefully equally tempting to risk it as warnings were only just another sort of invitation given out freely. Why am I wasting my time? You know what these things want! Doubt kept flickering until I otherwise humored precious moments, I needed to hold for Eve if I had god damned chance of escaping these things. There was no other viable option I had left, I either got swarmed to left at their mercy, or she knew to a degree this wasn't possible...except I kept deluding my own mind apparently.

"Are you...that other one's pride and joy?" I questioned sarcastically pertaining to the only logical conclusion pertaining to my cousin, Patrick. Eve mentioned he'd been breeding a lot with women who were most likely dead apparently. And all these pieces were just finally hitting me...these were children of a monster. Monsters never seek normal people, they only seek out other monsters! I tried to not let that cynical sense of wonder strike me again, I had nothing else beyond pure imagination in stalling for more time.

The female creature's smile turned what amounted to sheer pride alone, "I am different." Those red eyes burned brightly highlighting tentacle like hair which flipped itself. It inhaled deeply savoring a scent to which I cringed modestly, "And yes..." It cooed with hands raised ever so innocently praising something that couldn't have been my hesitation. Squinting made me realize those eyes were focused yet were seemingly glazing over in sheer wild enjoyment.

I barely blinked yet I saw that predatory excitement return completely feral. Slits opened on her wrists as she narrowed those eyes while grinning hungrily, "Gotcha!" Two rapid tentacles came striking where I stood! And I barely had a moment, I slanted over jerking aside in dodging one while another came right where my throat would've been exposed. Out of sheer reflex, I managed in catching the other tendril, it squirmed inching closer past clenched fingers digging into itself, I had flecks of fluid a scant inch from where my mouth gasped aloud for air alone. But it bit deeply within my hand, I felt it latching on savagely unrelenting.

I watched transfixed when two silhouettes arose from behind a smiling monster as four came from around her side. Two from the left, one from between her exposed legs and another over the shoulder as I braced knowing there was nowhere to move. And four spiked tentacles struck wherever got exposed, I'd been god damned played so fucking hard! Pain flashed instantly as I yelled unable to cope in watching pieces of slithering flesh twisting in a burrowing fashion, it was beyond agony within my legs, a rib and one striking my shoulder absolutely flat out.

An incredible amount of force sent me jerking forward, I caught myself pivoting in sheer desperation with clawed toes scrapping up chips of concrete. Yanking backward, I trembled literally unable to stop inching closer towards a doorway, "Fuck...you...all!" I howled violently jerking biting down on visible appendage, I tore it asunder whipping back akin to a dog and it one less agonized fire burnt away while shooting off the firearm. It struck another tendril, barely yet sickening snaps of flesh giving away got one leg ceasing it's bone crushing drag.

Crimson mist and blotches of liquid blinded my vision momentarily, I kept shaking feeling only brief respites of force at best. Squinting through blurred coloration did a hand eject a shell casing until darkened forms came all at once. Oh, fuck my life! Two creatures came practically crawled underneath that red eyed monster's legs, it looked absolutely infuriated at best as she crouched moments after chuckling loudly enough. Yet in coordinated efforts of allowing another shrieking upside down creature rapidly using limbs akin to a spider coming along the ceiling all the while tentacles were burrowing further in my burning thighs.

Up,or down...pick god damn it! Frantically deciding left little option, I shot downward seeing a face partially get shredded backward with screeching as it rolled skidding forward. But there was no time for any sort of a miracle. It was coming at me. ABOVE! I screamed bracing unable to eject an empty shell, I had no time and I braced when something practically slammed into it. A blurring mass of tentacle like hair, teeth damned well sharpened into tear any sort of flesh off bone and a face rivaling an enraged feral animal.

The sheer force knocked air straight out of my lungs, I naturally held up an arm managing in keeping a creature inches from biting down. Tearing sounds of sand paper made a howling roar deafen anyone as this thing started tearing into upper arms, I fought back tears while kicking out legs in bracing against an grooves solid walls provided. FUCK THIS HORSESHIT! And my own forearm practically inverted to angle, I felt bones literally shift as a sicking crackling of a hand clamped down on something viable...its face where claws burrowed through facial cheeks.

Fingers alone curved right where eyes had widened in feral shock as I grinned equally squeezing until those organs popped. Sickening popping followed a shriek so high pitched, my hand simply dug in twisting quickly and it's nose caved inwards, as a river of crimson fluids doused my own face in relished warmth. Wrenching a palm full of flesh did little beyond limbs slashing wherever they'd been, I shivered over squinting in seeing that another creature stirring. It was becoming too heavy, I felt clawed toes scrapping aside concrete walls, it left an ear raising scraping...desperately I grunted through agonized waves by aligning a firearm's barrel.

Angling the barrel through squirming vestiges of gore and fluid did it manage pressing up right where its throat was exposing itself. I kept teeth gnashed so tightly, I chipped unknowingly fighting off urges in swallowing it. An elbow cocked itself sharply, I barely any room until I viciously thrusted upward with strength fueled by rage and agony alike, it got the job done. The denting piece of metal as a makeshift spear ceased airflow immediately, I had it choking on it's own blood and lead jointly. I loved the fact it didn't have time for fresh another wave of screeching, I swore my hearing was akin to ringing after suffering through it all.

Fleshly greenish carapace gave way as gurgling mouthfuls of bloody mixtures doused my entire face in waves considerably. And viciously jerking down towards me, I snarled out words promising, "Choke on this shit!" Squelching muscle and tendons alike jolted due to a shell sluggishly falling onto my exposed stomach. A trigger was squeezed strongly as an entire splattering mess exploded upwards, it coated an entire ceiling easily with pieces of skin and other internal chucks skidding down walls due to an immediate force of kinetic discharge.

Battering aside by a forearm send it headfirst into the walls strained surface as I reached down bellowing through agonized fury to tear out a tendril. It came out, but a piece of skin and muscle plopped outwards leaving me to roar regardless. They were returning my god damned favor at the rate they took pieces out of me as well. Sputtering fluids barely registered due to an instant numbing adrenaline, I glanced upwards seeing a half skinned creature pouncing. And reflexively I used a freed leg kicking it skyward!

Straining visibly with teeth gritting it hovered out of raking claw like fingers, I heard air whistling sharply just where my inflamed chin got skimmed. It got the same treatment, but I managed in slicing upwards having the shotgun burying itself right where guts supposedly could have been! But this time I went straight though it, I reached over awkwardly feeling my ribs straining in cutting through another tendril's snake like form. And an audible yelp from ahead distantly made me sneer lividly, I jerked it forward stretching out of reach until a red stained brass shell slipped through. But intestinal pieces lighter in coloration exploded upwards through a spinal cord,'s splintering, it made a feral like creature cease moving just to convulse violently.

Swatting it aside via a forearm sent into an opposite wall as two of these things on either side of me officially. Through thickened pools of crimson and meat, I struggled upwards reloading but a solidified clacking ratcheting made me glance over infuriated. Guess it wasn't fully loaded! Shoving convulsing creatures aside, I got up shakily fighting off muscle induced spasms but both of them sharply angled hearing bone splintering as I spat out a mixture of blood and saliva from clogging up my own throat in sheer disgust.

