In the haze of my nightmarish reality, I listen to the conversation beyond the padded room through the open slot in the door.

I am lying on my stomach, my arms stretched out around me. My muscles ache in pulsing waves. My head feels detached from my body which I take as a blessing. I can't handle the amount of pain I am in anymore.

Their voices are harsh in my sensitive ears.

"—the hostage? Where is she?"

"Since when do we take hostages?"

"Since the cat hybrid escaped, you dumbass! She was just here! We put her in this room! Did she escape again? Why didn't you sound the alarm?!"

"I... I didn't realize we had a hostage. What girl?" The man's voice wavers with uncertainty. "All I knew about was the new shipment... It came early."

"Shipment? What the fuck are you talking about? That's coming this afternoon! They're still on the road!"

"No...? It came last night. One of the subjects was already in there..."

Silence.

"John, did you—" he sharply inhales, "DID YOU GIVE THE FUCKING INJECTION TO THE HOSTAGE?"

"I didn't know we took hostages!" John argues, his voice strains from shouting, "Why the hell do we even have a hostage? Nobody told me!"

"We are literally in fucking lockdown because she and two other hybrids escaped! Not only that, somebody cut the power on purpose! How did you not know this?!"

"NOBODY TOLD ME. The communication in this place is absolute shit!"

"Sam is actually going to kill you. You fucked up. You're so screwed, John."

"How was I supposed to know this?!"

"Because you—, just—, oh my God, you're such a freaking idiot!"

They continue to bicker and shout, blaming each other for their dumb decisions while I lay still on the ground.

I stare off into the void, drifting away from reality, wishing I were back in my warm bed. Maybe this is all a dream. Maybe I'll wake up and find Jimin lying at my side...

"She's going to turn into a hybrid! I can't believe this!"

Everything is going to be okay...

"Isn't there a way to reverse it?"

None of this is real...

"Not really!" the guy shouts, his voice rising in pitch as anger overtakes him. "The hawk was different! All they had to do was rip off his wings and inject a shitload of hormones. This—, this injection works too quickly for that! You son of a—"

A sharp pain shoots through the base of my ears. I whimper and cover my hands over them, trying to block out their shouting. I close my eyes and do my best to shut everything out, refusing to take their words to heart.

They aren't talking about me. This isn't real. This is a dream.

The base of my spine begins to tingle like it has fallen asleep. I kick my legs from discomfort as a strange ripple travels through my body.

I fight back a rising cry as pain fills my head like water gushing in. I cradle my head in my hands, whispering for it all to stop, begging for this to come to an end.

Make it stop. Please make it stop!

"Do you see that?" John asks fearfully. "Down the hall...?"

"SHIT."

A loud banging sound comes from beyond the door. I hear shouts and cries of pain. I continue to wither in unimaginable pain on the padded floor, ignoring it.

The door slams open and bounces off the wall from the force.

"EDEN!"

This is a dream. Jimin isn't here. He couldn't have found me. It's too perfect.

I don't bother to look up.

"Eden, I—, oh my God, Eden! What happened to you? Are you okay?"

It can't be him. It sounds like him but it just can't be...

"I just let everybody out of the cages!" Jungkook's voice echoes from outside the door. "We have to leave before they realize it!"

Soft hands rest on my arms and gently shake me. I whimper from the movement and curl up into a tighter ball, refusing to look up.

"Eden?" Jimin whispers, his voice as beautiful as I remember it. "Eden, look at me."

"It hurts," I choke out. "It hurts so much..."

"What did they do to you...?" he asks, his voice shaking with horror. "Can you stand up...?"

"Chim..." I finally lift my head to find his face close to mine. Eerie flashbacks of that fateful night flicker through my head like a stop-motion film. A faint light shines behind him causing the outline of his fluffy blond hair to glow like a halo.

My angel in the snow has come to save me.

It must be a dream.

"I'm so sorry," he pleads as he works his arms underneath me. "I'm so sorry, Eden, I never meant for this to happen..."

