Chapter 3 – Hazard

The rumbling sound increased in strength. A pair of black wings sprouted from Hybrid’s back.

A teenage girl clad in heavy clothing wandered towards the mysterious boy standing beside Persephone. “Hey, dude, you know where that noise is coming from?”

The boy flinched. “Again!” he gasped. He stumbled backwards and bumped into a glass display case harbouring an ancient scroll. His eyes twitched wildly. “Argh!” he yelped, diving away from the scroll.

The girl gave him a bewildered glance and sped away. Persephone gazed at the boy, exchanging perplexed expressions.

A light vibration in the building started. Fragments of the fragile exhibits fell from their original structures.

Persephone stepped towards Hybrid. “Do you know what is happening?”

Hybrid briefly shook her head. “Don’t know. I can tell you it’s not good.”

The vibrations became more intense. The noise was amplified. A complex vehicle burst from the ground, sending pieces of rubble everywhere. The room fell quiet as two men in black suits leapt from it.

“Get the project!” roared one of them, brandishing a gun. He had slick black hair, and was of a medium build, with fair skin.

“But Desmond…” stammered the other. “Which one is the project?”

“Can’t you figure who’s the odd one out amongst these three?” barked Desmond. He twirled his firearm and pointed it towards Persephone’s head.

Hybrid picked a small piece of stone from the ground and pelted it towards Desmond’s hand. He flinched and dropped the gun. He scooped it up with his hand and aimed at Hybrid. He pulled the trigger. As the bang echoed across the room, Hybrid leapt to the ceiling. The glass display case housing the scroll shattered.

The boy groaned, flinching again. Hybrid landed on the ground.

Desmond’s assistant darted towards Hybrid, with an arm extended, holding a taser. Hybrid snatched the weapon and crushed it with her claws. The useless pieces of black plastic fell.

Hybrid gasped. “No, the surveillance system!” She flew towards a rotating device embedded into the wall and smashed it with her talons.

Persephone gracefully waved her arm through the air. A large chunk of earth rose from the depression in the ground.

“I never predicted the project would have become so intelligent or powerful…” murmured Desmond.

The hovering stone flew towards Desmond. He quickly pressed an area on his tie. A silvery forcefield enveloped his body. The rock fell to the ground. The shield disspated.

The strange boy rose to his feet. He roared and flailed towards Desmond’s assistant.

“Get this freak away from me!” shouted the man, scurrying around the room. “Master, I need my weapon privileges back!”

The boy pursued Desmond’s helper. They circled in and out of the ruined exhibits. Hybrid snickered at the two.

Desmond gritted his teeth. “Simon, you coward! He’s just a boy! Tackle him or something!”

A series of voices sounded from the corridors. “Where’s the dragon-girl?”

“Who?”

“The one who shut the security camera down.”

Hybrid grunted. Her wings vanished. She dived towards the approaching assistant and snatched his black coat. She draped it over herself. She lay on the ground and buried her face in debris.

A group of security guards entered the room. Everyone froze.

“Where’s the dragon-girl?”

Desmond pointed at Hybrid. “She’s the one who broke the camera.”

Hybrid merely groaned.

“You really think so?” enquired a burly-looking guard. “She looks like the victim here, actually. Are there any others who want to speak?”

Desmond’s assistant, now in a mangled white shirt, scowled at his master.

The guard knelt down next to Hybrid. “You alright there, little girl?”

Hybrid nodded, head still in the dirt.

“You’re not hurt or anything?”

Hybrid shook her head, raising her head a little.

“Wait. I swear, you have red eyes.” The guard turned around. “She has red eyes! We need paramedics on standby!”

“Don’t worry. The red eyes are from contact lenses.”

The boy resumed chasing Desmond’s assistant.

“Why, you little…” yelled the helper.

The guard nodded. “What the hell is that boy doing?” he muttered. “I swear, this is a madhouse. Stop chasing him!”

The boy stopped.

