I know I shouldn't be out this late at night, I know if I did get caught by security I could either be sent back to my dorm or maybe suspended for breaking curfew. But in the moment, I just didn't care, I just wanted some moment of peace, a moment of clarity after arriving here to a new city and to a new school. Already I have met quite a cast of characters of students here. It's only been a few weeks since my start here at Cherryton Academy and so far, I already felt like I was a fresh piece of meat just plopped on the ground for many of the carnivores and even the herbivores here to take a pick at. By what I mean is that this new school I was at, it was full of antimorphic animals, all that could walk and talk like me, but I was nowhere near the same as them.

You see I wasn't a carnivore; let alone I wasn't an herbivore. I guess you can say that I was different, from what I have been classified when I first arrived here, I was classified as an omnivore of some unknown species. Like some kind of mutant that must have been derived from some species from a different time. I didn't have fur, claws, wings, feathers, scales, whiskers, not even a tail. I had none of those features and I suppose that what features I do have is what makes me stand out from the crowd and wasn't hard for others to stare at.

Like today, I could still feel my hair was damped clinging to the back of my neck and side of my face from a so-called prank that this harlequin rabbit and her two friends did to me while I was walking to a bench to eat dinner outside, calling me a freak of nature as they poured a bucket of water on my head from the level above me. My dinner and my uniform were drenched, and by that time I had lost my appetite.

Some school this was. Every day it was torture, from where I would simply sit in my classes to what meal I ate three times a day. If I sit right by herbivores during history class, carnivores will taunt me like I could do better than sitting near a zebra and a rhino. Or if I take a carnivore snack from the school's kiosk, the herbivores looked at me like I was some kind of monster in the distance. It wasn't even just the staring or taunts that I had to face every day that made it hard to go to school, but hearing everyone else go at each other was just as bad.

"This table is reserved for herbivores"

"Canines not allowed"

"Sorry no room for you, we don't want to make our group uncomfortable with your fangs"

"Rather just sit with us, herbivores always playing the victim of us being big scary monsters"

"Aren't you afraid of the jackals and coyotes? They are such ravenous beasts with those teeth, wouldn't want to be trapped between those"

And I was told that school would be a great opportunity for me to find my place in this world and meet all kinds of new people, I was starting to second guess that. The discrimination was just as bad towards my kind as it was back where I had come from, before...before I somehow found myself here. I thought this world, being so different and all that I wouldn't have to face the same discrimination because of my species, and I would be able to live in peace for once, but I guess not. To me, in my opinion, maybe the reason why everyone judges others, it's because they don't want to try to understand who they are. What it's like being in someone's else position. Maybe they don't want to believe there is more to that person than what meets the eye and only follow a bandwagon of false truths. No one, if it was an herbivore or a carnivore, should be given such a bad reputation if they are able to prove the stereotype wrong, what may lack on the outside could make up for it on the inside. Could it?

But it was a losing battle for me, I was stuck in the middle, no matter which side I chose, I wasn't going to win either way. I guess it was just better for me to just keep my head down and keep to myself, going on my own path...all alone.

As I walked quietly along the dirt trail, my hands were tucked away in the pockets of the oversized hoodie that adorned my small body, the hood covering my features from anyone's line of sight. It was a cold, foggy night; the wind blew softly against the trees that guided me down along the trail, I didn't really have a destination in mind, I just wanted to find some kind of peace by the nature that surrounded me especially after a day of taunts and teasing and finding out about a tragedy.

You see today when I was on my way to my third class that afternoon, I saw in our school's newspaper that a student had been devoured in one of the lecture halls that was near one of my classes. It was an alpaca named Tem from the drama club, one of the most popular clubs in all of the school. Hearing the word death made my blood turn cold, I knew all about what death was, I had all kinds of experiences with it. I had seen it, done it, and had been through the whole process itself. You might say how am I alive now? That's a good one, ever since my life had been taken from the world where I came from, for some unknown reason I came into a whole new world in a whole new territory, either it must be a dream I am not waking up from or this was me being granted a second chance of life. I wasn't so sure, but if it was either of the two, neither was treating me pleasantly.

