Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2022)

While I take a few steps back to give space to the hybrid, it lets out a whimper when it tries to move into the garaje because it's wounds in the front has his nose covered with small scratches with bright red blood, multiple wounds near the eyes, including a huge scar under his left eye that by its depth could ensure that it should It was a brutal wound that almost made him lose his eye. It seems that life has not been very pious with this particular hybrid, because the more I analyze his body, more and more scars emerged from past clashes, not counting the new battle marks that still had to heal.

A few nice looking drawings on its doors calls my attention, these looked like tattoos or symbols that should have some meaning. As far as I knew then, they must be Cilt ranks or something like that because no one outside of Cilt knows the meaning of these symbols and insignias.

The hybrid McLaren manages to fit into the small space available in the garage, and accommodating some things himself managed to make an improvised support for one of his front wheels, which I had noticed that he had been hurt by not being able to support his weight. Once he found a good position, he allowed his body to rest on the floor and even though it was cold, his strength was not enough to maintain his weight. He was really exhausted and needed human help. My human help in particular.

The cold air that came through the door of the house only made it worse, so it did not take long to look for something that would help me to activate the mechanism of the door again, because this had been on the side of the hybrid, so I could not operate it manually. I found a stick long enough to avoid disturbing the hybrid and make him move, I activated the switch and the metal door slowly began to fall, its chains chirped because of the rust and it was a very nasty and scandalous sound .

To my misfortune, my mental calculations fail and the path of the door is interrupted by a great obstacle; the dead hybrid outside my house. The base of the gate exerted great pressure on the corpse, but it seemed to be even stronger than the pathetic aluminium plate from which the automatic gate was made. It was necessary to move the corpse.

Thinking of a solution while still watching the dead hybrid, the McLaren seems to recover a bit of strength to talk.

- Calm down ... she cannot hurt you anymore. She will not get up and try to eat you ... Mustangs only bite twice ... once when they are young and they bite everything, and another when you compare them with the Camaros ... hehehe ... - He tries to laugh at his own joke, but in the process he coughs a little and spits some of the blood that was still in his mouth.

- Well, I would like it if she could get up, so I could close the door without any problem... - I take my jacket and put it on, armed with the stick I still had in my hands to try to leverage on her wheels and at least so to make them roll a little without the need to push the corpse manually. -Stay here, I'll clean up your mess.-

- That's very nice of you... human. - He was a little more tired, but there was not much to be alarmed, because his injuries had only been superficial and did not represent a danger to his life.

I exited my house and outside it was still raining, the cold drops of water crept down my neck causing me to tremble because of the horrible sensation, but the faster I finished with this, the sooner I would return home. I am surprised to see the tranquility with which I have taken the death of that hybrid, and it is not that I do not value them as any other living being anymore, but possibly I am still in a state of shock without even knowing it. The rain could be beneficial in this situation, so at least the blood that kept coming out of the body of the hybrid would begin to dilute and possibly in the morning there will be no great trace of the crime... besides the corpse, of course.

Giving myself a Little bit of courage, I am about to move the hybrid by lifting the back wheels, taking advantage of the fact that the terrain was slightly steep and it was enough to make it move a little so that it moved away several meters from my house. At least that will help me while the McLaren and I discuss what we will do afterwards with the body and avoid a show that I am sure the police of the E.M. will attend.

I applied great strength to the stick with which I was supporting my force, but that did not seem to be enough, until after a few seconds of exerting as much force as I could, the stick ends up breaking into two pieces, being completely useless. I put the stick aside thinking of an alternative, and while the rain continued to cover me, I could not avoid examining the body a bit, on its right side it had something big on it, something that seemed to be a sharp metal beam that had ended going through the doors of the red Hybrid Mustang, causing it to die agonizingly, but in the end, fast.

It was not very smart to push her with my hands, because that body sooner or later would fall into the hands of forensics, and if they came to find my fingerprints on the body I would not imagine the way they would prosecute me. I had no choice, I took off my jacket and spread it on the back of the hybrid, and before shivering by the sudden change in climate, I pushed the body with all my strength resting on my jacket only, the rain was bluntly It was cold and numbed my muscles, but I knew internally that this would end soon. The hybrid starts to move a bit, and with one last push, I manage to keep it rolling a few meters more downhill, until she stopped again in front of the house next to me, which fortunately was abandoned like most of my neighborhood.

