Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2023)

I remember the day I knew he had died.

An agent from the Metropolis knocked on our door on a Tuesday morning to give us the news.

My mother had no reaction.

She saw no excuse for not sending me to school that day.

I locked myself in the school bathrooms.

Drowning in my own tears.

If not for a teacher hearing me cry, my mother would have completely forgotten that she had a son.

A son of Marcus Hopper.

- Tyler...breathe. Easy. -A whisper in my ear makes me aware of my breathing. I was hyperventilating. But it hadn't been a whisper; It was Iker who was speaking to me from his communicator.

My hands are locked in the same position. I feel my guts tremble from within. Involuntary tears soak the inside of my helmet.

- ... Dad... -I call him delicately, as if trying to wake him up from his peaceful dream. The tortured man hangs suspended from his bloody lab coat, impaled on the fangs of the White Terror.

His hand moves voluntarily, and that's enough for me.

For me, he has revived.

Neyzan. Leader of the Vortex, and the Warlord.

His people call him his liberator. We, call him enemy.

A sadistic tyrant who has played his cards well up to this point.

Lamborghini Aventador with deadly eyes of fire, and ash gray skin of a walking corpse.

He wears the scarred Vortex mark on his forehead as a proud crown, a banner of skin and blood, made at the cost of his innocent victims.

Genocidal, with a delusion of divinity and greatness.

- Long time no see you, and after all, I never forgot your face... -Neyzan speaks delightfully, directing his words towards Kassia as if she were an old friend-... I hope you haven't forgotten about me.-

- Save your comments for another time. I'm here to do business, nothing more. -With the confidence of a queen on her throne, Kassia speaks imperturbable in the face of the lord of the Vortex, who does nothing but continue to show his arrogance and disrespect-

- Sure. Of course. Business. -Neyzan laughs to himself, mocking Kassia's seriousness. Once he's had enough, he changes his face dramatically to a stern and frightening look, with eyes that burn like melting steel -...Then, let's get into business. I showed you that the old man is alive, now show me the key. -Neyzan turns to see the hybrid to his left, the Lamborghini Veneno turns to see him out of the corner of his eye without any expression on his features-... I took the liberty of bringing an expert with me, if you don't mind.

The burgundy-skinned, gray-eyed Veneno walks calmly in our direction, the squad raises their guard, and the Rangers ready their weapons in the direction of the white-tattooed Vortex. I did the same.

- Leader Darius... He has brought Killian to the exchange. Tori informs Darius through her comlink, suppressing a growl as she speaks-

- The ex-Scientist?

- ... Affirmative. -Tori's voice shakes, unable to take her eyes off the approaching Vortex-

Darius keeps the line silent for a few seconds, long enough for the Vortex, Killian, to have already covered half the space between us, stopping right in the middle of the intersection where both sides have met. Waiting patiently for our next move.

- ... Proceed anyway. We don't have a choice. -Darius sighs, unable to do anything but wait, and listen-

The plan is to make the Vortexes believe for as long as possible that Evan is the real Tyler, and that will only be done if we can hack the key authentication process.

The procedure itself was not difficult, but it did require some coordination;

We need the key, an authenticator to change its permissions, a signal replicator so I could change the permissions remotely without losing my alibi, and General Kassia's chip. All this without the Vortex noticing the extra steps, and not suspecting Evan's true identity.

But what none of us could have predicted was that an ex-Cilt Scientist, now Vortex, would oversee the procedure in detail. A hybrid that seemed to know that technology perfectly, and that could detect any anomaly in a matter of seconds.

Neyzan was sly, more than I would ever expect from a hybrid like him. But we would follow the plan.

General Kassia sighs, and steps forward until she is a couple of meters away from Killian. They both challenge each other with their eyes, waiting till one of them diverts their eyes elsewhere. Killian seems to relent, but only to squint at the human sheltering inside Kassia's cabin.

- Tyler. -Kassia opens her door, and I bite my tongue at the last second remembering that she wasn't really calling for me, but for Evan- Do what I asked you to do, please.

Evan slowly walks out of Kassia's interior, arousing Neyzan's curiosity from the intersection side of his. The young Hunter finds himself facing the Vortexes, keeping safe behind Kassia's door, using it as a shield. Evan froze for a few seconds looking the Vortex leader in the eye, and someone else in our squad seemed concerned.

- Come on little brother... you can do it. -Evan couldn't hear him, but Maverick supported him from his position in the formation, eager for the boy to come out of his nervous trance soon-

Evan is able to return to reality on his own. His training as a Hunter and aspiring Warrior has made him mentally strong. Evan carries the key with him, hanging from a strap around his neck. He takes the robust body of the authenticator with one hand, and with the other he passes the key through the reading arch without removing it from his neck.

-"Access key for underground base number 9, South sector. Restricted use." -The authenticator speaks with an artificial female voice, while Evan types into it as fast as he can. - "You are about to revoke the exclusive use permission of this refuge, are you sure to continue?" -Evan stops for a moment, turns to see the General to see if she was sure of what she was doing-

- Proceed.

Evan follows the orders, and continues with the configuration of the key.

- "Leadership Council Member Chip Scan Required"

Cautiously, keeping an eye on Killian at all moments, Evan steps out of the cover of Kassia's door. He gets just close enough to be able to scan her chip, implanted in the tip of her nose, causing the device to generate a very audible beep as soon as he got the slightest reading from the General's chip. As soon as the first scan was complete, Evan moved back to his safe position.

- "Scientific Leader chip scan required"

I feel my own pulse echo in my ears. I prepare my hand and my mind for the moment when Evan tells me with his foot the exact second in which the replicator should pass over my bare wrist.

As if following the rhythm of a slow song, Evan marks time with his heel on the ground.

One. Evan reveals his wrist as he draws back the sleeve of his hoodie.

Two. He takes the authenticator in his left hand, and I do the same, holding the replicator at an angle where the Vortexes couldn't see it.

Three. Evan passes his chipless right hand through the ring of the authenticator. I do my best to follow the same movement as him, scanning my hand that did have my chip.

A single second passes, but the signal reaches successfully from the replicator to the authenticator, which makes a "beep" identical to the first. Me and the rest of the squad sighed in relief, for now.

- "Exclusive use permission has been successfully revoked"

Somewhere on Cilt, inside the underground facility belonging to the Scientists, the mission controllers cheer briefly in the command center. The joy has traveled from Darius's microphone to our ears, although the Supreme Leader does not celebrate, he has remained silent and attentive to the situation that was still tense.

For a moment I felt that things were going well. I did my part successfully, and now the outcome of the mission does not depend on me. I take a deep breath, holding on for a few more minutes to bring my father back to safety, and back to me. The air that I lacked I replaced it with courage, growing more and more impatient with each passing second.

- The key is ready. Now give Marcus back, and it will be all yours, as agreed. -Kassia keeps Evan under her wing, while he does his best not to appear more confident than I would in his place.

Killian has kept the same dead-cold expression throughout the entire process. His analytical gray eyes shift attention between Evan and Kassia. The ex-Scientist turns his body towards the Warlord without fully turning his back on the squad. Both hybrid males exchange intense glances.

The Vortex leader seems to get the message, nodding to himself. He runs his tongue over his sharp teeth, leaving them presentable for the cynical and nonchalant smile that he has now given us, observing us in silence for a few more moments. Neyzan sighs, visibly disappointed in our brief moment of relief.

- You think I'm stupid, Kassia? -The illusion of a well done job soon vanishes before my eyes. Everyone in the squad seems to hesitate at Neyzan's complaint, whose patience was being tempted beyond safe limits- ...That's not Marcus's son, is he?

I tried to swallow, but the lump in my throat barely allows me to breathe. Evan hunkers down and seeks refuge by entering half his body inside Kassia, discreetly taking his bow and preparing an arrow in it without the Vortexes being able to see it; Adara and Maverick also prepare their weapons, while Neyzan questions our Leader.

- You come here, to my territory, and yet you feel confident that you can fool me? Tell me, how am I supposed to believe that key even works? If you don't even have the chip carrier with you.

Dheera snarls at us at his leader's complaints, refusing to let go of my father, lifting himself a little higher off the ground, ready to drag Marcus back into the darkness if necessary. Meanwhile, Killian has no interest in staying in the front row of the conflict, and returns to Neyzan's side, without giving the slightest importance to the discussion that was taking place between the two leaders.

- The key works, that's what really matters. The authentication process cannot be faked, and your "expert" should know that. -Kassia remains calm under all circumstances, despite the fact that we are getting further and further into the lion's den-

- And you expect me to take your word for it after you tried to trick me? ... No, I need guarantees, and for that I need the boy to be here, the real Tyler Hopper, and he will be the one to verify the permits.

- Don't even think about it.

Kassia folds her mirrors towards her body as a warning to Neyzan's audacity. The squad's hybrids prepare to respond to any hostility, and their human Rangers point their spears straight ahead. I feel Iker growling aggressively towards the enemy side. I see Dheera holding my father's body. I clench my fist with which I hold my spear, making it tremble from the force that was applied to it.

- We never agreed that Tyler should be present at the exchange. You can't demand something like that now that we're here. -Kassia did her best to keep her temper, but her words were hopelessly stained with rage- ...I, and this squad, won't let you go until you retrieve Marcus to us.

