old friends

Soul: *looking at the picture* (i forgot left and right for a second

(you're friends with the orange haired one)

(Thanks

Alie: hey soul what are you doing?

Soul: just looking at a photo

Alie:oh which- *her expression falls dark*

Soul: hm?

Alie:...that one...has...bad memories attached to it...

Soul: oh…

*she sits on her bed taking a few deep breaths*

Soul: *puts the photo away*

Alie:that is- was... my best friend...

Soul: ..oh…

Alie: he died, saving me...

Soul: …

Alie: do you remember the government's national hunt for all the human-animal hybrids?

Soul: i haven’t forgotten…

Alie: well they almost caught me, if he hadn't stepped in the way... i'd be dead. *whispers the last part*

Soul: well they wont ever find you since im here, theres always someone whos gonna protect you, shame he couldnt be here with us

Alie: most laws protect us now, but that doesn't mean that we get treated equally...

Soul: oh.

Alie: his name was Alpha...

Soul: ..

*she lets out a little chuckle*
Alie: he used to call me Beta... we were inseparable...

Scorch stares at the picture

*Alie walks in*
Alie: Hey scorch, what are you doing?

"Starin' at this picture. It's got you in it."

Alie: which one?

"This one."
He points to the picture

*her eyes widen and her breathing becomes shakey*
Alie: oh. that one.

"Huh? You ok?"

*she sits up on her bed*
Alie: uhm... well...it brings back some...bad memories...

"Oh. PTSD?"

Alie: i guess so...

"Ah."

Alie:*hugs her tail* he is- was, my friend...

"Was?"

Alie: he died protecting me from the government... at the time, human-animal hybrids were essentially criminals...recently laws changed, creating equality but...

"Oh..."

Alie: his name was Alpha...

"Alpha?"

Alie: well, his real name was Alex but he hated that name...so everyone called him Alpha, and he would call me Beta

"Huh.."

*her ears flatten and her tail tucks in*
"god i miss him..."

"I'm sorry for your loss.."

*she hugs you*

He lets you

*tears start streaming down her face from her open eye*

"..."

Alie: I-I watched him die right in front of me... I couldn't do a DAMN THING TO STOP IT!

"Who did this?"

Alie: those stuck up assholes running the government...

"Those bastards..."

Alie: they were after me...he protected me...i feel like part of it's my fault...

"It's not any of your faults. It's the government's fault."

*she sniffles a little*
Alie: I know...I would trade anything to see him again...

He growls in anger

*her hair quickly raises in shock*

"Sorry."

Alie: No, it's okay! i was just a bit surprised....

"It's hard for me to control my anger."

Alie: yeah... but i've learned to try letting go...

"I can't let that sh*t go."

Alie: i try not to think about it...

"Mmm.."

Alie: can we change the subject?

"Please."

Alie: Did you want to get food?

"Sure."

you exit going to get food

Scorch leaves the room

Alie: so what do you want to eat?

"Uh, I don't really care. Whatever you want, I guess."

Alie:so we're getting burritos...?

"Fine with me."

she walks over to the vendor
"two burritos please!"

"..."

she comes back holding two burritos
"here you go!" she hands one to you

"Thanks."

"back home?"
(you two room together)

"Whatever you want."

you head back eating your burritos on the way

He coughs
"Agh! Choked on some."

Alie: Are you okay?!

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

*you make it back to the apartment*
Alie: keys, keys, where'd i put them?

"Hm?"

Alie: oh yeah *giggles a little pulling them from her tail and unlocking the door*

"Huh."

she stops in her tracks
Alie: didn't you put the picture away?

"Huh? Yeah."

Alie: so what's it doing on the couch...?

"What? I put it back.."

Alie: so how'd it get here?

"I don't know.."

Alie: I'm going to put it back...
*she closes the book putting it back on the shelf*

"Ok."

Alie: i don't like this... i feel like we're being watched...
*she closes the curtains*

"It's fine."

*her ear starts twitching, something only done when she gets nervous*

"Don't be scared. Nothing's wrong."

