Chapter 2 The Escape

Lyra's Pov continues...

That same day, in the late-night hours...

"I am part of you, Lyra. I am your wolf, Amira, and I am here to help you. Sorry for whatever you've been through. Now, brace yourself-we're getting out of here."

"Mother is gone, Amira," I said, tears building in my eyes.

"Don't cry, Lyra. Now, let's get back at everyone who has caused us pain."

An hour later, I stood by the wall of my cell, waiting. The guards assigned to take me to the laboratory would be here any moment.

... As soon as they arrived, something inside me awakened. Power surged through my veins-power I had never felt before. Without hesitation, I attacked, taking down all three at once, brutally ending their existence.

"That's for all the punishments and pain you've inflicted on me," I spat out, my voice laced with rage.

Stepping over their bodies, I walked through the dimly lit halls of the lab. Ahead, I spotted Baron-the enemy's son-entering a room. Without a second thought, I followed him.

"This must be the room, Amira. Should we run or attack?"

"Where are those guards?" Gunnar's voice echoed from inside. "They should have been back minutes ago."

There was a pause before Baron sneered. "Hmm. Maybe they're having fun with the little one before bringing her here."

Baron licked his lips. "If she wasn't a total abomination, I would have kept her as my personal toy... a stress reliever."

Hearing those words sent a violent shudder through me. My blood boiled. Disgust flooded every inch of my being. Without thinking, I stepped into the room.

"Well, hello, Gunnar and Baron."

Baron's father, Gunnar, turned sharply. "How are you here alone?" He frowned before giving orders. "Gunter! Thomas! Julius!" He waited, but no one answered.

I smirked. "Don't waste your breath. They're dead."

Gunnar's eyes widened in disbelief. "How did you overpower my guards, you wench?"

"Your biggest mistake was letting me turn eighteen. Now, both of you-expect your end." I pointed a clawed finger at them.

"Those insolent fools couldn't even hold a little girl after all that training," Baron scoffed.

Gunnar shook his head. "That's impossible. A werewolf hybrid isn't meant to transform."

I chuckled darkly. "That's where you're wrong. You never let hybrids live long enough to reach adulthood. So how would you know?"

My gaze snapped back to Baron. "And you-I'm going to show you how a 'little girl' will be the reason for your end."

Baron bolted toward the control panel, likely reaching for the Estimator-a device they used to suppress my kind. But I was faster. In a blur, I lunged, my claws slicing through his arm. He let out a strangled cry, stumbling backward.

Behind me, Gunnar moved, preparing to strike. But my heightened senses warned me. I stepped aside just as he swung his weapon-only for it to plunge straight into Baron's chest.

A choked gasp escaped Baron's lips. His eyes widened in shock before the light in them flickered out.

"No!" Gunnar howled, his face twisting in agony. He rushed to his son's side, his voice shaking. "I'm sorry, son. I... I didn't mean to-"

But it was too late.

I turned my gaze to the desk covered in sharp instruments-tools they had intended to use on me. A wicked thought crept into my mind.

Why not return the favor?

I stepped toward Gunnar, a pair of scissors clutched in my hand. But just as I raised my arm, he acted first. With a flick of his wrist, a white powder exploded into the air, clouding my vision.

Pain seared through my eyes.

"Ahh! It burns! What did you do?!" I stumbled, gripping my face.

Gunnar spoke out, his voice filled with venom. "I will be back, you evil abomination. And I will have my revenge-on you and your family."

I heard him drag Baron's lifeless body through a back door. My knees buckled as my vision blurred.

"Amira... I need you now. Take over my body."

My wolf growled in frustration. "I can't see either! Whatever he threw at us is messing with our sight."

She took a deep breath. "We need to find the exit and leave this place. But mark my words, Lyra-one day, Gunnar's head will be ours."

As I reached the exit and stepped into the cold, unforgiving world-the world I was never meant to be in-I bumped into a woman, sending her tumbling to the ground.

"You!" the woman exclaimed, her voice sharp with shock. "How are you still alive? Gunnar was supposed to be done with you by now!"

Thanks to the moon. As its rays bathed the night, my vision became clearer, and I finally saw who was speaking.

"Martina!" I shouted her name, unable to contain my rage, even though she was only a few steps away. "Today is your end. This is for the betrayal a loss you caused."

My voice shook with fury. "My mother trusted you as a friend, but you stabbed her in the back. You gave away our location, and now she's dead!"

Martina scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. Are we still on this matter?" She let out a cruel laugh. "I was never meant to be your mother's friend. It was all a setup, and she walked right into our trap."

Hearing her laugh only fueled my anger.

"You have no heart," I spat.

She smirked. "Don't blame me for your mother's death. She was stupid enough to believe my lies and let a total stranger into her home."

Martina's eyes flickered as she studied me. "I see you have powers now. But don't fool yourself-just because you do, doesn't mean you're any match for me."

I let out a dark, humorless laugh. "Then why don't we settle it right now? Let's see who is truly stronger."

Martina's lips curled into a smirk. "Now is not the right time, Lyra. But that time will come soon enough."

And in a flicker of a second, just like that-she disappeared.

I clenched my fists, my frustration boiling in. That witch-one of the people responsible for the pain that consumed me-had slipped through my fingers.

"Don't get disappointed, Lyra," Akira's voice echoed in my mind. "Let's get out of this shithole first."

And so, I ran.

****

For days, I wandered through the thick woods, lost and alone. No food. No water. The sun, my enemy, scorched my skin, forcing me to seek shelter beneath the trees. Only at night did I find any relief.

I had no destination. No one to turn to. No place to call home.

"I can't go on any longer, Akira," I whispered weakly. "I need food and water."

Akira's voice was faint now, just as exhausted as I was. "I barely have the strength either. I need fresh blood and I need water too."

I swallowed hard. "I don't want to die, Amira. Not yet. Not until I've had my revenge."

But my body was failing me. My vision blurred. My legs trembled beneath me.

"I guess this is it," I murmured as my knees buckled. "This is how we die-in this lonely forest."

Tears swelled in my eyes as the last of my strength drained from me.

"At least I've come to terms with my end."

With a final thought, the world faded in my eyes and I collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving ground.