Cal was awakened by a flashing red light above his head. He slowly raised his arm and felt a sharp pain in his chest. He managed to force his torso up and looked down at himself. Blood was trickling from his side. He placed a hand over his wound and pulled himself up. Still dazed, he squinted at his surroundings.

From what he could tell, the pipe containing their fuel broke, sending sleep inducing fumes into the air, causing him and Jemma to become unconscious. The remaining gas that now clouded the edges of the room dissipated, allowing for oxygen levels in the cabin to return to normal.

Cal's focus was interrupted when he heard a groan, and remembered Jemma. He tried to take a step forward, but fell.

"Jemma." His voice was rough and quiet, "Jem." Cal mustered the strength to look up. His eyes searched all around him until they landed on a human form in the middle of the room.

Cal froze. "Jemma?"

The figure in the middle of the room started to stand. Slowly, its limbs pushed its hulking body upright and its head began to rise upwards.

Fear took over Cal as he realized what it was. It's one of them. The alien from the dream. A Hex.

The creature turned to look over at Cal and froze. Its daunting physique changed from a powerful figure to a limp pile of muscle at the sight of him.

Cal glanced to his side and saw a fragment of a pipe beside him. He could use it to defend himself. He outstretched his hand to it, but a familiar female voice made him hesitate.

"Wait."

Cal squinted in disbelief. "Jemma?"

The creature nodded. "It's me, Cal. It's Jem."

Cal couldn't believe what he was hearing. This monster was trying to get inside his head just like the Council said. That's what they do. The thing must have taken Jem and copied her voice somehow.

The creature's neck lowered to Cal's level. It's teeth glinted in the red lights. It moved closer to Cal.

"Stay back!" He shouted. "I'll kill you!"

The creature paused and spoke. "I know it's hard Cal-"

"Shut up!" Cal reached the pipe and thrusted it outward toward the creature. It was close enough to touch the side of its face.

"Cal." Its female tamber trembled. "This is why I said what I said before. It was because I'm one of them."

Cal took in what the monster was saying. It could all be a lie to trick him, but he was in no shape to fight. He stared into the monster's eyes. They were empty just like his dream. Cal let out a sharp exhale as he gripped the pipe tighter. He had to come up with a plan.

"What's the name of our-our," Cal choked on his words, "our daughter?"

The creature looked to the side, its thin neck bending unnaturally.

"Meg," it said.

He swallowed. He didn't know if he wanted to continue. "Is she... one of you?"

This time the monster made eye contact with Cal and took a step closer. "Yes."

Cal was instantly sickened by the thought. How could it be possible that Meg, the sweetest thing in the universe, could be something so evil?

Cal's grip on the pipe loosened. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"I can show you."

The creature stood tall and began changing its body to the human form that Cal loved. It appeared as though its skin melted and bubbled. Its spine cracked as Jemma's appearance took place. The creature stood in front of Cal as the person he knew.

"No." Cal was horrified. He took in another breath and paused. His whole life had been about fighting the things that hurt him and purifying the world just like the Council had taught him to do. He had to eliminate all of them from existence. How could he have been so blind as to make one of them his wife?

Jemma sat in front of Cal and touched his face like it had earlier in the morning. Its touch was warm and full of life. Though its skin was cold and wet, Cal could feel all of the emotions that it had. It wanted so desperately to help him, to heal him.

"Let me help you," it pleaded.

Cal froze. He wanted this so badly, but it wasn't possible to love something like this. He couldn't love a monster that lied and hurt and stole; a demon that was sent from the darkest parts of hell that tortured his family. He couldn't fathom a life with a creature that stripped away his childhood and stole his humanity in the process.

But he loved this image of perfection he saw. The love he had for the same wrinkles under its lashes were genuine. He loved that he saw pure beauty and daringness emanating from its stare.

Cal cleared his throat. "Come closer, please?"

The creature leaned into Cal, touching its forehead to his. He looked into the hollow eyes of the creature and then looked away. This should be right. This is right.

With one fluid motion, Cal shoved the pipe he'd been clutching into Jemma's abdomen. The beast began to cough blood and tightened its grip on Cal's shoulder until its lack of will forced it to let go.

Before the carcass collapsed to the floor, Cal whispered to it in a steady voice.

"Meg's next."