Alie: you're right, i'm probably just paranoid...
*she sits down*

"Hm."

*after a few deep breaths she falls asleep*

Scorch keeps watch

*she twitches and shifts around in her sleep mumbling unintelligible words when suddenly she wakes up in cold sweat*
Alie:*whispers* I'm sorry...

"Huh?"

Alie: i'm-sorry...

"For what?"

Alie: M-my dream...

"What do you mean?"

Alie: i had a dream that he died again...

"Oh.."

*all her hair stands on end and her ear twitches*
Alie: did you hear that?

"What?"

Alie: whispers, i heard whispers...

"Uhhh..."

*folds her ears trying to block out the sound*
Alie: can't you hear them? they're so loud!

"I don't hear anything.."

*she curls into ball*
Alie: it hurts...

He walks over
"What hurts?"

Alie: Everything... hurts...

"What's going on??"

Alie: i don't know...!

He sits next to her
"I think you're doing this to yourself."

Alie:i don't understand...

"Paranoia."

Alie: i just...

"..."

*you look out the window, seeing a pair of red eyes in the bushes*

Scorch jumps back
"Woah!"

Alie:?

"Oh, uh I saw a bird. It spooked me."
Scorch is obviously lying

Alie: tell the truth.

"Ok fine. I didn't want to scare you further, but there's eyes out there."

Alie: W-what?!

"Red eyes. Red. Glowing. Eyes."

Alie: no. no. i refuse to believe this...

"Come see."

*she goes over to the window*
"i don't see anything, but i believe you..."

"What??"
He looks out again

*the eyes are gone*
Alie:and you said they were red...?

"Yeah, they were red."

Alie: lock the door

Scorch locks the door
"Way ahead of ya."

Alie: it's a bloodhound,

"Oh dog"

Alie: not an actual dog, just experiments they unleash hoping to find some hybrids like me...

"Uh oh.."

Alie: we're in trouble, WHEN that thing gets in, we're essentially dead,
*she reaches for her dagger as a violent pounding echoes on the door,

Scorch readies up with nothing but his fists

The door bursts down and a flash of teal goes by pinning Alie the wall,

Scorch whips around

you see a seven tailed teal wolf.

"..."

Alie is frozen in fear

Scorch snarls a bit

Alie: no, y-you're d-dead...I-I s-saw y-you d-die...
she breathes shakily

". . ."

the wolf-human hybrid turns around, aside from the eyes, which were red, he was a dead ringer for Alpha.

Scorch gives it a death stare

Alie snaps out of her trance, taking the opportunity to knock it to the ground pressing down on the back of it's neck.

"Hopefully it stays down."

Alie: i'm so glad that worked...

"Me too. That could've been bad."

Alie: yeah, it used to always work on Alpha...

"That would work on anyone."

Alie: could you get some rope...?

"Yeah."

you rummage around finding some rope in a closet

"Got it!"

Alie: okay
*she starts tying it up*
Alie: this is unbelievable...i thought he was dead...

"Never assume anything is dead unless it's head is chopped off."

Alie: then again, cockroaches exsist...and they can live without their heads...
*the wolf wakes up*

"It's about time you woke up."

Wolf: *he growls* let. go. of. me.

"What in your right mind makes you think I'd do that?"

Alie:..Alpha, what did they do to you...?
*he snarls*

"Alpha??"

Alie: I know my friend, this is definitely him...

"Oh.."

Alpha:*his eyes soften to a teal-ish color* p-please let m-me go...

"I'm not falling for that."

Alie: we can't let you go...

".."

Alie: you're currently too dangerous to be let go...

".."

*you notice the scratches across his eye*

"Wait..."

Alie: what?

"He has a scar on his eye.."

Alie: yeah..?

"He's like the guy from the picture!"

Alie: *laughs a little* yeah...

"Huh.."

Alie: yes this is my best friend, Alpha.

"Yeah."

Alie: funny thing is, he's sort of a rare breed, even for a hybrid

"Huh."

