Hybrid Alpha’s Prettiest Obsession

rogues and blood

Mina

There was another scream, followed by the sound of something—or someone—being dragged across the ground. I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed the stick and bolted out of the small cell into the hallway of the Pit where the rest of the prisoners were kept.

I gasped.

Chaos. Absolute chaos.

Rogues had broken in, not minding if their shadows darted between us. I could liken them to my world, where unhinged dogs hunt their prey. We were the prey. They knew we were not like them and wouldn't run as fast as they did. People were screaming, running, fighting, but there was no order, no hope. It was a m******e.

A slaughter.

I stopped to take in the situation. Running would be stupid. As luck would have it, I spotted Stacy. Her lithe frame was huddled against the end of the wall, and her eyes were wide with terror. I followed her gaze to one of the rogues stalking toward her. s**t. His eyes glowed with cruel amusement as he held a knife in his hand. I shivered when the reflection of the moon glinted off the blade.

He closed in on her, baring sharp fangs. I was wondering why he wasn't in his stupid beast form. It made work easy for me. And fast. My grip tightened on the iron stick, the weight of it grounding me in the moment. I didn’t think so. I just moved. The rogue had his back turned to me, too focused on Stacy to notice. I swung the stick as hard as I could, flinching when the metal connected with his skull with a sickening crack. He went down hard, crumpling to the dirty floor in a heap.

Stacy didn’t scream, didn’t cry. She just stared at me, eyes wide with shock. That was why she was the queen here, not me. “Get up,” I hissed, my voice surprisingly rough from internal fear. “We have to go.”

“What, what?” She didn’t move at first, too paralysed by fear, so I yanked her up by the arm. “Now!”

We staggered through the pit, dodging bodies, both dead and alive. Of course, fangs came at us. The smell of blood was thick in the air... metallic, and encouraging those blood-sucking beasts. I heaved heavily. Everywhere I looked, people were being slaughtered. Men, women, even children. The rogues didn’t care. They were here to kill, and they were doing a damn good job of it.

Where were the bloody guards? Where was Pompeo? I knew he wouldn't be here. He would want to save his sorry ass. I swore I would get hold of him and ruin him while I was at it. I couldn’t think anymore. Couldn’t process. Just keep moving.

Tito.

I dropped Stacy's hands as if they were hot coals.

But there was no sign of Tito. He wasn’t here. Panic started to rise in my chest, already choking me. I needed to find him. I needed to know he was safe. But I couldn’t... he wasn’t anywhere. His cautionary words of staying clear away from me flew out of the window.

Another rogue lunged at us from the side, his face squeezed ugly into a wicked snarl. I swung the stick again, knocking him off balance long enough for Stacy and me to push past him. And run.

More screams. More blood. The ground was slick with it now, making every step harder than the last. I almost slid down the last time. It wasn't good. I could barely breathe because every breath made my chest tight with terror. But I couldn’t stop. Not when my survival and Tito’s were all that mattered.

Tito. I had to find Tito.

But as the rogues continued their slaughter, one thing became clear: we weren’t going to make it. There was no way out of this crazy s**t because the guards had abandoned us! All I could see was dirty fur with death stenches in the air.

Fangs and fangs. It was my nightmare all over and over again. Another nightmare. Another waking horror.

One where Ma and Pa died. I felt bitter. All the guards here were good for was flogging and punishment. They couldn't do s**t! And as Stacy and I ran through the chaos, her tiny hands reached out for mine again. I also added one thing with sick certainty: if I survived this, if I made it out, I would find a way to make them all pay. Every last one of them.

And then I heard it—Tito’s scream. Desperate. Agonising.

“Tito!” I shouted, my voice barely audible over the growling and fangs, but it was too late. The pit was a sea of death, and I was drowning in it.

There would be no rest tonight.

The sound of Tito’s scream hit me like a nightmare. My legs wobbled under me, but I pushed forward with the iron stick gripped so tightly in my hand that my knuckles ached.

“Ow!” I heard Stacy shout. I probably held her too tight, but I didn't care.