Humming softly to myself, I made my way through the dense wooded area behind the school till I came to the one of the biggest, lush oak trees that grew here. Its large branches splayed out like an open hug as if it was welcoming me to join it, even though I could use a real one right about now. It looked like a quiet place to distress. Walking closer, it was so quiet, so peaceful nothing like how loud and chaotic the day can be where students are rushing to get to class, talking about the latest gossip, or hearing announcements over the intercom. If only it could be like this during the day, I would think things would be a little less stressful. With a sigh I sunk down to the base of the trunk of the large tree, the sounds of the night whispered against my ears. The soft breeze continued to hit against my frame before it blew the hood off from my head, and that's when my true self was revealed. In a small puddle that laid out in front of me, my reflection stared back at me, the water rippling over my sad and confused face. You know when I mentioned that I didn't look like anyone else around me, that I was different? Well, my reflection proves it. What stared back at me was pale white soft skin that covered my body, my loose damp dark red hair with my bangs resting against my forehead and either side of my heart shaped face. My light blue eyes showing of their sadness and confusion. The giant black hoodie printed with many colorful butterflies on it covered most of me, it made me look so small and helpless. And that's when I saw one of my worst features. If anyone had seen these, your life was over. The two little white triangular shaped horns that were poking out on either side of my head.

That was one of the things that would seal my fate, and I would be labeled as a monster...

I wasn't sure if it was a curse or a blessing, but I knew no matter where I went till the day I would officially die, the demons would follow and haunt me all because of those two little horns and one other thing that I held back in the darkness. I couldn't show what I was truly capable of, not after what I had done before, not to anyone.

I hit the water with a growl, splashing with anger as droplets of water stained the ground and scattered leaves that surrounded me. The reality of today started to finally fully set in and tears began to stream down my face leaving my eyes burning and exhausted. As much as I wanted to scream out all of my anger, I knew no one would hear me, let alone console me. All I wanted was to be happy. I don't know if I would ever experience that again, maybe never make friends again, experience what love could be like, to find that special someone that apparently is out there for each and every one of us. To finally bury the demons of my past, erase my unhappy beginning and look forward to the rest of my story in the outside world. Would anyone give me that same chance that anyone would want? Or was it simply too much to ask?

Quiet sobs left my throat as I wrapped my arms tightly around my legs pulling them to my chest trying to make myself as small and harmless as I could, hiding my broken soul in my sleeves.

Maybe this wasn't a blessing, maybe this was more of a curse. Maybe I wasn't strong enough to endure all that has happened to have to deal with this abuse now. Maybe the pain would never go away...

I started to accept the fact that maybe I was going to be alone for the rest of my life and I can't get back what was taken away from me all those years ago. My sobs quietly turned shaky, and my breathing slowed down, the pain started to slowly seep out from the pores of my skin as I let everything out. All that pressure was alleviated for now at least. I thought about Tem, the student who was murdered, some of my tears were for him. I know I didn't get to meet him face to face, but it still hurts to know someone innocent had their life taken away to satisfy someone's desire. I only hoped that whatever had happened to him, it was quick and painless...

As the full moon rose higher up into the sky, I decided to head back to my room for the night, I didn't want to stay out too much longer knowing that a killer was still on the loose. I slowly stood up, pulling my hood back up over my head as I made my way back on the trail to my dorm building. I missed my life. The life before that very nightmare that would take me away from everything. I was completely and utterly alone in this world; I might as well be back in the hell hole from where I once came from. The possibility of meeting another one of my kind was extremely unlikely here, let alone meeting someone that would understand me was pretty much non-existent. I highly doubted that I would ever meet someone that would empathize with the pain and loneliness of what has become my life. The discrimination in this world was just as bad as my previous one, maybe even worse. This society shuns those who just want to live life as happy and as free as anyone wants while their time is here. I came to realize the social status just by observing the students interacting with one another, how some species were more predominant over others, and how easily spooked some herbivores got even if a carnivore just walked by. It's like how the monsters who found me looked at me for the first time.

Those looks would still haunt me, even though I didn't do anything wrong. I was innocent. Though I was completely naive to the danger before it was too late and that's when my whole world changed forever. Unfortunately, I wouldn't see the end of discrimination. Unless something changes, I could only pray that sense would come to others and the violence, the pain and segregation would finally come to an end for us all. I just want to live happily for the rest of my days...that's all. I may not have done the best things in my life, but I knew deep down I was a good person, but was I really?

Making my way back to my dorm, I was starting to walk past some of the large buildings that adorned the school grounds, till I came to one of the lecture halls that was dimly lit outside from the light fixtures. A beautiful sound caught my attention, a fountain spraying out a gentle stream into the bottom pool below as it stood in the middle of the empty auditorium. The sound of it and my footsteps were the only things I could hear as I walked along. A strong breeze swept past my face blowing my hood off once again as my long flowing hair went flying softly out into the air.

