Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2020)

The singing of the birds were not audible in this underground place, but I was almost sure that it had already dawned a few hours ago, my body had a habit of getting up early even on my days off, and this was no exception . The room was still as dark as when Iker and I fell asleep.

His absence was the first thing I realized when I woke up, Iker was nowhere in the room, and most likely it would not be long before he returned. I get out of the sleeping bag and stood up from the floor a little sore, because I was not used to sleeping on the floor even though it was covered with carpet, it was still too hard a surface for me. While rubbing one of my shoulders I slightly open the door to check if it was really dawn, and indeed, the entrance to the cave was completely illuminated by daylight.

I shut the door of the room back being somewhat stunned by the light outside, so much so that I had not noticed a wrapper that was on the side of the place where I had slept. The package was somewhat sloppily wrapped in cloth, and when I opened it I could see that it was new clothes, or so it seemed. A gray plaid long-sleeved shirt accompanied by a pair of jeans. It wasn't the type of clothing I was used to, but that was better than the pajamas I've been wearing two days in a row for lack of luggage. For a moment I doubted that the clothes were my size, but I was surprised to see that it fit well, a little baggy, but it was not too much of a problem. Next to the clothes there were also some work boots, they looked a bit worn and dirty, but that would be the least important since it was a shoe that would serve me better for the type of terrain in Cilt.

I wonder if Iker was the one who chose the clothes for me, because if so then he knows quite well what a human like me would need to be comfortable in this place. It wouldn't surprise me, the leaders had to choose him to be my instructor for some reason besides being the only hybrid with whom I have had a little more interaction in all Cilt, and at the same time the only one with whom I have established a fairly solid friendship. . He may have already had experience with other humans.

The room was deceptively spacious, I set about exploring it while waiting for Iker's return. Behind a large curtain that was mistaken for a wall, there was a somewhat peculiar bathroom, the shower area was outrageously large, and there was a separate toilet in another small closed room along with its sink and mirror. Everything was perfectly adapted for a hybrid and a human to settle comfortably in the small, but functional space.

While I was dedicating to straighten my hair and clean my face from the dirt that had adhered to my skin, I heard the automatic bolt on the door. Iker entered the room in silence trying to make as little noise as possible, but seeing that I was no longer asleep. He turns around somewhat confused, looking for me.

- Hey, good morning Iker- I greet him, just poking my head out of the bathroom, which makes Iker sigh with tranquility when he saw that I had not left the room or something similar.

- Jeez Tyler, for a moment I thought you had escaped, it is good to see that you are already awake.- He smiles at me while he saw me. -... your clothes suits you really well, thank goodness that it was your size, lately there is a shortage of several things around Cilt, Metropolis supply trucks are getting less and less frequent... I wonder what's going on.-

- I had the feeling that it was you who chose it, thanks for that Iker.-

"No problem ... I couldn't bear the smell of those horrible pajamas anyway," Iker says sarcastically as he waited for me at the door.

We finally leave the room and the light from outside is incredibly blinding, it takes me a few minutes to get my eyes used to the daylight again, but once I do I notice a calm and humid atmosphere, the rainy season was ahead of this year, giving us a cool atmosphere before the hot summer started, even if it was only two insignificant weeks of heat. The sky was overcast and cold air blew through the trees, making me mentally thank Iker for giving me a long-sleeved shirt for today.

- Now tell me Iker, what will be the first lesson today? Defense against the Vortex? Basic training of a Warrior? - I stretched my muscles once we were outside.

- Haha, patience rookie, first I'll show you how things work here. Today I have to show you all the boring stuff, but I promise you there will be more interesting days than this. Today I will show you some of the Cilt's ranks, and the places you have to go to get them.-

I could see a slight burlesque tone in Iker's voice, because I really expected something more interesting, but a walk around Cilt would serve me to know the corners of my new home, after all, I should be able to move around the city comfortably in a few days when my guidance is finished.

The first stop would be Medical Bay, a place I had visited before on the first day I arrived in Cilt, but a new visit was required to have my chip implanted. According to Iker, that chip was necessary to enter the Cilt citizen registry and be able to access its services, every hybrid and human Cilt citizen has a chip, which contains all the information about its bearer.