"There's no use talking to her, she's delirious with pain," an unfamiliar voice says. "We have to get out of here before they find us. I don't know if your friend can distract the guards for much longer."

"Kookie's got it," Jimin answers sternly as if he were trying to convince himself. "He can do this. We just have to make it to the greenhouse. But she's in no condition to run..."

"Oh... Eden..." Hoseok's voice brings me back into reality. "She doesn't look good, do you want me to help carry her?"

"You're not in good condition either," the new voice argues, "you need to save your strength. I can help, but we need to hurry."

My eyes widen as a breath of clarity reaches my pain-riddled mind. "Jimin? Hoseok?"

Jimin smiles weakly at me, his head tilts to one side. "I'm here."

"You came for me... and you saved Hoseok."

"Of course," Jimin nods quickly, "and we're going to save you too, okay? Here, put your arm around me..."

I wrap my arm around his neck as he slips his arms under the crook of my knees. He stands up shakily but holds me close in his arms. I stare up at him in awe, finding it difficult to believe he is real.

Jimin turns towards the door and walks stiffly out into the darkened hallway. I see Hoseok's shadow appear beside me. Hoseok looks over at me with worry shining in his eyes, "Are you okay?" he asks.

"I'm better..." My eyes nearly roll back into my head but I force myself to remain awake. I can't pass out again. I have to stay awake for them. I have to help them escape.

Stay strong, Eden. It's the least you can do for them.

"Where's Taehyung and Jungkook?" I question as we head down the long, narrow hallway. "Are they here? Did you find them?"

Jimin nods, "Yes, we ran into them on the way here." His jaw clenches briefly and his eyes grow wide with a sudden sadness. "Taehyung is already at the greenhouse. Jungkook will come soon."

"I'm here!" Jungkook whispers from behind us. He dashes past us, his long tail wagging behind him. He spins around to walk backward and slows to match Jimin and I's pace. He looks down with a soft look of relief, "Oh thank God, you're okay. I thought we lost you."

I manage a small smile and reach up with a shaking hand. "Hey Kook..."

Jimin's eyes squint at Jungkook and his left ear flicks with annoyance. "Kookie..." Jimin drawls in a forced, teasing voice, "Do you have a crush on my Eden?"

Jungkook's pretty eyes widened with panic, "Oh—, oh no no," I swear I saw his cheeks flush, "Me? No way. I don't have crushes."

Jimin smiles innocently causing his eyes to turn into small, happy crescents. My heart skips a beat at the sight of it. "Good."

I almost forgot how happy it made me feel to see him smile.

I'm glad he brightened the mood. Even if it's for a few moments, I'll take a brief distraction.

"How did you guys get here?" I ask, deciding to change subjects. "I still can't figure out how you managed to get inside."

The new guy chuckles quietly as he jogs alongside us. "Jimin destroyed the power box with a stick. We snuck inside and were lucky enough not to be caught. I'm Yoongi, by the way. I'm Hobi's roommate."

My eyes widen in realization. "Oh... but how did you guys meet?" I glance between him and Jimin. "I didn't realize you were able to run into each other?"

"Maybe another time, kid," Yoongi waves me off and jogs ahead. "We're on a time limit."

"Right, right," I remind myself, realizing the moment is over.

We reach the end of another hallway and Hoseok checks around the corner to determine if it's safe. We wait quietly behind him, anxious about the deafening silence, but relax when he flashes us a quick thumbs up.

"Why is Taehyung already in the greenhouse?" I whisper, mindful of my voice's volume.

Jimin grimaces, "He's injured, but not from today. They... they ripped out his wings to reverse the injections. He has been bleeding ever since."

I pale. How did I not notice he was in pain?

Looking back, I realize he was often grimacing in pain whenever he moved. He must have been suffering the whole time.

Jimin notices my anguished expression and gently lowers his face down to mine. He kisses my forehead softly. "Don't worry. He's safe. We'll escape this place soon."

