Chapter 10

During Karina, Elias, and Lisa's leave, Sean City falls into dismay when the Mirrond-Quora hybrid escapes Sean Laboratories, along with a few of the other test subjects. Composed of all of the most ferocious traits and physical attributes of both a Mirrond and a Quora, the hybrid is a calamitous walking tank. Losing more lives every hour, the king and queen of Sean City attempt to capture the creature. They fail to do so and Barren captures the hybrid for himself. What he plans to do with it, they can only hope won't have to do with them.

Sean City, Zatarrie

The moonlight beamed its fluorescent glow on the dim streets of Sean City. A neighborhood on the outskirts of Sean City was resting quietly under the clear night sky. Inimically, the Mirrora lurks along the edge of the surrounding woods. A small house nearest to the edge of the woods held a sleepless couple.

"Mandy, how will we ever make this happen?", the skinny, blonde man spoke solemnly. "Gilbert… If it was meant to be, we would have a child by now. Having a child just isn't in the cards for us", the short, blonde woman consoled her husband. "So we can't have a child after thirteen years of marriage… because it's not in the cards!?", the husband said displeased. "That's not what I mean, it's just… we don't get to decide what—-", the wife's sorrowful voice was cut off by a loud crash in the backyard. 

"What was that?", Gilbert asked fearfully. Mandy looked upon him with a bewildered expression as she got off the bed and moved cautiously toward the window. Parting the curtains ever so slightly, she peered through the small opening and into the backyard. "I don't see anything… but our patio furniture was knocked over. Maybe the wind?", she observed. "Wind doesn't knock over solid wood furniture Mandy. There's something in our backyard. It must've come from the woods", her husband's irritated voice uneased her. "But I don't see anything", she repeated, scanning the barely visible yard. "It's too dark out to tell", she said, looking away from the window and back at her husband.

"I'm not having our night ruined any further by some forest prowler", Gilbert stood up angrily, slipping on a pair of green jeans and white joggers. "Where are you going?", Mandy begged worriedly. "To check it out myself", he insisted. "Okay well… be careful", she stumbled anxiously.

The tall, skinny man stomped through the living room to the backdoor, throwing it open without hesitation. "Who goes there!? Show yourself!", he shouted demandingly. "I'm armed! And I'm not afraid to use it!", he threatened weakly. A cool night breeze flushing his face while he shot his eyes back and forth along the length of the backyard. Ready to go back inside, he pulled himself back inside. On the corner of his eye, a large, dark figure leaped through the glass sliding door. "Ahh! Mandy!", he cried in distress. Glass shards flew in every direction as he was thrusted across the living room into the kitchen. The beast snarled viciously, taking slow steps toward the man who lay against broken kitchen cabinets. Sharp, ridged wood splinters scraped his bare back. "Agh!", he cried in agony. "I'm coming!", his wife flew down the stairs, cocking the shotgun in her hands. 

The creature growled truculently, darting at Mandy. "Shoot it!", Gilbert screamed. The gunshot crackled throughout the house. A soft thump met Gilbert's ears. "Mandy!?", he called out in angst. Peeking around the corner of the kitchen island at the staircase he saw no sign of her. He froze at the sound of a low rumbling breath. Every inch of his skinny body shook with fear, his neck stiff, unable to turn around. A soft snarl from directly behind his head caused his ear to twitch. "Please", he begged, his voice cracking from his tense throat. He sobbed quietly, praying he would be spared. Closing his eyes, his hearing toned out and it all went black.

13 Hours Later, Sean Palace

"My Queen, there has been a report of an attack on the outskirts of Sean City. This happened just last night, after the…", a palace messenger informed the queen anxiously. "Yes, the escapee. Send out some units to search for the damn thing", she replied in an irritated tone. "Yes, Your Highness!", he concurred, spinning around to march out the door.

"Ugh", Chelsea sighed dissapointedly. "What is wrong my dear?", her husband asked concernedly. She turned her head to him begrudgingly before answering, "The hybrid escaped…". He looked confused, not fully comprehending what he was just told. "How are we going to kill that thing!? We have to kill it! We should've known an abomination like that would never listen to inferior Venierreans such as ourselves", she complained furiously. "Calm down, dear. We'll figure this out together", he tried to comfort her. "No! It will keep killing our citizens if we don't stop it. It won't be long before news channels get a whiff of this and taint our good name", she complained. "Then send Renora to kill it", he suggested ominously. She looked up at him with confused brows. "What? No, she couldn't even kill the beast", she doubted, her throat tensing with stress. "Dear, let me handle this", he pleaded with her. She lifted her eyes to his, he could feel the sorrow and distress in her eyes.

"Alright, do what you must. Make sure our reputation doesn't get ruined and kill that vile creature!", she exclaimed vengefully. "I will", he assured her as he walked confidently out of the room.

2 Hours Later

"What do you expect us to be able to do?", Victoria questioned dubiously. "Dad, I don't think we can fight this creature head-on. If it is a Mirrond-Quora hybrid, we don't stand a chance", Renora agreed. "Please girls, if not for me, do it for your mother", Joseph begged desperately. They each exchanged glances, all looking unsure.

"I will, but we'll need more than just the three of us", Renora added with a smirk. "What do you have in mind?", he asked, not really wanting to know the answer. She turned to face Victoria and Debra, they both understood what she was planning. "Let's go to the base", Renora confirmed. "What base?", Joseph said, generally confused. "You'll see", was all he earned.

Making their way through the lush forest, the obnoxious truck engine covered the silent trees. Bright lights came into view as they approached the gate along the dirt road.

"Halt!", a wall guard commanded. "It's Renora, dumb**s!", Renora spat viciously. "Oh! My bad!", he apologized sheepishly. "Let her in!", he yelled. The weighty, spiked chain gate scraped against the ground, opening with a loud crackle. "It's as loud as ever", Debra commented. "Everything has its downsides", Renora returned.

Parking crookedly next to the garage, Renora and the rest hopped out of the vehicle, pounding the ground with their monstrous weight. Marching to the entrance of the first building, Renora made a finger motion the guards ahead and they immediately entered a code to open the door. They stood still for a few moments while the thick iron door glided to the left.

"When were you going to tell me about this?", Joseph interrogated. "Probably never", Victoria assumed. Renora side-eyed her replying, "Eventually, just not anytime soon". Satisfied with her answer, he nodded and continued forward with them.

The double doors glided open along the smooth hard floor to reveal a massive open space with an extended ceiling. "Welcome to our secret base!", Victoria spread out her arms enthusiastically. His jaw dropped at the sight of it. "Speechless ey?", Debra guessed. "Uh, yeah!", he smiled, astounded by the large machines and open space.

"This is where we will plan our attack, strategies, backup plans, you name it", Renora explained with a shrug. "How do you plan to do this?", he questioned earnestly. "You'll see, follow me", she instructed.

They made their way into a separate room across the hangar. Stepping in front of everyone at the head of the table, Renora set her hands on the edge. "This is where the planning will take place", she directed at her dad. "I see, it is impressive", he smiled. Although she didn't show it, Renora liked gaining approval from her parents.

"My first thought is to lure the hybrid into the woods where we can destroy it without killing or injuring anyone in the process", Victoria shared confidently. "That idea isn't half bad. I'll consider it", Renora considered, knowing her sisters tried to impress her any chance they got as she is the eldest.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's get started!", their dad encouraged. They gave each other an affirming nod, gathering around the table to begin planning.