My heart was racing so hard it felt like it was trying to escape and run away. I knew that this was going to be scary but I swear, it was far worse than I'd anticipated.

The bridge had gates at the entry point to the base and another set at the halfway point. Between the two gates, it was covered in a wire mesh that they had dubbed the cage. It's where we were. Ahead of us was another gate that was about to be opened. They wanted to see how the creatures would react now that someone was in the cage.

They were lingering, so far there were only betas. The reports from the guards were promising, they'd used a diversionary tactic, drawing the alphas away from the area. As for the betas, they were a smart creature. They'd figured out that the food didn't stop once the alphas were gone. More food was sent over and they'd even started sending things like blankets.

The gates opened and instead of using the catapult to send meat over to them, they shot several pieces across the bridge. I jumped as the mechanism went off, Merrick glanced at me. As expected, he was right beside me. I was grateful for it at the moment.

Realizing that food was on offer, the betas emerged from the vegetation and grabbed the meat. They scurried back into the greenery, watching us with caution.

Another lot was shot out, this time the pieces stopped on this side of the gates. For the betas to get the food, they'd have to walk onto the bridge. A few brave creatures stepped out, taking the food. Rather than waiting, another lot was sent out. They were being drawn to us slowly.

"Hold steady." The captain said firmly as they began to get closer. "Do not show fear. You've seen the pictures, you know what they can do."

One of the creatures came closer to inspect the odd creatures in the cage. They were the ones that threw food to them, they were the ones that made loud noises when the alphas were in the area.

The creature walked the width of the bridge, stopping when he saw me. His eyes darkened and the mouth opened with a hiss.

"Say something," Merrick said quietly.

"Like what? I can't speak their language."

He huffed, giving me a sideward glance.

"I don't know. What about your name? Otan-awah."

The creature tilted his head, still hissing at us.

"You're pronouncing it wrong," I grumbled.

Turning back to the creature, I put my hand on my sternum.

"Oh-ta-nah-wah."

He stopped hissing and his eyes shifted between Merrick and me.

"Oh-ta-nah-wah?" The creature said, carefully pointing to Merrick.

I shook my head.

"No, I am Oh-ta-nah-wah."

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the only thing that I'd managed to grab before Farren took my bags away. It was my little album of pictures; my birth mother was the first. It was a grainy surveillance picture that had been taken in the days before she jumped the gorge with me.

I showed it to him and he smiled.

"Rah-ya."

"That's my mother."

I gestured to my stomach and the creature frowned at me. Curving out the shape of a womb, I said it again. Still, he stared at me.

"Is that her name, Rah-ya?"

Pointing at the picture earned me a nod and I wanted to cry because finally, she had a name.

"My mother."

I don't think he believed me.

"Okay," I sighed. "I guess it's time to just go with it, right?"

"You do what is necessary to ensure that we are seen favorably when the gates are opened," Merrick replied.

Closing my eyes, I tucked the album back into my pocket and let the emotions consume me. When I opened my eyes, the creature just silently looked at me. I could feel the others watching me but what made it difficult was the fact that Merrick would not stop staring. He said that he knew what I was, had he never seen the creatures when they were ready to attack?

My eyes darkened, it felt like my skin prickled with excitement. Feeling the fear, the uncertainty. As my teeth began to distort and reshape into two rows of fangs, I watched the creature. A slow smile started to form.

And then the tidal wave of words came flowing out at us. I lost my inner creature's form, returning back to the normal shape. It didn't matter, the creature was still talking like we could understand him, the smile was large. Maybe he expected me to understand him, given that I just showed him that I was one of his kind.

When he realized that I had no idea what he was saying, the creature paused and then nodded. With a flick of his hand, he turned and began to walk away. As he reached the halfway mark, the creature turned back and said something and again, he beckoned us with a mere flick of his hand.

"So, I guess we can open the gate now," I said.

"Captain Petersen," Merrick murmured. "What's the plan?"

"We move out."

And with that order, he gave the signal and the gatehouse opened the only protection that we had.

I looked at Merrick and like he could understand my unease he gave me a smile. It was uneasy and almost looked like he was in pain but it meant more than he could ever understand. Someone had my back and even though he was being paid to do it, I knew that he took his job extremely seriously. The past few hours were enough to show me that.

With a heavy sigh, I returned the uneasy smile and stepped forward.

"Into the unknown," I murmured.

And pray that we survive. I was mad to agree to this, we all were. We had no idea if this was going to work or if the betas would turn on us. Maybe the alphas would return and see us associating and retaliate. I hoped it wasn't the case but I feared it would be.