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Knock.

Beta flinched as the knuckle met the door. Half of him hoped it would be a rescuing party, but when the knock evolved into a bang he knew it wasn’t.

You need to get somewhere safe.

The voice in Beta’s head was a difficult one to adjust to.

“Where—?”

Ssh! Talk to me in your head from now on. If not, they’ll find you.

Beta kept his eyes on the door at all times, backtracking over to the closet, entering, and closing the door softly behind him. As the Perna waited for the jarred pounding to seize, he shifted his attention upward at the hangers. Beta grabbed one. Whatever massive body or large creature stood on the other side managed to knock that door down, forcing it off the hinges. It wasn’t long before words replaced the violent smash.

“Is that the devil I smell?” the 1st creature asked in a light feminine voice.

A 2nd creature smelled the air. “Superb,” they responded, carrying a voice much deeper than the 1st.

The room was silent after that, and Beta let himself wonder if maybe they left. His questions were soon answered when a loud bang nearly broke the closet’s wood, allowing the 2nd one to split it. Beta nearly jumped out of his skin, covering his mouth and moving to the edge of the closet so as not to be seen through that ever so slight sliver in the door.

Ssh.

Beta nodded in compliance, his eyes closed. He’d never been so terrified in his life, especially not for such a stupid reason. The plan was to aim for the eyes if anyone or anything came in, but plans could change and he knew that.

Beta heard a rough cough and could only assume it was the 2nd creature who had not only broken the closet door, but now sat against it. The creature coughed over and over again, getting wetter and wetter as he did. As the creature spat on the floor and grunted, Beta slid down the wall and sat, hoping the creature’s ruckus would block out the noise he made.

In a moment of silence, the Perna found his peace, but lost it soon after.

A hand reached inside the closet suddenly, going through the slit—widening it in the process—and scraping the flesh on the sharp parts of the wood. The hand landed right on Beta’s shirt sleeve.

Beta was so still he got the sense of what death should have felt like. The hand used his shirt as a rag, thinking it was just another shirt in the closet. It drew back once the hand was wiped clean and Beta’s shirt ruined with mucus and blood…

…and in his lap lied a piece of tongue.

The coughing stopped.

It was quiet once more.

“Hey!” Matrix walked up to a tall woman shouting orders. She turned to him, brown eyes sharp as the cut through him. Her heels weren’t so bad either. “There’s still someone left in there.”

“And you know that how?” she asked, crossing her arms over her lacking chest.

“Because he’s not here, maybe? I don’t know why don’t you take a guess?”

The woman tilted her head at him. “We’re not ready to breach yet as you can see, so if your friend’s smart they’ll stay in one place and hide until it’s over.”

“And what exactly is the threat?” Hershey asked, taking a step in front of Matrix. “What aren’t you telling us?”

The woman leaned down to Hershey’s height, which in her mind was a far way to go. “Nothing I have to share with a teenage deer.”

Matrix’s jaw clenched and he grabbed Hershey’s arm, pulling him in another direction.

“Where are we going?” Hershey asked as Matrix snatched a phone off one of the guards without them noticing.

“To find Beta,” the Stak muttered, weaving his way out of the crowd.

The woman’s shoulders relaxed as they walked away, continuing to consult with the others. A man walked up to her, gleeful “We’re ready,” he said.

The woman turned toward the man and nodded. “Do it.”

The power went off, and the little light Beta was allowed vanished. The only light left came in through the windows, but windows were restricted. “AH!” the deep-throated creature exclaimed, pushing off the door in a frenzy. “The people living in darkness have seen a great light! On those living i-in the land of the shadow…of death a light has dawned!”

The 1st creature hissed at the 2nd, and Beta heard a series of thuds. “Now you see me then? It’s dark. It’s dark. It’s dark. It’s dark and now they see me…they see what I see.”

A shrilling scream was heard down the hallway, but as terrifying as it was Beta found himself relieved that it brought attention to anything other than the closet.

When they leave, run, Beta told himself.

Be sure they’re gone first, the voice added. At first Beta was shocked that it knew what he was thinking, but in a way, it made sense.

“A light!” the 2nd creature said. After that, there were no more speeches but a wild frenzy that took over the creature as they ran into the hallway.

Beta heard the creature reach the supposed girl, yet she was still screaming.

There was a “Please!” followed by an “I’m begging you!” before a series of gurgling sounds and a body hitting the floor. Beta presumed there would be no more screaming after that.

All he heard after that was the quite indescribable sound of flesh being torn apart and chewed with open mouths.

Beta gathered his courage and opened his eyes, leaning over to look through the split the 2nd creature had made in the door. He couldn’t see everything perfectly, but the window provided some aid. He saw a woman—the 1st creature—was still there, edging closer to his hiding spot. Beta turned his peering eyes away, retreating to his corner. Sliding up the wall, the hanger tightened in his hand; ready for anything. He bent the metal so it stuck out at a point. If he didn’t go now, if he didn’t do something…he’d be the next one screaming.