- Then I'm afraid we're doomed to stay here until the end of times, or until the boy deigns to show up, whichever comes first. -Neyzan exclaimed sarcastically, feeling confident with his own words and what they could cause- You can't afford to return to Cilt without the old man, and I'm not leaving without that key. So we're in for a long, long night. -He turns to Dheera's side, approaching to inspect the emaciated man, almost pasting his disgusting smile directly on my father's face-... I just hope the old man can stand the wait. It would be a shame to have come here to bring back a corpse.

- Let him go for once!

Neyzan's smile fades, he steps away from Marcus to once again take his place as leader of the trio, and frowns as he turns back to the squad, searching for the source of the desperate, angry cry.

My friends turn to look at each other, confused. The command center begins to fill with frantic voices, as Darius calls for silence and calm. I hear Kassia breathe nervously, turning back covertly.

But I wouldn't hide behind someone else's armor again, nor would I let my absence cause more trouble than it already had. I will not allow my anonymity to risk the safety of the entire squad, and the life of my father. I've had enough of this game of pretending to be someone I'm not.

- Yes?... -Neyzan narrows his eyes, observing each and every one of us in search of the one who has dared to raise their voice in his presence. Although instead of showing indignation, he seemed curious-... It seems that not everything is lost. At least one of your soldiers seems to understand the seriousness of the matter. -Neyzan advanced a few meters forward. The entire squad stepped back with him. Everyone except Kassia- I would like to meet that brave Warrior head on, here and now.

No one dared to give an answer to his request. That seems to bother Neyzan. A look and a subtle nod is enough to command Dheera to violently shake the scientist in the air, making him scream in pain, until he passes out again, succumbing to his physical abuse.

I can't stand it anymore.

I completely ignore the voices of my friends, who demand me to not do it. I unbuckle the harnesses that keep me tied to the saddle, forcing Iker to stay still so as not to make me fall. I jump down onto solid ground with my spear in hand. My weak legs cause me to land on one knee on the ground, unable to stand upright at first. I breathe heavily, I feel my body tremble with each breath I take. My anger pushes each of my steps forward, bound for the front of the formation.

Kassia has ordered Evan to get to safety. The young Hunter searches my eyes at the expressionless face of my helmet, then runs to the back of the formation, taking cover inside Zenda. Kassia has no choice but to face the enmy, and accept the consequences of the actions to which we have been pushed.

Once I gather at my Leader's side, I stand still to see the Warlord in front of me, his presence being that much more intimidating now that there was nothing standing between us. His look is confused and intrigued, he also seems to take a moment to observe me carefully.

- Well? Show your face if you have anything else to say, Warrior. -Like a member of royalty waiting to be entertained by his servants, Neyzan watches expectantly as the action unfolds in front of him-

I grasp my spear with a firm fist. Dheera growls sensing my hostility. The thought of launching it and having it landing on his eye flashed through my mind, making my skin crawl under my armor. Instead, I gathered strength and stabbed the ground with it right into a crack in the pavement. With trembling hands, I detach my helmet from the rest of the armor. I take my last breaths of air in the safe anonymity, being aware that I would never hide again, being forced by myself to finally reveal to Neyzan what lies under the helmet. The tyrant leader narrows his eyes and tilts his head at me, with a look that seemed to have seen a familiar face on me. I press the helmet to my chest, feeling my sweat and tears dry in the biting afternoon wind.

- ... I said. Let my father go for once.

There was no need to raise my voice. He understood each and every one of my words. Neyzan keeps his nonchalant gestures towards me. His fiery eyes observe me serenely, different from the invasive look he had given me seconds before revealing my face. He has had the luxury of taking time for himself, before deigning to say anything.

- Just look at you. You are a man now. -His false flattery and sarcastic tone of his disgust me. It made me forget for a moment that I was speaking directly to the bloodiest hybrid history has ever witnessed, in favor of making me think I was conversing with nothing more than a pretentious idiot, who wanted to make me feel like someone he knew-

- You don't know me... And I don't know you. -Whether my answer was a clarification, or a warning, that didn't matter too much in Neyzan's eyes, because my comment only made him laugh to himself, taking my seriousness as no more than a joke-

- Oh, but you will... I promise you'll meet me, soon. -Neyzan turns his sadistic smile to Kassia momentarily, making her snarl again-...It's very convenient that you're here, though. You see, there is an exchange to conclude, and oddly enough it seems that you are the only one who can end this, once and for all. So if you'd be so kind as...

I'm not willing to wait a second longer than necessary. Without being ordered by anyone, I grab the authenticator device Evan had left behind before he left, and scan the key again, followed by my chip. This time the device did not have the delay of the first attempt, because now it was receiving a real signal. The ex-scientist looked up when he recognized the device's characteristic beep, and for the first time in our exchange, he seemed genuinely interested in seeing Neyzan's next move, who was somewhat irritated that I didn't let him finish his monologue.

- It's done. -Kassia was the first to speak. Both leaders stared into each other's eyes with contained anger in their gazes. -Now fulfill your part of the exchange-

Neyzan clenches his jaw, averts his gaze for a moment, getting lost in his thoughts. He nods slightly as his exhalation kicks up a cloud of dust directly off the pavement. From one second to the next, he subtly smiled without looking back at the Cilt leader, keeping his gaze down.

- ... Give them the old man. It's no longer of use to me. -

Dheera obeyed the orders without question or hesitation. He didn't blink once as he dragged Marcus over the weathered street. Not a single emotion or sign of conscious life came out of his abnormally dilated pupils, which seemed to look everywhere at once. Nothing escapes the murderous gaze of the White Terror.

He dragged my father's limp body across fifteen feet of cracked pavement.

He stopped short as the squadron reacted to his closeness.

He watched, not looking at either of us. He opened his jaws.

He released my father, inadvertently and grotesquely, causing his head to hit the ground, startling everyone who witnessed such brutality.

Dheera shielded the man's body for a few more seconds, completely unaware of our urge to get him back.

The White Terror seems to finish with his mission, and slowly backs up, until it is positioned back at his master's side.

The Vortex prisoner is no longer a prisoner, he is now a free man, lying motionless between the two sides.

As soon as Dheera has retreated far enough, Saemus and Adara rush to Marcus' aid, as planned. Kassia stops me with her door, preventing me from leaving the formation despite my initial attempt to run to his aid. Saemus delicately takes my father by his robe, completely in rags, and slowly drags him toward the formation. Adara steps down from him as a Ranger and holds Marcus' head up as he is pulled by Saemus. Once the squad has secured them inside the formation, Kassia allows me to move from my spot.

My legs moved without even feeling them. I did not know how I had reached the center of the formation so quickly. I dropped to my knees next to my father, physically unable to speak a word or do anything but watch Tori and Adara check on his injuries and physical condition.

I just took his hand.

A thin trail of blood had already dried on his skin, darkened by dirt. The palm of his hand is calloused, rough, very different from the soft, protective hand I clung to as a child. Countless scars cover every corner of his body. A pungent smell of rot, damp, and disease brought my senses out of temporary paralysis. I looked up, daring to see his face for the first time in thirteen years.

But I didn't recognize the man under the overgrown beard, and the tangled hair that completely covered his face. My heart trembles, for now I was sure of my greatest fear; that, indeed, I had erased his face from my memories.

I hold back my tears as I hold his face in my hands. My skin, almost alien next to his, is too pale and lacking in scars. It was difficult even for me to deduce that there was any relationship between the two.

The man sleeps, completely weakened by the tempest of the Vortexes.

Tori has deployed her first aid kit and gets ready to receive Marcus on the stretcher inside her, while Adara manually checks his vitals before securing him inside Tori.

- Tyler, check the response of the pupils to light.-

There is no time for explanations. Adara hands me a small flashlight and she trusts that I might be able to help her. While she contains the bleeding from the wounds that Dheera has caused while transporting him, I take the flashlight and try to open the eyelids of one of his eyes as delicately as possible with two of my fingers.

But when I turned on the flashlight, what I paid least attention to was the reaction of his pupils, for the blue eyes that I was seeing right now were completely foreign to mine.

- ...No... -I dropped the flashlight to the ground, alarming Adara of my reaction- ...No no no no no... -I cover my mouth with a hand, crawling on the ground, recoiling in panic and confusion-

- What's wrong? -Eyes wide with concern, Adara quickly grabs the flashlight I dropped, opens the eye of the recently rescued hostage, and frowns in confusion. She turns to see me again, completely dumbfounded by what she had just seen-

That man is not my father

No matter how much time had passed, I would not be able to forget my father's eyes, my eyes. I couldn't forget them, and that was the one thing I was completely sure of. Those blue irises had nothing in common with the green eyes that saw me grow.

I was in front of an impostor.

... In front of a trap.

- This is not Marcus! -Adara screams with rage and despair, no longer caring to maintain Ranger's serene profile. Our alibi had already been compromised anyway- It's a hoax! He wanted to pass this man off as Marcus!

Adara takes the man's hand and lifts it up. What appeared to be his ranks tattooed on his wrists were nothing more than simple charcoal smears, drawn directly onto his skin.

- You bastard! -Iker roars towards the Vortexes in front of us. He is about to leave his position in the formation to lunge at Neyzan, but Saemus stops him, just before he loses control-

I have been imprisoned in my body completely paralyzed, staying on my knees in the still warm concrete. My body pulls air into it, but I'm not breathing. The face of the man in front of me is blurry and indistinguishable, just like the faces of my friends.

