Concordia

It's been 5 years.

No, 5 years 2 months and 13 days to be exact since the outbreak that changed the world. It turned my world upside-down. Everything was is chaos. Not just my world but the world in general. All it took was an incompetent Lab technician to make a whole new species. No one knew how he managed to do just that, but he had made a very large batch of vaccine infected with wolf DNA.

Soon there were half human half wolf monstrosities roaming around everywhere. The First 2 years were the worst, but the human, is a very adaptable species that managed to control the outbreak and thus now humans and half-wolf people lived side by side. I would like to say that we lived in peace but I would be lying.

Both the species always fought on a single aspect who was superior. Humans claimed that they were superior because they were pure and controlled, but the Lupines also made a very good argument that they were superior as they were stronger in both senses especially since they have qualities from both the species. 5 years down the line now we are now civilized with each other.

As the incident happened in one of the largest biotech labs in the world so people blamed them for the most of it. As a goodwill gesture they decided to build an institution for both the Lupines and Humans to study each other and also show unity. The people who got into the institute were elite from both the species. It was after all still in an experimental stage.

We are fortunate or more like unfortunate ones who would be attending the Institute and by 'we' I mean my twin brother and I. The whole institute sounded like a high school all over again. Even after such a huge pandemic high school refuses to leave me alone. I was a sophomore when this happened. I hated high school back then, and I hate the whole idea of this ridiculous institute even more.

"Vivian!" My mom snapped from the passenger seat in the front.

"Yes?" I asked bored.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"The only reason I have earphones on is so that I can avoid listening to you."

"Vivian, you ungrateful child. You are lucky to be going to the institute."

"The only reason that institute is standing is because you failed to hire the right candidates for your labs!" I snapped irritated.

I put my earphones on so I could ignore her yet again. I looked at Seb he was sleeping. Why wouldn't she be explaining it to him again? Oh, right because he was the golden child. He wouldn't do anything wrong.

I was nervous. I missed Aiden. He was my moral compass. I had always been a rebel. He was the one who kept me grounded. The last I saw him was the night before the outbreak. We had given in to each other. That night had been special for both of us. Though we were connected to each other physically that night it brought us closer mentally.

My parents took us to our private island where I have been staying for the past 5 years. The only reason I agreed to come here was to find Aiden. I don't know what happened to him. My dad said he did everything he could to find him, but I know very well he is a liar.

I didn't know my hands were shaking until I felt someone hold them. I removed my earphones and looked at Seb.

"It's going to be all right," Seb said smiling.

Seb and I were like any other twins prior to the outbreak he was popular everyone loved him whereas I was someone people went out of there way to avoid. The highschool cliques stupidity had built a bridge between us. But during the last 5 years, we have grown closer. He was the one who kept me sane. Well, most of the time.

"We will find him don't worry" He whispered slowly so that only I could hear him. I smiled at him and looked out the window. I let a tear roll down my cheeks.

I was worried and nervous.

I had never seen a wolf person before. Sure I read articles and saw pictures of them but never had the opportunity to meet one in person. I was nervous, having read so much about them. I had contemplated the option that Aiden might be one of them now. So the research. Or I swear I wouldn't be caught doing all this research. Though there was not much, to begin with.

I had read quite a few novels on werewolves. And all of them made these monsters seem like heroes. 90% of them were Romance novels. I was really irritated at first, why would someone find love in animals. It was just ridiculous.

All of them had one thing in common. The girl got fascinated with its fur. It looked beautiful. They always had this need to touch them. Seriously?? The dude is covered in hair. Fur yes, but hair. How is that sexy? And the dude didn't even look human. Literally. How could anyone find that attractive? Teenagers I tell you.

I was lost in my world when I felt Seb nudge me. I looked at him to see he was looking outside the window. I tried getting closer to his window to see what was he looking at so intently.

"Vi! Look through your own window" He said pushing me away.

I was about to reply when I saw what he was looking at. Suddenly I became conscious of the fact that we were driving on a bridge that led to a huge metal gate that resembled prison bars. There were huge men near the gate, who could only be described as warriors. I honestly don't know how else to describe them.

One of them spoke with my dad in hushed tones. He dint gave any expression. Boy, will he win in poker. When I looked at the other guards they all had the same expression. Which was no expression at all, so he might not win the poker game after all. They were all very tall and bulky and stood straight as if guarding a castle.

Speaking of Castle as the prison bar gates opened we were driving on a path that led to an ancient and portentous looking castle.

Hold on a minute. Weren't we going to an institute and not visit some old king or something like that.

"Umm dad where are we?"

"Concordia" He said looking amazed.

I dont blame him the castle was beautifully made with white stones with intricate designs on many of them. It was vast and resplendent. I almost felt like I was teleported into medieval times and it was magical.

"Concur what?"

"Not concur, idiot, Concordia, It is the name of the institute, it means unity. It was coined as it will be the place where both the species co-existed together in unity and harmony" Seb answered without looking at me. Probably taking in the ancient and seemingly Moorish entrance.

"Well, Thank you google," I said rolling my eyes at him.

"I think I know what you want to ask. When we said that we will provide an institute for both the species to learn together we dint mean that we're going to build one. Besides Lupas choose this himself. We just provided money for the equipment and all. They did everythning."

"Who?" I asked confused again.

"The alpha. Lupas is the werewolf alpha. He is like their king. Honestly, Vi did you read anything at all." Seb said looking at me bored

"I am sorry I don't like algebra with alpha, beta, and gamma. I have never been good in maths" I said defending myself.

"Physics. You read alpha beta gamma in physics. They are radiation rays." Looking at me amused.

"Shut up! Show off" I dismissed him and decided to look at the people outside. I got of the car only to be suffocated to death. I couldn't breathe. My lungs were screaming for oxygen. I am sure I looked as blue as a smurf.