Alie: it like a status ranking, a wolf is highest in respect and a cat such as me, well... we're less fortunate... but on top of that, depending on how many tails you have the more respect you get, the most amount of tails recorded to be five.

"Ah."

Alie: well that was true until Alpha came along with his seven tailed a**

"Pfft-"

Alpha: i'm right here, you guys.

"Sorry."

Alpha: it's fine I'll just talk sh!t about Alie behind her back.
Alie: Wait what?

Scorch coughs

Alpha: Nothing-!
Alie: You and i both know i could beat the sh!t out of you!

Scorch is trying not to laugh

Alpha: fine, fine! i'm sorry! please have mercy!

"Heh.."

*Alie lightly punches him*

"Sorry.."

Alpha: so who are you?

"Uhhh... Call me Scorch."

Alpha looks at Alie with a dorky grin
Alie: he's just my roommate!

Scorch bursts out laughing

she turns to you
Alie:stop encouraging him!

"I'm sorry..."

she looks to Alpha
Alie:so i'm going to ask a fairly obvious question with a less obvious answer... How are you not...you know...
Alpha: Dead?
Alie: yeah.
Alpha: chemicals.

"Chemicals?"

Alpha: i honestly don't know, i was unconscious most of the time.

"Oh."

Alpha: but i remember when i was awake, it hurt like hell...

"Makes sense."

she hugs Alpha
Alie: oh god i thought i'd never see you again...

".."

*alpha's eye flash red*

Scorch cringes back

*he gives an evil grin*

"Uhhh..."

Alie: (pulls out of hug) is something wrong scorch?

"His eyes..."

(they return to normal)
Alie: now who's being paranoid?

"What?? They were just- Uh- How?!"

Alie: i'll be back, play nice
(she leaves)

Scorch looks at Alpha

"Stop the act. I saw the eyes."

Alpha: who do you think she'll believe, hm? you- or me, her long lost best friend...?

"She'll know. Believe me, she'll know."

Alpha: really? because by the looks of it...(he tilts his head)...i've already got her wrapped around my finger...(smiles smugly)

Scorch curls his hand into a fist
"Hngh.."

Alpha: hey you seem like a nice guy and i'm sorry you got caught in this mess, but i can't have anyone interfering, you understand, right?

"I won't let you hurt her.."

Alpha: about that, you don't really have a choice...
(the ropes fall to the ground)

"I'm not afraid to use violence."

Alpha:(chuckles)Alie was never the greatest at knot tying...as for being violent, well... i've got plenty to go around...

"Heheh."

Alpha:you're nothing more than someone trying to be a hero, and failing miserably.

"I'm no hero. I'm just trying to keep Alie safe."

Alpha: here's the thing...(pins you against the wall) YOU. DON'T. HAVE. A. CHOICE. (his eyes turn solid red)...you're my puppet, and i'm pulling the strings...(he leans in close)

"Let me go."

Alpha:(he thinks) No. (his grip loosens and his eyes return to normal) oh god... what am i doing to you....?(his personality shifting completely)

"Let. Me. Go."

Alpha: (lets go of him)...I-I'm sorry...

He gets up
"Mhm."

Alpha: you're no more a puppet than i am... but i'm losing my mind! a-and they WON'T GET OUT OF MY HEAD!(he sinks to the floor, sobbing)

"Uhhh..."

Alpha: I-I s-shouldn't have... come back... to this...place(still crying)

"Huh.."

Alpha: god...what do i do...?

"I want to help you guys."

Alpha: (looks up at you) really...?

"If I didn't, I'd be out the door by now."

Alpha: okay...

"Should I get Alie?"

Alpha: yes...please...

Scorch goes to Alie

"Hey, something happened.."

Alie: what happened?

"Alpha may or may not have tried to kill me.."

Alie:WHAT?!

"He pinned me against the wall, then he snapped out of it and wanted me to get you."

Alie: okay...are either of you hurt?

"My chest hurts a little but, but I can live through it. I don't know about Alpha."