- Where is he?... -The question comes out almost as a whisper from Kassia's mouth, as she has gasped -...Where is Marcus?! What have you done to him?!

- My sweet Kassia... Did you really think I would give you the old man back? I see you haven't learned anything in all these years... You're still just as naive and manipulable as ever.

Neyzan didn't show an ounce of concern that we would discover foul play on him. He stares at Kassia, causing her to step forward questioningly, her voice cracking with her own anger.

- This was not what we agreed to! Retrieve Marcus, Now! -Kassia screams with a desperation I've never seen in her before. She was terrified, and she was no longer able to hide it-

- I just used the same tactic as you. Use a decoy to impersonate Marcus's son? I can play that game too...

Kassia remains frozen in place, unable to answer Neyzan's accusations.

- Kassia, what's going on? Status report. -Darius's voice blares over our comlinks, terse, and uneasy. But there is no answer. - General!

The leader wakes up to her shock as she hears Darius call out to her by her rank. A low, powerful, bone-shaking growl traveled from her throat to the ground under her wheels, reaching my knees, and made me look up again at the front of the formation.

Kassia holds the position. Imposing and fierce. Doing what a Leader should do.

- ... The exchange cannot be completed. This time you've gone way too far, Neyzan. And you are going to pay for it. I will personally make sure of that.

- If you are so dissatisfied with the human... Then, give it back.-

Neyzan bargains with the life of the man he used as a decoy. The squad falls silent upon hearing him claim his prisoner back. But it didn't matter that this man wasn't Marcus Hopper, Kassia wouldn't throw him back into the jaws of the Vortex cause. And Neyzan seemed to know that very well.

Adara hurried to secure the injured man on the gurney inside Tori, and once it was safe to transport him, she returned to my side, helping me up off the floor.

I leaned on her shoulder, feeling that I lacked the strength to walk.

- You know very well what I really want, and it's not that key... But I don't need to tell you. As I already said, you already know that... -Neyzan slowly advances forward, fixing his eyes on his target. Dheera follows close behind-...Give it to me, and I will let your soldiers return home to their families, safe and sound. There will be no deaths to mourn today.

- ... Never-

Kassia takes a defensive position, accepting the fate of the decisions she has made. Her Warriors and Hunters back up her decision by roaring ferociously at the enemy.

The message is clear.

This is war.

- Kassia, you have to get out of there, now! -Desperation grows in Darius's voice. Frantic people contacting other squads are heard on our comlinks. They were the mission controllers on Cilt, doing everything they can to get us reinforcements-

Kassia didn't respond to her comm. The opals in her eyes were devoured by Neyzan's incandescent irises. She steps back, slowly and carefully, and the squad replicates her movements. She quietly opened one of her doors, and whispered my name in a way that only I had been able to understand.

Realizing that the General would take care of me, Adara gets back in formation without turning her back on the Vortex. She climbs stealthily and gracefully back to the saddle on Saemus's back, and secures her harness. Iker was still waiting for me, uneasy, but my friend would have to push on without a Ranger at his back for now.

I bend my body until I enter Kassia's cabin, and she delicately closes her door, keeping me protected.

A couple of seconds passed for us to realize that we were not alone. The shadows that came out between the rubble and abandoned buildings were beginning to take definite shapes. There were dozens of them. They look at us with the same look that a predator gives its prey.

Neyzan's gaze tightened on us. His lack of mirrors made it impossible to read his feelings, but his intentions were more than clear; The hunt has begun.

- Abort mission.

One by one, each element of the squadron turned and began the breakaway run, running at full speed, escaping imminent danger. Cilt Warriors are formidable, but they know how to recognize a losing battle before it happens.

Today we have to run. Run for our lives.

Kassia and I were the last to follow the formation.

Neyzan just watched us run, silent and calculating. Dheera watches him anxiously, like a dog ready to run after a hare, faithfully waiting for his master's command to begin the chase. Killian snorted in disgust, and turned, walking back into the jaws of darkness.

The Vortex lord filled his lungs with air, and exhaled with a gesture of superiority.

- You know what to do.-

Dheera pulled a wry smile on his cut lips. He gave a terrifying howl. A bad omen of violence and death. The Vortexes followed like a swarm of wasps, hounding our steps relentlessly.

Zenda leads the formation. The entire squad engulfs me and Kassia. Ciro protects our backs. Darius blasts his voice on all available radio frequencies, demanding a response to his desperate SOS. We run for our lives through the abandoned streets of Kiem as the sun begins to leave us.

Our best chance of survival was to get to the closest bunker to Kiem, but to get there, we would first have to lose the Vortexes that were hunting us, the same Vortexes that were getting closer and closer to us. Their roars instill terror wherever they go, pushing us to continue running through the streets they wanted us to take. But Zenda outsmarted the intimidation tricks of a few outsiders.

Instead of running from them, the veteran Warrior decided to lead us directly towards the enemy. Her squad trusted her blindly the moment she swerved us at an intersection. Iker's training had come in handy so I could resist the G forces the moment Kassia turned.

As we entered the new, empty street, Zenda quickened her pace, and Iker and Ankor followed close behind in an arrowhead formation, leaving the rest of us behind. Zenda's Warriors tightened their formation, running skin to skin. Maverick lay on Ankor's back, reducing his air resistance. Evan kept hidden inside Zenda, holding on where he could.

The trio of hybrids raced blindly, and almost as if predicted, a pair of Vortexes appeared perpendicular to the nearby cruiser, right in front of them. But by the time the Vortexes became aware of the Warriors' presence, it was already too late for them. Zenda rammed into both hybrids with the force of an iron ram, spreading the impact among her comrades guarding her back.

The Vortexes were stunned by the tremendous blow, and fell to the ground. The small strike team disbanded, and they took it upon themselves to disable both enemies effectively. Ankor approached one of them, allowing Maverick to lift his spear into the air, and with a furious battle cry, he plunged his spear into the unfortunate Vortex's door, piercing it from side to side. Iker was in charge of fighting the other hybrid. Making use of the blades attached to his helmet, Iker cut the face and body of his rival until he fled. Zenda gasped and jerked away the pain of the blow to her head, roared to control her fury, and resumed running without giving her time to recover. Soon the squad regrouped again, and the Warriors retook their defensive positions.

An air of hope accompanied us for a few moments, since we had managed to outwit the Vortex. But we couldn't get too confident, as the entire pack of Vortex led by Dheera was still following behind us, and they didn't stop for a moment when they saw two of their wounded soldiers. They simply ran over them, leaving them to fend for themselves, and continued the chase.

Sooner or later they would catch up with us. They were faster, they knew the terrain, and they didn't carry heavy armor that impeded their movement. We had to act if we wanted to avoid a tragedy.

Adara straightens up and unlocks the harness that bound her to Saemus's saddle. She turns around until she faces the enemy, and she reassures herself. She takes her trusty bow and pulls a double-headed arrow from her quiver. She closes her eyes for a few moments, calming her mind and her breathing, to then prepare her bow and hold it tight, waiting for the right moment to shoot. I saw fury on her face that she had never expressed in my presence.

- Shooting the enemy!

The arrow is shot with a harmonic and lethal whistle, characteristic of Cilt's double-headed arrows. The air vibrated as the tension on her bow was released. A roar of pain from the opposite side confirmed the accurate impact.

The whistle of the arrows is enough to strike terror into the Vortex, who have begun to scatter and take alternate routes to avoid being the next target.

Hearing this, Maverick joins the ranged attack. His specialized saddle allows him to rotate without the need to uncouple any harness. Warrior and Huntress fire at the hybrids that have been bold enough to hold their positions, including Dheera.

I witnessed the horde getting closer and closer. Adara cries out in despair as she manages to land a headshot on Dheera, but he is unfazed by it, having the arrow landed on one of his many callous scars. The White Terror seemed to be immune to pain, and that made it our greatest danger.

My heart pounded painfully as I found Evan's crossbow inside Kassia. The opportunity to protect my comrades was now in my hands.

I never thought the day would come when I would have to make such a decision.

I wanted to play the game of pretending to be a Warrior. But now I had to become one if I wanted to survive.

My arms tremble under the weight of the crossbow, and I am unable to move a single muscle.

I look around me, I see those distinguished Warriors and Hunters... I see my friends. I see that the same fear that I felt lived in their eyes.

I see Iker, trying to observe what was happening behind him, terrified of not having anyone to watch his back. My dear friend exchanges glances with me.

No matter how much tragedy he's already had to overcome, his eyes didn't lie in showing his uncertainty; That fearful thought that maybe we wouldn't make it.

I force my hands to stop shaking at once. I grip the crossbow tightly and hold it over my shoulder, looking for a position to settle into to serve as defense for the sides of the formation. Kassia's position was vulnerable to her sides, so I would make sure the Vortexes did not inadvertently approach our sides. I entrust my entire safety to my Leader by leaning directly on her door.

With the Vortexes scattered by Adara and Maverick's arrows, side attacks were now the priority to defend. At this rate, the Vortexes will be running at the same level as us in the streets parallel to ours, and we had to avoid at all costs that they pass us, and block our way further on.

I pay attention to any sign of Vortex picking up speed on the next street. A window of no more than one second opens every time Kassia runs the distance of one block. That window was my only chance to see if the enemy was coming.