The discreet entrance to the underground hospital was undoubtedly one of the structures that I liked the most of everything I had seen so far from Cilt, it was similar to the entrance of a bunker, but the impeccable bench color of the frame and its round glass doors decorated with a huge drawing of the medical rank made that entrance even more spectacular. Placing the medical rank symbol directly on the door was a good strategy to quickly associate the drawing with the confidence that a doctor must radiate when caring for a patient.

The routine sterilization process before entering the hospital reminds me for a moment of Darius, he was just on the other side of the glass in which a human Medic was now standing guard, he was one of the first hybrids that caught my attention the moment I set foot on Cilt, not only because of his imposing size that surpassed that of any other hybrid I had ever seen, but that something in his gaze was different from that of other hybrids, since he was the only one who seemed to know of my arrival even before the others, the only one who was not too surprised by it.

- Iker ... when I came for you yesterday, I found Darius standing guard right here in the hospital ... What was he doing here having such an important rank? Why do leaders get so bored in their work? -

- Did you meet Darius here? ... Well that would not be strange, when he is not in the council or taking care of the flowers in the dome he likes to work, there is no place in all Cilt where he has not given his service or helped with something , he's still our Leader for a reason, you know? - The sterilization process ends and we are allowed to enter the medical bay.-... Although the truth is that he continues to be our Leader mainly because nobody challenges him, ever, although I must admit that he is an honorable Leader.-

- I may not know him well enough to say that but ... I will trust your word, he seems to be a hybrid highly respected by all.-

- He founded Cilt, Tyler, that is just one of many reasons why he is admired.- Iker spoke of Darius with pride, as if he were a great idol for him, which was somewhat fun, coming from him.

- Oh yeah? Then I see that you have too much... "appreciation" towards Darius, is there any specific reason for it? -

- Ty ... everyone here loves Darius, that's not a secret." I hoped his reaction was different, or that it would at least cause him to regret to admit it, but upon hearing such a sincere response and not even noticing a slight blush in my friend, I end up swallowing my words.

-... That's true, he seems to be great.-

Our destination was a few offices away from the hospital reception. The place was a little more active than yesterday, possibly by the Hunter squad that was attacked by Vortex, the same one that Saemus led. This scene also reminded me of the strange moment when Saemus was about to attack me, and the unfortunate one who took the beating in my place was the poor Iker. If what Kassia said is true, if the differences between hybrid and human behavior are as marked as everyone says, I am afraid I will have a long way to go before I can coexist naturally with them, but luckily, I have my hybrid buddy to lean on during my learning.

It was time to put on the chip that would make me an official member of Cilt, after this, there would be no turning back to my boring life in the Metropolis, and I was ready to abandon that old version of myself, I could finally become whoever I wanted without the weight of an unfortunate surname like mine.

The procedure was relatively simple, although my left arm was required to be sedated. The Medics who treated me made a small incision on the outside of my wrist and placed the tiny artifact that was no bigger than a grain of rice. Fortunately, Iker was allowed in to be with me, thus preventing me from panicking from the surgery. Although to be honest, coming from a scientist father and a surgeon mother, this was not a big deal.

The little surgery was over as quickly as it started, and luckily the wound wouldn't have to rely on Iker's curious healing method of choice for wounds, as my own bandages had a solution that would speed up the healing process, and hopefully it would be completely cured in a couple of days along with the scratch that had been done in the same hand yesterday. I would just have to keep the wound bandaged until it closed completely. Luckily I still had a fully functional hand.

Along with the new chip implanted in my skin, they gave me an electronic tablet on which I had to record all my information for the Cilt database, personal data that could help Medics in case of an emergency. I reviewed some of the data they asked me while Iker and I went abroad again, although I finally decided not to linger too long on it and pay attention to my surroundings, since there was still too much city to travel today. Seeing that I would not fill out my medical data at that time, Iker offered to carry the electronic tablet for me on his inside, since anyway "That space had to be used for something" according to Iker.