Alie: let me see him

"He's over there."

Scorch points to Alpha

(she goes over to him)
Alie: what happened...?
Alpha: it hurts, to move, to breathe, to think...

"..."

Alpha: god, even my thoughts aren't my own...

".."

Alie: scorch we need to help him.

"I don't know what to do??"

Alie: well, if he's being controlled that would mess with his nervous system...i wonder if there are certain triggers.

"Like PTSD?"

Alie: more like a command/response method

"Oh. So how do we help him?"

Alie: we'll try a few actions to see how he reacts, okay?

"Alright."

(she reaches out to touch his head) (he grabs her wrist tightly, growling)

"Uh..."

Alie: 'kay no headpats...

Alie: 'kay no headpats...

"Noted."

(she tugs at her wrist trying to free herself, when he doesn't let go, she kicks him back knocking him to the ground)
(he starts panicking)
Alpha: No-! p-please! i don't- i don't- p-please! i-i don't w-want t-to! (he breathes shakily, tears forming in his eyes)

"Woah, jeez!"

Alie: woah!, okay, okay... i won't do that again... i promise...i'm sorry...

"Please don't."

"Please don't."

(Alie hugs Alpha)
Alie: scorch, what exactly did he say when you two were alone?

"He said he was a puppet."

Alie: anything else?

"He said I was a puppet, he was pulling the strings."

Alie: hand me that flashlight over there...
(Alpha calms down)

"Okay."

(Alie shines the light in Alpha eyes)
Alie: what color were his eyes when he told you that?

"Red."

Alie: was he being aggressive?

"Very. I was against the wall."

Alie:he's definitely under the governments control...

"Oh sh*t."

Alie: this isn't good because these 'bloodhounds' normally aren't aggressive unless aggravated... their main job is to hunt and find, and then the government sends out the special forces to take care of us.

"Oh.."

Alie: which begs the question... why is he so aggressive?

"I don't know."

Alie: let's try some verbal cues...

"Alright."

Alie: let's start with numbers... 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, zer-
(Alpha covers Alie's mouth before she can finish)
Alpha: No.

"Huh?"

Alpha: not that number.

"No zzzzZZZZZZIP. I said zip."

Alie: what do you mean scorch?

"I almost said it."

Alie: is there a pattern to these triggers?

"I dunno."

Alie: hold on. (she turns to Alpha) you said puppet. why, of all words would you choose puppet?
(Alpha growls his eyes turn red)

"Oh god, not again!"

Alie: alright, hoping this theory works! (she grabs both of Alpha's shoulders and looks him dead in the eyes)...Beta...
(he snaps out of his trance falling into her arms)

"Huh..."

Alie: (laughs a little) oh that worked! thank god!

"So 'Beta' snaps him out of it."

Alie: yes, what i'm hoping is for a cure to this though...

"Hopefully."

Alie: at least we know some of the triggers now.

"Yeah."

Alie: i wonder why he didn't become aggressive when i kicked him...

"Maybe it's just verbal."

Alie: but he became panicked...

"Huh. I'm pretty sure anyone would if someone kicks them."

Alie: he said that he "didn't want to" i wonder what he meant by that?

"Hmm."

Alie:if they trained him to be aggressive...maybe he was fighting against it...

"He doesn't like being controlled. No one does. He's trying to fight it."

Alie: i hope he can...

"Me too."

(she places Alpha on the couch)
Alie: let's let him rest.

"We should."

Alie: would you watch over him? just in case something happens...

" 'Kay."

Alie: thanks, i'm going to try resting too, (goes into her room)

"Aight."

(a few hours later Alpha shifts around mumbling unintelligible words)

"Hm?"

Alpha:(sleeptalking) I'm...gonna...kill you...all...

"Uhhhh..."

(twitches violently)

"ALIE!"

(Alie runs out)
Alie: what?!

"Alpha's acting weird again.."

(Alie puts her hand to Alpha's forehead)
Alie: he's burning up!

"Oh no."

Alie: get me an ice pack.