Don't let up! I rasped out a strangled mix of a yelp and growl, I reached down clamping down on a squirming tendril half alive and twitching with my right thigh. I dug in wincing strongly and practically forced it out, as spluttering crimson stopped gradually leaving me to toss it onto the ground viciously with teeth bared. I saw blurs coming from a subway tunnel and there was any chance for a breather, Keep them in front of you, man!

Another leaped behind two half torn up creatures as I bellowed furiously sprinting forward. Using two down convulsing bodies, I found some pleasure hearing them shrieking due to my feet crushing onto their abdomens finding purchase in holding myself upright. I've had with it up to here with you fucking things, today! It crashed head long, angling downward similar in trying to spear tackle me backwards but sent an elbow down right where it's spinal cord got exposed. And despite being forced down several feet dragging two sets of bodies...I felt the very muscle underneath feet tearing vain, it couldn't handle the sheer transfer of force.

Teeth bit into my ribs as I howled, sending three thunderous elbow drops indenting so damned deeply that its spine simply snapped. I kept hammering despite something tearing into my lower side, I couldn't stop as it went limp despite claws slicing whereas my own back flared agonizingly. LET GO OF ME! Gripping tentacle like hair in a fistful pulling at roots, furiously I yanked it upwards off its feet briefly as I flipped a shotgun's useless hunk of metal and had the barrel where the stock got scattering into pieces once it made contact with concrete.

Hardened material gave way to a jagged tip mirroring crudely inspired shanks and I jabbed upwards causing an ear deafening crying screeching. Jabbing as fast as possible, I practically tore up open an abdomen while for good measure headbutting the damned thing face as softer cartilage broke in a splattering mess alone. Above, again! Eyes locked in seeing a shambling sprinter coming from the ceiling as it tried leaping over the thing in my hand. But this time...I just angled a crude spear until it came within reach jumping.

It never saw a jagged tool piercing its own back due to a mid spinning motion. It howled high pitched when arms tried reaching behind where I kept it hoisted closer to a ceiling, yet my arm trembled in first signs of exhaustion when I grunted supporting weight despite being cut up worse than a damned pig in a slaughtering house. Pushing further I wanted this thing to suffer beyond everything I'd imagined, I watched it flaying and raking at a ceiling sending chunks of dirt cascading in vain of getting off a crude spearing shank.

Quickly letting go did I grasp the back of its head clamping down hard. It kept up thrashing wildly trying to fling claws backward, but due an awkward angle alone, I was free yanking hair like tendrils making it shriek loudly. "Shut your mouths!" I roared gripping them both before outright clashing their skulls together. And a gut wrenching crackling made them practically quake physically, I didn't let up despite suffering long forgotten notions of exhaustion...I barely kept them in place, crashing two skulls together seeing one of their faces melding together.

Both practically became limp beyond their convulsions stunning them briefly, I managed elbowing one aside as I slammed myself using full weight. Pivoting in place, I had another arm slamming their indented faces further in a wash of teeth and blood alike. Yet it wasn't enough in stopping what came next with literal no warning, or even hope in preventing. And for a fleeting moment I felt simply air rushing towards my inflamed body. I managed in facing head on with arms parted, I saw nothing except for one fleeting image.

A lithe figure reminiscence of any seeming Olympian gymnastic medal winner had flipped in place. Two tentacles tensed and absolute anchored in place, had been hoisted well onto a ceiling outside a doorway. Yet those eyes of red burned brightly zoning on an opportunity, one which they had planned and had kept attention distracted. I...gotcha...again. An overly smug giggling voice whispered within my psyche alone it'd made my eyes widening when ornate horns lightly traced a ceiling, pieces of dirt getting disturbed a midst droplets of crimson. But god alone knew I saw two legs feet first came encompassing everything as a singular sharpened kick got square right where my chest and throat met sending me flying backwards.

Coloration awash with sheer stunning pressure as a leg twisted, my hand snapped backward as I kept rolling uncontrollably. NO! I screamed hearing a voice that wasn't Eve's own inside my head, I'd heard it audibly as I found myself seeing only gray. As I got sent crashing through an entire metal doorway, hinged and screws alike splintering off momentum cleared when I gurgled out bloody patches clogging an airway, I was stunned seeing only myself rolling and over until stopping due to a jolting momentum ended by a subway tunnel.

Coughing desperately shrill wheezing for air did little in stemming pain on a scale only to that night when I'd become what I was. Crying out through shattered teeth did anything, it hurt so damned much even I arched my back off a metal dented door, it just became fire itself. EVE! I yelled internally all but begging for anyone to help stop this insanity, what choice did I have anymore? And what in the name of fucking Christ else did I have to do?

Watery vision merely crushed resolve when silence alone met my haggard wrenching of broken teeth, blood and other pieces of coagulated meat. Bellowing weakly into a darkened tunnel left little chance as I rolled partially only yelping due to fingers having pressure exerted. I found why my left hand was a literal landscape of sensation, I froze absolutely horrified seeing something practically inverted of what it'd been previously. My clawed limb twitched when it was twisted simply around where palm shouldn't have been exposed with pieces of bone prodding through...adrenaline, or shock prevented urges for screaming eventually.

"Fucking...bullshit!" I spat out struggling to sit upright as a metallic door clanked briefly due to hitting stone behind my spine. Breathing rapidly became akin to nail digging into my damned lungs, I saw an entire chest line wavering due to two foot sized dents crackling bones. It hurt even lurching yet I had to stand, I couldn't let these things win! Or only the devil himself savored for these monsters would do, because I probably be unable to stop myself.

Slowly pushing through wave upon wave of skin numbing trauma did little in appeasing what I was witnessing. Not even coldness of a cross survived unscathed, it had scratches and flakes of brass staining within crimson droplets. I need a little help, please! Cradling my chest barely smothered anything save for getting on a knee, I managed spitting out pieces of teeth which had splintered with a tongue dangerously feeling lopsided. Yet I wheezed in air desperately trying to ignore what amounted to broken bones and a crushed chest.

Wheezing mightily through shrill exhale and creating rhythms in coping did little when seeing the creature descending from an opposite maintenance hallway on that other tunnel. It simply retracted tentacles back beneath wrists, casually flipping hair aside if it were an inconvenience. I despised it with all my damned being, I hated being helpless and it triggered long forgotten terrors pertaining to another monster unveiling itself. No matter how much I wanted to disprove myself...ignorance was never an excuse for justifying lies being upheld. Blood loss alone enforced itself with Sil's disfigured face seemingly fading over those red hues for eyes as a sauntering figure moved through carnage of its own kind.

Bodies writhed and twisted at crooked angles as wounds simultaneously begun mending before my sight. Bones realigned in sickening crackling, or slipped back where they'd torn asunder and flesh woulds stitched themselves together. One by one heads snapped awake, screeching angrily when vocal cords allowed as an ornate horned female stepped over them, they arose slowly but surely. Is this all you got, huh Alex? You fucking pussy! Get up! I kept shouting internally, begging my own mind and soul alike in just standing against these monstrous things.

For Gods sake, get up and do something! I snarled inevitably jolting myself upward, but coughed an incredible amount of fluid spewing onto a door's now crimson tinted frame. It just hurt to breathe, it hurt to move and agonized fire burnt away when resolve I had left without trying to rest. But there was no more time left...I needed time to rest. To heal, or fucking get out of this hell pit excuse called a subway system. Anywhere else!

