CHAPTER 217: The Hunter Became the Prey

CHAPTER 217: The Hunter Became the Prey

Selene, Joe, and Lucian advanced at full speed through the duct until the structure changed abruptly. The corridor opened into an enormous area under construction. Exposed beams, incomplete platforms, and an artificial abyss opened before them. There were no walkways, no stairs, no visible exit on the other side.

Selene stopped dead.

—There's no way out… —she murmured, looking into the void.

Behind them, the echo of heavy footsteps rumbled like approaching thunder. The metallic sound of something striking walls and structures made their skin crawl.

Lucian raised his head, sniffing the air.

—He's coming very fast… we don't have time.

Joe looked at the abyss and then at Selene. His breathing was agitated.

—Do we jump?

Selene clenched her teeth.

—It's that or stay.

A roar resonated behind them.

There was no more discussion.

Selene took the first step and leaped into the void. Joe jumped behind her, clinging to the edge for just a second before letting himself fall. Lucian, still in Selene's arms, could barely react.

Everything went dark.

The wind whistled around them as they fell without control. Their stomachs tightened, the world disappeared, only the sensation of free fall and the inevitable impact approaching existed.

The impact came violently.

Joe rolled down an inclined surface and ended up against a concrete wall, groaning in pain. Lucian was sent flying a few meters and landed on a pile of cables and dust, protected by his shell.

—…I'm fine… I think —Lucian growled, shaking himself off.

Joe got up with difficulty, touching his bruised side.

—I… I am too… damn impact…

Then they heard a muffled sound.

A weak moan.

—S… Selene…

Joe turned his head immediately.

He saw her a few meters away.

Selene had fallen onto a twisted metal structure. Several pieces of iron pierced through her side and part of her abdomen, keeping her impaled against the structure. Blood flowed slowly, dark, soaking her clothes.

Joe went pale.

—Selene!

He ran toward her as best he could, kneeling beside her.

Selene breathed with difficulty. Each inhalation was short, painful.

—E… easy… —she murmured, her voice broken—. I… it's hard… to talk… but… I'm… fine…

Lucian approached quickly, observing the wound with concern.

—That doesn't look good at all… don't move.

Selene closed her eyes for a second, trying to control the pain.

—I… just… need… a moment…

Joe clenched his fists, holding back the anguish.

—I'm not leaving you here, do you hear me? We're going to get you out of this.

Selene slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, forcing a faint, tired smile.

—I… I know… just… don't… panic…

A violent screech ran through the structure.

Something was descending the wall almost vertically, digging its claws into the metal and concrete, raising sparks and dust in its path.

Joe looked up with his heart in his throat.

—No… it can't be…

The figure landed in front of them with a dull thud.

It was Fenix in his Uber Lycan form: a colossal beast, almost three meters tall, unnatural musculature, skin taut as steel, and eyes burning with inhuman ferocity.

The monster observed them for barely a second.

Then the body began to creak, the bones to rearrange, the mass to compress.

Within moments, the creature returned to its human form.

Fenix stood before them, adjusting the collar of his stained shirt, with a crooked smile drawn on his face.

His eyes landed on Selene.

Impaled, pale, barely conscious.

A low, cruel laugh escaped his lips.

—Look at you… —he said mockingly—. The great vampire reduced to a rusty ornament. Pathetic.

Joe clenched his teeth.

—Get away from her.

Fenix did not even give him a glance.

He approached Selene calmly, like someone inspecting a broken object. Then, without the slightest care, he grabbed her by the torso and tore her from the iron bars that pierced her.

Selene let out a choked scream.

Blood gushed more forcefully when the metal detached from her body. The pain made her writhe instinctively.

—Ahhh…!

Fenix held her for just a second longer, watching her suffer with amusement.

—Come on… don't exaggerate. You're still alive.

At that instant, Selene reacted purely by reflex.

With the little strength she had left, she raised her hand and slashed his face.

Her nails dug violently into the left side of Fenix's face.

A wet snap.

Blood splattered in all directions.

Fenix let out a growl of surprise and pain, bringing a hand to his face. One of his eyes, the left one, was damaged, covered in red.

—You damn…

Selene fell to the ground, breathing irregularly.

Fenix stepped back a few paces, pressing the wound while blood slid between his fingers.

A few drops splattered Selene's face.

One of them reached her lips directly.

Without meaning to, Selene tasted the blood.

And then it happened.

A brutal jolt ran through her mind.

Her vision blurred.

The world disappeared.

An avalanche of memories burst in without control.

Images, voices, emotions, sensations.

A child running through fields.
Laughter shared with Marcus.
Exhausting training sessions.
A hand extended with trust.
The first real combat.
Fear.
Loss.
Betrayal.
The laboratory.
The needles.
Constant pain.
Forced obedience.
Contained rage.
Enid's voice resonating like an eternal order.
The sensation of being trapped inside a body that no longer belonged to him.

Selene gasped.

Her body trembled violently as Fenix's memories mixed with her own, as if her mind were being invaded by an entire life that was not her own.