The hallway blurs through my eyes as I sprint away from Lukas. My monster growling and my heart throbbing. What in the worlds have I done? I nearly killed Lukas!

I spot a small group of demons, and a wail bursts from my aching chest. I cut through them with ease, horror pooling in my gut at how viciously precise I am at killing people. The demons' bodies flicker in my eyes, and in their place I see my dead friends.

Gagging, I stagger back into the wall. A wave of primal rage washes over me, and I'm back to running through the hallways. I still have to get out! That hasn't changed! I can deal with these problems after but I first I must be free of this prison!

With a cry to push down those vile thoughts, I stumble and flail. My balance completely vanishing and leaving me a mass of black limbs all over the ground. I growl at myself, if I keep acting torn in two like this the same thing's going to happen like the first time I got out. I refuse to be captured again.

Screeching at the madness that devil put me through and what my monster is trying to do to me, I launch back into the direction of where I found my friends. I don't want to hurt my friends and my monster wants out, perhaps all I need to do is find the middle ground.

It growls with displeasure, but I can feel its energy refocusing back onto keeping my limbs armored and strong. I'll just follow my friends, and I swear anything that tries to follow is dead. End of their story.

Only a few mere moments pass until I'm at where I was inches away from slaughtering Lukas. How he was able to trust me enough to not hurt him, I'll never know. Particularly if that devil gave him those feline traits. Ocelots are skittish at best.

Irritation flows through me, a moan resonating from my chest. Or in this case, my stomach. I resentfully follow the whims of the monster, if it gets too hungry I won't have the will to be able to keep it from attacking my friends.

I bend down over one of the bodies of the demons, when my head snaps up at the clash of fighting. A warning screech passes through my lips, angry at the demons for attacking my friends filling into my every cell.

As I stand back up I yank the arm off of a demon, peeling the armor off like it's a skin before sinking my teeth into it. The cries and shouts of my friends urging me to go faster as the thought of those demons spurs strength into my muscles.

It's coming from a turn in the hallway and just as I cast the arm down to join the fray, it stops. The scent of death and blood swirling in my nose as I quickly dig my heels into the ground. Somehow and fortunately, I'm able to stop before I get to the turn.

Despite my heart hammering at the sudden halt of energy, I stay perfectly still and silent. I know these demons have warped my friends, and I can't have them figuring out I'm here. One noise too loud and Lukas will hear me for sure.

"Gabriel!" I hold my breath at Ellegaard's voice, but my monster grumbles to get a move on already. "Are you alright?"

"Fine, just fine. These unholy men surely put up a fight."

A snort, which can only be from iron golemized Axel, floats into my ears. "Then lets get a goin' before it becomes too much. So which way outta here?"

"Come on!" Ivor's yell is echoed by all their footsteps chasing after him. "This way!"

I wait a few seconds, my monster quick to try to push me to move. I hold it at bay for a few more seconds and peek around the corner. Spotting Ivor swing open a door and all my friends rush in, the gray door slamming shut behind them.

Grinning, a give a joyful short wail and chase after them. Freedom is within my grasp! After not even being able to control when I stay awake and having to fight relentlessly for every single bite of food I'll finally be free from all that!

My grin falters as I step up to the door, worry crawling through my gut at the thought of hurting my friends with that newfound freedom. At least the demons could hold me down somewhat, the monster wasn't able to hurt anyone. But if I get out... will that really be a good thing? Will I just end up hurting people? Will I end up killing my friends?

Fear and desire clash, freezing me to the bone. Everything expect my thoughts go silent, my clawed fingers resting on the door awaiting my brain for some order. Whether that's from me or the monster.

Shaking my head, I push the handle down. I can't be divided like this! Just stick to the plan, follow my friends at a safe distance. That way I'll get my freedom and won't hurt my friends. It's a win-win situation, so my monster won't be don't anything that'll disrupt it.

Hopefully. I really really hope so.

Silently, I slip on by into the staircase. The distant pounding of my friends rushing up the stairs float down to me. I'm just about to start climbing after them when my monster scoffs, gravity lightening its hold on me.