It, or she sauntered with a hand over its own heart in faux sympathy. More so until reaching an exit sign which flickered less than optimistically. Slowly some sort of feeling returned into my thighs, if not barely due to throbbing pulsations of flesh screaming on a cellular level. Two sizable chunks practically had gotten torn out, but at least bleeding somehow stemmed itself. It still hurt putting pressure on anything yet I managed in rapid wheezes for air to regain any sort of composure, I wasn't deluding any humor in being at this thing's mercy again.

"You are quite a challenge, I am really enjoying this a lot." She spoke smiling unashamed while inspecting tendrils as their tips revealed themselves ever poised for slicing flesh aside. Every so often reddish hues returned, or faded some rapidly, it appeared akin to boiling beneath those carapace lids consistently spacing out blinks. It solidified either she kept zoning off, or there was something visibly disturbing in seeing glossed over pupils refocusing just as rapidly. I couldn't decide which infuriated me further, or scaring me shit less.

Haggardly sneering aloud, "Glad to know one of us is enjoying the misery." It smiled slyly until a finger arose sending me into fits of rage. A lone middle finger kept beckoning me upwards, "You going to prove me, wrong... Alex?" Whispering my name both seemed vocal and internal, I stared stunned hearing two tones of voices. I winced due to an ache suddenly washing over myself, I shook my head briefly trying to ignore it entirely.

When did it know my name? Since when! Questions sparked genuine confusion as it began circling partially keeping an eye on me hungrily, "Not when...but who?" Coyly implying with a surreal cryptic kind of bullshit left me gnashing teeth. Was this damned thing inside my head too? I couldn't even start where, or how that ever happened again.

Absently a tongue like tentacle slithered out of its mouth slyly licking sides before retracting into that amorous expression. Sensation akin to electrical shivering hit me fully, if only out of sheer disbelief when it stopped prowling dead center of a doorway. Sweet smells of fruit started making my tense muscles alleviate almost gratefully yet I closed both eyes, biting an interior cheek drawing pain in order to stopping numbness ironically. Coughing out another lungful of fluid, I strained trying to move a hand except it simply remained stationary, shaking violently as an internal movement starting smothering fire gradually.

Behind bodies began shifting visibly due a sudden increase of hissing and limbs snapping themselves back together. God...please! Anyone! I tried desperately thinking about Eve, I earnestly tried and cold ice greeted my efforts akin to silence. No one was answer, not Eve nor God, nor my own fucking sense of a consciousness. Clutching a meager piece of metal while broken, I tried thinking about nothing in order to find some way to hold onto hope. And this was only because I had no one, except for Eve who was my only chance in ending this nightmarish experience.

Hear...me...better? My jawline remained clenched despite slithering tremors making pain fade gradually but I didn't answer. I heard it inside my head, it was dim as if shouted across an entire miles worth of distance. Words softly utterly tempted even the most vile of what I knew was another a part myself stirring. Longing and unyielding to meet suggestions, I bit down harder snarling refusing a god damned bad idea. Look...at me.

Eve, I need to hear your voice. I trembled unable to ignore a faint tracing of fingers going down my shoulders from behind and in front. PLEASE! Shouting as a series of low hissing and sounds of feet approaching made panic far too natural. I felt human, but I wasn't...I was panicking because I'd wanted to further, something in making me shiver ecstatically. Sensation so damning powerful and soothing, I kept biting my inner cheek until coppery fluid was all I tasted desperate in anchor any sort of resistance to this physical betrayal of instinctual craving.

Apart of myself lingered within an old memory. A memory of glass and blood as I felt fingers pressing themselves right on my face tenderly. Look at yourself, acting like a kid afraid of monsters coming up from the bed. What kind of man are you? Sweetened and spicy aromas kept choking me until shuddering pleasure and warmth trickled behind my neck. Inflamed blood flow akin to a buzzing sensation nearly made me break...it was that sensation of peaceful temptations so god damned alluring it wasn't right at all.


"Do you think I should be a monster, so you can practice to not be afraid?" Sil raised her head up to make me stare back at her with a curious if not downright unreadable expression to make me freeze. She had lifted herself to sit up to make me rise up as well, literally I could feel my heart racing. Did I say something wrong? I hoped to god I didn't do that because I didn't know if she was fearful of anything to be a monster! Anxiously I tried to speak up but the girl did something that made my eyes go wide.

In fact all my fingers went numb when my friend gave me a coy smile. Sil pressed her nearest index finger to shush my lips as if telling me to shut up and to listen, "No." She giggled very happily to make my face turn hot, her eyes seemingly looked me over head to toe despite our positions on the floor, "You're not a monster Alex, never. You will never be one to me because I think you're something completely opposite."


That memory alone made my heart clenched so painfully because it'd the truth for a time. Sil was a monster, I'd been a victim but now I was something most believed otherwise. But things were different as all things eventually changed. I had forgiven her, I had forgiven everything and yet despite being incredibly different. I still had a soul of a man who wouldn't break to these damned creatures which kept digging further within my mind by some means.

Clawing towards distant memories kept my heart racing yet I felt skin crawling where I'd been torn apart. Sensations of ants crawling, pain gradually and slowly burnt away until dull aches subsided adrenaline rushes. Even my hand practically trembled viciously until it stopped, but bones within were sliding together simply closer to plastic and all fleeting sensations of pain washed away. And I could breathe deeply again...small internal clicks of bone gathering together making my wheezing breaths turn quiet again.

An ache hit my head so fiercely, I gasped aloud realizing it'd felt like something kept shifting where it didn't belong. Pressures so strong, I let go all thoughts and focused on simply knowing I would not become a god damned monster that didn't think. I was a monster, I wasn't human nor was I what Sil was either. I was the monster with a conscious, I decided and I alone would not let anyone inside my god damned head!

Coldness returned once I ceased trembling altogether clasping both a piece of metal and memory jointly when a pulling refocused my thoughts. Eve? I thought aloud biting back hope, I called out to her again and again. EVE! My sheer internal screaming grasped at memories, twisting and latching onto a familiarity by envision two faces. Both Eve and Sil's own, I knew differences yet they were so similar that I...an audible throbbing within my skull, I swore it was trying to do something I couldn't explain yet I swore I could do. If I was a monster, what could one do over a mere man who had no defense against other monsters?

Growls so utterly deepened and tight escaped my throat long after I clenched eyes so tightly they began burning. Spots blurred together, a swirling darkness and spiraling descent whereas I focused on trying to literally reach forward. Muscle along my entire body clenched as one fleeting unit, if not briefly relinquishing all senses of sight, smell and hearing. And I kept pushing ignoring the scents of fruit, or spicy enticing distractions unnaturally. I needed to find Eve, I wanted to hear her voice and I knew how to do it!

Finally warmth so sudden flood my veins too quickly, too strong and I felt my heart suddenly stop beating altogether. My eyes opened seeing a door-frame where I'd been battered, I saw blood flowing right back to where limbs met earth. Veins akin to webs filtered upward blending beneath slackened blackish and green carapace, the very pores opening as fluid returned along with my strength and will together. Yet the very temperature became an inferno which impossibly kept getting hotter to a point where sweat practically evaporated, so damned hot I exhaled out of sheer shock seeing misty streaks burning me from within.

