(Lachlan's POV)

     Cold, steel bars dig into my back as I sit huddled in the corner. Metal rings dig into the sensitive skin on my wings. I can only open them a third of the way before it's too painful. They won't break no matter how hard I've tried. I know from seeing my reflection that my golden hair is slightly stained with blood. My skin is as pale as paper, having not seen daylight in years. The red hoodie that I loved so much was ripped to shreds long ago. It would of been too small now, anyways. I stand taller then most of the people I've ever seen. I wear a pair of faded sweat pants that were given to me a while ago.

     A door across from me opens, flooding the room with light. I flinch back from the sudden brightness and the all too familiar figure in the doorway. I've never been given a name for him, but everyone says that he's the 'Pit Master'. He's always treated me like an animal. Do you know what it is like to be trapped here by him? Was there ever a time that I wasn't here? I have various scars all over my body, as reminders from his 'lessons'. I don't want to hurt people, I've never wanted to. He doesn't care. He just leaves me in here until I change my mind. I don't get fed until I've won. Do you know what it's like to have killed so many? It's hard to know that I'm the reason that they're dead.

     "Get up. We have someone new for you. But I don't want them dead. It costs me a lot of money", he gruffly tells me. From what I can tell, there's more people who are being treated like me. Hybrids, prisoners, freaks, anyone who's unlucky enough to end up here. The Pit Master owns me and I assume some others. But other people also bring in 'competitors'. Other people come and watch us tear each other to shreds, or something close to it. Who ever wins gets the betting money for their owner. This a pretty messed up place to be, but I'm trapped here until I die. I've actually come close a few times. The Pit Master always stopped the fight, claiming I was 'too valuable'. You can only imagine the beating I'd get the day after a lose.

     I don't say anything to him, knowing better then to state an opinion. He prefers it when we don't talk to him. I push myself to my feet, my bones cracking and popping from being in the same position for so long. My tail hangs limply from the base of my spine, the golden tip just barely brushing the ground. I keep my wings tucked in as I stagger a few steps forward.  The Pit Master pulls a lever that activates the stone wall in front of me. It jerks up a few inches, then slowly rising up with a grinding sound. More sunlight floods onto me along with hundreds of yelling voices. I squint my eyes and crouch down out of reflex, trying to get a good look at my opponent without being blinded. I always don't let myself think too much during this part, it's just too painful to deal with later.

     The first thing I make out is that the floor is shining with a thin layer of water. Must be slippery. The next thing I see is a boy around my age standing with his feet apart, arms half raised. He looks around while constantly shifting his gaze, seeming to not even notice me. What makes me pause is how a paddle-like tail with yellow markings is held close to his legs. Since he's not wearing a shirt, I can see that he has a webbed  spine along with his hands and feet. Sharp fangs slightly jut out from his mouth. The yellow spots on his tail and neck constantly flash with light. I would tower over him once I stood up. A memory tries to fight its way up from the depths of my mind, put I push it down. I don't want to see the last fish hybrid I killed. Even though he doesn't really look like a hybrid, somehow.

     My body runs on autopilot as I force my thoughts to shut down. Flaring out my stinging wings for balance, I charge forwards in half crouch. The person doesn't look my way until I'm only a few feet from him. He yelps and ducks down with his arms covering his head, not moving out of the way. I crash into him and break my fall with a roll. My tail lashes from side to side as I watch my opponent. He's still laying on the floor, looking around with a dazed expression. He looks right in my direction but doesn't seem to see me. Can he see me? I stalk closer to him, and his head whips back around in my direction. He hisses at me with his teeth bared. And then he...... disappears?

     The space where the person just was is empty. I only looked away for a second, where's he go!? A weight suddenly crashes into my back and knocks me over. I snarl and fight to roll over with him on top of me. He's crushing one of my wings, an arm around my neck. But I still can't see him. All I can make out is a slight blurring. Having no choice left, I regretfully focus in on him. It's always felt like cheating to me. It almost seems like I've shoved my way into his mind. I feel him stiffen up as I see through his eyes and listen to his panicky thoughts. But I can't see. It's all black. I'm able to fling him off, anyway. He stopped fighting after I did that.

"W-Wait! Don't you remember? Y-You need to stop", he stutters, scooting away from me. I've seen this before. I can't stand it when they start begging. I broke down the first time and wouldn't finish the job. A week of isolation for that. I can only block out his words as I step closer. A predatory growl escapes my throat as I suddenly lunge forward. The person yelps in fear while trying to block with their arms, but that's just what I knew that he'd do. I land on top of him and bite down on the skin of his arm. My two fang teeth sink in deep, a sickly sweet smell coating the air. "N-No, Lachl-lan.... stop Lachlan....", he whimpers, trying to push me away with his fading strength. A sharp pain in my head makes me flinch back, my teeth tearing at his skin. What did he just call me?