A tall, slightly muscular built grey wolf was really regretting to be out this late at night to guard Louis at the back entrance of the lecture hall. Pacing back and forth, he waited anxiously for Louis and Zoe to finish up their practice for the play that was being performed in the next two weeks.

"If we get caught, drama club's gonna get shut down and then I'd get suspended. Hmmm...c'mon guys hurry up! Security's been patrolling a lot ever since the incident"

Suddenly he heard something rustling in the bushes and flinches, his ears perking up as he scanned across the area. Within the dim lighting of the glowing lanterns, the bluish gleam of light from the fountain stands out in the dense fog of the cold night outside. The wind blowing softly against his ears, whispering like many souls.

He then notices a grasshopper and he slowly crouched down to the bug and reached out with his giant hand. "Hey there little guy, what are you doing out here? Huh, that's what I should be asking myself"

The insect cautiously climbs on top of the wolf's hand and settles calmly on top of his fingers, letting his wings in and out of its wing case. For being so small compared to the wolf holding him, the insect felt no sense of danger for being at the mercy of a giant predator. The grey wolf himself, being as gentle as he could even with the power and strength that coursed through his veins, was intrigued by the small bug, who didn't seem worried or afraid of him like many other students were here at Cherryton. He may know a few who were not, but no one really understood him. Even his friends didn't fully understand what was going on in his mind.

Then a smell floats to his nostrils, a sweet, heavenly scent. Honey and cherry blossom.

Hmmm?

It was drawing his attention away from the insect and his head turns following the source. A soft, rose gold colored glowing scent trail was illuminating around the fountain. Inhaling deeply, something about this particular scent was addicting, like it was a drug as it filled his nostrils. The scent smelled pure, attracting, mouthwatering, it was awakening something deep inside of him. An urge to follow, an urge to hunt the source of it.

An herbivore? No...not an herbivore...it's...an omnivore

That was the moment he discovered his instincts...

Like a fire being ignited, it burns through his veins as it awakens something he has hidden for so long, the primal, animalistic instinct that a predator possesses, the wolf could feel his body was losing control. His muscles now enlarged, his ears perked, and his now glowing eyes were searching through the fog for any signs of where the source of the scent was located.

My feet stopped, before I could make another step, they planted themselves to the ground, almost too afraid to move. I sensed the atmosphere had changed. My instincts were telling me that someone was near, and they were fixated on me. I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears, thinking one wrong move would end my life. But wouldn't that have been a mercy on me? To end this pain once and for all?

Frozen in my place, I wasn't sure who exactly was watching me, but even with everything I have been put through so far, why would I still have a reason to run? I shakily stood in my spot, I had to get out of here and fast, if I could make it to the nearest dorm I could it make it to safety.

Good god, is this how it will end? I know I wanted this life to end, but to have it be this frightening, to be eaten alive? I would much rather take another bullet than this!

Moving my leg the slowest I could move it, I made one step in the opposite direction, followed by another moving as quietly as I could. But the sound of a twig snapping underneath my white sneaker made me gasp, revealing my position. Oh shit!

I didn't know what came over me next, but the next thing I knew I was sprinting off in the opposite direction as fast as my feet could carry me. And that's when the beast attacked. My mind just couldn't be made up, it either wants to live or wants to die. Which was it? Nearly slipping on the cold stone blocks, I could hear the low, hungry like growl reach my ears as I heard the individual pounce immediately catching up to me and it made my heart drop to my knees it was that scary, was this how I was meant to die? To be devoured and forgotten, as if I had never existed?

I felt the strong limbs of my attacker suddenly encage me in its grip, tackling me to the ground as we tumbled over each other. Being trapped within their arms, they were so much bigger compared to my small frame, I could feel my insides quiver feeling the warm breath of them breathe against me. A slender snout resting near the side of my face.

I wasn't sure if it was the fear that kept me from screaming or fighting back or maybe it was my body telling me that it was time to quit and stop fighting this never-ending painful battle. My body shook to the very core, almost feeling myself about to lose my bladder out of fear. Tears were threatening to come pouring out of my eyes as I trembled in the arms of my potential killer.

What's going to happen now? Am I going to be torn apart like a piece of meat? Watch as they take my life with their sharp fangs ripping into my throat?