It persisted until something seemingly clicked in place, "Eve." I whispered silently mouthing her name seeing something within my own streams of crimson. But what I didn't expect hitting me was an agony so strong, so sudden...I found myself blacking out. And for the first time, I heard Eve saying something which sent my core shattered into pieces. She was calling me for help as a screaming plea deafened my very being to see images as if I were seeing it. Three words did what even these monsters had tried too, I felt myself falling into a rage so catastrophic...I simply gave up on being a man because everything had changed: HELP ME, ALEX!


The man stood above her staring indifferently smoking a cigarette with a pistol's barrel honed where eyes met. Pain! Unable to scream, unable to defend and unable to flee. Hot sizzling rivers made even movement impossible. Imprisoned and caged, again fearing what was to come as another enforced bullet struck her skull. She tried shrieking in sheer defiance and hatred, but the fear was unable to be hidden from them in caging her back to that hellish place.

Another loud bang jerking an inescapable scream as wiring struck right above her chest and continuously made movement literally hell. Unable to run, unable to do anything except scream in a half bid attempt to call for help! This wasn't supposed to be happen, but they had found a way to capture them both. And she cried, tried too cry out for help for the only one who'd do anything for her to achieve a life...freedom from these creatures called humanity.

Hatred! Raw and cold, both justified and restrained, because she couldn't hate them in fear of losing what made her discover happiness. ALEX! HELP ME! PLEASE! Air kept clogging within fluids as foam of suffocation kept making any attempt meaningless. Unable to die, yet unable to live, a state of torture and inescapable terrors made killing them impossible! She needed help, she needed someone and she couldn't do this alone anymore...there were too many humans, too many ways and only one other could find a way.

Shouts and words inaudible were spoken yet more electrical waves never once let up. As she looked over fighting both body and mind alike, unable to call out while protecting him. Protecting from those who'd take away what was rightfully her claim. Claims to offspring, to joy, to happiness and only her own with no others who wanted to steal it. Not without her tearing apart rivals, they kept trying and trying while watching her die to protect him!

SAVE...ME! She tried getting through yet could not due to the humans shooting and bring her down after tearing them apart. Unable to call through because another had kept pushing...straining and fending a cold breach into what was they as together. Jealously! Ambition? She would die for interfering as she could not do both, to protect and defend while attack and kill, it was unfair to do so much because she...loved him.

They were closer than most humans dared to assume, a chance and reward for seeing what made him do what needed to be done. Gentle yet fierce, cold yet full of warmth and humane yet not what she was naturally. She feared being alone and to be locked away, they would not stop until they were dragged back into cages where they'd learn to kill them both. Tears flowed yet were turned into foamy mixtures leaving only hatred releasing its intended purpose...they were nothing to her, nothing but obstacles and numerous faces which hid equal parts of cruelty and mercy, but he was their best all within by any other human.

Yet despite shocking waves of constant agony she wheezed out foamy bubbles feeling him calling out to her...she cried out of joy. PROMISE...PROMISE...NOT ALONE! Words seemingly died away until fading vision of another came into view. And her joy turned into sheer raw fury. It was Laura's face looking down indifferently...the same like all the rest of them! To hide behind words, hide behind false promises and she would make her regret thinking they had empathy. They were nothing as hatred alone made her snarl feral wishing to make that woman suffer, for she had made her suffer and fairness was a human virtue!

Laura's face faded before a large weapon where one massive hole met her eyes. And a sudden crackling snap of her vision jolted aside. Whitened vision turned into murky darkness. As words faded crying out for someone to save her. Despair took root when numerous metallic pieces entrapped her limbs as she got lifted upwards, as only lights in a darkened tunnel led her to wherever they intended to take her. Save me...Alex...save...me.


Those last words sent shivers running through everything within my body as liquid akin to magma surged to one point. Tears both my own and not my own fell freely, I opened a jawline extending it beyond human limitations. Ligaments snapped instantly , muscle desperately tried re-knitting itself yet it was what I unleashed. This wasn't a bellowing, it wasn't just screaming nor was it shrieking...I released all that surging heat into one singular act. I began howling with everything I'd seen, learned and experienced unable cope with traumas equal to my own. And I didn't stop even when I stood up suddenly buckling metal underneath my heels...

I howled deeply letting all that rage and hatred out in one gargantuan pitch that bulbs of glass shattered without warning. Sparks of whitish blue danced across as I howled upwards at nothing and everything unleashing my only means of calling back to Eve herself. My spinal cord arched backwards when a hand realigned itself, an exposed rib regenerating lost flesh as bloodied streams returned to chunks of a thigh feeling only faint relief. Yet it all paled into comparison when I kept up a howling, I tore my own throat's vocal cords into a shrill pitch despite having a baritone mixture struggling to retain what I called back through it all.

Onward and onward that booming howling was sent through confined concrete tunnels acting as an even higher conductor for sound itself. Numerous lights shattered to both my left and right, a scattering of sparks as I put everything into calling out to Eve. If she heard it, she would and if she didn't, then those who'd promised in hunting me down? People who were my enemy and who swore to my very face in all but truth...to drag me in chains to a cage?

That howling faded gradually until I inhaled deeply feeling as if noting had happened. My chest felt beyond light, I twirled a once broken wrist and hand nimbly. And I felt as if everything had faded into a moot point considering I was no more a weak man, as a savage monster who'd found itself awakening after trying desperately for myself in containing urges. Equally flirting with a surreal madness as well as a resolve built up beyond anything I'd imagine, I started laughing absolutely infuriated I would become what they feared most. Let them try, because they're going to have a chance when I see them face to face .

Cracking my neck in fending off stiffness made me really look at figures who were covering their bloodied ears apparently. All but four were hunched over, screeching distinctly yet were shocked by the howling alone. Most had either stumbled away, or barely came within arms reach because they'd been savoring my inability to deter them. But that had changed...I swore with all my being, they were going to learn a lesson. One lesson I had learned just now, it takes a brave man to kill a monster but sometimes it takes an ever braver man to realize sometimes the worst of all monsters only other killed monsters.

I never needed to dodge when two of these things tried rushing from behind. And I raised both arms feeling that coiling grip simply shoot...out from behind elbows. A sickening crunching was met when I stepped backwards, allowing two gagging creatures choking a solidified greenish bone like spike striking them dead center of their foreheads. I turned partially seeing their facial expression frozen in having their nervous systems stunted at their sources, "I'm getting tired of cutting you bitches into pieces, so sit down...now!"

Bone like spikes retracted making my lower arms tingle somewhat numbly, but they fell backwards convulsing momentarily. Growling angrily I looked at two other creatures who actually backed away slowly when I started walking forward. They were eyeing me conflicted on whether I was confident enough, or if they were willing in seeing what else I was starting to shift into...I personally wanted them to try it. Because I was too pissed off, too damned angry yet it was all funneling into a terrible resolve which suited my needs.

"And you two...stay!" I whispered once in making each of those creatures snarl defiantly, if barely restraining themselves due to how stern my tone churned into guttural fury. I focused the lithe figure who'd been winced severely throughout a howling call. Gone was that coy, or sly smugness and was a keen awareness observing my movement with caution. She was on guard for once, if that didn't make me confident enough, I sure as hell believed I needed to do what needed to be done in order to get Eve back out of our enemies hands.

