In that moment, had I been human, I would've become fear's bitch. A blindness would've obscured obvious signs that could've led to my escape. And then that asinine decision would've entered my brain: fight or flight?

But no, I had evolved past such weaknesses.

"Knees on the ground. Arms up, weapons down," this stranger ordered, his voice oddly muffled.

I sensed rather than saw Carly's accession to his wishes; however, for some reason, I couldn't. I allowed my machete to rest at my side, but my arms never rose. For I was tired of dutifully following this world's rules.

My chemically induced instincts honed into the wind's whisper as it whistled through trees. Its gust blew moist, auburn tresses across my view of cracked pavement, and yet the wind's touch hit me from all sides but one. My gaze traveled along the asphalt until the shadow of our assailant confirmed my suspicions.

He was alone.

You know what to do, came the return of that internal voice.

Then I simply retorted, "Fuck off."

"Alyssa, just comply," Carly instructed at my side, "for God's sake, just do as he says."

End him, Camille urged.

"I'd listen to her, if I were you," the stranger advised as the pain from the barrel of the gun being shoved against the back of my head dulled. "Wasting gutter trash is no longer against the law. In fact, a bullet in your skull would be seen as heroic."

My eyes closed as my mind focused on my sense of smell. Along the breeze, I detected the scent of... fear and sweat. Like the dead, I inhaled, distinguishing the disgusting odor of musk, tobacco with just a hint of... Old Spice?

Then suddenly, anger transformed into amusement. I smirked because there was a familiarity within this aroma.

I love the scent of fresh pricks in the morning, Camille teased.

"Since when has gunning down innocent, unarmed individuals been seen as heroic?" I asked.

"Alyssa," my aunt pleaded.

This time I felt the full impact of steel as it smacked against my skull. "Since smartasses like you attempt to invade the-"

Now! Camille screamed. Do it now!

Ignoring my head's ache, I moved with the grace of a pouncing tiger as I twisted, my hands taking hold of the weapon with ease. Ripping it from his grip, the acceleration of my movements stopped all other vile words from leaving his mouth.

Nothing could express my satisfaction at witnessing this big, strong guard automatically taking a step back. Then his arms rose defenselessly at suddenly being the target of his own gun.

"You were saying?" I mocked.

Kill him! Camille enticed.

And oh, how I wanted to...

But out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Hailee's expression. It caused the promise I'd made to Carly to rear its ugly head again. Then shamefaced that I had unintentionally escalated my cousin's alarm, I offered the gun back to him. "You've had your fun Ray, but we're running out of time."

I picked up my weapon just as the guard's dirty face shield was shoved away.

Clearly unamused, his blue eyes glared before the firearm was snatched from my grasp. "And you're late."

"Really, Ray?" Carly helped Hailee back to her feet while such relief clung to my aunt's features. "What is wrong with you?"

"This ain't no damn charity, Carly," the guard replied as he guided us toward an empty alleyway, and further away from his clueless cohorts. "I'm risking my job, my life to help people like you."

Everyone wants to be what they once were, Camille ridiculed. Someone should remind him of the truth.

Denial seemed to be a common trait among those my aunt had a connection with. Did we not provide this guard with a portion of our food so that he could keep up his charade? Did we not give him a percentage of my aunt's earnings?

"People like us?" I snorted.

"Alyssa, don't start," Carly warned as she hurried forward.

"I'm just saying, Harriet Tubman here seems to have forgotten what he is." I grinned. "So, tell me Ray, when exactly did pretend transform into reality?"

Sidestepping what remained of a half-eaten corpse atop broken rubble, I didn't notice Ray's movements until I felt his body ram into mine. My back met brick harshly while Ray's sweaty arm virtually blocked my airway, holding me immobile. Repulsed, I could feel every curve, every contour of his figure. And I almost gagged from the powerful stench of cigarettes.

Ray's gloved hand brushed a stray hair behind my ear even as I tried to avoid his touch. "Do you know how many pretty girls would kill to be in your position? How many we turn away at the gate?"

Reach for the machete, Alyssa.

But, his sudden attack had knocked it from my hands. Unable to stop myself, I countered, "I know of how many protectors take advantage of the ones you do allow to enter. I know of how those leeches feed on desperation."

"Ray, please," Carly begged, her body instinctively shielding Hailee. "You know that Alyssa speaks before she can think."

She turned to me. "Alyssa, just apologize. We don't have time for this."

I just love her priorities, that internal voice mocked. Don't you?

Ray's voice lowered, "You should tread carefully, Alyssa."