If I had died here, would I even get another chance? Would I somehow end up another world? What if this was the end? Some chance this was, no friends, no happiness, no love, just me and my lonely freakish self.

If this would be the last thing I would experience before I truly died, at least I would know...I wasn't a killer here. "Just do it quickly...", I barely whispered

The wolf's arms were tight around the small frame of the girl. Her body wasn't like what he thought she would feel like, but he could sense who she was, it was the new student of an unknown species who arrived here a few weeks ago. He heard about her through the rumor spreading around the school of the species with no animal features. Inhaling in her scent more, he would never forget on how sweet it smelled, never. He could feel her pounding heart and the shakiness of her breath against the fur of his arm.

This sound...is it mine? Is it yours?

The thumping sound of her heartbeat rushes throughout his ears.

She feels so...warm and small. She moves around a lot. Her breath is making my arm wet.

Her long dark red hair was messy from his attack and brushing up against the wolf's face. It was soft and silky. A few of her fingers dig into his forearm tightly, she was strong, if he had no fur, he would see the bruises already forming of how tightly she was gripping him.

Under her clothes...what's...under her soft skin? Stop! What should I do? What...should I?

She tensed up as part of a large hand began to slid past the inside of her left thigh going dangerously near her private area, gently going over the fabric of her sweatpants. Barely being able to hear, he heard her struggle to speak, the words were stuck in her throat, as if she was choking. His hand leaves a trail of warmth behind as it moves away, without his knowledge, the girl sighed internally with relief. She was completely unaware of the wolf's growing dark thoughts of her.

How satisfying will it feel in my mouth? The warm flesh? My hands...won't stop

Suddenly I could feel the clawed hand of my attacker grip my arm in a tight hold, leaving me no chance to escape his grip. But then I could hear a whisper in my ear.

You know you can stop this Aayame...use what you know, kill the monster!

I could feel something emerging from my back, my instincts were starting to surface

No I can't! I can't do this! I can't hurt another soul! Even though I am in danger, I couldn't!

My body began to curl in on itself, trying to become smaller than I really was, as if I was trying to disappear from this nightmare. But it was no use, I couldn't escape from this.

Would you understand what I have been through? Would that change anything?

I highly doubted it would change anything, once a predator has a hold of its prey, there was no chance of getting out alive. I would at least want to tell someone the whole truth of what was of my life. A low growl escaped from the beast's throat; oh no. From being someone's guinea pig for horrible experiments, I was now going to experience being someone's meal. I choke down a sob, but I couldn't refrain myself from trembling, my heart was pounding painfully against my chest.

But a fire ignites within me, my instincts were starting to become more stronger, harder to control.

You have been tortured your whole life for what you are, why let someone overpower you? You know what you can do, you have done it before!

No! I never meant to kill anyone; you ruined who I am! I made a promise!

All I wanted to do was to help, after all they had taken everything you had, and all you wanted was happiness...and now you face it again

I did but not at the cost of other lives! Please don't make me do this! Don't make me hurt him!

The wolf snapped his head up, lost in his own mind, alone with his inner beast, his predatory instincts. The instincts that he fought and hid for seventeen years to kill and hunt. The one thing that separated herbivores and carnivores. As he kept his prey in his vice like grip, a dark lurking shadow approaches him.

You have struggled your entire life, and now...you have reached your limit.

Go away! Stop!

You've suppressed your feelings ever since you were a kid...and you've lived quietly in the darkness, haven't you? Is that sadness you are feeling? Or is it...frustration?

"Stop!" The wolf whimpered desperately. He doesn't want this, not to be a killer. One student murdered was bad enough, he can't make her the next.

I caught the faint sound of my attacker, he sounded scared. But of what? What was going on? He is just holding me, wouldn't he have had done something to me right about now?

It's neither. You feel the joy from the bottom of your heart.

No! Stop! Stop!

Look at me!

The shadow settled right in front of the wolf and girl.

Face yourself! Don't look away! I'm growing bigger, can you see?

I won't look! Go away!

I could feel the wolf twitch behind me continuously, moving me alongside with every movement he made. I could feel my vectors starting to emerge out of my back, waiting for the right moment to strike as I struggled to retract them back in.

Why fight it? You know you can't escape out of this alive!

Please no! I am horrified enough of what I have done! Why do you torture me like this?!