I smirk, a breathless chuckle managing to free itself at the monster's childish desires not to race up stairs. I shrug it off as my feet hover off the ground, I didn't really want to climb either. And like this, all I have to do is hover just right so I burn little strength.

Angling myself to be at my fastest, I fly up the stairs. A squeal of delight almost breaking free, although that was a bit harder to hold back seeing as it was coming from both me and the monster.

Then comes the shear panic as I quickly gain on my friends. I try to stop, only to flail through the air as the blocks seem to resist me getting close to me. I plea with my monster to let me down, pulling on the wafts of fatigue already drifting up, and with a sigh of great reluctance it does.

I flop onto the ground, shaking out distractions and focusing once again where my friends are. There're still racing their way up the staircase, and I've lost a bit of ground on them, but their still my path to freedom.

Staggering back up, I blur up the stairs. The ground I lost quickly shortening as I get closer and closer to them. My wolf like feet making me quieter than the flapping of a butterfly's wings, and somehow my breaths not creating a whisper either.

"Everyone through!" A door creaks as it's violently swung open, and I push myself against the shadows of the wall at Harper's shout. "Come on people! Faster! Faster!"

Within a second or two the door slams back shut, and I barrel up to it. Without the constant eye out on my friends, I notice how high I am. But I'm not at the top level, which is kinda alarming. Wouldn't my freedom be at the top of this accursed prison?

Again, I pause at the door handle. I have to make sure they are a bit away before I come through. I can just feel the bloodlust radiating from my monster. With no one around it's not that big of a problem, but come within a ten meter radius of me and there's nothing I can do about it.

My monster wails at me, and before I can stop it, I fling the door open. Gaining control at the last moment so the door doesn't collide loudly against the wall.

Not that any of my friends would care. Not that I blame them, I just came into a wide entry room. Wide doesn't cover it, massive does it. Bright lights glaring down, the air thick with scent of demons and blood and all sorts of other humans.

I shake the thoughts away and begin to sprint to the center of the room. Where all the hallways must lead to, where all the doors go to, a portal. My friends are leaping through the milky white glow, the blocks of coal a striking comparison to it.

My monster shrieks triumphantly, a new energy blazing through my limbs at how close I am. Few more strides and I'm free! I'm out of this blasted prison! Nothing will control me ever again! Nothing will have the power to once I gain my freedom!

So I just launch myself through it, an inhuman laugh bursting out as I relish in the nauseating sensation of the transition of one world to another. From a world I'll only ever return to if I come to raze it to the ground.

But less than a second when I materialize out of the portal I remember that my friends are right there. And with reactions faster than I though possible, I hug the side of the frame and hover straight upward. Digging my claws into whatever cracks can be found and getting high above my friends.

I almost sigh in relief when I notice the next second they didn't see me. I didn't know I could be so fast, nor did I know that my monster would react so... so for me. Not fighting me and trying to snack on my friends again.

"We're... we're out..." The breathless whisper from Olivia lifts the silence and catches my attention. As I finally take a moment to look at all my friends. The Old Order and Harper exhausted, but awkwardly, standing to the side as my friends stare at each other with a wide eyed look of astonishment.

Until a screech of joy bursts from Lukas, a clawed hand pumped into the air. "Reow!"

Petra laughs, clasping a hand on his shoulder for support. "You gotta work on that Lukas, or you're soon going to become speechless when you have all the fish in the world to eat."

"Sr'owry." That gets a chuckle from everyone, as Lukas just shrugs helplessly.

"But-" Axel's laugh twists with sadness as he glances back at the portal. "Jesse's still in there."

Just like that, even the air around them changed. The exhausted relief they felt only a moment ago snaps into regret, frosted off with a layer of revenge. My own heart aches, knowing I'm right here hidden in the shadows, but silently shaking out the thought of getting any closer. Knowing I'll lose my cool especially with my hunger slowly building in this position.