Our next stop would be the Scientists' work center; Cilt's lab. Apparently it was relatively close to the city center, but it was an area that all civilians were not allowed to enter, only citizens with medical or scientific ranks or with a special permit can enter the facilities. The entrance was similar to that of the underground hospital, and despite the fact that it presented its symbol on its round doors (which in that case were metal doors) in the same style as the medical bay, the place in general seemed to be less friendly than said hospital. This place had clearly been made to work, and not make intruders feel comfortable.

Like all locks, these were replaced by a metal plate that I now realize is nothing more than a chip reader, and in the case of hybrids they have it implanted in the tip of their nose, some of them external simulating the shape of the logo of its non-hybrid model, and others directly implanted under the skin as in the case of Iker, who does not have any logo on his nose full of small scars.

The imposing armored door of the laboratory was supposed to be opened with Iker's chip, in theory, so he tried twice by sticking his nose to the lock, but nothing happened. After a third attempt, a female voice is present on speaker.

- You do not have permission to enter these facilities, identify yourself.-

- Iker, hybrid Warrior. And ... uh, Tyler Hopper.- Iker turns to look at me, doubtful, apparently he did not know what else to say at that moment to be allowed in. - The council put Tyler under my protection, and they gave permission to enter the office of Marcus Hopper... Tyler is his only relative, and his things now belong to him until he returns.-

There is a great silence in the loudspeaker, a long and tense silence that we did not know what was going to result, although to our surprise and fright, the heavy metal door opens its hydraulic locks with a thunderous knock, opening slowly until it has enough space so that Iker could pass, and I behind him. This was the first time for both of us to enter this area, so we were not sure what to expect, but to our surprise the interior was as welcoming as the medical bay. Perfectly clean white walls, which fused with the floor in a curve that kept dust from accumulating in the non-existent corners and made it much easier to clean. Despite this, there was no sterilization room before entering.

- Hmm ... So this is where science is done, huh? - Iker was really amazed, anyone could tell that this place was not familiar for him at all.

-You've never been in a lab before, Iker?-

- Well ... actually I come from one, just as many other hybrids here, but I can't remember anything ... - The strange way in which the walls merge with the floor captures his attention for a few moments, making him speak quietly.- ... also, hybrids like me are not welcome in these places ... -

- What do you mean? Is it because... you need the Scientist rank to enter? -

- Ehh ... yes, of course, that's why. I need one of those ranks. - Iker answers in a strangely sharp way, momentarily silencing the conversation, until a familiar face approaches us.

It was easy for me to recognize Tori among the other hybrids of the same breed, because the color of her eyes was a characteristic that she did not share with any other hybrid. The elegant Audi R8 approached us from the main hall calmly, and with a characteristic serious look, which I suspected had been learned from Darius himself.

- I hope you are not making me break the protocol for mundane reasons Iker, but I want to let you know that I only do it for the boy.- Tori looks up at me and outlines a slight smile as a way of greeting, which I just sit discreetly .

- It's also nice to see you again, Tori.- Iker says sarcastically, with a slightly awkward smile.

-... I really shouldn't be letting you in, neither of you two, Cilt's database hasn't updated yet, and I don't have a direct order from the Leaders to let you in.- She directs her stern gaze towards Iker, who was clearly the one who was more nervous.- In addition, it is a surprise that the Leaders have given you again the duty of hybrid instructor Iker... It is so surprising that I am not the only one who doubts that it is true.-

- ...Again?-

- Oddly enough ... yes, they did, and you can check it in a few hours, Tori.- Iker was determined to finish that conversation as quickly as possible.- Now if you'll excuse us, I have to take Tyler to the office of his father ... Let's go Ty.-

- Iker, wait ... - My attempts to stop him at least long enough to say goodbye to Tori are in vain, Iker advances directly into the complex, towards the offices. He seemed more interested in escaping from the conversation before waiting for me, so I have no choice but to force my farewell.- I'm sorry Tori, I'll see you later.- I accelerate my step to be next to my pal again.

- ... How much longer will you hide the truth from him, Iker?- Tori's voice echoes down the same hallway we were walking away from, and I couldn't do anything but turn to see her again. - He has the right to know who you are and what have you done, if you call yourself his friend ... -

- Don't tell me what to do! - Iker's unusually strong voice echoes down the hall, at the same time that a slight growl manifested in him, I had never been afraid of Iker, but that moment made me remember that he was still a hybrid, impulsive, and strong, just as Adara had said at the time.