Beta pressed against the wall and stared at the door, waiting for that face to appear.

Aim for the eyes, the voice said.

Beta nodded. The eye was probably the easiest and most vulnerable spot. It was the best spot.

Aim for the eyes, aim for the eyes, he chanted back to himself.

The door opened.

She had no eyes.

Matrix ripped off the door to the vents, looking around to see if anyone was watching. They were on the backside of the mansion, and it was vacant. “Okay,” He spoke in a low voice. “If we can get in and call the house number, there’s a chance we can get ahold of Beta and lead him to the vents. If we do that, then we can get him out.” Hershey leaned down and looked into the dark abyss. It only took three feet or so before the metal gave into the dark. The metal he could see had what looked like scratches plaguing its figure. That terrified him.

When Hershey came back up, Matrix grabbed him and—uncharacteristically—slammed him into the wall, gripping his shoulders firmly. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” the Stak said, his eyes wide, his actions completely unfitting his words.

Hershey tensed up. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Matrix blinked once, then let his grip ease. “Yeah.” He took a step back. “It must be…the idea of Beta in there alone.”

Hershey let himself smile. He put a hand on Matrix’s shoulder. “Of course I’m coming with you.” Matrix nodded solemnly as Hershey leaned down. With a moment of regret, the Nat penetrated the vent, shimming his way in. As Matrix did one more sweep and got in behind him, Hershey laid a soft hand on his own shoulder and winced.

“Head straight,” Matrix said, and his echoing voice startled Hershey. He nodded and crawled forward.

The Nat’s stomach seemed to drop as the light started to fade, and when Matrix’s arm brushed against his leg he got chills. It didn’t take a genius for Hershey to realize that he made a big mistake.

Something felt wrong with his friend.

Beta busted through the door, letting it slam into the wall it stood attached to.

Mistake.

Beta could hear the footsteps coming from his left.

Maybe not.

He ran right, hitting the walls as he flew in and out of confusion. The walls were spinning, the hall was spinning, or maybe it was just him that was spinning. Beta held his arm tightly, feeling the blood flowing out of the wound. The Stak—or at least that’s what he thought it was—got him good. He ignored the pain in his leg; he needed his leg.

Faster.

Beta wanted to scream at that voice, say it was their fault. He couldn’t, knowing that voice was in a way keeping him alive. It was lonely running down these halls. It was dark.

Beta found himself slowing, reaching for an end to the hallway, for an escape. There was none, and he knew that. All the black started to mix together, all the blood was leaving his body. That’s when a new hand arrived, grabbing him and pulling him left suddenly. Beta didn’t know the hand’s origin, and he didn’t care. He accepted the hand and fell into the new direction.

Hey. Hey! Stay conscious!

“I can’t,” Beta muttered, his head rolling as he laid upon the ground.

Heal then! Why won’t you heal!

“I…” Beta couldn’t find the energy to speak anymore.

If you pass out I’ll lose you! Beta! Bet—!

The connection was lost.

Hershey stopped at the end of the vent, looking left and right where it stretched in both directions. “Which way?” Awkwardly, Matrix pushed his head closer to the wall so he could see Hershey’s face. “Left,” he answered.

“Are you sure?”

“You have a better direction?”

Hershey rolled his eyes in a cocky manner. “Of course, I only asked out of courtesy. Let’s go right.” As Hershey slid his knee to turn his body to the right, he felt his other leg get jerked back, making him obsolete. Hershey found himself on his side and then on his back, a hand still gripped to the left ankle. Matrix’s gaze was stone cold, almost vacant as it loomed over him.

There was a thump, and as Hershey tried to question it Matrix’s grip lightened, and so did his gaze. There was a hint of something that crossed his face before he shook it off. “Sorry…I just think left is closer to the…” The Stak trailed off, furrowing his eyebrows as he struggled to remember his reasoning. “…We need to go left.”

“You could’ve just said so,” Hershey said, voice uneven, but didn’t dare move. He felt submissive all of a sudden, a feeling he never really felt around Matrix. They were equals. But this Matrix was different. His friend nodded and climbed over Hershey, leading left. Hershey followed closely behind, watching, analyzing. And if necessary…turning right.

“Hey!”

Beta woke up on the third slap, one that left a mark on his pale cheek. He opened his eyes, letting them readjust to the darkness. Luckily, there were a few windows in the room to make it easier. “Hey! Get up!” the voice hissed; it was a feminine voice.

Beta did. He grabbed his arm again and felt cloth there. He felt his leg, feeling fabric there as well. Nevertheless, there was also cloth missing from his pant leg and shirt.

