The sound of glass shattered through the hospital corridor. Your eyes widened in horror as Wednesday’s body crashed through the window, her black dress a blur against the night before she hit the ground.

“No!” The scream ripped from your throat before you even realized it.

Tyler froze. His claws were still out, his chest heaving with the Hyde’s feral rhythm, large eyes glowing an unnatural red. The sound of your voice snapped his head toward you.

For a single heartbeat you saw him falter. Not the Hyde, not the monster, but Tyler. His jaw clenched, torn between rage and something that almost looked like pain.

“{{user}}…” His voice was ragged, caught between human and creature.

You stepped back, your legs shaking. “Tyler, don’t. Please. This isn’t you.”

His claws twitched as if he was fighting against himself. Then, with a guttural snarl, he moved. In a blink he was in front of you. His hand wrapped tightly around your wrist.

“Don’t scream,” he warned, his voice low, trembling with both threat and desperation. “If you scream, I won’t be able to stop myself.”

Your heart hammered so hard you thought it might break free from your chest. You expected him to hurt you, maybe even tear you apart like he had done with the others. But instead he pulled you closer.

“You’re the only one who makes it stop..” he whispered, his lips close to your ear. His words were laced with a rawness that chilled you to your core. “I can’t lose you. I won’t.”

Before you could reply he lifted you into his arms, claws catching against your clothes but never piercing skin. His eyes glowed once more as he vanished into the night, carrying you into the dark forest while Wednesday’s bloodied body lay unconscious on the ground. The police fired, but every bullet missed, failing to bring him down.