- No Iker ... you already know what you have to do.- Tori dedicates those last words to Iker before turning around and returning the same way she arrived.

Iker was furious even if he tried not to express it anymore, he knew perfectly well that this outburst of anger would bring with him many questions of mine, but equally, I knew that it was not the best to bombard him with questions in that state. I had already seen Iker face a physical battle, but nothing ever prepared me to see him deal with a mental battle. He did not stop moving at any time, and did not turn back to realize that I was following him. It was not until a few moments later that he was calmer that he began to look for me, I could see a little regret on his face, but he was reassured to see that I was following him a couple of meters away.

As much as I tried to ignore it, there were too many questions in my head, it was too coincidental that several people here in Cilt did not have a precisely good relationship with Iker, or that he was even prohibited from entering certain places, such as the village of the Hunters. Something was wrong with all of this. At first I wanted to think that they were all just jealous in some way, as it seemed that Iker was not the only one interested in being my instructor, but this went further. It was clear that there were many things that he did not want to tell me.

The short trip was silent and quite bitter, because in addition to having witnessed that discussion between Iker and Tori, that place and moment have reminded me of the purpose of my arrival at Cilt. My father, who everyone in the Metropolis had assumed was dead all these years, and who was now really close to being dead if we couldn't find a way to get him back. A visit to his laboratory could help us learn a little more about his sudden disappearance, and how he came to be in the claws of the Vortex from one day to another.

His office was the largest of all, and the first one as well. That door had not been opened since he left a couple of months ago, according to the Leaders. I rest my healthy hand on the door handle, just admiring it, taking my time to get inside. A strange sensation made my chest hurt a little, and that a small lump in my throat appeared at that very moment, making me raise my hand a little to review the stylized letters that were shown on the metal plate, whose relief showed the name "Marcus Hopper".

- So here you have been these last thirteen years... - It was a little difficult for me to speak due to the bitter feeling of knowing that I couldn't hug him or see him at that moment, the wait had been too long already. -... I hope that at least you had a better life here at Cilt.-

- He would have abandoned all this to see you again Tyler ... but if he did, he would have put you at risk.- Now calmer, Iker tries to encourage me to enter the office. -... Pretending his death was the only thing that could save you and your mother from the Vortex, they are capable of doing horrible things to fulfill their objectives.-

- I know that, Iker ... but I think now it is up to us, and the content of this office, to find him again.-

Taking care not to hurt myself, I move my newly implanted chip closer to the metal plate in the center of the door, and surprisingly it opens. The door to the office was large, so Iker walked with me inside it in silence, since neither of us knew what we were going to find. The room was dark, and by turning on the lights we were able to really see what lay inside.

A large, rustic wooden desk took up a good part of the office space, and on top of this are still the books he must have been reading before his disappearance. Next to it was a huge bookshelf which gave the impression that it was about to collapse from all the books it had to endure, although everything looked impeccably organized despite the layer of dust that had covered everything and had made Iker sneeze a couple times. At the back of the office was a makeshift bed which I am sure he must have used many times when he unveiled his studies, and more boxes that later I could see that contained more books, it was not a surprise that the vast majority of them were written by him.

While Iker helped me check other boxes that were stacked in the corner, something extremely important had gone unnoticed at the time, hidden from the naked eye. One of the walls was completely full of photographs and drawings that he himself had made. At first glance it looked like a typical wall of evidence that a detective used to solve a crime, but when paying more attention to the photographs it seemed to be only a huge album that for some reason, my father always wanted to have in sight. The photos portrayed many hybrids and humans doing their day-to-day tasks, from Hybrid cubs running around along with kids, and pairs of hybrids and humans lounging in the shade of trees, to photographs of what appeared to be Cilt's early days. My father kept track of everything that happened in this place with his photographs, and I was almost certain he had written dozens of books referring to this place.