To give her credit where it stood, we came within an arm's reach of each other as neither of us said a word verbally. I tilted my head over closing eyes momentarily, if only trying to find a pressure with my psyche. Like a minor headache, or perhaps sensations akin of blood flowing too past my neckline where neither feeling mattered. Do you hear me? I watched those eyes glowing an audibly reddish coloration as an iris was illuminated, I watched it shudder physically as a gasp of air made it seem demure in expressing itself euphorically surprise.

Yes, I do. Her voice sounded distinctly to be purring with lust, or was it admiration? I began circling her as she met that movement equally intrigued, we simply walked in circle as I inspected whether what I was doing was remotely sane anymore. One moment I didn't know how to speak, or know if someone was inside me listening and in the next, I needed only a fleeting moment of conversation through thoughts alone. And no matter how I needed to change, I felt only glimpses of what it'd react too.

Stopping after we circled each other mimicking predators who sized each other up as either threats, or debated if a fight ensured amounted to humor. How long were you fending off, Eve? Those crimson eyes crinkled smugly when pride admitted itself. It was a challenge which hadn't been overcome yet in its assumptions. Long enough, Alex. I still can't get inside you, but if you let me in...I can show you a bit more.

My laughter alone bordered on an imagination which would've probably failed considering it'd a hell of a ride to get off on. Oh, I'm sure you'd like that! A newly minted platonic smile appeared as I gave her a fair warning about trying to overstep boundaries. But for your sake? I'll let Eve be the judge of you pissing on her day. A faint snarl mentioning her alone got my amusement rising, I had a hunch she was absolutely wary of Eve's wrath. Yet I wasn't in the mood for another brawl, I needed a way out of this place officially.

Why are you after me? And what tipped you off? I glared mostly in a bid to figure out how they'd even knew I was around. Eve was shielding me, or at least tampering with what I imagined were ways of spotting their kind well beyond my assumptions. It smiled teasingly when licking a finger mostly feigning confusion. You smell enticing, so maybe that's why I can't stop trying to get my hands all over you...everywhere.

Snorting less than absolutely appeased, I stepped forward brazenly walking right up to whereas her face tilted upwards daring me. Despite being a decent head taller, I leaned forward coming to within inches where rapid breathing on her part accelerated absolutely exhilarated. This time I spoke verbally completely amazed, "Do you get off on trying to play stupid? So!" I leaned even closer coming to where she'd be able to strike an exposed abdomen, I got so closer that sweetened fruit like smells radiated off this things neckline like some jungle...it nearly made my own sense of hunger growing modestly.

"I'll figure it out, I'm guessing...your parent?" I chose words deliberately unsure whether I knew if one of my remaining family was even aware of himself. I didn't know anything except through assumptions to feel out what exactly I was dealing with now, "He send you out for Eve? And I was in the way? Or what?"

She leaned away slowly going to an opposite side whispering back into an ear deviously playful, "Yes and...not even close." I glanced downward seeing hands slyly trying to reach upwards, but instead I did something even she didn't expect. And even surprising myself, I needed leverage for this to humor what I'd say next without it having...advantages, I was getting too damned tempted because blood started flowing quickly.

Placing a hand right on it's chest, its eyes widened when I pushed it backward as a solid wall of stone and sputtering electrical lighting sent sparks spiraling upwards. An arm slammed right onto it, a series of loose gravel caving immediately when those hands froze immediately. Good to know, so you wanted get your hands on me. Is that right? She started baring teeth mostly out of self-preservation from my peripherals yet came scantly close into biting down on a collarbone. But an idle tapping right where its heart beat was due to a tendril exposing itself, I could've pierced it and it only just realized it seconds too late.

I liked your face as a human, it was...attractive. Her expression seemed enraptured by a newly minted struggle considering a pair of hands settled over my own gripping strongly. She inched it upward right where a throat regaining an initiative due to how smooth she'd felt. I snorted in finding that compliment a common theme lately. Yet her eyes darted away, it was lying extremely worse off than Sil, or Eve had done in all my time alive around their kind.

Fingers clamped down lightly with claws extending just enough in prickling carapace like flesh drawing out an exhaling breath of shock. You're lying! Forcing its gaze upward was followed when I angled a knee appropriately. Those red glowing eyes narrowed when I refused humoring lies when I needed only answers. I'm very good at picking out lies, so here's a warning. I don't like that kind of run around, bullshit.

My knee shot upward right between its legs, it was a furnace in all aspects and had it slid upward against the stone wall. Pieces of brick and dirt crackled drifting downward. She panted seemingly either out of exhilaration, or again shock due to how surreal our situations had changed. It took two to tango and play a game of who'd blink first, I was just fed up with things trying to get their hands onto me personally. Their kind, humankind or whoever believed I was going to run away when things kept getting worse off.

"Lie to me again, I use these next." Along a forearm prickling sensations extended when she eyed two rows of curved spiked protrusions flaring jointly. Two rows akin to a crocodiles tail of serrated scale like knives came along a forearm, they went from my wrists beginning and ending at the thickest junction, I didn't need to measure when they were exactly three inches worth which were a bestial version of a cutting hacksaw. Fair warning, I'm very pissed off. And I'm really not in a mood for testing them out when I'm still learning new...things.

She stared seemingly interested in seeing unblemished skin returning despite leering when leaning back drawing my attention. There was no fear, or apprehension, it seemed to be on cloud nine considering a grinding motion made my grin faintly appear. I really love challenges, Alex. Her voice became more than obvious with intentions, I wanted to laugh because it was too damned easy playing hard to get. And being teased was something I'd learned how to avoid naturally. Want to find out why, I like learning new things too?

My grip tightened once forcing her head upwards as urges break softened tissue nearly ignited a rage being harnessed. Yet I heard hissing coming out of annoyance, "Not today. But we got problems, so before anything else..." Glaring right into those hues for eyes sent slithering sensations running to and from an entire spinal cord, "What's your name? And then you're going to listen to me, because none of us are getting out of here with what's going down."

Laughter came as if events hadn't been considered which sent my impatience skyrocketing into near frenzied proportions. Why should I care about that other one, I don't see a reason why I shouldn't be enjoying having my hands on you! I almost snapped immediately hearing an indifference as if these things were honestly not seeing something even worse, Laura Baker and Press Lennox had found a way to capture Eve and by extension myself. They found a way, it involved enough electrical shock to pin something like us and these tunnels were a god damned kill zone. There was no way out, unless such a route existed past an entire city's worth of police officers armed to their damned teeth. Did they not see what was going on?

Are you fucking insane? I lunged forward with elongated teeth nearly tearing her exposed throat right out where blood kept pumping rapidly. They have weapons, they are not sitting on their asses killing each other and news flash! They learned how to 'catch' you, me, or your other friends in this place as I did 'not' want to get boxed in. Guns don't work too good, but you know? I was using only one and I'm sure you saw it, they did slow you all down. Pointedly forcing her to stare at convulsing creatures which were mending puncture wounds, they took a minute or two but seeing them taking their time got my minds eye wondering.

It lashed out gripping my jawline line squeezing angrily for nearly provoking a first hand fight. Yet I managed growling guttural irritated. And it's only a matter of time, so use what little of a brain that isn't getting desperate to ride up on my dick. Do the math! She grip slackened momentarily when I pointed simply towards a direction where I'd felt Eve's pleas for help. We didn't have any time to waste, nor was I humor this fucking things sense of getting off while grinding her god damned vagina on a moistened up knee.