“What…What’s going on?” Beta asked, trying to stand up.

“No, sit back down! You need rest,” she said, easing him back to the floor.

Beta grunted. “You just told me to get up.”

“As in wake up! I don’t exactly like having to drag you around everywhere, especially when it leaves a blood trail. Side note: You bleed a lot for a dead guy.” Beta saw her head turn sharply to the left, hearing moans and whispers. “Keep quiet or they’ll find us.”

“Talk to me in your head from now on…” Beta said subconsciously, speaking out of his subconscious. “If not they’ll…find you…” She shut him up again, putting a hand over his mouth. Beta was unsure why or what he was talking about. And then he remembered what the voice had said…

Talk to me in your head from now on. If not, they’ll—

—If you pass out I’ll lose you! Beta! BET—!

Beta’s eyes widened with a sudden alert, getting to his feet despite her warnings. The voice disappeared after he passed out, he remembered now.

“Hey!” she hissed. “Did you hear me?!” The girl strode toward him and into the window’s light, revealing her figure.

Beta was awestruck.

Unlike himself, she had no cuts or bruises. Her blonde hair was cut short, not dyed, just simply as it was. Skin as pale as a porcelain doll, but still warm somehow. An orange hue stained her eyes, and those eyes pierced gently, possibly more orange red than orange. Beta looked at her wings, seeing them twitch as they peaked out from her back. Shades of brown like a bird, and Beta yearned to see them in full. She was slim, and her white button-up shirt tucked itself into her high-waisted pants, which were stained with his blood. Why do I bleed? He queried, but would never know the answer to. He didn’t exactly feel guilty for bleeding on her, but he did admit it was a waste of a cute shirt.

Beta’s mouth hung agape, surprised by her presence. For that brief moment, for just a second…he thought it was her.

That she was the voice.

But, unfortunately…there was a tingle he got with the voice.

He did not get this feeling with her.

Orange eyes, death by suicide, shapeshifter, wings, depressed…

“Uh…” Beta blinked again. “You’re a Cider,” he said matter-of-factly.

Beta saw the change in expression when he said it. She let her head fall. “Yeah, I am.” She shook her head. “I know it’s lame, killing myself and all. Like ‘why would she do that? Didn’t she have so much to live for?’ And I did! I really did, but…” She paused and drifted. “I guess having just one thing to die for…outweighs everything else.”

Beta wanted so badly to roll his eyes, and couldn’t help his fists from clenching. One reason to kill yourself and that’s it? Beta thought.

Her head popped up, and that warm feeling came back. “But I’m trying! I am! I even saved you instead of hiding! I…I patched you up! Although it doesn’t really matter since you healed. But I…I got you away at least! At least!” She started to drift again, and keeping her smile became a battle. “At…least…”

Beta saw the innocence, the sadness in her eyes, unable to shake it. It was classic Cider to him, and he found her spectacular. “I’ve…been waiting to meet a Cider.” She let her eyes settle on Beta again when he spoke. “That’s the only reason I wake up every day basically, or at least the driving reason.” Beta smiled, ricocheting a matching one across her face. He walked forward and put his hands on her shoulders gently. “And now that I’ve finally got the chance, I need to tell you…”

Beta’s grip hardened.

“That you have absolutely no right to poison this…so-called sanctuary with your…depression.” Her smile slowly faded. “Do you really think you’re doing anyone any favors by living. I mean this place isn’t perfect, but you still wonder why they separate you from all the others. Hint, it wasn’t for your own good.”

Beta chuckled. “And just some tasteful advice that I’ve been saving just for this moment…” His expression was less joyful and more serious, his grip getting tighter on her. She could see the pain now in his stature, in his grip, and in his voice as he continued. “I hate your kind…and I swear if I were calling the shots up here…I’d make sure things like you were never created.”

The girl’s eyes turned red as she stared down the face full of hatred with her own sorrow. “You can kill yourself all you want, I don’t care…I just wish it didn’t so directly affect me and my mood. So maybe think harder next time.”

The tension was fruitful up to that point, but it went stale when mutters and scrapes could be heard out in the hallway.

Beta let go and snapped back into action, heading for the closet. The girl, with hesitation, followed.

“Taiji.” They could hear the woman muttering before a bang against the hallway wall. The closet door shut in tune with her outburst. “Taiji.” Bang. “Taiji.” Bang. “Taiji.” Bang. “Taiji!” BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. “Where is it?! Taiji! TAIJI!”

A daughter maybe? Beta thought to himself. He didn’t know Japanese very well, or at least he had never been taught such a word.

No.

The Perna flinched at the addition to his thoughts. The voice was back. A warmth was sent through Beta’s body, and he felt violated once again.

It means fetus.

Beta turned to the girl in the dark, and she looked at him. “The nursery.”