I return as quickly as I can to the house to close the gate and take some heat. Now the door had been able to fall perfectly despite the obvious blow that had marked on it, but nothing that could not be repaired easily with a little ingenuity.

The door finally closes, leaving the noise of the rain outside, and the atmosphere was undoubtedly warmer being inside the garage. I leave my wet jacket on the floor a little frustrated.

The silence was remarkable, the only noise that could be perceived was the heavy breathing of the McLaren that was already close to falling asleep, although his wounds were too pronounced for him to sleep peacefully, but despite that, he was quiet.

I walked a few steps towards him in such a way that he could see me. He only raised his eyes slightly, and saw me directly, his green eyes contrasted with his yellow skin, and his pupils were slit like snake eyes, which gave him an intriguingly aesthetic appearance, and made me forget for a moment that it was the most dangerous creature with which the human being has had contact, even more when seeing him with that face identical to that of a puppy that only needed some care. At that time, the only thing I wanted to know was why he had come here to kill a Vortex, I wanted to know his intentions and thus be sure that I could trust him, but simply the words did not come from my mouth for the nervousness, reason why I require the most basic technique that exists to break a little the ice. - ... A- are you hungry? I think I still have something in the refrigerator... -

I entered the house quickly and started hauling the food I still kept in the refrigerator, which was not much, but maybe it could serve to give the hybrid some extra energy.

- Ehh, I don't need it, human, I can feed myself when I get out of here... - I had listened to the hybrid, but I was determined to take care of him while he was here, so I could at least learn something about them and the hybrids, and better yet, I would have to a temporary protector against the Vortex that approached the house .- ... Human? Did you hear me?-

- Yes, I heard you ... - Back to the garage with a loaf of bread wrapped in a paper bag, a jar of jam and water, I leave the food on the floor for a moment so I can sit next to the hybrid. I take the bag of bread and start to open it again -But I will not stop being hospitable because you're a hybrid and you can get your food on your own. You're my guest for today, so let me be a little polite, Okay? -

The hybrid looked confused, uncomfortable by the attention I was giving to him, but at the same time he looked eager to eat, he had been starving before reaching the house.

- ... I really appreciate it... but I do not want to take your food ... - The McLaren sniffs for a moment the jar of jam, it was obvious that he wanted to eat, although his strangely marked manners did not let him do it - ... uhh ... you know that we hybrids eat raw meat, right? -

- Yes, but I also know that they can eat the same as humans. I have read a lot about hybrids, their anatomy is not very different from ours, they are only five times bigger and they can spend a whole week without eating. - I finish spreading with a jam a slice of bread and I offer it to the hybrid of bright Green eyes and yellow skin.- ... come on, don't pretend to be a fussy eater... anyway I'm forced to take care of you, according to the laws of the E.M. If we see a Cilt warrior in need, we have an obligation to help it.

The hybrid is pensive for a moment, seeing me in the eyes as if he had never received a charity as simple as mine, even though I was only offering him a miserable slice of bread with jam. He smiles lightly and decides to take it carefully with his front teeth, which are sharpless and can hold things quite delicately. Once he takes it, he tries to chew it up a bit, but it was clear that for him it was just a simple snack, because he swallows it in a matter of a few seconds. When I saw that he was accepting food, I continued to prepare bread with jam so he could continue eating.

Even though I had never had contact with a hybrid, and inside my blood froze having one in front of me at this precise moment, inside my garage, eating my food ... I felt strangely calm, accompanied, and above all curious about such a creature. I was always curious to know more about them, but my unfortunate last name; "Hopper", forced me to stay away from them at the request of my mother and society in general.

After the hybrid was fed by me in silence, he'd eaten up half a loaf of bread, it seemed that he was already recovering a bit of his strength, because he returns to hold his weight with his front wheels to raise his forehead a Little to see me better.