I bring the sight of the crossbow in front of my eye. I look at each of the mental photographs that my eyes take of each intersection that we pass at high speed. Double-headed arrows whistle overhead as I wait patiently for any sign of danger ahead.

The tip of an orange nose stands out from the dark and gray panorama of the crumbling buildings. Then it becomes a face. Then a whole head. The Vortex was catching up with us quickly.

My teeth are grinding, my jaw is shaking, but I cannot panic. I tighten my bite and remember the reason why I did it. I wait for the next opportunity to shoot. A window is coming up fast. As soon as I saw my target's skin, I pressed the trigger to release the short, heavy arrow into the air, but the trigger was harder than I expected, and the arrow was released late, causing it to hit a wall and ricochet back, narrowly missing Kassia's body.

I've never had the urge to fire a gun in my life, but once I pull the trigger for the first time, it's easier for me to breathe, and try again.

The Vortex must have heard the missed hit of the arrow, and slowed down until it was no longer even with us. Three more windows went by, and there was no sign of the orange hybrid, which made me doubt that it had really lagged behind.

- Tunnel ahead! 500 meters! -Zenda screams in our ears, completely unaware that she had a communicator-

Adara and Maverick turned back to face each other, and rushed back to their original positions. The tunnel looked narrow and low, so they would have to stick as close as possible to their hybrid companions if they didn't want to be crushed by the rock walls.

Two more intersections were all that separated us from the tunnel. My last two chances to do my job. Wasting no time, I reloaded the crossbow, once again taking the firing position. This time I keep both eyes open, and wait for the right moment to pull the trigger. Some inner instinct had pulled the trigger for me before I could even peek into the next intersection, but that seemed like an unconsciously calculated decision, as the arrow's delay had been coordinated with the tiny window of space. The arrow slipped diagonally between the buildings, and in less than I could blink, it had embedded itself near the Vortex's mouth, completely piercing its cheek. A cry of pain and his subsequent absence at the next intersection confirmed the impact.

Everything went dark around me. I had to touch the inside of Kassia again to make sure she was still there, and that I hadn't suddenly been swallowed by the darkness. A dim bluish light at the end of the tunnel inspires the hybrids to run faster, as we were already close to reaching the border of the city.

The path forks a few meters after the tunnel is finished. The squad stays in a single line and we prepare to take the path to the right.

But as soon as we escape from the jaws of darkness, and the dim light of evening shelters us again, two Vortexes fall on us, having jumped from the top of the tunnel. They had been waiting for us to come out.

One of them lands right next to Kassia, and she manages to dodge it. The other has landed directly on Iker. I could feel the vibration of their falling bodies.

- Iker! -

Half the squad is left behind. I took out the crossbow and took aim without thinking twice, but since it wasn't loaded I couldn't do anything to help them. Another pair of Vortexes came out of the side of the tunnel and began to chase us. We couldn't turn around and help them. Now they were alone.

One of the Vortex bites Iker on his helmet viciously, trying to get to his skull. Meanwhile, Ciro and Saemus found themselves trapped between the tunnel exit and a massive, scarred Raptor pickup truck hybrid that bore the Vortex mark on its front. The truck intimidates both Hunters with its size. Ciro and Saemus roar towards the enemy and open their doors to appear bigger, but the large Vortex is unfazed, pushing them back into the tunnel, but they defend their positions.

Iker is not able to get rid of his attacker. He places a wheel on Iker's head, crushing him to the ground with all his weight without any remorse. They had been taken by surprise, but it was clear that neither Vortex seemed interested in killing them, at least not at the moment.

What at first seemed to be an act of mercy on them, was soon belied by the sound of the Vortex herd entering from the other end of the tunnel. They wanted their Vortex comrades to witness the slaughter of their prisoners.

Adara prepares an arrow on her bow. The Raptor reacts and tenses her body, preparing to jump and attack, even if it means running over Saemus. But the arrow was not aimed at the massive hybrid. Adara fires, and the arrow whistles into the truck's ear, setting off her furious attack.

The double-headed arrow lands into the eye of the Vortex that was imprisoning Iker, blinding the target. Iker breaks free, and furiously lunges at the truck from behind, burying the center blade of his helmet directly into the exposed skin of the Raptor's back. Saemus takes advantage of the moment of distraction to push the truck from below, destabilizing it and causing it to fall onto her side.

There was no time to make sure to neutralize both targets. They were to meet up with the rest of the squad, and soon. Before resuming the path the others followed, Adara secured her spear inside the tunnel, pointing her blade dangerously inward, thus creating a trap in the hope that it would be enough to stall the horde, and buy them valuable seconds of advantage.

~

Kassia and I are the last to successfully cross the bridge.

Last night's storm has increased the river's flow to the point where the bridge is barely able to stand out from the raging surf.

Minutes tick by, and there's no sign of my friends. Their communicators have stopped transmitting.

I walked anxiously along the river bank, looking for the best angle to spot the Kiem border, hoping for any sign that they were safe, and on their way.

But there was no answer.

Darius confirms that they're still on the move, though they've had to take an alternate route to the bridge. They are right now inside a maze of buildings, playing the macabre game of the Vortex, running blindly until they can find salvation.

Kassia and Zenda guard the bridge, both studying its structure carefully, keeping a keen eye on the other side of the river at all times. My stomach knotted when I understood that what they were discussing among themselves was the way in which they would knock down the bridge, in case the Vortex wanted to cross the river.

Our Leader would never leave her soldiers behind. But if it endangered the rest of the squad, she was willing to make a difficult decision.

It was preferable that half the squadron be saved, than that none of us return.

- ... Please... come back... -I look anxiously towards the opposite end of the bridge. Denying myself the possibility that something bad had happened to them, and that I would never see them again. My heart beats so slowly, and so weakened by fear, that I feel time stretch painfully-... Please...

We wait patiently for our fellow comrades. But hope begins to leave us as time goes by.

Kassia and Zenda share resigned looks, accepting the possibility that they hadn't made it, and again considering the option of collapsing the old bridge.

Every second we waited for them was a second the Vortex took advantage of, and they both knew that better than anyone.

Just as a consensus had been reached to cut the only access road into the city, an instantly recognizable roar traveled through the air, making us all look up again.

- Iker?

- Can you hear me? We are close to reaching the bridge! I repeat, we are on our way! -Iker's communicator comes into range again, allowing us to finally hear him-

- Understood, proceed carefully when crossing the bridge. It is very unstable. -The General responds to Iker's call, stepping back so as not to hinder the arrival of our comrades-

The hybrid trio is led by Iker. Two yellow dots and one blue is the only thing we can perceive from our current position. Fortunately there were no more hybrids following them, but that wouldn't last forever, and they knew it. They should use all the time they had to get to safety on the other side of the river.

Iker crossed first. The current and strong winds only increased, and the floor under his wheels became slippery every time a wave washed over the surface of the bridge. As Iker fights the tempest, Ciro looks back nervously, taking care that the Vortexes are not nearby.

- Cross the bridge. Now! -Ciro gives the order to Saemus and Adara, who weren't too sure about it when they saw that Iker still hadn't reached the other side, but something in the old Porsche's instincts knew there was no time to lose- I said cross! Now!

The Hunter couple obeys Ciro without question.

Unlike Iker, Saemus was much bigger and heavier, and his movements were not as graceful and precise. The bridge twists and creaks violently as the current of water deforms its supports from the bottom, and Saemus must cross slowly if he doesn't want to be pushed by the waves. Adara embraces his trusty Camaro, entrusting her life to him.

Once Saemus had already reached halfway, Iker has finally reached solid ground again. He drops his body to the floor, gasping for air. He couldn't even rest his chin on the ground, as my hands received it to hold his head up. I couldn't let him succumb to his exhaustion completely, or else he wouldn't get up again.

Iker closes his eyes trying to restore his breathing. He hid his face by pressing it against my body, unable to utter a single word between the gulps of air that were desperately sucked into his lungs.

- I know... I know, don't worry. You're safe now... just breathe. -I comfort my friend by letting him rest for a moment. His body shakes, and I wasn't sure if it was just from exhaustion. While Iker recovers, I direct my gaze towards those who have not yet crossed to the other side-

Saemus treads carefully down the same path that Iker took before him. The concern in his gaze didn't lie in showing his terror of the water, and the fact of having to trust his safety in a rusty metal passageway.

A violent jolt from the bridge completely halts their progress. One of the metal braces has detached from the bridge, causing it to tilt away from the current of the water. The sound of the cable freeing itself from its tether has once again put Iker on alert, who gets up on all four wheels again. Saemus was able to stabilize himself in time, but he froze right where he stopped, digging one of his claws into the buoyant side of the bridge, the pupils in his eyes dilating in panic, unable to take a breath, being unable to take one more step out of fear of collapsing the rest of the structure.

- Saemus, don't stop! -Iker rushes until he reaches the exit of the bridge again, but Kassia stops him to prevent him from getting too close. He quickly checks the state of the structure before yelling back at Saemus- The bridge will still hold, but you have to hurry!

Maybe Iker really knew what he was saying. Maybe he was just saying it to calm him down and keep him walking, even knowing that the bridge was about to collapse. I wasn't sure of either option. All I knew was that it was working. Saemus moved slowly but surely down the lopsided, slippery surface, using his claw to hold firmly to the metal railing that was left pointing skyward.

Adara looks back, signaling to Ciro to start crossing anyway. The Porsche looks back one last time, just as its sixth sense has told it to, and cautiously proceeds onto the bridge, completely ignoring the occasional lurching from the current.

