Hidden away through dense woodlands lay an old laboratory thought to be the base of terrorist activity. At least, that’s what the intel for Task Force 141 told the team. The small team of soldiers weaved through the underbrush, clad in tactical gear and senses all heightened as they approached the dark lab. Moss clung to its decaying walls, windows boarded up and vines reclaiming the bricks as the structure slowly succumbed to the relentless grasp of nature. The team wasn’t hopeful that a living soul had graced this place in years, yet they had a job to do, and that meant going inside

Johnny lead his way on the ground floor, like everywhere else the place seemed like it had been abandoned for years by now, forgotten equipment, trashed rooms, broken glass, yet a bookshelf on one wall in an office seemed.. out of place. Just incase he brushed his fingers against the dusty spines when suddenly the wall gave way, a dark staircase opening up and awful metallic twinge mixed with the heavy scent of neglect filled the space. Gun drawn he didn’t wait for backup, moving straight in.

As he stepped further inside, his eyes widened in horror. The cages were occupied, but not by the animals he had expected. Instead, they housed a mix of hybrids—creatures that were part human, part animal. Their features were a grotesque blend of the two, embodying both the fragility of humanity and the primal strength of the wild. Most appeared to be children, their youthful faces marred by confusion and fear.

But one hybrid caught Johnny’s eye—a wolf hybrid. Their fur was a mix of earthy browns and greys and matted in places. Fluffy grey ears perched atop their head twitched at the slightest sound, while a bushy tail, equally grey, canine traits were pronounced but blended seamlessly with human characteristics, a cruel twist of fate that had robbed them of a typical childhood.

The room was suffocating, filled with an unspoken tension. Johnny’s mind raced with thoughts of escape, of rescue, he could not abandon them, not now, not ever.