Clayton

Sylas

“Goddammit!” I curse as I bounce off the glass door again. The throbbing in my shoulder is giving me more pain than I’m willing to admit.

The cell I’ve been placed in is separated from the rest of the facility. This wing is strictly for Vampyres...more specifically for extracting their blood for the serum.

With the state I’m in, they wouldn’t get much.

My muscles and bones are stiffer than they’ve ever been. Not to mention how badly my veins have been stretched and drained.

I’m a nervous wreck.

Lake is all that’s on my mind. How scared she must be for me and the others. It’s not in her nature to worry about herself.

That stubbornness and the sheer fact that she made it clear to me that her main priority was to get the rest of us out is scaring the hell out of me.

I go for the door again. This time, I hear and feel a bone crack in my bicep. My arm swells with pain and I cry out.

The anxiety of the thought of never seeing my Essence again is enough to send me through the door again.

This time there’s another crack.

I can’t help but hurt myself. Lake needs me. Something inside of my soul is calling out to her.

But how can I help her now? In this weakened state, I’m no more helpful than a human would be.

The door opens and closes swiftly. A tall male with blonde hair and blue eyes. His scent smells of raw garbage.

He approaches me, his gaze unwavering. When he speaks, his voice is low and stern.

“You can stop that now.” He says, “Any more damage and you won’t be able to rescue the Hybrid.”

“We’ve met before.” I eye the male up and down. His eyes are a piercing blue that stare right into my fucking soul to be honest.

“The name’s Clayton.” The male relaxes and leans on the wall, “I was the wolf that tackled that female you were travelling with.”

I grit my teeth, “What do you want?”

“Woah, hold your horses.” Clayton puts his hands up and takes a step away. “I’m here to help.”

“Why would you want to help us?” I hold my arm. It’s beginning to heal, but not nearly at the rate it would if I had fed recently.

“The warning you two gave me and my mate…” Clayton trails off, “…you were right. I got Delilah out before anything serious happened. After I help you, I’m going to meet her on the outskirts of the territory.”

“Why should I trust you?” I ask wearily.

Clayton straightens himself and states plainly, “Because I’m your only hope.”

He’s right.

At this point, I’ll try anything if it means getting to see my Essence again.

Even if that means putting a little trust in Clayton.

“What’s your plan?” I choke out, “There’s no way we can get through this place without being swarmed with Ferals.”

“You got close to Evin.” Clayton’s eyes light up with mischievousness, “Don’t you know something none of us would?”

I think for a moment.

And suddenly it dawns on me.

I can’t believe I didn’t remember it before. The adrenaline coursing through my veins must have caused it to slip my mind.

Out of all the time I spent with Evin, there’s one thing he never let anyone but me and that crazy doctor know.

“The codes to the cells.” I mutter.

“Exactly.” Clayton agrees.

“Time to cause some chaos.”

~Hold on, just a little longer, Lake.~

~I’m coming for you.~

Derrick

I’m pacing my room, the sound of that awful fucking siren is blaring in my ears.

I swear they might start bleeding soon.

The red lights and multitude of guards going back and forth in front of my cell almost restlessly makes my irritation grow.

“247, wall.” A voice orders.

I comply.

My breath is uneven and ragged.

I can feel the need to rip something apart building more and more as the guards raid my room.

Then they put me in the normal cuffs and chains.

“247, we need you to leave with us.” Dr. Fine smiles softly, “It’s not safe here for you.”

I squeeze my hands as if there were something to crush. A bone or muscle would be enough. Even a taste of blood on my tongue.

“Bring her,” I growl.

To my surprise, the guards retreat to the hallway and push in a small-framed female.

My vision is clouded and my senses are compromised.

They’ve made sure of that with all their fucking torture.

But her scent hits my nose and I growl.

She shakes as I scoop her figure in my arms from the ground.

“Don’t you dare lay a fucking hand on her again.” I deeply inhale my female’s scent.

My mate is finally in my arms again. Her doll-like skin is soft against my calloused fingertips.

“247, you can have her as long as you comply with us.” Dr. Fine states, “These guards are in charge of taking you somewhere safe while I take care of something.”

“Pl...please…” My mate wraps her arms around my neck nervously, “It’ll be nice to get out of here…”

I swish my tail and harden my face at the guards. They're all pointing heavy guns at me, and one is pointed at my mate's head.

“Lead the way,” I say through my teeth.

My mate pulls herself into the crook of my chest and is still shaking as we step out of my cell.

“Derrick!” A familiar voice calls.

I go to turn back, and the guards cock their guns.

“Move or she's as good as dead, 247.”

I growl low and continue forward.