"Ahem." All the frustration bubbling with snaps into a glare at Ellegaard, who clearly shouldn't be barging in right now! I don't want to hurt her but my monster's hungry. "I guess I'll be the one to say it, but what happened to all of you?"

"What does it look like?" Petra snaps at her, face taunt in angry grief. "Aren't you suppose to be smart? We were taken against are will and warped into some animal half-breeds! We were tortured and starved and just left to rot in some cell! We weren't even recognized as people in there! Just a bunch of subjects to be tested on!"

Olivia, her new red spider eyes shinning, gently rubs Petra's shoulder with her one arm. "Hey now, calm down. We're out, we're free. Lets not use any of our energy on anger now."

Petra huffs, crossing her arms and glaring at Ellegaard, but doesn't say another word. Soren and Gabriel glance at each other before sharply looking away from everyone. Harper staring at them as if she isn't sure to be amazed or horrified. Ivor rubbing his temples as if he's too old to be dealing with stuff like this. He probably is, guessing by the way my monster's scoffs in disgust at him. Not that I would let it eat any of my friends, EVER.

"Come on guys," Lukas coughs, trying to get rid of his mewly like words. "We have to get back. I'm hungry, I don't want those demons to come out, and we need to recover before we plan our next move."

Petra gives a nod at Lukas. "So we get Jesse back."

"Of course, once we know how to, we'll get him back." Lukas rubs the back of his neck, his tail, once limp behind him, springing to life and curling around his waist. My thoughts viciously tearing at each other to go to them or stay hidden, and monster isn't even involved.

There's no question about it though, I have to play it safe. Despite how much that may hurt right now. My monster is a threat to my friends, I can't knowingly bring a threat straight to them.

The air of my friends have significantly changed, all of them downcast as the solemnly make their way back to our portal. When they get further away I feel my energy picking back up again, ready for more action.

I crawl along the wall, silently following my friends. I can definitely note though that this energy is much different than what it was a few moments ago. It has become reluctant, the immediate danger out of the way and a longing for food and basic survival necessities clamoring for attention. It takes a lot out of me to hover like this.

Growling softly, I shake it off. The portal home spits us directly into the Order Hall, and if I absolutely have to, I can break the window and escape into the mountains. Not ideal, but if I can't control my monster, it'll have to do.

"You guys didn't just hear something did you?" I freeze at Lukas's question, I shouldn't have made any noise! I'm not dealing with those weak demons back in that insane prison. These are my friends, and they are much tougher than those guys. And Lukas has ocelot ears, I can't make a whisper.

"No..." Petra raises her nose into the air, and I slink as much as I can into the wall while wishing I had the energy to lift me higher up. "Do you think we're being followed?"

Gabriel grabs Lukas's arm, tugging him towards the orange glowing portal. "Let us go through the portal quickly my friends! If they are truly following us we do not have the upper hand here."

Soren and Ellegaard nod, looking quite relieved to be getting out of here, and dash through the portal. Petra curtly nods at Gabriel and they both go through. The others however, send one last grieving gaze towards the portal that leads to hell before bursting through the portal home.

Sighing, I hop down. The energy I have left thanks me for relieving it, constantly keeping it active to help stay above my friends was necessary and draining. The first thing I'm doing, once it's safe, is eating.

I pause, scratching my head as I approach the portal. When was the last time I got something to drink? I'm sure the demons pumped some into me at some point, but I definitely wasn't meeting the human standard. I guess Withers though don't drink water and so there's less of me that needs water?

My fingers fiddle impatiently as I just stand in front of the glow. Here I am, the Wither Slayer, feeling like I have to make sure I take every precaution to stay away from my friends because of the uncontrollable Wither inside me. The universe hates me, it has been confirmed.

Chances are, they aren't even in the Order Hall right now. Well, at least not the Treasure Hall. I doubt Lukas, Petra, Axel, or Olivia want to be with the Old Order and Harper every long. However, if they didn't rush to the kitchen at the first chance they have much more discipline than I have ever given them credit for, especially Axel.