- I see you just found his wall of memories... yeah, he liked to take photos of every hybrid he met. Oh, look, there he is.- Iker stares at one of the many photographs that had been there, but I could quickly identify it, my father had not changed much in all this time. - There is Marcus along with a group of recently graduated Medics hehe, right now they are the main managers of the medical bay.-

I never paid much attention to the fact that my father and I are almost identical, and now I understood why my mother used to not see me so much in the eyes, because I reminded her so much of him. He was always a very tall man although with a slim anatomy, a rounder face than mine and his curly red hair, he always wore the same beard and mustache for as long as I can remember. Despite the fact that many years had passed I still recognized him, although I really doubted if he had recognized me if he saw me again.

I take the photo and keep it in one of the pockets that my shirt had, because I felt that having his photo could help me feel a little better at that moment.

I look through all the photographs, looking for some other that caught my attention and many of them stood out among all, such as one in which Darius is seen helping in the repair or construction of what appears to be the Council Dome, another photograph Interestingly it shows a squad of hunters, but none of them carried that rank. According to the description written behind the photograph, the rank system had not yet been implemented in Cilt. Seeing so many different people in all those photos and remembering that Iker was especially close to my father, I started looking for one in which he appeared, until finally I could find a small and damaged photograph in which a McLaren P1 identical to Iker appeared, he is seen on his back resting in the shade of a tree, and along with him was a human leaning on his side, he was also on his back, making it difficult to know his appearance, but it seemed that he was a young boy.

- Hey Iker, I think this is you ... And who is he?- I crouch down to his level so that he could get a good look at the photograph, although Iker was quite distracted seeing the rest of the gallery on the wall.

- Uhm, it must be one of those photos that your father took of me in the middle of training haha, I do not remember seeing them, they are ... very ... - Iker focuses his eyes on the photograph, and his smile disappears immediately, leaving him speechless for a few moments. Without any reaction.

- ... Iker? - His reaction took me by surprise, as I was not sure what had caused the photograph. - ... What is it? Was it something you... didn't want to see?-

- N ... no, it's not that. - He brings his face closer to the photograph to see it in detail, while his eyes began to fill with tears, which Iker tried to contain. - Aaron ... - His voice had cut when mentioning that name, it was more than clear that Iker knew that boy. I knew him very well, and something caused that painful reaction. - Heh ... your father never showed me that photo ... I think he did well to hide it ... - Clearly something was not right, and it may have a lot to do with that boy named Aaron who was in that photograph with Iker. I sat down in front of him to try to help him, in silence. It took a few minutes for Iker to regain full control of his breathing and not let the crying out, until finally he was able to calm down a bit. -... He was my partner before you, Ty... well, we were actually a little more than just friends, it was not a very corresponded relationship from him but... it made me happy.- He sighs deeply, with a heavy weight in his lungs, letting out a couple of tears.-... He passed away a few years ago.-

- Iker ... - I put my hand on his nose to support him, because it was the only thing I could do at that moment.- ... Sorry that you had to remember that ... I didn't knew anything about it.-

- No, it's okay Tyler ... someday you were going to know it anyway ... it really was better this way, that you knew it from me.- Iker manages to speak with a bit of normality and calms his tears for the moment, doing his best not to make me feel equally bad. - I still miss him ... obviously ... but it's not something I like to remember, that's why I never told you, and sorry for that ... I should have been more honest with you, Ty.-

- Don't say that Iker ... this was something personal of yours, you don't have to explain yourself.- I dry his tears a little with the sleeves of my shirt, and that seems to calm him a little somehow.- Let's do something, let's take some books from here and let's take them to the room, there we can review them more calmly before going for something to eat, do you like the idea? - Iker looks me straight in the eye and nods slightly, as he was still recovering his voice again. – Alright... take a box and fill it with whatever catches your attention.-

I return the photograph to its place, reattaching it to the wall with the skewer that initially held it. It was better to keep the photograph a bit out of the way to keep Iker from thinking too much about it.