His perverted eyes trailed along my face with such undisguised lust. Smirking, his hairy palm brushed the length of my cheek before it stopped to caress my bottom lip. "The water toughened you. Even a blind man can see that, but I wonder, are you strong enough to fend off those who have voiced an interest in you?"

Aim for his throat. You could rip out his trachea before he even has a chance to blink.

Instead, I twisted my face away from his fingers only to wheeze as the pressure against my neck increased.

At my silence, he admonished, "You should show a little more gratitude for everything that these leeches have done for you."

By eating them for breakfast? My inner identity suggested.

His body shifted for a more intimate contact causing my fists to ball at my sides. "After all, you'd see that we're more like saviors if you weren't too clouded by unwarranted hatred. I mean, do we not save the poor from starving by allowing them entrance? Do we not protect these citizens while they work? So then, what's a little entertainment in return?"

Wow, justifying perversion, Camille exclaimed. I think he just hit a new low. Alyssa, what are you waiting for? End him!

But I couldn't, and he knew this.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." I yanked my face away from his touch only to have him grip my chin painfully, compelling my sight to focus on my aunt.

He forced me to notice how she avoided the sight of us. He forced me to acknowledge that although she held a gun, she did nothing to stop him.

Then suddenly, I understood what this was. This display wasn't purely about his demented desire. Disarming Ray earlier had emasculated him, and this was a demonstration of power.

Ray's hot breath tickled against my cheek. "Take Carly, for example. She understands how this world works. She knows that you must give something to receive something."

His rough hands guided my face forward until our eyes met and held. "But do you know what comes with a willingness to please, Alyssa?"

"The selling of one's soul?" I offered through clenched teeth. And oh, how he rejoiced in the fury that I failed to suppress. I could see it even before the edges of his tobacco scented lips tugged upward. He fucking fed off it.

Stop letting your family control your actions! Camille screamed.

"Boredom." This protector's gaze dropped to hug my curves, his palm brushing against my knee before it gradually rose up my inner thigh. "I mean look at you, even when you try to be obedient, you're defiant. Soon, my dear Alyssa, the hunter in me will want more than compliance."

You have the strength to push him away, to break that fucking hand, so do it!

I can't, I replied internally, I can't sacrifice them just to give into my anger. Then using every ounce of strength within me, I envisioned a shield around my mind. And strangely enough... for the first time since my fever ended, there was silence inside my head.

Ray's fingers stilled inches from the apex of my legs.

Breathless, I allowed my green gaze to hold his blue. Witnessing his silent triumph, I waited to see if my dread was enough to placate his need for dominance, and it took everything within me to stop myself from doing the very thing Camille enticed.

"Soon, the hunter in me will yearn to break wills," he confessed. "What can I say? I guess, deep inside, we all relish a good fight. And I'm afraid poor Carly won't satisfy me forever."

Then abruptly, Ray released me.

With freedom from his grip came my wheezing; however, my collapse onto my knees went unnoticed by him. And with the sun like an aura of fire around his frame, Ray surged confidently onto the main street. "The gates are closing. Follow me or get left behind. It's your choice."

"Alyssa?"

My hand wrapped around the handle of my machete so tightly I half expected blood to paint its surface.

"Alyssa?"

My choice? As if anything in this world was my choice anymore.

"Alyssa-" my aunt's words finally managed to break into my thoughts. "The gates."

"Gates?" I rose back onto unsteady feet, my eyes zeroing in on her guilt.

"We're late."

Yet, I needed to know. "Just how important is entering the city to you? How much are you willing to sacrifice?"

Carly's eyes fell to Hailee before they slowly reverted to me. "Everything."

But I knew that what she really meant was anyone.

It was what I expected, yet it was one thing to think it, but quite another thing to hear it. I guess, I never realized how truly alone I was after my parents' death.

Shoving away useless sentimentality, I inwardly composed myself enough to utter, "Then I guess we'd better go."

Carly's hand captured my arm as I started to walk by her. "You should just stay out of his way," she advised. "Don't talk back. Like I told you, it's safer to stay under the radar."

Spoken like the professional victim, went Camille's resurfaced voice.

Walking onward, I forcibly yanked my arm from Carly's grip while trying to forget of how my mother believed I've be safer with her sister. "Yeah, I'll remember that for the next time you simply watch my attempted assault."

Author's note:

I wanted to enter the city in this chapter, but honestly, I'm having writer's block and am too lazy to keep trying to figure out where this chapter should go. I may redo it later, but for now, it is what it is.

Hope you enjoyed it!