"Right."
Scorch goes for the ice pack

(Alie takes it, placing it on Alpha's head)

"Is he gonna be ok?"

Alie: he should... i don't know if he's sick or if this is part of his corruption...

"Probably the corruption. He was mumbling that he was gonna kill us all."

Alie:hm...that's not a good sign...

"No."

Alie: aside from the eyes, the corruption doesn't seem to affect him physically.

"Maybe the burning up, too?"

Alie: possibly...

".."

(Alpha wakes up, one of his eyes normal and one red)

"Huh..."

(he breathes rapidly)

"Uhh.. Are you ok...?"

(he shakes his head)

"What's wrong?"

Alpha: not that dream, never again...

"What happened? What dream??"

Alpha: i-i i don't want to go back.

"Back where?"

Alpha: that place, the facility...

"The facility?"

Alpha: the one i was trained at

"Ohh.."

Alpha: i was tortured...

"I'm sorry.."

(Alpha presses a hand to his red eye)
Alpha: it- burns...

"Your eye?"

Alpha: (nods)

"It burns??"

Alpha: (nods again)

"How badly?"

Alpha: not too badly, but it hurts.

"It's red.."

Alpha: W-WHAT?! no. no, no, no, no, NO! (breathes shakily)

"What's wrong??"

Alpha: please tell me you're joking.

"No."

Alpha: I- we are not safe.

"What?"

Alpha: I could kill you right now. but i don't want to.

"No, you don't."

Alpha: (shifts into a daze) but...i...could...

"Don't. Try."

Alpha: but...i...could...

"Don't."

Alpha: but...

"Just don't."

Alpha:(snaps out of it) huh...? sorry did you say something...?

"I said don't."

Alpha: I missed like the past few minutes of whatever you said...

"You threatened me."

Alpha: I- oh shit! did I?

"Yeah..."

Alpha: i did... didn't... i... (he starts dazing off again)

"Hey... You ok...?"

Alpha: (pushes you to the ground placing his foot on your chest) Don't bother screaming for help. (digs his heel in) ...you're so trusting, and that's what makes you vulnerable...and pathetic.

He grunts

"Get. Off. Of. Me."

Alpha: (pulls out a steel dagger)

He grabs Alpha's leg

"Last warning."

Alpha: (he puts the dagger against your throat drawing a little blood)

"Ok. You asked for this."

He shoves his leg off of him

(the dagger drags along your throat making the cut bigger)
Alpha: (falls)

He gets up and wiped the blood off of his throat

"Pathetic."

Alpha: (gets up and lodges the dagger into your shoulder deeply) no one makes a fool out of me!

He winces but doesn't back off

"Big mistake."

(he pulls out another dagger)

He stands his ground

Alpha: scared that i can take a hit?

"I don't get scared."

Alpha: then hit me.

"Anywhere?"

Alpha: i won't hold back.

"Okay.."

He runs over to you in the blink of an eye

Alpha: (dodges) your problem is, you lack sufficient training in weapon skills...(pulls you against the wall driving his dagger into your gut)

"Hngh!!"

He falls to his knees

Alpha: you're weak.

"...Hold on..."

Alpha: the point is, you're gonna die.

"Can I try one more thing...?"

Alpha: one last request? sure.

"Hopefully this works... Beta?"

Alpha: (collapses)

"Oh, thank god..."

(you're bleeding a considerable amount)

Scorch grabs his scarf and wraps it around the wound

Alie: (comes back) scorch! what happened?! why are you bleeding?! (rushes over)

"Alpha had another outburst... He stabbed me.."

Alie: oh no...

He struggles up

"Ow..."

Alie: (helps him) so what exactly happened...?

"He went insane again , stabbed me, I said 'Beta', he collapses."

Alie: i'm glad that worked...

Scorch clutches his shoulder

"Yeah..."

Alie:here's some bandages, i'll wash your scarf...

"Thanks..."

Alie: i did some research...

"Okay..."

Alie: every experiment has a failsafe trigger word, in case something goes wrong.