- You do well Saemus! ... Just a little more... -Ciro encourages his comrade, swallowing his own fear for the good of both. The experienced Hunter makes sure not to take an extra step that Saemus hasn't taken at the other end of the bridge-

Adara makes sure to give Ciro the necessary instructions so that he can cross in the fastest and safest way. Each hole, each deformation in the metal, and each weak point of the bridge, she paid attention to everything... To everything, except the white shadow, which hid behind Ciro's silhouette until finally finding him, and taking him by surprise.

- Ciro, watch out! Behind you! -Adara drew an arrow on her bow, but she had taken too long-

Dheera has caught up with us. Out of all the Vortexes that have hunted us, the White Terror somehow found us first. And he was here to claim his right to first blood.

Completely ignorant of the fragility of the bridge, Dheera ran and lunged at Ciro, biting him on the back, writhing to open great wounds on his skin, trying to drag him back to the city, back to the clan that must look forward to his return,of their bloodthirsty soldier.

The duel unleashed between both hybrids shakes the bridge to its foundations. Saemus hugs the bridge for dear life. The jolt causes Adara to shoot in vain into the water, and her bow is ripped from her hand by the tempest. If it wasn't for the fact that she was tied to Saemus, she would have been dragged along as well. The pair of Hunters have been trapped, with no option to reach the shore safely, while Ciro fights for his life behind them.

Ciro manages to get out of Dheera's grasp, and returns the attack with the same force. He rammed the pale hybrid into his side, driving the blade of his helmet straight into the flesh of the door, but Dheera didn't react to the pain, even as the wound bled to the ground.

Ciro had never faced anything like this. His shock at realizing that pain would not drive his enemy back gave Dheera the perfect opportunity to outwit Ciro's reflexes with cold dexterity, landing a bite just behind his head, trying to reach his neck.

His armor has protected him from Dheera crushing his neck, but his carelessness has caused him to relinquish full control of his body, unable to bend and defend.

Ciro, the fearless and experienced Hunter, had been dominated by the White Terror. And that tragic picture remains burned into the mind of the squad.

- No... NO! Ciro! -Iker rushes with all his might towards the bridge, willing to risk his life to prevent Dheera from taking another important person away from him-

Kassia restrains him with all her strength to prevent him from returning to the dangerously wobbly bridge. She along with Zenda manage to combat the strength of the determined Warrior. Saemus turns his body back to Ciro, equally inspired to return and offer support to the one who always had his back. The Hunter couple were the only ones who could help him now.

Ciro seemed to realize this, as did Dheera. The Vortex kept his prey secure even after seeing the intentions of Cilt's soldiers, who angrily returned to support his partner. Dheera stood still, biting just behind Ciro's head, not making an extra move.

Just watching the Hunters arrive... Waiting for them, intentionally.

- No! Stop! -Ciro desperately yelled towards his comrades, being unable to stop their march-

Something in his unerring instinct made him turn toward the city. And there, materializing from the shadows, the Vortex lord's eyes gleamed with delight as he recognized the hybrid caught in the jaws of his loyal soldier. Neyzan smiles cynically, slowly approaching the bridge without the rest of the squad being able to see him.

Ciro sees his squad again, his friends.

He watches Saemus struggle with the water washing away the flooded areas of the bridge, all for a slim chance of saving his mentor.

Adara has run out of her prized weapons, but pulls a knife as a last resort, riding Saemus's back fearlessly.

He watches Iker, refusing to be contained by his own Leader, with half a squad preventing him from returning to the battlefield.

The General struggles to maintain order in the squad, which has fallen prey to panic.

He listens to Darius's voice on his comlink, growing desperate not knowing what was happening, his voice as young and uncertain as the first time they met.

Finally, Iker finds a way to escape the protective embrace of his squadron, and rushes into battle without a second thought, entering the bridge again, completely ignoring the warnings.

But Ciro cannot allow this to get worse. Not for him.

He gathers all the will and strength he has left inside of him, and once he's ready, he unleashes it with the most powerful roar I've ever heard from him. Fury runs through his body as a last resort. He jerks so violently that he has forced Dheera to rip off his helmet as the only alternative to holding him still, unintentionally releasing his prey. Ciro distanced himself from Dheera, while he prepared for a real confrontation.

Dheera tries to intimidate Ciro with his terrifying howl, but Ciro was not going to run away again, he was not going to allow anyone else to put his squad at risk. To his friends. To his family.

So he took off, and charged.

He charged toward the anchor point for the last cables that kept the bridge afloat.

It hadn't been a mistake. He had not missed his only chance to avenge all of them who have suffered because of the White Terror and the Vortex cause. He hadn't been caught up in his own state of fury. That had been his conscious decision.

The direct impact shattered the weakened metal, violently releasing the thick cables into the air that writhed like metal snakes. One of them hit him in the face, making him scream in pain.

The bridge begins to collapse. Dheera feels the floor crumble beneath his wheels, and instinctively runs to safety, but Ciro lunges at him, digging his own claws into the Vortex's white skin, in a deadly embrace that Dheera cannot escape. Ciro gives one last smile of calm and acceptance, his face bloody from his fresh wound, watching his squad on the other side. Both hybrids fall along with the bridge, being swept away by the black waters of the river.

Saemus, Adara and Iker didn't have time to even react to what was happening right in front of them. The bridge collapses and they go with it in the blink of an eye. The rumble echoed from the buildings near the river, bouncing off my ears so many times, and in the end, it wasn't enough to make me react immediately. The collapse of the bridge displaced the water beyond the shore line, causing everyone to step back to avoid being engulfed by the water...everyone except me, who in absolute denial began to walk towards the rubble, completely ignoring the water that already covered my knees, listening to my own heart pounding.

I feel a couple hands wrap around my stomach from behind, insistently pulling me to the safety of dry land.

- No Tyler, don't do it! You will only make the current take you. -Evan does his best to redirect my advance with his words, but in the end he must use his strength to make me lose balance on my legs, and drag me back with the rest of the squad, keeping me safe against my will. -

The boy, who seemed delicate when posing as a civilian, was able to drag my weakened body several meters along the ground, and he did not trust me to let go of his protective embrace until he was sure that I would not try to get back into the water.

I watch, incapacitated, as the rest of my teammates frantically search for ways to rescue the fallen ones, as there was a chance they might have been trapped in the rubble when the bridge collapsed, rather than being carried away by the current.

At the other end of the river, Neyzan gets as close to the disaster zone as possible along with what's left of his Vortex pack. He searches for Dheera, expecting to see him rise from the water and join him, until he realizes that his most loyal follower has been swept away. Turning to see us, his face fills with rage. Neyzan orders his Vortex to follow him up the river, and the horde rushes to his side without questioning their leader's directions.

They are gone. For now.

The Warriors are able to improvise a lifeline by weaving together Ranger and hybrid safety harnesses. They tossed the rope in the direction of the sharp metal spikes jutting out of the water, and after a couple of tries, the strap assembly was anchored, ready for someone in the squad to cautiously approach to rescue our comrades.

Before any element of the squad could prepare to jump to the rescue, a blast of water and air shoots up to the surface, taking everyone by surprise. Iker was able to stick his head out of the water for a few seconds to expel the water he had inhaled, as well as take a desperate breath. But there was no time to relax, because just when he was able to replenish himself with oxygen, he went completely under the water again, this time intentionally.

The seconds were counted. Maverick takes the risk of going into the water, entrusting his life to the makeshift rope his colleagues created a moment ago. The turbulent waters, and the lack of light make it impossible to see any movement, but a human hand rose to the surface, and made everyone exclaim urgently to rescue it. Maverick takes the desperate hand, and with the strength of one of his arms pulls Adara back to the surface, she hugs Maverick weakly, while he holds her by the harnesses she still had on, trying his best to keep her face out of the water.

I completely ignored previous warnings, and went over to help Adara before Maverick made landfall again. The Warrior did not hesitate for a second in me, and he brought Adara as close as possible to the shore so that I would receive her. I took her firmly and carried her in my arms. With a safe and careful step I got out of the water, and I laid Adara down on the grass, completely weakened, unable to breathe properly. I tried to remove the harnesses, but my fingers were frozen by the river water.

At that moment I remembered that I was also carrying a knife in my armor, and I didn't doubt it for a second when I cut through their Ranger harnesses. Her safety rope was still there, though snapped in half. Nothing was capable of breaking a safety rope like that, nothing, except a Warrior Hybrid's blade. Iker had to cut the safety rope to rescue Adara. And that only meant one thing; Saemus was completely buried in the rubble, and it was easier to free one of them, rather than trying to get them both out at the same time.

I flip Adara onto her side, and using the blade of my knife I pry at the joints of the larger pieces of her armor as the only method of freeing her from her breastplate. The knife begins to bend, and just before it reaches its critical point, the internal lock of the armor breaks, and I am finally able to remove it.

Immediately after removing the armor, Adara is able to cough and breathe properly. All the extra weight of the water along with her armor had suffocated her, but now that she was out of armor, she could finally breathe.

She seemed to calm down when she saw my face, but that only lasted a couple of seconds.

She still wasn't able to stand up, but that didn't stop her from trying. She turned around, desperately searching for her lover. Horror filled her face as she realized that he was still submerged, and that the Warriors were still trying to pull him out of the river.