- Mmh ... oh, I'm sorry, I have not even introduced myself ... my name is Iker, I have the rank of Cilt's hybrid warrior ... basically me and my fellow Warriors take care to prevent the Vortex from eating you when you go out at night, hehe ... -

- So the fabulous city of Cilt does exist uh? ... well, at least the rumors are true.- I prepared a slice of bread for myself and I start to eat it while the hybrid, who now I knew that he had a name, Iker, spoke.

- Oh, Cilt is very real! ... Why do so many humans of the Metropolis not believe it exists? I would give my life protecting Cilt and the humans who live there. On the other side, those humans in the Metropolis ... not to offend, but they are not so grateful ... at least not like you. I would protect you. -He says sarcastically, taking a slight laugh at the pleasant conversation we had between us.

- ... well, it's an honor knowing that someone takes care of my back from a distance. - I was about to continue feeding the McLaren, but instead I put the food aside to get his full attention, because there were still things about him I needed to know, and I would not ignore them. He looks a bit confused to see that I would not continue feeding him, and the atmosphere becomes a little more serious .- ... so, Iker ... I want to know what happened out there ... I mean, there is a corpse outside the house right now, the corpse of a female hybrid that you murdered ... I just want to know if there is any kind of protocol for these situations ... I do not know, uhm ... will any Cilt representative come to explain this to E.M. forensics? –

- Pfff ... hahaha! - Iker laughs in a scandalous way frightening me, because when laughing so I could see all his sharp teeth, just as his laughter was more like the scream of a wild creature.- hahaha ... ahhh ... sorry boy, but there's nothing like that ... maybe the E.M. have a good relationship with Cilt, but for them I and all the warriors are still vile Vortex ... I would end up dead if they discover me here, even if I serve for their own safety ... it is the sacrifice of the hybrid warriors.- His smile gives me a bit of pity, because I always thought that the way in which the hybrids were treated here was deplorable, but apparently they have managed to coexist with neutral humans despite all the discrimination they suffered after the Vortex Accident, that have occurred already more than twenty years ago.

- It's ... a shame to hear that, Iker ... I see that you take your job seriously ...I have to say. I wish I could do something for you ... but I run the same risk of approaching the hybrids, the entire Metropolis would be shocked if they knew that I speak with hybrids ... hehe ... I think we both had to be the black sheep of society.- Iker is a little thoughtful about what I said for some reason, calling my attention again.

.- No human can have the bad reputation that a whole city is watching, hehe ... tell me, what is your name? I hardly realized that I do not know it ... although for some reason I feel that I have seen you elsewhere ...-

- I doubt it very much, I never leave home... oh, and sorry, my name is Tyler ... Hopper.- I lower my voice as I say my last name because of the previous experience that always brought me misunderstandings, but what I get from Iker is a face of surprise that I did not expect. He opens his eyes completely until I can see his black snake pupils complete, I could even see how they contracted slightly while he looked at me with amazement.

His reaction takes me by surprise, making me go back a little by not knowing what I had done wrong by telling him my name. Although I would not be too surprised, because that same reaction of fright I get with anyone who knows the meaning of my last name... but Iker was different. Although, at first he was too surprised to even speak, I began to notice he had some doubt, and an anxious smile that I did not know if it was for good reasons or for the same amazement.

... it cannot be possible ... you can't be Marcus' son ...- His gaze does not detach from me for a moment, he returns to analyze me visually, and his smile begins to fade.- ... by the mother of ... the Hybrid Lamborghini ... You are the son of Marcus!? Tyler Hopper? W- What are you doing here in the Northeast Neutral Zone? ... damn ... Darius will be angry with the one who spread the rumor that you were in the West Neutral Zone ... - Lose sight for a moment in the garage space, but a slight smile is redrawn in his mouth .- ... will be angry with everyone ... except with me, haha! ​​... Because I found you first! -

- Wait, wait... can you explain to me what is happening here? ... Who is Darius? Why do they want to know where I live? ... and... Why the hell do you know me?! I just met you a few hours ago, and now you want to tell me that you and all your... herd of hybrid warriors know me? - I was about to enter a nervous breakdown all because of the doubts that arose with the hybrid, but I had to calm down if I wanted answers. -... Look, I know that my father caused a lot of damage ... and I also know that he is famous for creating the hybrid... for creating you. But I had nothing to do with that... I was not born yet when my father created the first hybrid! -