"How many cops are in this city? Do you know there's probably hundreds?" I viciously hissed baring teeth to where my lips split from biting too fiercely giving them an easier idea. And by the way its head tilted curiously past fluttering eyes got my impatience quelled, "I have Uncle Sam's dogs after my and Eve's asses...they're all military. And want to take a guess, if things aren't stopped they get a call to roll in? Have you any idea how hard it was to lay low, to get around all this shit without getting shot at?"

I slammed a lighter creature solidly against concrete making it groan mostly out of sheer surprise at that action. Go ahead, I fucking dare you. I glared furiously at two stilled creatures who were still several meters on either side of our little get together. Tell your other friends to jump me. And we'll do this again, but I'm not putting up with your bullshit this time around...I'm very pissed off. My snarling bordered on sheer feral desire, I'd tear these monsters so thoroughly, they'd get off on getting my hands inside my them personally. And I wasn't going to play nice, or hope otherwise because bigger problems kept were exposing themselves.

Behind movement made me witness them through peripherals in climbing above onto a ceiling as they were stiller than stone themselves. Already elbows tingled at their tips, if they tried jumping again I'd have a front row seat proving they had guts after all. But one word made me snort out of sheer exasperation for mislabeling what amounted to an ambush of hellish monsters. My sisters, Alex. She purred almost entirely amused, if not for turning over to hiss aggressively at one for getting too close to us apparently. Claws managed lightly in raking across my chest, I felt burning when control barely found itself in sheer surreal amazement.

You speak for them? Or are they just your muscle? Humoring their actual relationships wasn't in my grandest of assumptions today. Yet only she'd been speaking to me, or had attempted too. So either this one was indeed different, or they seriously had a mental defect making even retardation a genius in comparison. It didn't add up, nor did I want to find out too much, I was already wasting more in Eve getting further away.

A pair of nimbly legs surreptitiously wrapped themselves around my waist while a hand gripping behind pulling herself downwards reaching my eyes perfectly. Pivoting in place left obvious intentions due to how sweetened aromas where radiating inches away. They follow my word, because of Father who wanted to see you, as 'her' and I am not them. Savage growls emitted out of her throat, reaching forward grasping my face without warning and simply admitted who she was, I felt fire within my own veins. I am different...my name is Amelia.

Amelia's chest arched forward eagerly as she exhaled loudly in sheer blissful rapture when I didn't resist staring away. I dryly retorted not even hiding sarcasm yet alone cynical honesty, "Nice to meet you too, Amelia." Both hands grasped her own limbs, feeling resistance idly if through sheer determination I pried them, it was quite aggravating in holding them wide. And not before shoving her backwards having a back crackling against stone walls, a few pieces fell once I managed stepping back as eyes narrowed hungrily infuriated within those burning iris's for reddish eyes.

You want a ride, Amelia? You're gonna have to earn it, a hell of a lot before I ever want to see you getting off. I leered widely seeing her lover herself through onto shaking legs, they were trembling openly as I looked back to where I'd felt Eve previously. I would do whatever I had too at this point, to survive another day and more so, I would be the god damned monster who made other monsters think twice. Amelia's conflicted emotions were awash with furious confusion and natural exhilaration, so I just prayed temptation won out over blindness for not seeing dangers encroaching closer upon all of us, we had no more time.

Panting gradually faded once recognition emerged until Amelia's eyes narrowed suspiciously whilst flipping herself akin to an acrobatic before landing smoothly upright. Flexibility alone made phantom pains of getting several cheap shots rear a dirty truth. She fights dirty, if she can't win straight out? Use everything and anything, I ain't getting kneed in my balls again. But she can think ahead, if anything from what I've seen! Maybe I was too optimistic, I needed to find a way out of this whole damned mess immediately and there wasn't much choice. They had numbers, I had reasons and neither of us wasn't taking things at face value as well.

"Are you challenging me?" Amelia seriously questioned purring in a sly predatory tone as I smirked seeing my own opportunity. My next words got her stiffing out of sheer insatiable hunger alone for tempting another go willingly, "Consider it my bet you can try all you want, if you want me? Earn it, or better yet, prove me wrong because if you don't see what I'm saying?" I kept my warms wide with hands waving her forward, if out showcasing exactly what was going to happen either way. There was no magical way out, no divine intervention nor how much I prayed as it all boiled down to one simple result...action.

She didn't twitch giving me all I needed to hammer our little situation given what I'd learned in piecing clues together. Whoever gave her a pass into this world started with Patrick. Wherever the fuck he is, no one knows and Laura's got Eve in chains again. They were hunting me because for whatever flying fuck of grace wanted to see me...as well as getting to Eve herself. And this was a just a big surprise with my own being similar to them! They didn't know about the Federal Government sending a lot of firepower and potential sending soldiers, a lot of cops got sent because they were quicker yet time wasn't humoring dangers to their intentions.

You need to step up, now or never Alex! I told myself inhaling deeply coming to terms that I could only save myself, if I just did what needed to be done. Live Free, or Die Hard. Those four words alone were what I salvaged for justifying in betraying Eve's trust in me. I was damning myself into a hole, but she had begged me for help. And by God even though I hated and love that bastard with all heart after keeping faith as a man, I swore now I would do everything in my power and ability to make these things thinking they had a chance to get me in Hell.

You want to find out more about me? Amelia's voice probed suspiciously while peering at my brazen and smug expression when I smiled eagerly unable to quell natural instinct. She and Eve were honestly, alluring and attractive in their respective rights, I'd be blind if I denied it outright. Yet common ground needed to be forged within this hell I'd walked right into ignorantly unaware of dangers crawling from places no one believed willingly. And ignorance was no more an excuse, as it was a fault for knowing I had gotten fucked over...royally.

I lowered both arms letting them lazily drop despite keeping fingers curling as shifting coils responded immediately tensed. You consider what I'm saying, we'll find out. Narrowing my eyes mostly giving off an impression of a long since honed skill of humoring insanity. I gave her an ultimatum which would've made Eve shudder in sheer unrestrained desire of agreeing to something which would've blown off her two feet. We get out of this place, you, me and your sisters to get back on those streets to stop Eve from getting caged again. Because there's going to be no fucking chance, if she isn't with me, if things go right and I'll bet: you thinking that your 'father' isn't going to be happy about her being imprisoned.

Amelia's eyes burned brightly while lashing out screeching because I acknowledged Eve claimed me as her supposed mate, or lover. It seemed pitiful in hindsight, but if any angle could be worked around given I knew people and how fights went down. I wasn't a Saint, I wasn't some goody too shoes of a man and no mater what happened next? It was on my neck and ass, I needed a way to get out of this mess to get to Eve who cried to me for help. Anger dominated her smaller frame due to a tendril extending for mentioning something...infuriating.

My tone brokered no compromise because they couldn't ignore a simple truth, "He wants us both? Consider it done, but until that happens it's a two for one package since I'm claimed by her...unless you're scared of...her?" Dead eerie silence stopped all attempts when ears had met those words alone, for once despite tearing them apart, I observed not a singular creature twitched or dared moving due to Amelia lowering her face outwardly snarling with teeth exposing themselves viciously enraged.

