Where there's smoke there's fire

By Angel

We were stuck in hell. I think today it is six days since the base was dominated.

Few were still frightened by the aliens' different appearance after they took off their armour. Even without the war clothes they almost looked sickly behind the wild and hostile looks.

The humans had been separated by sex in different places and there was almost no communication between us. Anyway, everyone worked. An immense tunnel was built very slowly as if those creatures were looking for something hidden in the depths of the planet. I remembered the cities that Zorack had talked about existed there with absolute disbelief.

Cities? It wasn't a damn sci-fi tale with Morlocks from the writer HGWells that I enjoyed. There was a fixed limit to tolerating bizarre and different creatures and it did not include discovering that on our planet perhaps beings with humanoid appearance lived inside the planet.

Well, that was not all that bothered. It was Klaus. Something about him gave me the creeps. I could just feel that there was something terrible behind that falsely friendly face. I think that as much as Zorack tried to avoid a complete disaster between us - I definitely wasn't going to give a taste of a jealous scene! - there was deep down suspicion. Nobody just comes back from the dead just like that, right?

Sometimes we were allowed to have the group meet after the lean ration they served us. On those occasions, even miserable, I displayed confidence that I was far from feeling. We would hardly survive that.

-I need to talk to you! Now! - a voice gave me the creeps.

It was not asking so much to be left alone. I pretended an indifference I didn't feel when the hand touched my arm and I was suddenly startled by the cold temperature.

"What do you still want?" I exploded, telling myself that what Zorack didn't interest me.

I think all wanted was a little solitude. The dorms would be empty as long as the meal was served. In any case, he had no appetite. I also knew that it was dangerous to walk there alone with those creatures. One of our companions had disappeared creating quite a stir.

-That girl is probably dead, you know? - Zorack growled, taking a deep breath. - What do you want here alone, drawing attention to these things?

Well, what, seriously?

- And what does it matter to you?

It was a rather childish question. Only my nerves were about to burst. It was all together. Aliens, Klaus and Ravenack. I was just putting off the moment I feared the most. Because sooner or later they were bound to find out who the hybrid was. It was a matter of time with the tests they had started to do.

I heard metallic hisses, containing the shudder of disgust, for the first time assimilating the folly of distancing myself from the rest. It was dangerous. At that point at least Zorack would have every right to complain about my recklessness. God! Since when was his hand so cold that I can't remember it?

- At the very least, you're trying to kill yourself, you fool! - new recriminations filled my ears when I felt his cold hands pull me from the corridor towards an empty room with the door ajar.

I didn't have time to curse or scold. Of course, there were comments among us after one of the girls had disappeared without anyone knowing what had happened.

I saw two of those creatures crossing the dimly lit corridor with their heavy, dragging steps bringing company. I might be angry and furious, but in the end, we were all human in the hands of an enemy. I saw the doctor's daughter being led without any reaction. I thought about calling or shouting for someone when Zorack pulled me further back and covered my mouth with my protests.

The vision paralyzed me. It was the dark sound as I watched the creature in front of me displaying the sharp fangs holding the redhead so that her mate would get close enough to bury his teeth in her neck. The metallic hiss was soon replaced by another suction while it fed on the girl.

God! It was worse than a horror movie. I could feel my heartbeat in my deaf ears. I had lost track of the ground under my feet. They acted like damn real vampires and were immune to anything. It was like watching tales of horror come true and there was no charming or sexy Dracula. Those creatures were like damn vampires who walked quietly in the daylight with impenetrable skin. They didn't even have the bonus of dying with wooden stakes.

Okay, aliens who might even be vampires if it weren't for the damn look!

-Angel! - my name sounded authoritative and I didn't even react when I was shaken very lightly.

My mind refused to process any information. I couldn't think of anything else. We were fucked and dead. Shit! Is that what I was going to be?

I could barely see Zorack with tears in his eyes. Let Klaus go to hell! I was only sixteen and really scared. The air did not enter the lungs enough.

-Breathe, okay? Do not make noise!

Do not make noise? The doctor's daughter ... I looked at Zorack cold.

-She ... she ... - I was unable to continue.

- These things feed, when the host is compatible ... - He shrugged with little concern and continued in calm to get on his nerves: Well, things are not always easy. If a human is compatible and exposed to the poison of these creatures he can live in symbiosis. It doesn't always happen.

Not always? It was an unfortunate race that fed on blood like the damned vampires in sitcoms and horror movies. I was shaking with dread and knew it was starting to fall apart. All these people trapped there at the base ... That was just the reason we were serving now: food?

-That ... this is horrible! Monstrous! - my voice comes out between sobs.

All my control was one step closer to crossing the limits of sanity and letting me plunge into a hysterical crisis.

Suddenly everything was wrong. None of this was really happening. It was a normal night like any other. I was an exactly normal girl with a boyfriend. I was going to take a stick on the math test and be addicted, so what? It was definitely not the end of the world! It is not?

The smell of blood startled me in an inviting appeal. It was wrong, except that there was a survival instinct in my gut that arose recognizing the compulsion of that odious need.

Damn it!

-Zorack! - I didn't even know what to say. Adrenaline rushed through my body, triggering all the basic impulses of fear.

Anaesthetized and paralyzed there. Without any action. It was like having plunged headlong into a horror tale with macabre refinements. Those creatures really fed on blood. I was finally shaking, falling apart, forgetting all my pride and anger. I did everything I said I would never do. I sought refuge in the strong arms that embraced me, swallowing the hateful cry miserably, sobbing.

-We ... we're going to die ... nobody ... nobody ...

-Shhh ... - Zorack sighed tense as he cradled me snuggled against him. -Everything will stay ...

-Nothing will be okay! I protested, noting that he sighed as he closed the door, blocking the horror scene.

The doctor ... Damn! He would be devastated to learn of his daughter. I should have done anything! Shout out! Ask for help! And not standing there looking like an inanimate statue. I bit my lip hard, containing the new tremor ready to give way to an irresistible cry.

I am afraid!

-The evolution of a species sometimes ...

I looked at Zorack almost without recognizing him for a moment.

-Do you call it evolution? They are parasites! Damn creatures that ... that ... probably killed the girl. Don't you see that? You and her ... God! How can it be so cold? Wasn't the fun that good? She ... she didn't deserve ... she deserved ...- I was sniffling between the sobs of crying.

-Angel, Angel! Zorack sighed loudly and pulled away enough to face me. - It will only be a matter of time. The K'Aldriant soon dominated even the Confederacy. Ravenack will be the next leader ...

-Have I heard the absurdity you're saying? - I asked in disgust. - He ... he's a monster!

-From time to time, evolution leaps in history. You more than anyone should know.

I looked at him incredulously. It was throwing salt at my wounds! I wanted to scream that I wasn't like them. It was never going to be! Shit! I can't believe Zorack was saying that!

- Is that what you wanted to show me? The kind of freak I'm about to become? - I asked, fighting the crying. Nothing could stop him.

-Aberration? Is being different an aberration? Who dictates the rules of right or wrong? It's a food pyramid and they're at the top like predators.- Zorack ignited.

"You ... you've gone crazy!" I murmured in horror and stepping back slowly.

I hardly worried if those creatures were still outside in the corridor. I ran away, running away from demons that had frightening images in my mind, and refusing to accept how terribly attractive and seductive the sight of the blood was. And much worse. That one didn't really look like Zorack.