- What are you saying Tyler? ... Seriously, do you think I know you because of that nonsense things they say about Marcus? That he was the human that brought down the E.M. when creating us? ... - Iker relaxes a bit, and keeping the broad smile on his face, he adopts a more friendly position to talk, returning to lay his abdomen to the floor to not look so intimidating .- ... no Tyler ... you're not famous among the hybrids for those lies ... you're famous, for being the son of the person who gave us life, and the one who brought us many of us and taught us everything we know ... – He gets a little closer until returning to his position from where I was feeding him, keeping a good distance to speak patiently. – I may be breaking at least ten rules saying this to you, but I think you should know it... - His green eyes were full of enthusiasm and excitement, stealing my attention to each of his words. - ... your father is still alive, Tyler ... he always was ... and he never stopped loving you ... he always looked for a way to contact you ... but for some reason he could never get too close to you.-

The excess information began to make me a little sick, it took a long time to process what Iker had said at that moment. The only words that bounced in my mind were: "he's alive" and "he always was". It was difficult for me to assimilate and keep standing at the same time, so I sat down again on the floor, trying to recover consciousness of what I had heard.

- That is not possible. My mother told me that... he ... he ... - I turn to see Iker, and he looks a little worried to see the obvious tears that ran down my cheeks, because I could not contain them. They left unconsciously already. -...my father is dead Iker... do not joke about that... I have fallen many times with traps like this... How will I know what you say is true? - Inside I felt a considerable regret knowing the possibility that he was not saying the truth. I may have known Iker for just a few hours, but it he had been the closest to a friend I've had in a long time, no matter how depressing it sounds, and such a lie I do not forgive anyone, known or unknown person.

- How to know that what I say is true? ... - Iker comes a little closer to me, making direct eye contact with me, and although it did not become uncomfortable if it was a bit intimidating, but his quiet voice tranquilized me a little.-... if what I say is a farce, how do I know then that your birthday is November 9, same day of the Vortex accident, but a few years before that happened? ... How can I know that he took you to his lab when you were four years old, and you loved to draw the hybrids that Marcus had consulted at that time? ... How do I know that he loves you even more than he loves all the hybrids together? ...- He remains silent for a moment, looking at me calmly. -... I know it because he told me, those were his favorite anecdotes every time I and the other hybrids were with him... he taught me many things, even he teached me to talk... he was like a father to me. But I know he never left you... he was always there, on Cilt, protecting you from a distance even though he did not know exactly where you were all this time... And he made me promise that I would bring you to Cilt if I found you... and it's time to fulfill that promise. –

- Woah ... woah, wait Iker ... you're going very fast ... - I made him shut up for a moment to take some air, because it was simply much more than I imagined.- Jeez... so, was my father always in Cilt? With you and the other hybrids? W- Why did I never know? ... Why didn't anyone know? ... All the people here in the E.M. think he is dead... -

- For the world, your father is ... He had to fake his death for his own safety, and that of your family too... there are very few people outside Cilt who know this, and you are now one of them, and I think that it was fair that you knew even if the Cilt Council thinks otherwise ... - His serious tone makes me calm down a bit, but with every word that came out of his mouth It could only saturate me with more and more information, so I'd better let him talk, I knew my doubts would be clarified later. - ... Now, Tyler, it's time to go to Cilt. I have to take you there so that you know what is really happening... I am not the best at explaining what is happening right now with Cilt, the Metropolis and your father ... but you have no choice, this place is no longer safe for you.-

- ... Surely you don't think I'll go with you that easy... right? -

That moment had changed from being a source of joy for Iker, to a rather uncomfortable silence, which neither of us knew very well what it meant. Iker's gesture had changed drastically, he seemed quite confused by my answer, but it was not for less, most likely he thought that the anguish towards my father would be enough to take me with him with that ease... but something on the inside I was not sure to trust to that level to an hybrid that I had just met, even though I had clear evidence that he knew my father well. If something taught me the time and bad experiences with people I've had before, is that you can never be one hundred percent sure of the intentions of others, even though that "other" is a Cilt warrior, hybrid committed to the safety of humans. Words are never enough for me.