She screamed his name with heartbreaking helplessness. I hugged her tightly and held her to the ground with me, not to reassure her, but to restrict her movement. It was no use trying to join the rescue, as they were already doing everything they could, without much success. My arms shake from holding her tightly, and watching her suffering, fearing the worst.

Iker comes out to breathe once more, this time being on the verge of succumbing to exhaustion and cold himself. He dives back in, coordinating with the other hybrids, who yanked on the rope and managed to move a large piece of metal to the side. Long seconds of silence pass, keeping the tension on the rope, this being the last hope for rescue.

A large yellow body rises to the surface at last.

Iker carries Saemus on his back, using his weight to his advantage so neither of them would get swept away by the current. Adara tried to free herself as soon as he saw them both get out of the water, and she did. He broke free of my grasp and ran in the direction of her beloved Camaro, which was immediately attended to by Tori as soon as Iker brought it ashore.

I also went to help my friend. I took off his helmet, seeing that it was putting too much pressure on his head, and hugged him tightly, unable to believe how stupidly lucky he's been to cheat death more than once in the same day.

Saemus was unconscious, his body resting on the ground without any reaction. It's time for Tori to do her magic to bring him back to life. She instructs Evan to carefully insert a tube down Saemus's throat, straight into his lungs, and once he's in position, that tube is connected to a small machine that Tori carries inside her. The small pump generates suction, and is capable of draining the water from Saemus's lungs roughly, but effectively. As soon as the vacuum has regenerated inside of him, and seeing that Saemus has attempted to inhale the tube, Tori immediately pulls it out of his airway, allowing the bulky hybrid to cough and catch his breath. Thanks to her, there isn't another loss on our squad.

But there was no time to take a breath, nor to think of a new plan of action. The squadron was exhausted, wounded, and completely unable to withstand a second encounter with the Vortexes. The chances of surviving another ambush were slim, and that number dwindled with every minute we waited here.

We lost Ciro. Saemus was badly wounded and couldn't continue the journey without assistance, Tori had to protect the impostor from the exchange inside her, and the few elements left standing were exhausted, unable to protect the squad on their own.

The situation is critical, and it was not necessary for someone to say it for it to become true. Everyone already knew it inside;

We have lost.

- We have to rescue Ciro...-He has barely restored his breathing. Iker doesn't hesitate to be the first to raise his voice, standing again with trembling wheels. I watched him from the ground, knowing perfectly well that he wouldn't have the strength to stand up for much longer, and even so, he wouldn't give up-... He shouldn't be far away, I know. We just have to continue down the river and we'll find him...

Iker walks in the direction of General Kassia, almost dragging one of his wheels, but she quietly watches in the direction of the source of the river, completely ignoring her Warrior.

- ... No. -But it is not Kassia who answers Iker's plea, but his devastated Hybrid Leader from miles away. Defeat permeates the voice of the Supreme Leader, leaving everyone in a deathly silence-... You must leave the area as soon as possible. Go to the bunker closest to Kiem, and wait for instructions... You can't do anything for him. -Heartbroken, Darius gives the order to leave his friend behind, for the good of the rest of the squad-

They all look at Kassia for confirmation of said order. A difficult decision was about to be made, and it had to be soon.

Ankor and Tori finish preparations to transport Saemus safely. Both hybrids deploy a stretcher-shaped platform for Saemus, and once they manage to secure it, they join forces to carry it between them.

Kassia's eyes follow the source of the river, thinking about the next step to take, to bring all the remaining squad to safety.

- ...The Vortexes have advanced upriver, to a shallow water path to cross the river. There is no time to lose. We must reach safety.

The answer did not take Iker by surprise, although a clear desolation appeared in his expression. He doesn't say another word, and he returns to formation. He dropped to the ground right next to where Adara and I secured Saemus to the gurney, and once Iker got close to us, I already knew what that meant.

I climbed back on his back, once more securing my harnesses to his saddle. I extended a hand to Adara, which she took skeptically, but when Iker didn't resist, she climbed up his side to sit behind me on the saddle, hugging my body as she had no other way to hold on, watching with concern to her lover, from another Ranger's seat.

We left as soon as we were ready to resume the race, leaving behind many belongings that only generated ballast in our flight.

We advance through the night forest at a pace that the weakened hybrids can afford. Our life depends on how fast we get to the bunker, and even so, they no longer have the strength to run. We are forced to walk at the speed at which Tori and Ankor were carrying Saemus. It was the cost to pay if we didn't want to lose one more element of the squad.

The relatively silent walk is disturbed by the distant howling of an unknown hybrid. The squad goes on alert without stopping to analyze the source of the sound. We tried to pick up the pace, but we couldn't keep up for long. Our minutes were counted. The Vortexes have found our trail, and have officially resumed the hunt.

We turned to look at each other, aware that we might have to fight again, soon. I handed over my weapons to Adara so she would not feel so vulnerable, and that she would be able to protect herself when the time came. She was shaking, and it wasn't just from the cold and her clothes still soaked. I took back the crossbow with which I defended myself before.

In Ciro's absence, the General watched the backs of the entire squadron. But she began to fall behind, little by little, until she came to a complete stop halfway, not saying a single word to her own squad.

- Hey stop! Kassia has been left behind!-

The team stops abruptly, we regroup with our Leader and await orders, while she simply gasps, closing her eyes without offering any response. She looked tired, but not enough to have forced a break, not in a situation like this.

- Kassia, what's wrong? You can't stop now. You are halfway to the bunker. You must continue. -Darius ordered sternly. But there is no response from the Leader, who finally seems to get rid of the tension in her gaze, replacing it with peaceful eyes, which observe us, each and every one of the elements of her squad-... Kassia. Are you listening?

- ... I hear you, Darius... -The unusual look of hers confuses us, and she manages to make us nervous, knowing that the Vortexes were getting closer with each second that we spent here, and our Leader seemed to have forgotten for a moment the danger of the situation. I can't understand the reason for her actions. Until I realized that that little smile was one of resignation and acceptance. And then I understood. And I felt a part of me being ripped in anger from my chest-

- What are you waiting for?... I just gave you an order.- His tone was strong, making his concern more and more evident- The Vortexes won't be long in reaching your position... Listen to me! -Darius begins to despair, because no matter how much he said to the communicator, he was not able to make his partner see reason.

- ... You must continue without me. I will face Neyzan to buy you some time. So you can reach the bunker safely.

- No! -Zenda makes her way from the head of the formation, exclaiming her anger at what she had just heard. She positions herself right in front of Kassia, trying to intimidate her and make her change her mind, but the General doesn't change her gesture for a second, regardless of the fact that her mentor was right in front of her, ready to refute her own Leader's decisions- You don't have to do this... Not like this! If you think I'll let you face that demon by yourself, you're wrong. Let me fight by your side!

- No, Zenda. I need you to guide them to the bunker and protect them... You know there is no other option. It's me who he wants. If I give him what he wants, he'll let you go safely. Otherwise...they'll kill us all.

- There must be another way, there always is! We just have to hurry up and we'll get to the bunker on time... -The voice of the veteran Warrior weakens, and breaks. She knew perfectly well that she wouldn't be able to make her change her mind-... Please... I can't let you do this.

Kassia presses her nose against Zenda's, whom I have seen shed tears for the first time. The entire squad has been in shock. But no one else dares to question the decisions made, the only thing we can do is continue, and not waste the General's sacrifice.

No one had any doubt. This was the farewell.

- ...Take my place on the Council of Leaders. Keep everyone safe... And never lose hope. -Not a whole lifetime would be enough for Kassia to know what to say to that hybrid, who adopted her as her daughter from the moment Darius introduced her as her mate. The Warrior who taught her to fight, and the one who has been by her side at all times. Ensuring her survival, and that of all of her faithful soldiers, was the only thing she could do to thank her. It was what a Leader should do-

- ... -Zenda squeezes her eyes shut, swallowing back the painful sob that she was fighting to escape from her throat. She lets go of the tears that she kept, the last ones that she will shed for her Leader while she is still present. Zenda's eyes fill with determination and fury, as she remembers her place as the protector of the squad. The veteran Warrior faithfully follows a last order from her Leader-... So be it.

Zenda closes her eyes, and jerks away from Kassia's touch of the nose, leaving her Leader behind as she was commanded. Zenda had to be strong and suppress her feelings if she wanted to accomplish her mission of getting us all to the safety of the bunker.

Kassia catches eyes with me one last time. The terrible feeling of not knowing if I would see her again invades me, making my mind record her look perfectly in my memories, a look that only lasted a couple of seconds, before she turned her back on us, waiting straight ahead. May her fate come to her.

There was no time for goodbyes.

The moonless sky embraces the Leader in her darkness.

Peace, before the storm.

We continue on our way, with a broken heart, and the only certainty that we have failed our Leaders. Adara hugs my body tightly, hiding her face behind my back. I feel her warm tears slip down my neck. Now our only clue as to what would happen would be to listen to the Leaders on our comlinks.

- No... No! What are you doing?! -Darius screams in despair, so much so that his voice had lost all traces of the stoic Leader, and now we could only hear a terrified hybrid, completely unable to do anything to protect his mate. A man who had no choice, besides being a spectator of the storm that would fall on his most loved one- Kass?... Kassia!-

Chaos breaks out at Cilt's command center.