It's part of who you are! You can make this all go away by getting rid of anyone who stands in your way of your happiness!

Please!

I know you're ready. The fun part is just starting.

The shadow grew bigger in size was now even bigger than the wolf, was starting to suffocate him in its madness for him to do the unthinkable.

All it takes is one bite! You longed for this taste for seventeen years!

Stop! Just end my misery!

And with that the shadow merges into the wolf and now the true dark nature of his instincts comes to light.

I could feel my heart drop as I heard a low deep growl that caused a chill to run down my spine, goosebumps to form along my skin. I winced in pain as I could feel sharp claws dig into my skin, I wanted to scream so loud, it was starting to go past the muscle. I could feel blood drip from the open wounds and seep past landing on the ground.

You are running out of time Aayame...what will it be? Do you want to live or die?

Screams echoed throughout my ears of voices telling me to fight or don't. A vision begins to quickly flash in front of my eyes. The screams of the many monsters that were firing their guns at my slow walking form, the bullets simply bouncing off me like tiny balls. The sight of blood splattered everywhere. The fresh smell of the outside world after so long, before the sound of a gunshot rang out. I felt the pain pierce right through my heart, blood spilling from me as I collapsed to the ground.

The wolf reveals his fangs as terror strikes into the heart of the girl he holds. He raises his jaws, fangs shown full of deadly intent, ready to take her life with one bite.

This is it.

But then the urge took over...my pupils dilate and that's when my instincts surfaced.

No! I won't let it be!

An unfamiliar voice called out, and the wolf froze in place.

After so long of keeping what I had hidden inside, it had finally emerged, my vectors finally shot out like a harpoon pushing my potential killer out from behind me, their claws ripped out of my arm, causing the wounds to gush more blood as my hand clasped around it tightly. Hearing a grunt as they landed on the ground, their hold was no longer caging me. I could see my vectors were floating towards the individual ready to do what they were capable of, but I shook my head clear of the urge as I retracted them back before anything else more could be done. That's when I found my courage and my feet again and began to run out into the night. I don't look back and just kept running, running far away into the darkness.

I finally made it back to my dorm as I slammed the door behind me, locking it shut, gasping heavily for breath. Slumping against the back of the door, I fell to the floor in complete shock from what just happened, I don't know how I was alive right now, I should be in the beast's stomach instead of here. Damn instincts! Why did you confuse me so much? Do you want me to live or die? Which is it?!

I could feel the warmth of my blood seep through my hoodie sleeve as it slowly oozed out through the gashes of the material. Wincing at the pain, I rolled up my sleeve to see the huge claw marks that were deeply dug into the flesh, taking up almost my whole forearm. The stench of my blood made me cringe, ever since that fatal night the smell, the sight or even hearing the sound of blood, would always remind me of what I had done, what promise I had broken. At least I didn't kill the one who had attacked me. I had to keep my promise sealed here.

What kind of beast could cause this much damage? I wasn't sure who but knew for sure it was a carnivore. But I highly doubted I would find out who it was, I wasn't going to go around pointing fingers or try to find out who did this. It wasn't worth it, not for a monster like me.

Running a hand through my hair, I sighed softly, I just wanted to forget about the whole day in general. Pretended that it never happened. The only thing I wanted to do was to curl up and just sleep, forget about the world around me and just be in my own world, me and only me.

I stood up from the floor and walked into the bathroom, I was able to tend to my injuries and wrapped it up with bandages. This was going to leave a nasty scar for sure. When I finished, I walked out into my room and slowly slid off all my clothes and, in the mirror, right across from me I could see all the damage that my body has experienced reflecting back to me. Hardly any small patch of skin didn't have a scar, a dark bruise, or a burn mark. And that wasn't from all my time here at school, all of it...was from the real-life hellish nightmare that was for some reason given to me when I was just a little girl. I remembered being happy for once until all that changed the day when everything good was taken away from me. The family I loved, the home I longed to be a part of, and the life that was filled with hopes and dreams.

Did this darkness have a name? Why would it go after someone who never wanted to cause harm or pain to anyone? Is this what it feels like to suffer for eternity? Did this darkness have a name?

Too tired and too much in pain to put any clothes on, I collapsed on top of my bed in exhaustion. My limbs burned and ached from all the running I did. Curling up as tight as I can, I made myself as small as I could so nothing more could possibly get me, my eyes finally fluttered closed, relieving me to sleep. Tears unconsciously spilled down my face.