- Tyler... but ... - Iker sighs heavily, trying to contain the mixed feelings that he also must have been feeling when he could not convince me to leave my home to go to Cilt with him, he was trying his best to not get frustrated. - ... Okay, I understand that you do not trust me for being a hybrid, or only knowing me from tonight, the truth is that it doesn't matter ... What matters here is knowing what you will do ... but above all, why you will not do it...- That same silence It is presented again, creating a somewhat tense atmosphere between the two. - Maybe you do not understand it now... but it is very important that you come to Cilt. The situation between humans and hybrids outside Cilt has never been so tense ... and now what they all need most is a small spark of hope ... and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks you can be that spark, Tyler ... I know that for you I'm a simple hybrid that you just met, but I grew up hearing about you, about how much your father loves you, and the time he has had to wait to see you again ... I know you more than what you believe, and if you will not go on your own, or to help Cilt ... at least do it for your father, I think you want to see it too, right? -

Those mixed feelings take over me again, and this time they do not give me the opportunity to avoid crying, because something inside refused to continue believing that my father had died, and instead, gave me hope to see him again. Finally, after a long thirteen years, I could finally see him again, and ask him so many things ... it was clear that this excited hit me to the point of clouding my judgment a little, and considering the fantasy of going to Cilt, abandoning everything and meeting with my father ... of course, if that hybrid was telling the truth.

-... If I want to see him again? ... - I look up at Iker, showing him that the crying had returned involuntarily. -... It's the only thing I've wanted since he left...-

Shame usually beats me every time I get sentimental in front of someone... but for some reason, I did not feel uncomfortable in front of Iker, because as strange as it sounds I could feel that maybe he was telling the truth, the fact that my father raised him and taught him everything he knows would make him the brother I never had... but that in one way or another, I was proud to know him now.

His sympathetic smile only makes me confirm the above, that hybrid really knew who I am, and did not care that I did not trust him at first, because I feel that he knew that anyway I would end up succumbing to his attempt to establish a friendship with me.

- ... He is very proud of you even though he has not seen you in many years, I know because he always says it... you are his pride, his greatest creation, according to him... - By continuing to sit on the floor and a short distance from Iker, I rest my forehead on his nose, while trying to reassure my deaf crying, although the tears continued to soak my face. Iker is startled a little when I leaned on him, but after a few moments he feels comfortable to give me some support by not moving out of the way. -... although... you have to know that you have a lot of competition for being the masterpiece of Marcus... precisely more than one thousand two hundred hybrids living in Cilt currently ... they also want to earn that coveted title.-

His little sarcastic comment manages to get me to laugh, making me a little uplifted and easier to stop crying on his nose.

Once the talk was over, I prepared to superficially heal Iker's wounds, he had an unpleasant bite on one of his limbs that held his right front wheel and that was the reason why he did not support weight on it. I cover his wound after disinfecting it and I do the same with all the big and small scratches I found on his battered skin. Fortunately, many of his battle marks were already scars, so his healing will be not so painful and prolonged.

The nights here are cold and somewhat cruel despite being summer, so I look for one of the biggest blankets that were in the house and with it I managed to cover a good part of Iker's back, who does not take long to fall asleep after being treated with such care by me.

When I saw that my new pal had fallen asleep, I decided to do the same, taking several blankets and pillows to the garage to keep him company while he slept, because I would not leave him alone, not after having talked about so many important things for both of us.

We both deserved a break. I brought the portable heater that was still in its original box, which fortunately was still working. I direct it to Iker to get a little more heat, taking advantage of the fact that his large body radiated back a good part of that heat to where I was lying.

Iker sleeps so calmly that I get used to the noise of his breathing after a few minutes. His huge scars intrigue me, although I hope that one day he will tell me how he got them.

We'll have a lot to talk about travelling to Cilt.

Hybrid-Kira (2018)