“Thank you. Jesus Christ, this is a mess!” exclaimed the guard, staring at the rubble around him. He eyed the vehicle. “And there’s something from the tech section here, too. What the hell happened?”

Hybrid leapt up and snatched Desmond’s gun. “He was trying to kill us all!”

Desmond’s aide sighed. “Sir, you should have…”

The guard interrupted. “Wait, what the hell is going on? Is this some poorly plotted conspiracy?” He slammed his hand into his head and left the scene, with the rest of the security staff.

Persephone stared at Desmond and Hybrid, in the surrounding wreckage. “Hybrid! Run!”

Hybrid quickly stood up and tossed the jacket over Desmond’s head. He snatched another gun and blindly fired everywhere. Pieces of porcelain, plastic and glass broke, shattered and flew everywhere. Persephone dashed out of the room. The boy dived to the ground.

The guard dashed into the room. “Who’s the one shooting?”

Desmond briskly threw the jacket off his head and shot the guard in the chest. The guard fell into the debris, leaking blood through his clothing. He turned to Hybrid, her face still buried in the rubble. She rolled aside. Desmond pulled the trigger. A loud bang sounded as a hole was blasted in the floor. Hybrid dashed outside. The boy followed.

Desmond and his assistant followed them in pursuit. Several children and adults screamed, fleeing as Desmond wildly fired his pistol at Hybrid. He quickly shot a series of rotating cameras and reloaded the firearm.

Hybrid snatched a mop from a nearby bucket of water. She threw it like a javelin at Desmond. The thick wet threads pounded his chest. He collapsed. Hybrid scurried outside. Persephone stood by the exit.

“Let’s leave.” declared Hybrid. She charged through the street.

Persephone followed.

Desmond exited the museum, soapy water dripping off his suit. His aide stood by his side.

“Where are they?” demanded Desmond.

“Don’t know.” replied his assistant.

“Damn it!”

In the midst of a crowded intersection, Hybrid stopped. “Do you get the feeling we’re being followed?” She looked around at the oblivious crowds.

Persephone shook her head. “Why do you think that?”

“I don’t know. I can just feel it.”

“I have noticed your senses are powerful, just as though you were gifted by a supernatural item.”

Hybrid smiled. “I don’t have an Icon. I’m sure these senses are natural.”

The boy, panting, approached Hybrid. “Hi.” He said, in a frail voice.

Persephone glanced at Hybrid, jaw wide open.

Hybrid‘s eyes turned to a deep red. “Why are you following us?”

The boy stepped backwards. “Um… I am an orphan.”

“That doesn’t explain why you are following us. Did you hear about out plans?”

“What plans?”

Hybrid’s eyes returned to a warm yellow. “Okay.” She turned to Persephone. “Do you think he might be able to help us?”

The boy trembled. “Oh no, I am getting that feeling again.”

“Snap out of it.” Hybrid snapped her fingers in front of the boy’s face.

“It’s gone. My name is Terence.” he murmured. “I hate my name. Call me Demetrix instead. Who are you?”

“I’m Hybrid. I don’t have a real name.”

Demetrix gazed at Hybrid awkwardly. “Anyway, should we move? I’m scared they might be after us.”

Hybrid nodded. “Follow me.” She began to walk towards a more isolated district at a brisk pace.

Persephone and Demetrix followed Hybrid.

“How did they find you?” asked Demetrix.

“Someone was following me last night. Was it you?”

Demetrix shook his head.

“They are following me again.”

“Just you?” Demetrix scratched his head.

“An organization is chasing me. I don’t recall why.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

The three continued walking without further word. The snowy sidewalk steadily grew brighter as the sun rose higher in the clouded sky. The environment slowly became less urban. Several trees started to appear amongst run-down buildings.

Hybrid stopped. She turned to the side, hissing with a rasping tone. Her eyes were narrowed, dyed a deep red. Her back was hunched, claws raised.

Persephone looked at Hybrid’s eerie stance. “Are you alright?”

Hybrid didn’t respond as her bloodshot eyes shifted across the area.