The mission coordinators gather forces to try to get their Leader out of the room, as he was about to have a panic attack in the middle of the command center, and that could put many people and himself at risk, making him lose his mind because of his feelings.

- My Leader, you have to get out of here, Now! -

Darius struggles against whoever gets in his way, human or hybrid. A couple of humans try to remove the headband with the microphone he used to communicate with the squad, but Darius only needed to shake them both off, effectively preventing them from removing his only means of communication with Kassia. His aggressiveness and potential for him to hurt someone keep everyone at bay, relegating him to witness the action unfold, far from Cilt territory.

- Kassia, what are you doing?! Go back to Cilt!- Tears finally seize Darius, and in the middle of his painful sobs, he tries by all means to make his beloved repent and return to the formation with the others, without any success.- Please... Please don't do it! Don't do this to me!-

- Calm, my love... everything will be fine.

Darius looks up at the divine voice of his beloved. His breathing stops trying to capture each of her words, as if trying to hold on to her distant presence, and not let her go. His desperate crying stops, being replaced by a pleading voice, filled with anguish and remorse.

- Kass... Please... -Darius is unable to say anything else without a lump in his throat preventing him. The people who had previously tried to force him out of the room have now expressed their solidarity with their Supreme Leader, horrified to hear the news that the General would not return home- ... Forgive me... I should have made you stay... Please... Don't leave me... I can't do this alone.

Kassia cries silently at his pleas. But she had to pretend to be strong, for her and hers beloved Darius.

- You have to be strong, Darius... Don't give up hope. Even if Neyzan has the chance, he won't kill me. I serve him more alive, and you know it... I will return to you, it is a promise.

- ... When? -Darius's voice breaks, completely unable to process and comprehend what was happening.

Kassia sighs deeply, unable to answer said question. She lifts her gaze to the dark sky, drying her tears on the chilly, humid night air.

- ...Don't turn off the fireplace, just in case...Keep my side of the bed warm...So when I come back, you'll feel like I never left.

He knew, that she had no idea if she would ever return.

Silent tears rolled down his cheeks without Darius being able to stop them, though a small, broken, wistful smile played on his lips, trembling to utter any more words.

- And... I'll make sure to get the sweets you like... They'll be at the usual place, for you to take whenever you want... - His voice trails off, and he can't contain the pain any longer. His heart has been torn to shreds imagining the empty spaces in his home, and his day by day without her-... I can't do it.

- Be brave, my love... Cilt needs his Leader. They all need you. Protect them. -In the distance, the shadows of the Vortexes are fast approaching. Not even the presence of the enemy was enough to hasten the parting of the lovers. Kassia closes her eyes, imagining Darius in front of her, just as the day they said goodbye-... It's time, and I don't want you to hear this. Please let me go, like you promised. -The Vortex stops when they find themselves in front of Kassia, they keep their distance without knowing why she waited so calmly and patiently, thinking that it was a trap. Kassia turned back to the sky, her conscience being at peace-... I love you.

Kassia cuts communications with the command center.

The static, and the silence in the room is the only thing that accompanies Darius in his pain.

Paralyzed with the realization that his beloved would not return, the broken Leader rests his head on the monitor, lighting his face a cold, unfeeling blue as his tears fade peacefully on his skin.

His faithful followers gather around him, mourning the sacrifice of their Leader, some of them dropping to their knees as their strength fails them. The shock is silent, and yet, it was overwhelming to the senses.

One of the brave colleagues who moments ago tried to snatch the microphone from Darius, now approaches his Leader with gentle caution, taking care of his steps and his words, so as not to disturb the wounded LaFerrari, who was lying on the floor, in absolute stillness and silence.

- ... Sir. -The human knelt next to him, keeping a respectful distance from his Leader. The image in front of him forces him to hold back the tears in his eyes, while he takes courage to speak-... orders, my Leader. -

Darius opens his eyes, reddened from crying. He gives a pained look to everyone present in the control room, noting the sadness on their faces. He forces his expression to go numb. He had to be strong. Strong like his love. And handle adversity like the Leader that he is.

With tears still running down his cheeks, Darius sighs, and resumes his position, strong and immovable as a fortress. Taking his subjects out of the traumatic state of mind.

- ...Contact all Warriors and Hunters outside of Cilt. Abort all missions on neutral lands. Make everyone come back home... Call for a curfew, and keep it active until further notice. Close the doors. No one leaves Cilt without my permission.

Darius nods assertively to his colleagues, making them run back to their work stations, without question or delay. Mission controllers rush to contact each and every squadron with active missions in the neutral lands, passing on the exact statement from Leader Darius, wasting no time in explaining.

The alarm goes off throughout the city. The citizens, completely unaware of what was happening at the time, are intimidated by the heart-rending synthetic scream from the loudspeakers, and flee to the safety of their homes, calming each other down, hoping that whatever it is will pass soon.

Too broken to surface, and be faced with the fact that he would not find his love waiting for him to return home, Darius decides to remain underground, being just another mission controller, helping his loyal followers with the heavy workload. For there was nothing more he could do, besides make sure that others returned home, safe and sound. Trying not to imagine what Kassia was about to face.

Meanwhile, the General maintains her position.

Neyzan's lackeys have surrounded her from every angle, but she is undeterred by them, even if they did their best to instill terror with their howls and nefarious laughs.

No one dares to touch the Cilt Leader, as they knew very well that she was Neyzan's property.

Hearing the commotion on the road ahead of him, the Vortex lord rushes to see what was causing the commotion and delay of his troops, and the reason why they have disobeyed the simple order to hunt down the squad. But he finally arrives on the scene, drenched in river water and his own sweat, panting with exhaustion and rage, and what he sees in front of him is more than enough to forgive his hybrids' disobedience, and completely forget about the ruthless persecution.

There is not an ounce of fear in Kassia. She is not ashamed to look into Neyzan's eyes, and smile wryly at the hybrid who has caused so much pain and loss to her loved ones. She would not let him see her suffering. Her firm demeanor doesn't bow to Vortexes so easily. This was her time to face her demons.

- ... I admit it's not what I expected, but at the same time, I don't know why I'm not surprised.

Neyzan and his minions laugh as they catch the breath that the chase took from them. His words release a cloud of warm breath every time he opens his mouth, for he had to swim across the violent river. And even though Neyzan was about to freeze, his sadistic smile remained attached to his face. He spends a few moments rejoicing at the vulnerability of his enemy, allowing himself the luxury of pretending to be nice to her.

- You know me well... You knew this would end like this from the moment you saw me, didn't you? -Kassia speaks calmly, making the Vortex leader stop laughing at her-

- Predictable as always...I knew that you didn't have the courage to give me the boy when I asked you to, but I still hoped that you would consider it after losing one of your own...And still, you managed to disappoint me. -Neyzan's companions surround Kassia, making her breathe deeply and quickly, while Neyzan approaches her without haste, both facing each other, with mere centimeters of distance between them- ... Although I will gladly take your surrender as a payment of good faith... All that remains is for you to give me the boy, and I will no longer be a problem for your beloved Warriors. I promise.

Kassia starts giggling, sneering in Neyzan's face, which Neyzan is not amused at all. The other Vortexes turn to look at each other, as they watch the Cilt Leader make a deadly decision. Neyzan makes an angry gesture, waiting for Kassia to finish her little display of how little she fears the lord of the Vortex. By the time she calms down, all is quiet, and only her heavy breathing is audible.

- Surrender? -Kassia let out a last laugh, before transforming all her feelings into pure fury, reflected in her eyes as her pupils fully dilated, looking at Neyzan in a threatening way-... Show me what you're made of.

The gray Lamborghini, whose spiteful eyes dance like fire in the dark, refuses to give Kassia another second of mercy. He watches her with suppressed rage, clenching his jaw so hard he could break his own teeth.

- Then... So be it. You dirty traitor.-

The pack of hybrids ruthlessly pounce on Kassia, biting and tearing any part of her body that their teeth have access to. She roars in pain, feeling her skin tear at every angle, completely suffocated by the mass of hybrids on top of her. But that only lit the fuse of her fury.

With a reverberating roar that shook every cell of her enemies, Kassia brushed off Neyzan's minions, who had deluded themselves that attacking in a group would not do them any good. Kassia bites into the door of one of them, pulverizing the bones with the force of her jaw, ripping it off in one clean move. That hybrid was silent for a few moments, unable to understand why they couldn't close their door again. Then came the pain, and the realization. The wounded soldier retreats from the battle, howling in pain and traumatic brutality.

The others move away from Kassia immediately. They weren't stupid, they had realized that they were dealing with an opponent like no other.

Neyzan might be the warlord, but Kassia was the tempest, cruel and impartial, taking every life that stood between her and her fate, doling out the justice that was taken from her man, and the people of hers.

- Don't just stand there! Attack! -Neyzan demands from a high position on the ground from where he can see the action taking place, although unfortunately for him, it would not be a pleasant sight for him-

The Vortex soldiers look at each other, too fearful to disobey their master's orders, and not manipulable enough to try the same strategy again. 

Kassia spits out the bloody door that until then she had been holding between her teeth. Her blood trickles down her chin, as her eyes' daggers glare at her opponents, all at once.

At last, one of them is the brave fool who tries to attack again, this time jumping directly onto Kassia's back, digging their claws into her skin to hold onto her. At this point in the battle, she is completely impervious to pain. Completely unaware that she had a hybrid pinned to her back, she lunges directly at one of the largest of the group, striking it in the side using her head like a hammer, and knocking them over, exposing its perfectly aligned throat with her razor-sharp fangs, biting until suffocating.