I swallow hard as I begin to feel sick. I press my lips together and turn my head from him. One of the last things I want is to start puking all over him. "Jimin, I feel sick," I say hoarsely. "I might throw up again. Put me down."

"What?"

"Put me down."

A strangled sound wrenches from my tight throat. I yank myself from his arms and fall onto the ground with a hard thud.

I can't stop myself.

Suddenly, there's puke all over my hands and down the front of my shirt. I gag from the horrible smell and the disgusting warmth of the liquid. Tears well in my eyes making it difficult to see. There's pain spreading through my body like fire but I'm choking too much to even care.

The smell burns in my throat and in my nose. I can't breathe past it.

A strange shiver travels down my spine and the base of my tailbone begins to ache. I do my best to ignore the sensations and focus on trying to breathe normally again. My legs are trembling from fatigue, I don't think I will be able to run out of here any time soon.

I'm so dizzy.

I didn't realize Jimin was talking to me until I saw him beside me. He is offering me Yoongi's jacket but his voice is faint on that side. It's like I'm going deaf in one ear.

I don't think I'm okay, but thinking about it isn't an option right now.

I can't afford to be anything but okay if I want to escape this place.

A blinding light cuts off all thoughts I have and replaces them with excruciating pain.

"SHOOT." Jungkook rushes to us and I feel his hand on my back. Suddenly, he's lifting me but I'm not ready. I try my best not to vomit on his shoulder but it doesn't work well.

He's sprinting down the hall with superhuman strength. I don't know how he's carrying me so easily.

"Go, go, go!" Hobi whispers quickly from ahead.

I hear a door screech open. Yoongi hisses in annoyance at the sound. A humid warmth washes over me as the painful light behind my eyelids fades to gray. Jungkook holds me tightly as he continues to run; I am bouncing on his shoulder and fighting against another wave of puke.

Finally, he sets me down on the damp, cement ground. I cough violently and turn over to my side, vomiting on the ground again.

"Why is she throwing up? What happened?" Hoseok asks urgently, "Is it her concussion? Do people throw up when they have concussions?"

Yoongi appears at my side and pushes my hair aside. I'm grateful for it. He watches me softly with deep concern in his dark brown eyes.

In the gray morning light, I see Yoongi's face for the first time. His face is softer and cuter than I had imagined. He has sleepy eyes with corners that droop down in the corners like a cat's, even though he's not a hybrid. I notice he has prominent double eyelids. He also has a round-shaped nose like Jungkook's. His black hair is slick with sweat and fluffy with random dry spots.

"Thanks," I croak weakly.

Yoongi nods, still concerned as he looks over me. "No problem, I—," he pauses and glances at my ear. His expression goes blank for a moment like his soul was logging out of his body. He brushes my hair back again to see my ear. "Hey... is this—? Your ear, it's... I don't want to offend you or anything but has it always been like that?"

I blink at him.

"What do you mean?" my voice shakes with fear. "What about it?"

Yoongi's expression remains blank as stone.

Hoseok drops down in front of us with a worried look. "Hey, are you alright? I saw you collapse and—," he stops and casts us a weird look. "What?"

I reach back with a hesitant hand and brush over the ear in question.

I swear to God I felt the base of my ear loosen from the touch.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to scream so badly it hurt. Instead, I threw up again.

I'm turning into a hybrid.

Everything in me wanted to ignore the warning signs. I wanted to keep running and never look back at what happened in that room. I didn't want to think about my concussion. I didn't want to think about the injections. I don't want to confront the new reality.

But now it's staring me in the face.

I ignored the signs, and now I'm paying for it.

A/N: Fun fact, I included the whole "ears" thing because, in most hybrid books I read, they never mention if the hybrid has two sets of ears or just the one. Not only that, the whole process of turning into a hybrid isn't really explained so I wanted to take a stab at it. Let me know if this book needs more trigger warnings! I don't want to make anybody uncomfortable!