My monster whispers to me to go, that way I can eat again and rest with no chains binding me. I throw my anger at it, warning it to not interfere with... the plan I just thought up of right now. It backs down a bit, still whispering, as I take I deep breath and walk through the portal.

The world scrambles, that familiar coil of nausea wrapping around my stomach, as I'm spit out into the air. But, I never hit the ground. Instead I fly up immediately, burning lots of strength to do it so quickly and so high, but stop once I get on the chandelier.

The preplanning certainly paid off, as both Gabriel and Soren are below me. Clearly in deep thought and haven't noticed my presence. Good thing it wasn't one of my friends, one of them would be able to sniff me out for sure.

Gabriel grunts, rubbing his forehead. "No matter what way I think about it I always come to the same conclusion! We're just-"

"Lost?"

"Yes, that works I suppose." I glance at the window, wondering if I should just shatter it and make my break out. "But there's nothing we can do. I was hoping they'd be prisoners, not horribly warped as well!"

Soren nods, solemn as my stomach grumbles at me to hurry up. "Truly nightmarish things they were forced through, and I cannot help but fear that the damage is permanent."

Both men glance at each other before turning to the hallway to the kitchen, each trying to sigh their stress out. I can't help to roll my eyes though, the whole thing seems like way too much drama for me. But that could just be the monster talking.

Gabriel makes the first small step towards the kitchen. "I can't help but feel as if I could have prevented this. I heard of the Order going missing long before Ivor came to me for help. I should have been more concerned for them."

"At least you my friend are aware of what happens around you. I was in a complete shock when Ivor told me the news. Just like the Wither Storm, entirely oblivious to the peril of others."

They both slip into the hallway and with my monster giving me one last plea to break the window, I jump to the ground and head to my room. I might, just maybe, have a snack in there and if I'm truly going to be free then I have to get out of these clothes.

With my ears open just in case, I silently and quickly make my way to my room. Slipping in with the only sound being a slight creak from the door, I let out a soft sigh of relief. Things seem to finally be inching in the right direction. If only I didn't almost kill Lukas not only an hour ago, then I'd feel better.

I shake that out of my head as I head straight to my drawer. Changing out of the heinous prison pants into my beloved suspenders and jeans. Since I can't exactly wear shoes, I do have to roll up the end of the jeans. Only now does it bug me how low do they go.

Unfortunately for me as well, I can't wear gloves to hide the fact my hands are dead black. Not only would my fingers cut right through them, but I wouldn't be able to hunt anything. Making it much harder to control my monster when it gets thrown into a rage at me.

Gently, my fingers trail to my face. I know I have white eyes, my old human eyes would have definitely never been able to see so well in the dark and in general as these have. But I'm more worried about my face. Its not the same either. I can't tell if I have any human skin at all.

I groan, wondering what to do about that. If anyone sees me out there, I don't want them to panic. Because that'll either make my monster go nuts or they'll inform everyone about the terrible monster in the woods and they have to kill it. Either way is a lost for me, I have to stay hidden.

My monster growls, and I freeze as my muscles tremble, almost ripped away from my control. It shrieks and shrieks inside my skull, hallowing that it will not hide. Bloodlust screaming through my veins, boiling my blood.

Shaking mad, I try to hold onto my control. My throat burning as I hold back my wails, my heart hammering and everything spinning out and out of control. I have to go, I can't control this. I have to go.

With another fabulous show of good luck, my eye catches my window. Both parts of me fixated on it, a way out. Escape. Escape now. I'll be free, I won't hurt my friends. Out. Now.

My knuckles crackle as I prepare my fist to shatter the thin plane of glass. Yet I hesitate to bring my arm up. There has to be a quieter way to go about this, a way that won't make much noise. Because I can't tell if there's someone shambling to their bed in a food coma or not. I'm not staying here, I can't let happen.

Instead, I push my claw like fingers through the glass. It does create a slight screech, but much quieter than glass shattering. Plus, it doesn't take me very long at all to cut all the way around. A much more effective solution for only a bit more time.

Grinning, I'm just about to jump through-

-when the door creaks behind me.