Both of us were a little emotionally affected by a visit to my father's office for different reasons, but after a while looking for things and selecting what we would take to our room to review afterwards, it helped distract us from our personal situations. Despite this, it was difficult for me to stop thinking about Iker's harsh revelation, someone as charismatic as him would never raise suspicions of a tragedy like that. It was clear that he did not plan to tell me this until he had a little more confidence in me, but he had no other choice. Now it was my responsibility to help him overcome this bad memory, since it was me who accidentally caused it, it was the least I could do for my friend at this time.

Aaron, that was the name of the boy in the photograph, and the person with whom Iker had a really strong romantic relationship, despite the fact that he himself confessed that it was not entirely reciprocal, that seemed not to matter to him. Aaron, I couldn't stop thinking about his name. I had so many questions and so many nerves to ask at the same time, because this was possibly the worst time to ask Iker about his life, but without a doubt this was also the moment in which I was most curious about it, being it good or bad, I had the need to know about his life, because anyway he was the first person ... or hybrid, in whom I was beginning to trust fully, someone to call "friend" without hesitation, and someone who has risked his life a couple of times just to protect me.

Despite the fact that my friend may have the best intentions in trying to protect me, the fact that several people are surprised (in a bad way) that he is my hybrid instructor, and knowing what happened to Aaron, has me really confused. Do they think that I will end up like him? That being with Iker put me at risk? If so, they should be too cruel to think that Iker was responsible for the death of his beloved one. It is obvious that someone like him would not harm a human, much less if it is someone he loves. At least the fact that Kassia trusts him is one of many reasons why I try not to think bad things about Iker ... but it's difficult. After all, his presence is not especially welcome in many places. I don't want to doubt my friend, but that depends on how much confidence she has to tell me about those kinds of things in the future.

I had never felt my head and my feelings so divided.

There were so many things in my father's office that it was very difficult to choose that we would take with us to the room, although in the end we decided not to take so many things with the possibility of having very little time to review everything, because at the same time Iker would have to continue with my training. The selection was limited to two cardboard boxes, one with books and the other with various objects, some of them personal objects or that it seemed that my father used to use a lot, such as his camera and his most recent log that I could find throughout the office. I could be sure it was the last one he wrote because of the date that was just over two months ago. Iker naturally offered to carry both boxes, but had to resign himself to carrying only the box of books, as I would not take advantage of his kindness. Although after several failed attempts of mine to carry the box with my only healthy hand, I ended up accepting his help.

When we left the laboratory we waited until Tori was no longer in the area, since we would both hate a second discussion on the same subject, and we both wanted to simply entertain our minds in anything else, such as investigating what had happened with Marcus. At the first opportunity we had to get out of there without attracting attention, we went to the large armored door of the laboratory, waiting for some pious Scientist to open the door for us to leave, but there was not a soul. In a vague attempt to exit, and mainly driven by curiosity, I put my bandaged hand closer to the chip reader plate inside the metal door, and we were both surprised to see that it had opened, it seemed that Cilt's database had finally been updated, and we could get in and out of the lab as many times as we wanted.

That meant that I was officially registered as a citizen of Cilt, and that Iker was at the same time my official hybrid instructor, now nothing and no one could question my friend's word, and that made me happy. That the Leaders trusted him for this task gave him confidence, it could be seen in his walk, it was no longer necessary for him to keep his guard up all the time.

According to Iker, there were still three other ranks to visit, the brief but important introductions to the Scientific and Medical ranks had given me a fairly broad picture of Cilt's functioning, or at least its scientific division.

Scientists have a slightly higher rank than Medics, but both are dedicated to completely different things. Scientists are mainly in charge of tasks that require more exhaustive research, such as the manufacture of solar panels or wind turbines to supply electricity to all Cilt, research on hybrid and human health, and it is even the rank in which facilities resided the command center, an underground room where all Hunter and Warrior squadrons outside of Cilt are tracked, tracking each other's personal chips.

Medics, on the other hand, are clearly in charge of keeping the population healthy, but their work is not limited to just that. Apparently the hybrid birth percentage has been in decline and many breeds are disappearing for that very reason, not just on Cilt, but worldwide. The Medical rank facilities at the same time house a huge gene bank where they store DNA samples from all hybrids in Cilt without genetic mutations, hoping that one day a method will be found to facilitate obtaining hybrid offspring, artificial or naturally, it is not so easy to bring hybrid cubs to the world.