That got only one word singling my amusement being tickled considerably. Gotcha! I triggered something loose, if seeing a claw scrapping pieces of stone and shredding it in a violent display of sheer infuriating implications. Oh, believe me. Eve scares me, a lot more because I swear she's getting what she wants out of me...somehow again. Fits of anger followed by bestial screeching sent itself echoing in primal fury. One day I vowed on my life, I would find out wondering in hindsight if Eve hadn't left something inside my head, to influence me since I started missing it naturally in a warped sense of bemusement.

"I am different!" She seethed through shrill shrieking to advance onto me, if only stopping when I angled myself grinning savagely, "Prove me right, Amelia. Eve is quite scary, but you are scared because I'm telling you the truth." Those eyes narrowed spitefully, I dared it openly by motioning with hands into baiting a physical confrontation. Yet she didn't take so much an obvious bait, I felt serrated spikes lengthening along my forearms...daringly.

No words either verbally, or externally were exchanged for a tension infused minute. I didn't flinch when her mouth dripped saliva seemingly debating an internal conflict, one which I had no idea in imagining save for holding my ground again. Siblings which were equally just as dangerous, if not slightly slower were hanging above eyeing our conversation with rampant curiosity. And a few had allowed themselves into a modest comfort of crossing arms. Yet she glared back at them thinly frowning when all their gazes glowered in various hues of reddish coloration...they all seemed to be talking without my understanding.

Monster after monstrous facial expressions morphed from confusion to near vivid similarities of disagreement. Even one of them outright screeched once angling itself according as if ready to leap onto herself, I kept eyes on all of them taking in details as Amelia's ornate horns lowered with a series of growling deepening rapidly. One by one, a fading of eyes ceased until they began dropping onto tracks crushing residual pieces of wood. Spaced out evenly, they all turned towards one who'd been directing them in a bloody slug fest which proved another honest fact...we could keep on tearing each other apart unless I was apart of what their father wanted.

Internal conversations kept up through another series of hissing and snapping of jawlines akin to wild dogs yet none made any aggressive signs. Retracting serrated spikes along my arms receded underneath carapace textured flesh as a pair of eyes had kept tabs on said gesture as well. Eventually Amelia's guttural snarling faded away, if only making several of her supposed siblings backing off clearly not provoking temperamental signs. I swore these things were far more violate than Eve when we squared off in that hotel room...it was too damned similar, less so, if Sil's past experiences taught me on top of subtly.

Amelia turned back to myself calming down mostly save for claws extending in an apparent warning to others who debating in challenging herself. Father...accepts your words. There was a cold chilling promise for whenever Eve and her met. I didn't know if I pitted myself more, because I would be at ground zero either way for a vicious brawl. But I do not, Alex. You are mine to challenge and mine alone, always remember nothing takes what I want!

I hardly felt worried beyond retorting earnestly, "Oh, that's sweet to hear." If she honestly believed Eve was going to let me go by any stretch? I'd stake my right arm, Eve was going to kill me after tearing that one's throat out first for stepping on her considered territory. She'd get a real violent reckoning that'd make the devil grin out of sheer enjoyment, "Get in line, I think someone else will say otherwise.

However Amelia strode forward coming to encircle me seemingly inhaling as a shuddering mixture got me eyeing those hands again. I kept tracking until she came up from behind, I never once reacted in favor of knowing I had secured my way out of this hellish subway. Two sliding hands went past loosened arms nearly biting my collarbone. Not, if Father has her first. And he says, I can have you once she is...returned. And I will have your line as blood demands. That sounded far too personal considering I glared back smirking smugly, Eve would was so going to be absolutely and I knew even with God's blessing be apocalyptic!

Still I reached around grasping her neckline again pushing her away much to a whining hiss of frustration in keeping her teased, "We'll find out." Was all I said, as I left it at that in favor of turning over a dented up door itself. An indented shape reminiscence of a humane shape getting kicked through it made my chest tighten modestly, it lingered strongly. But it doesn't mean this will happen again, I won't be alone next time. And sometimes being alone isn't enough to cut it straight. I bent down flipping it with audible groan as it slammed clattering briefly, as beneath it was a dented up yet stilled form of another shotgun slightly dusted over.

Grasping the stock while idly flicking a safety off, I remembered a lot quicker apparently and had it lazily resting against my collar comfortably. Darkness of an entire tunnel seeming to be consuming what flickering sparks from bulbs as I stared right where I'd last felt where Eve could have possibly been considering all directions. There was no other choice left, but to go forward and I exhaled sharply knowing this wasn't going to be easy. And despite everything? I found myself walking forward into a gaping maw stretching akin to an abyss whereas lithe and inhumane figures leaped upwards crawling along an entire ceiling as another figure walked just behind observing in sheer silence.

Grasping a metallic cross which remained battered and scratched did I remember a phrase from another man so long ago. During my earlier days as a child, scared and absolutely lost without purpose did I find these comforting. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Inhaling slightly, I brought it to my lips knowing I just damned myself because it was absolutely clear no help was coming to save me, so I would save Eve and go with punches being thrown. For I already had one foot in my grave, I might as well have been making it comfortably before putting myself into it.

Tucking it away did my legs begin moving as air started surging past. I simply started running and wouldn't stop until I got my first needed sign of things going swell. I need my keys! And soon enough a swirling coloration of others keeping up with myself faded away. And for once I understood another old saying I wished I'd forgotten. Monsters were never born, they were only created and only mankind had itself to blame for bringing the worst of us into existence. For knew I knew I was the only man readily willing to accept his our worst monster which was always within his own soul...as it'd naturally always lurked.


The stiffening silence made every step audibly thud across non-electrified metallic track as a man paused with a hand raised. Causalities had been collected clearing out a literal blood bath, they'd pushed further with another team being reorganized for bagging another fugitive who still was unaccounted despite aggressive sweeping patrols. Behind two others looked to one another seemingly questioning when they stopped...a trio of lights shinned brightly piercing through buzzing lights and only audible thrumming of electrical boxes overhead. Someone spoke up due to a looming subway tunnel being around a curve ahead, it was too damned quiet after for a long period of time since retrieving something unworldly

"Sir?" Refusing to turn a back did a voice ask softly, "What's wrong?" Lights above them hummed loudly in mechanical rhythms yet something seemed off. Further beyond a small group of three joined for half a dozen as they'd pushed deeper into the train system's network. Word had spread about what exactly slaughtered dozens of them, it wasn't real nor could it have been possible. But they'd seen a literal monster getting hauled away like hell had spawned it, if not spitting it out for being downright uglier than Satan.

Churning instinctive of nerves building up made a voice reply, "Can't shake that its too quiet. You heard all that on our way up?" An animal, or groups of them was what really could have been stated. It'd been a plethora of sound distantly indistinguishable. And everyone of them as well as many others had heard something worse off. Quite a few refused to go further, least until Federal assets were in place after seeing that kind of insanity tearing armed men apart so easily.

"Should we bug out? No one's down here on this end." One man called from behind them as a voice echoed making eyes wince unusually concerned. Yet it was a stillness within this particular line which stood out too much so. An officer had a pistol with their flashlight underneath pointing ahead despite looking over questioningly with silent permission. And they had pushed further after a capturing just for keeping eyes on potentially radioing in for updates...they still couldn't find a god damned kid of all things.

