Hybrid

Inside the Building

‘What the hell is going on here?’ Emilia demanded. Before her stood a family—a father, mother, and two children—but they weren’t alone. A white ghoul loomed in front of them, alongside a man with black hair, bone-white skin, and eyes as black as midnight. He was grinning, though the family looked terrified, their faces pale and the floor beneath them soaked in sweat.

Despite the smile on his lips, the man’s eyes radiated nothing but evil. His face remained utterly void of emotion, twisted into something wrong. Then came the most disturbing part. As Emilia fully entered the room, the man turned his head—only his head—toward her, twisting almost completely around until it faced her directly, while his body remained locked on the family.

‘Oh! We’ve got new people!’ he chirped. Then, with a sharp crack, the rest of his body turned to match. Emilia raised her gun.

‘What are you? Nade, what is he? Darkborn? Brightborn?’

‘No,’ Nade answered, stepping forward. ‘His eyes... they’re strange, yeah, but not like theirs. No black-violet. No black-gold. He’s neither. Feels like a ghoul... but also human.’

‘Interesting,’ the man replied, now moving closer. Emilia instinctively backed toward Sarah.

‘Yes, you could call us hybrids. I’m sure you’re wondering wh—’

Rick pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the man’s head, dropping him to the floor. His body twitched for a few seconds, then fell still. Everyone turned to Rick, who raised his hands.

‘He was talking too much. And he’s fucking creepy. Really creepy.’

‘You’re hurting my feelings,’ the man groaned as he rose—unnaturally, grotesquely. His chest arched upward first, bending him backwards before snapping back into place. ‘Hahahaha!’ He stood straight, smiling wider. ‘Our king will be pleased. Especially after we lost some...’ His head turned sharply back to the family. ‘Family members.’

Then he opened his mouth and screamed—a shriek so loud it shook the building. Silence followed. Then came the tremors. Steps. Many. From below. An army was coming.

‘Grab the family!’ Sarah ordered. Emilia moved fast, gun still pointed at the man, ignoring the ghoul that hadn’t moved at all. She circled carefully to reach the family and signaled them forward. They hesitated, but when the father rose, the others followed. As they all moved toward the exit, the man remained still—almost like he was just a distraction. Just as they reached the door, the man’s eyes locked onto Sarah.

‘The President herself,’ he said. ‘Interesting. The King will be delighted to meet you. In fact, you may be his—’ Nade stepped in front of Sarah and launched an ice lance. The man caught it in his mouth and crushed it between his teeth.

‘Get them,’ he ordered.

The ghoul moved. Fast. Much faster than any of them had seen before. It was already at Sarah, reaching out—until the father lunged. He grabbed the ghoul by the throat and slammed it into the ground, cracking the floor beneath. Then, without hesitation, he hurled it straight at the hybrid man.

‘Get out!’ the father roared. ‘Before I lose control!’ When he turned to face Sarah and the others, it was clear—something inside him was barely restrained. Something monstrous.

‘GET OUT!’ he shouted again. Behind him, the hybrid caught the flying ghoul with ease and gently lowered it. His face flushed red with rage.

‘A failed experiment dares to defy me? A chosen one?’

(Nade: Failed? What were they trying to breed?)

‘Bring my family out!’ the father growled and charged the man. Sarah grabbed one child, the mother the other. As they ran, Sarah called out,

‘Nade! Can’t you do anything?’

‘That thing won’t go down easily. And something tells me there’s worse coming. I have to conserve every ounce of power!’

They rushed toward the stairwell—just as white ghouls appeared at the other end. Too many to count.

Nade shot forward, one arm encased in ice. He thrust it out. The ghoul nearest him froze solid; the one behind lost an arm.

‘I’ll hold them off. GO!’ he roared and dropped to one knee.

No time to think. No time to argue. Only to act.

Sarah sprinted toward the stairwell, the children in tow. As they ran, they looked back one last time—at the room where their father stayed behind, fighting for their lives.