All ranks complement each other, and none is more or less important than the other. This organization is vital for the operation of Cilt and the Leaders know it perfectly, since their same rank is in charge of making this system work.

So many teachings in a single day required a well-deserved rest, and Iker and I were doing just that. The way back to the room had been long but entertaining, because it never hurts to know a little about this strange and fascinating city. The weather was not exactly pious, the clouds had not dispersed throughout the day and the icy air warned of an impending storm, a storm that had started much earlier than I could have predicted, as it caught us by surprise halfway. Refusing to take shelter in the already occupied interior of Iker, I began to run together with him in the direction of the cave that housed our room and that of many other hybrids and humans. Poor Iker had to run at my mediocre human speed to not keep me behind, and we were both just as drenched at the end.

Exhausted, cold, and wanting to return to the room, we had to wait in a long line to use one of the complex's only two elevators, but at least we were already indoors. At least ten other hybrids waited impatiently in line, all complaining about the slow elevator which, conveniently, was starting to fail just when it was most needed. It was evident that even hybrids did not enjoy this climate.

- Great!, it starts to rain half Zeingen, it is the second year in a row that this happens, why don't the Leaders do not consider these things before organizing the events?! - Complained loudly the hybrid that was in front of us in the row for the elevator, it was a Maseratti whose skin had an unusual mint color, although it was not very good at hiding the abundant scars on his body.

- If you like the Zeingen so much you would have stayed without caring about the rain, many stayed to participate in the last fights. You don't have to complain Ankor, the Leaders are not gods to control the weather.- His companion, a lazy and slightly annoyed Citröen Zurvolt, listened to the Maseratti's howls, answering his comments lazily.

- Pff, bullshit, surely they must be too distracted with their new acquisition ... I knew that Marcus's son has been here since yesterday, but what a waste of time it has been to bring the brat.- His raspy voice only aggravated the disgusted tone of his voice while talking to the hybrid next to him.- We don't need another Hopper to come to "bring peace", Cilt is already perfectly peaceful without them... and to be honest, I'm glad that the old man was eaten by the Vortex, at least they won't attack again.- I had been listening to the conversation in silence, but that last comment was starting to fuel my desire to silence this hybrid. - But his sacrifice was useless... with the boy here it won't pass a week to start having Vortex visits again.-

- Mmmh, yes, I agree with that. The two months that Marcus has been missing there have been no Vortex sightings in all of Cilt.- The Citröen seems to wake up a bit from the talk, being able to speak in a slightly clearer tone. - The Vortex will come for him sooner or later, and we Warriors will have no other choice but to take extra turns.- The hybrid yawns outrageously.- If the boy is smart, he will return to the Metropolis as soon as possible... there is nothing good for him here.-

- ... What did you just say?- Iker, who until then I had remembered that he was also listening to both hybrids talking, interferes with the conversation, causing both hybrids to turn to see us with completely different expressions.

The Citröen looked terrified, so much so that the laziness vanished completely from her face when she saw us with her eyes wide open. On the other hand, his hybrid companion, the Maseratti named Ankor, had been surprised at first when he saw me, believing that it was me who had interrupted them, but his expression changed drastically when he recognized the face of Iker who had interposed his body between me and danger. Ankor smiles an unpleasant and mocking smile at Iker, missing one of his lower fangs although that only made his gesture more intimidating. It didn't take long for the Citröen to leave the place upon perceiving the imminent danger, leaving Iker and Ankor in an awkward stare challenge. Iker was breathing hard and lifting his body a little higher to look slightly larger, but the Maseratti did not flinch.

- Wow, but what a surprise ... I never thought that the new Leader's favorite was right behind me, it's an honor, boy. Or as our majesty Darius prefers to call you ... "young Tyler" - Ankor feigns a reverence, clearly trying to annoy Iker more, causing him to start growling audibly.- Please Iker, you don't want to put on an act like yesterday, it was pathetic the way Saemus made you bite the dirt, it was necessary that a female would get in the way so that you didn't end up dead.-

- Kassia is not just any female ... she is the Leader of Cilt and also yours, she would make us all bite the dust, just like Darius, and you must show them respect.- Iker was furious, but he did everything in his power to avoid another unnecessary fight like yesterday, speaking as clearly and seriously as his anger allowed.