"Alright..."

Alie: we just need to find his word...

"Maybe it's 'Beta'...?"

Alie: too easy,

"Oh, yeah..."

Alie: the problem is, it could be a completely random word.

"Ohhhh....."

Alie: we should do something about him before he wakes up.

"Do what though?"

Alie: i don't know?! he's insanely strong and apparently, smarter than he use to be...

He uncovered his shoulder wound

"Yeah... I got that..."

Alie: tie him up, keep him busy long enough for me to do more research.

" 'Kay..."

Alie: (pulls out phone) okay, okay, uhm... bloodhounds, bloodhounds... (scrolls through phone)

He ties Alpha up

"I wonder when he'll wake up.."

Alie: i don't know... oh! project Bloodlust, this sounds right...

"Bloodlust?"

Alie: yeah, it's a genetically modified hybrid meant for killing.

"Ohhhh..."

Alie: trigger words, c'mon...show me the trigger words...

" 'Zero' might be one of them."

Alie: found it...

"What?"

Alie: it's a phrase, 'error, system failure, connection terminated' (expression becomes sad)

"You ok..?"

Alie: (continues reading) ...this phrase, when told to the subject in their corrupted state, will cut the corruption, immobilizing and terminating the subject.

"Killing them??"

Alie: (nods sadly)

"... I don't want to do that..."

Alie: what other choice do we have...?

"He's your friend.."

Alie: I KNOW! i know... but we can either end his suffering and prevent bloodshed or die.

"... I'm not killing anyone.."

Alie: then YOU think of a solution.

"......Alright fine."

Alie: and do it fast, i don't know how long Alpha's going to remain unconscious...

"That's the thing. He's not waking up."

Alie: so...?

"When he wakes up, I'll knock him right out again."

Alie: how's that supposed to help?

"We can't have him wake up, right?"

Alie: well yeah, but is that your plan? keep him unconscious forever?

"Uhhh... Yeaaahhh???. Okay, it's terrible.."

Alie: plus he'd have to eat at some point.

"I get it.."

Alie: so what do we do...?

"... I don't know..."

Alpha: you two bicker a lot.

"He tried to kill me!"

Alie: scorch i didn't say anything...
Alpha: and if you had stopped bickering, you would've noticed i woke up.

"Oh... You tried to kill me!"

((I misread the name lol

Alpha: and i'll take pleasure in doing it again. now who's first?

"..."

Alpha: no takers? i'll pick then..."

"Pick me."

Alpha: too late. (he grabs Alie, pushing his dagger into her arm)

"No!"

Alie: (clutches her arm) (looks in shock at the blood running down her arm)

Scorch starts shaking

Alie: RUN!

"I'm. Not. A. Coward."

Alie: Scorch, i swear to god, RUN. NOW.
Alpha: you should listen to your friend and run, i'll even give you a ten-second head start, not that it'll make much of a difference...

"I won't run."

Scorch stands his ground

Alpha: your funeral...(he grabs you cutting deeply along your cheek) i gave you a chance, but you REALLY should've listened to your little friend...

"And you... Shouldn't have hurt her."

He grabs Alphas arm

Alpha:(twists away pinning your arm behind your back)

He shows no pain

Alpha: (presses the dagger to the back of your throat)
Alie: (begs) Alex, please don't do this!

He elbows Alpha in the gut

Alpha: ugh-! you're gonna regret th- what did you call me...?

Scorch struggles out

Alie: i called you Alex.

"..."

Alpha: don't call me that...Nathalie.

"Nathalie?"

Alie: well, my full first name is Nathalie Kathryn, but it was so long, so i shortened it...

"Ohh.."

He looks at Alpha

"I guess you're Alex?"

Alpha:(closes his eyes and rubs his neck) my birth name-i was named after my a**hole father and wanted nothing to do with him... so i changed it.

"Ah.."

Alpha: (looks at his bloodstained hands, scared.)

Scorch clutches his shoulder again

"You ok?"

Alpha: (whispers) i'm a monster...