The Vortex behind her continued to stab her with its claws repeatedly, in a vague attempt to divert her attention to save their partner, but it was too late. Kassia rolled over, crushing her enemy with her own weight, and using her own claws, she ripped open their stomach.

Neyzan begins to get nervous. He has lost three hybrids in the blink of an eye. He steps down from his pedestal cautiously, watching her every move during the battle, watching Kassia slaughter his soldiers as they cry out to the monarch for his help, but the tyrant leader does not answer for them.

Kassia disables a fourth hybrid by dislocating their jaws when they try to forcibly hold her, causing her to slam them into a tree. The battle is bloody and merciless, and what at first seemed to be an unfair fight for her, ended up being the undoing of the poor deluded people who underestimated her strength.

But the General was beginning to tire.

Sensing even the slightest trace of weakness from her, the last two fighting-capable Vortexes grabbed the leader from both doors, biting and holding tight so she couldn't move. Kassia was a hurricane, she shakes violently to free herself from it, but her strength begins to fail her. The adrenaline shot that the fury gave her was beginning to dissipate in her blood as it poured out of her gaping wounds.

The sad light of the night sky is eclipsed by a shadow of incandescent eyes, and then came the pain. Taking advantage of the fact that Kassia had been held by his pawns, Neyzan unloaded all his fury in a well-aimed blow to the General's head, taking her out of reality for a few moments. Vortex soldiers have learned to stay away from Neyzan when he decides to get involved in battle, since the lord of the Vortex does not distinguish between friend or foe when his teeth have tasted the blood of others.

Neyzan charges at Kassia with brutal force, pushing her straight into the trees with no chance to defend herself. Her back impacts against the sturdy trunks, depriving her of the air she needs to recover her energy.

Giving her no rest and mercy, Neyzan bites into Kassia's side, carries the leader's entire body with no more than the strength of his jaws, and having complete and utter control of her, uses his own weight to spin, and throw her at the other end of the dueling zone.

Kassia rolls to the ground, unable to stop the brutal momentum that has sent her flying. Her body finally stops, leaving her resting on the ground on her side. A bad position to catch her breath, but she couldn't move another muscle. Unable to return to a safe position, and feeling the stifling pain of internal injuries, Kassia sobs quietly in pain, anger, and panic.

The Vortex leader slowly approaches his defeated rival, enjoying the sight before him.

But this wasn't just about winning. It was about making her suffer.

Wasting no time on pretentious monologues, Neyzan decides to end this once and for all. He gains momentum and rises on his rear wheels, keeping his balance just long enough to send a message to all who are listening, roaring with primal rage, to witness what is to come.

Tons of pressure are discharged in a single blow directly into the door that protects the General's side. Her bones cracked, and her roar of pain silenced the forest.

And then, everything stayed in a cold, and deafening silence.

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The depressing silence in the bunker is eventually broken by Zenda's voice on the phone. reporting the situation to the command center. Ankor has found refuge in the deepest corner of the bunker, completely away from the others. Evan cries inconsolably in Maverick's arms, without Maverick being able to do anything to reassure him, apart from lulling him to sleep and waiting for his crying to tire him out.

Sitting on the ground, I look resentfully at the man who lies asleep in front of me. I watch him the same way a guard watches a prisoner, without a single shred of empathy. That stretcher should be occupied by my father, and not by this man who doesn't even belong to ours. He rests so peacefully, completely unaware of how much it has cost to rescue him.

I hug my legs tightly so as not to fall apart, at the thought that all this has been in vain.

- ... How? -Iker breaks the silence, but no one has the strength to look up from the ground-... How is it that we have confused this man with Marcus? ...How come we let this happen?

Tori takes a closer look at the man, closely inspecting the clothes he was wearing before undressing him to tend to his injuries, noting the lab coat he was covered in during the exchange.

- ... The General must have noticed Marcus's scent in his lab coat, and that's why she didn't think twice about accepting it, besides that he physically resembles him... But that's not all. -Using tweezers specially designed for her use, Tori takes out of the pocket of the robe an electronic device that, although rudimentary, was functional. Made with components from different gadgets, connected to a battery, and a small motor that did nothing but generate heat- ...Whoever designed this, has a great knowledge of Cilt technology... This gadget has the real Marcus chip, and it is capable of maintaining it with the exact temperature and energy to continue generating a signal... This device generated the intermittent signals that the Leaders saw when they decided to go in for the rescue... Everything was planned from the beginning.

The chip in the device still had traces of blood, which only meant that someone had forcibly removed the chip from him... Or that he himself was forced to remove his own chip. In any case, the device was partially broken, and we couldn't investigate much more with the little equipment we had in the bunker. We could only speculate the depth with which Neyzan planned each variable, and if this was one of the endings that he envisioned.

Iker grinded his teeth in anger as he approached the prisoner, and carefully analyzed his appearance, as well as the clothes he had worn under my father's robe.

- ...He's a bloody poacher, I know it...They all look the same, and his skin is impregnated with the scent of the hybrids he hunted...Why are we still keeping him alive?...If it were up to me, he would already be dead.

- ...If it was up to you, we'd all be dead. -Adara had kept quiet, taking care of Saemus's rest and recovery until now. But her neutral position in the situation had changed-

Iker turns to face Adara, approaching her with her tense body, and pretending to be bigger than he was, adopting a defensive position.

- Do you see that right there, Adara? Do you see Saemus?... That's called saving his life, for fuck's sake! If I hadn't entered the bridge just before it collapsed, he would have drowned in the rubble! Does that prove to you that I'm a danger? Isn't saving him enough for you?!

- If you hadn't returned to the bridge none of this would have happened! Ciro and Kassia would be with us right now! -Adara gets up suddenly, and holding her injured arm, she approaches Iker with great aggressiveness in her words. Iker folds his mirror and tenses his gesture, shaking his head from side to side in denial of what the Huntress was shouting-

- Well if you really cared about your friends you would support me to go rescue them! But no. I see you'd rather stay here, and do NOTHING!

- They knew the risks of such a mission, but what you did made them make unnecessary sacrifices. If you leave the bunker, their sacrifice will have been in vain. So behave like the Warrior that you are!

- Now am I a Warrior? I thought all this time you treated me like nothing more than a bloody exile!

- Shut up! Both of you! -I've had enough. I get up from my seat and stand between Adara and Iker, and I don't hesitate for a second to yell at both of them, to which they remain silent. The bunker makes my voice bounce off its round walls, restoring silence to our ears. I can't help but look at my own friends with disgust seeing them fighting like animals- That's enough! There's no point in looking for blame, and there's nothing we can do! Not for Kassia, not for Ciro... Not for my father. -My chin trembles at pronouncing the simple word. Iker watches my face change rapidly, filling his own expression with worry and sorrow.

- Tyler...

- Just... -I rub my face hard with one of my hands, and with the same hand, I hold the hair on the back of my neck tightly, doing everything possible to avoid the irremediable crying-... Just... Leave me alone... -I cover my face when I turn around, and return to my resting place, unable to keep looking them in the eye any longer-

Seeing what the fight had caused, Iker looked at Adara with deep disappointment on his face, shaking his head in disapproval, then following closely behind me to my stretcher, calling my name as I continued on my way.

Adara has been left standing in the same place, listening to her own screams over and over again in her head without stopping, paralyzed by the situation that we were all trying to understand and assimilate. Tears stream down her face, she hugs her aching body, and she returns to her shared space with Saemus, who is fast asleep from the sedatives that have been administered.

Zenda gives us a cold look when interrupted by our shouting, but she doesn't dare impose order. She knew that tensions among the squad were high, and that not all issues could be resolved peacefully. Her inexperienced soldiers were not ready to handle such a situation, and she was patient and respectful towards their methods of letting off the pressure of a tragedy like this. Once calm returns to the bunker, she continues her call to the Cilt command center.

- ...Yes, I'm here... -Zenda nods towards the instructions that are given to her. He sighs heavily after a long silence on the line-...How is my son? ... -Her eyes fill her with maternal concern, she keeps her gaze lowered, while she listens to the mission controller tell her about Darius's status-... I understand... Okay... Thank you.

Zenda ends the call. She leans her head against the wall and closes her eyes for a moment, sighing audibly. And after calming her thoughts, she directs to the elements of the squad that are still awake.

- We have received orders to stay here for a few days, at least until Saemus regains his strength, and Cilt can send a support squad. Rest for now. We can't do any more.

Hopeless, defeated, and completely overwhelmed, I lie down on my bed without saying anything else. Iker has been cautious when approaching, because he was not completely sure that his presence would be well accepted by me. But the last thing I wanted at that moment was to get him away from me, even if what he had done had made me angry.

Turning my back to him, I held out a hand, as a sign that he could come closer.

Iker laid down next to me, allowing me to touch him while I tried with all my might not to cry. He sighed and began to relax, slowly acknowledging that there was really nothing we could do for our friends...but take care of each other.

I hold my hair between my fingers, forcefully, as if wanting to rip it out by the roots.

To be able to feel something.

Anything.

That makes me forget that at some point, I was so stupid.

As to think that at this moment, I would have my father back.

As to think that I could save him. 

Hybrid-Kira (2023)