- We both know that you only adore them for the small great favor they did to you for being one of Marcus's favorites, your respect for them is not genuine.-

- ... Enough.- Iker clenched his teeth.

- Boy, do you want to know the truth about your dear friend, the sweetheart Iker? You want to know why all Cilt seems to hate him? Have you not wondered why he and many other hybrids only have the rank of Warrior and do not leave him have the rest of ... -

- I said enough!- Iker lets out an aggressive roar before attacking Ankor head-on, biting down hard on his nose and shaking him from side to side. Ankor's cry of pain alerts everyone inside the cave, and Iker seemed to have no intention of releasing him. Something about him had blinded him in his rage, and he was ready to hurt him. I never thought that Iker was capable of such brutality.

- Iker let him go! - My screams were in vain, because he seemed not to hear me. Ankor might be a jerk, but he definitely hadn't deserved to be attacked like that.

In a desperate attempt, I jump to his nose and try to open his jaws with the force of my hands, hoping that at least I was an impediment to stop exerting pressure on his bite, but it was not, Iker tried to get me off with a strong shake and the only thing I could do was hit him in the eye, intentionally or accidentally, that did not matter, because it had been enough for Iker to release his bite from Ankor, although with this he also managed to throw me a couple of meters away with his brutal force. Ankor sought refuge with other hybrids who soon formed a barrier to prevent Iker from attacking him again. Iker was not the same hybrid that I had known, this one was wild, and dangerous, and I no longer doubted it. The fall was not dangerous for me, because I had fallen on my back, but now my biggest problem was Iker himself.

- I ... Iker ... - Hearing his name, Iker turns to see me with fury, his mouth was stained by Ankor's blood, and his pupils were constricted. - What the hell is wrong with you !? You could kill someone ... Wake up already, dammit! - Somehow my words seem to bring him back, his eyes return to normal, and he begins to see what he had caused around him, he looked really terrified at what he could have done in that moment, as if he had lost control of himself.

- Ty ... - Iker tries to get closer to me, but I instinctively step back a little not knowing what was happening, Iker was devastated to see that reaction of mine, so he steps back to give me space. He stares at the floor, catching his breath, just as confused as I was.

- Now you see it, boy? - Ankor becomes visible again in the crowd, with his bleeding nose, and with a gesture of revulsion towards Iker. -... That hybrid you see there is not like the others... he is a murderer. A killer of humans and hybrids alike ... And he's one of the best.-

Iker's wheels seem to tremble at Ankor's words, at the same time that it made my heart shudder to see that Iker did not object to such a comment, he simply closes his eyes for a moment when being humiliated in such a way. Soon, he regains strength in his wheels to turn around, and leave the cave in silence and with an expressionless gaze, not without first looking at me one last time without saying anything, clearly sorry, and without the desire to continue fighting. Iker steps out into the freezing rain whipping outside, but that seemed to be the least of his problems.

- Iker ... buddy.- Remorse soon seized me despite having witnessed such a scene, but Ankor stops my advance.

- You better let him go boy ... You don't know him like all of us here.-

The commotion did not last long, soon the row for the elevator formed again, while I was still lying on the floor, it seemed that this type of quarrel was so common among hybrids that nobody bothered to let some authority know. It took me several minutes and the help of a few gentle people to rejoin me. Due to the small fight, Iker had let out some books from inside, and I just picked them up and went up the stairs like any other human, reaching the second floor where the room was, our room. I dropped the books aside and just lay back on the carpeted floor, taking in what had happened. It couldn't be true, Iker couldn't be a murderer. I thought to myself, at the same time that the images of the Mustang that he murdered in front of my house that rainy night returned to my mind, Adara warning me about the hybrid Warriors, Saemus saying that Iker no longer had a voice in Cilt, the Hunters repudiating the work of some Warriors, Tori also complaining about those secrets that Iker had not told me, about the death of Aaron, and the fight with Ankor.

... But how naive and stupid I had been all this time.

Hybrid-Kira (2020)