Staring mostly resigned in legging it out another several hundred meters, a quarter of a mile at best and all for more buzzing lights. Exhaling tiredly, "Alright let's head..." A voice died immediately due to a sudden crackling of electrical sparks ahead sent junctions shorting out overhead! Smoke lazily slithered across a bend, as overload raced through as lights flickered rapidly, if only suddenly dying out one by one. And within moments an entire squad of men aimed their weaponry straight ahead of themselves breathing extremely erratically, an almost joint sensation of hairs sticking up on their arms mimicking power just keeping themselves illuminated.

Through streams of light foggy smoke rose ahead giving practically zero visibility and burnt plastic filled their nostrils potently. One guy shakily asked, "The fuck was that?!" As another questioned less than calmly retorting sharply, "See what? Smoke?" A light swept left to right highlighting mist like clouds wafting between them, "All I saw was a bunch of fucking lights going out, or me shitting my pants?"

Taking several steps forward while flicking off a safety switch did little in calming nerves screaming for instinctual anxiety. Swirling clouds met a flashlight's beam, but squinting through shadowy and inky like pitch black coloration had eyes strained. Rolling waves seemed to make a shape rolling, squirming nearly as a pair of fingers rubbed sweat from stinging. None of them moved an inch, or refused to act because a subtle breeze floated past them as if fans still circulated air beneath the subway itself. But once both eyes were checked did light point downwards seeing only metallic tracks leading further ahead...

"Did you see that!" A man called out gripping his shotgun's stock tightly as it began wavering simply due to sheer panic running through him. Following with a light revealed something odd, if only making a heart thunderously pick up pacing as gleaming glass reflected? It seemed to be reflecting something at the further end, where a bend had began and through smoky waves did air brush past making a few others space themselves out of honed training.

Straining eyes couldn't pinpoint what exactly made such a gleaming flashing staunchly appear within a darkened bend. They were small yet reflected yellow coloration? Raising a firearm mostly out of trained muscle memory broke eyesight, for a split second, if only more until those gleams were gone making a man shake himself feeling chills sweeping through him. Backing away tentatively unsure whether adrenaline made him see things, he called out over a shoulder. And grabbed a radio pressing its activation intent on reporting...an anomaly.

"I think its time we bug out, any objections?" Shadows and flickering sparks distantly fiercely revealed an empty tunnel seeing it could've been a piece of glass. Junction boxes shortening out wasn't explainable yet they'd overstayed their search. Speaking quietly, "Headquarters, squad seventeen reporting...strange occurrences. Lights are out down here, we don't know what's causing it and we're pulling back to regroup and rearm for Federal assets, how copy?"

A peeling of static answered clearly, "Roger, squad seventeen confirmed and noted." Another draft of cold air made eyes strain unable to move because he swore something stirred within those swirling mists of smoke and fog. Blood rushed through ears due to a pulse quickening when the weapon remained raised, "Reinforcements should be down there within fifteen minutes. We got a lock on where the terrorist is possibly fleeing too, over. See you soon!"

No sooner than did a static voice end did legs back away trembling because of a vibration coming along metallic tracks. Remaining consistent made a pair of boots take another step, eyes kept straining when another gleaming pair of glass emerged closer. Mouthing out words in sheer disbelief trying to make sense of an absolute crazy idea, "What...the fuck is that? What?" Whitened light struck glass at first, or material what amounted to flashing gleams almost as if it were an animal 's eyes within the wilderness. But it couldn't have been an animal, no person's eyes let alone without assistance held such detail.

"Weapons up!" He shouted unable to stop himself from backing away unable to quell a fear growing within as those orbs blinked closer now. They weren't glass panels, or pieces from anything! Those were god damned eyes. Honest to god eyes which slightly tilted over, as if studying a weapon which slowly raised taking aim at center mass. Breathing heavily backing away did change whatever kept staring and not even moving which an outline emerged from a beam of light, it revealed...revealing a person's figure?

Someone's finger once tapped his left shoulder making eyes slowly turning around seeing flashlights and attachments on tracks? Stunned in seeing forms hunched over officers, a light struck on along an entire wall. A man was hanging with hands going limply onto his sides as a naked woman jumped down from above seemingly indifferent. She appeared angelic save for a trail of crimson around her mouth all the while removing clothing from an owner's glassed over eyes. Horror and terror alike were in those eyes staring upwards at...him.

Yet a face came from his blind spot smiling coyly. The man never had a chance in seeing breasts swelling just underneath as a woman's mouth parted slightly. Oh my god! His last thoughts were met when a blur struck him dead through a forehead and warmth splattered behind. And as he fell backwards did a pair of gleaming eyes watch growing ever closer. As darkness encroached did those eyes shake side to side, as if someone had shaken their head at a dying man for simply being at the wrong place and wrong time.

End

Chapter XVI

Author's Note: My, my, my. It has been a long time, it almost seems like yesterday that I was writing out a chapter. A lot has happened, both in this, as well as life, which is the truth in all these aspects. Years can fly by, seemingly as if we just noticed them. I'll admit, I joined a sever recently and it sparked that long forgotten passion which never truly faded away within my own head. So, let's cut to the case of two key points I tend to ask anyone who made this far.

What separates the Species which infect humans as we see in canon? Because there's no more rules, or guarantees when these offspring naturally go about their time in the world. They are more alien than person, whether it comes from their parental lineage, or not. Yet Alex is similar to them save for a crucial difference: he was human when a fractured strain from an undeveloped source beginning its intended purpose, as well as that same strain after it lost...seeking out a new beginning unable to evolve except searching for another chance. And being human has its perks, downsides but it is we as a person: ask ourselves given these circumstances is it enough against all these odds this young man faces?

I struggled continuously warring within myself, whether to go about one path or not. But lines need to be drawn, no matter how strong or quick anyone can become...if you're outnumbered and outgunned? What do you do? 'Alex' as a character is not the smartest, he's not a soldier, nor does he have any sort of experience contending with fighting beyond an average brawl in a bar, or just getting drawn into conflict. And in desperation wishing for someone to say him...we all learn a vital lesson that there's no one saving us, but ourselves when faced with dangers in which he finds himself. There's a lot I can cover by asking, but I'm leaving that up to you, as readers to finally get a grasp on what I intend to aim towards.

But in the end, numbers can outweigh even the most stalwart of resistances. This partnership between him, Amelia and contending with forces who can bring in larger amounts of resources. Something had to give, there was no feasible way out unless someone placed themselves of the metaphorical box. Which is what distinctly separates Alex's physical, mental and natural status compared to...well, the other Species Characters who've never tried seeing a grander issue. Common sense doesn't indicate a genius, it just means Alex is finally facing what was an inevitable decision. What choice would you, or anyone make in his shoes? Was there any other choice, or rather another way?

Regardless that is just my thoughts humoring on bringing back my own rusty whims. It was quite a feat to do this much, but you'll notice in earlier chapters, if you are a long time reader (they will be updated until a certain point), adding more depth, context to give a solidified premise which kept bugging me naturally. But for a what-if, I'll at least make it entertaining for those will catch back up to this update. So, as always in years past, may you enjoy the read at your joy and simply do what got me to keep on going.

Leave a Review, please.

And I thank those within a discord server, as well as an in-real life friend, who all together inspired me into returning to a passion that doesn't seem to be want to go away. But here's a fun fact: this technically the Seventeenth chapter and small little giblet. Look up the roman numerals for seventeen and figure out what the letters stand for, so you'll get an idea because I have gotten more religious over the years, yet not to the point where I'd claimed to be thumping a book for someone whose doesn't believe what I do, naturally.