“Tito!” I yelled again, not minding my voice getting lost in the roaring around me. Blood splattered on my face as I dodged a rogue’s claw swipe, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. I had to find him. The pit felt endless, like a nightmare without an escape. We were going round this time because, in the course of escaping a rogue, we would jump back into the pit.

I didn't hear the howling in the distance. I didn't think it was me. I turned to the left only to see bodies laying crumpled across the dirt, some breathing, most not. Stacy clung to my arm, panting, her face pale as a ghost.

“Mina, wait! Where are we going? I feel we are going in circles.”

I swallowed. “You are damn right.” I turned to the right. It wasn't filled with bodies. “To find Tito,” I rasped, pulling her along. “Come. Or die alone.” I released her then. My chest burned from running. The more I ran, the more my lungs were squeezing like vice, but I didn’t care. Tito needed me, and I wasn’t about to leave him behind.

I stumbled through the new battlefield, aka the pit… once a torment area. Someone was right. The war wasn't over. I nearly slipped on the blood-slick ground for the second time.

“Be careful.” Stacy yelled.

I blinked, shocked; she followed me. “What? Why are you here?”

She shrugged, and I tsked, not really expecting an answer. It was quite pitiful how everyone was trying to save themselves. I scanned the faces around me, my heart hammering in panic.

Then I saw him.

He was lying in the field just ahead, blood soaking the ground beneath him. I felt my soul leaving my body when I noticed his small body twisted unnaturally. Wha—what happened? Why didn't he stay out of trouble? His hand weakly tried to bat away a rogue that hovered over him, teeth bared. The rogue growled, ready to finish him off.

“No!” I screamed, throwing everything I had into my legs. I sprinted across the field, ignoring the sharp pain stabbing through my side. Nothing else mattered but reaching Tito. “Get the f**k away from him!” I thundered. The rogue reared back, ready to strike... but I was there. And I hurled myself through the air, slamming my body against Tito’s to shield him with everything I had.

He was the only one I had in this world. Ma and Pa were gone, but my brother and I have to remain, and I wouldn't mind giving my life for his soul to be saved. I landed with an ‘ooph’ impact that knocked the wind out of me.

But I locked my arms around him, squeezing tight.

As expected, the rogue snarled, doing something I didn't expect. I involuntarily bit my tongue when his claws raked across my back. The pain was all too much. I couldn't help crying out from the sharp, stinging pain, yet I didn’t let go of my brother.

“Mina, get off me!” Tito’s voice was hoarse, but he was alive. That was all that mattered. He squirmed beneath me, cursing and struggling to free himself.

Ungrateful bastard. “Stop f*****g moving!” I snapped. “I won’t leave you!” Tears streamed down from my eyes. I didn't understand why he wouldn't want me here. He should be happy to see me, right? The rogue shook, surprised at first.

He wasn't the second time because he lunged again, and I curled tighter around Tito, bracing for the hit. I grinded my jaw against the pain. Every nerve was screaming in protest, but I refused to loosen my grip. I had to protect him. I had to.

Tito shoved at me, his hands tiny and frantic. “Let go, damn it! You’re going to get both of us killed!”

“No!” I cried, the tears stinging my eyes more and spilling over. I buried my face against his shoulder, holding on even tighter as stubborn sobs wracked my chest. “I won’t let them hurt you, Tito. I can’t. You are the only one I have.”

He went still beneath me, his breath coming out in shaky gasps. I felt his fingers clench in my shirt, and when I glanced down, I saw the tears slipping from his eyes. He blinked hard, as if trying to stop them, but they came anyway.

“Damn it, Mina,” he whispered, his ‘’tough’ voice cracking like a baby. My baby brother. The rogue snarled again, really angry this time. He began circling us like a vulture waiting to strike. I pressed my forehead against Tito’s, my heart thundering against his ribs. Moon goddess... Did you really create your cursed children to harm innocent souls? “Stay with me,” I whispered to Tito desperately. I was telling myself too. “Just stay with me.”

He gave a small, broken nod, his hands gripping me tighter.

I could feel the rogue’s breath on my neck, hot and foul, and I knew we didn’t have much time. My arms ached, and my back stung where the claws had raked across my skin, but I kept my body wrapped around Tito like a shield. If the rogue wanted him, he’d have to go through me first.