The door opened with a scorching creak, dispersing the darkness that had taken over the office as a cold, rainy night fell. The figure of a young woman invited herself in, slow but noisy. She looked around and began to unbutton her scarlet pink coat, like her freshly dyed curly hair. With every movement she revealed a generous bust, and the thin waist highlighted her feminine forms that she was proud of.

           She sighed dramatically, running her whitish fingers through her hair, ruffled by the strong wind that howled through the old buildings, ready to collapse.

            Her restless gaze fell on the one source of light that mirrored in her eyes like honey; a gas lamp, whose flame burned bewilderingly. Shivering from the chill in the room, she rubbed her bare arms, then took a few slow steps towards the man who lay on the weather-beaten, chipped parquet floor. Beside him was a chipped glass, half full of a violet-tinged alcohol. It flashed brightly as a bolt of lightning ignited the room and illuminated it ominously, revealing organized chaos.

             Pictures of crimes, suspects and one of a faceless young woman with hair like a flame was placed on the man's chest. He was holding a wet towel over his face, which appeared to be stained with blood at first glance. The picture was the only image he had of the woman who gave him life. A macabre image, burned and eaten by time. A picture that faded with each touch, but only her hair remained frozen on his retina.

           "Joseph!"

            He just waved his hand, waiting for the woman to approach him.

            Chandra leaned downwards and took the rag soaked in alcohol and red ink, revealing a nasty smile.

            "Your underwear is showing!" He said it with a tired but playful and husky tone.

              The woman at that moment rolled her eyes and stood up quickly, arranging her short dress, knowing full well that he had not seen anything.

             "Who is he? "

              Then she stopped, staring at an image on the moldy wall. The first thing she noticed was the eyes of a greenish yellowish, even neon, never seen before in a human being. Some rumors circulated a few years ago.

             "Our client and an old acquaintance", he replied and stood on his elbows, resting his head backwards.

             He closed his eyes, sensing a growing headache.

             "A hybrid," she murmured, but she changed her mind, seeing her stepbrother as white as paint.

             Hybrids came out of nowhere one day, and over time became a part of society. This was before the world collapsed into the fog that was hanging over the sky at that moment. For them, the Island was recreated, but afterwards, as the prisons grew fuller, thousands were taken there, to die, to be hunted, to be eaten. There Joseph was born and a new society was formed. That was until the Great Fire twenty years ago. When everything became total chaos and the world fell prey to darkness.

            At one time, they were called the Grace of God, for their power to heal quickly and be almost immortal. But everything has a weakness in nature. They had a deficiency that differed from one individual to another. Hybrids were not born, they were created. Each of them had a human heart, but at the same time the heart of the creature that dwelt within them, which murmured them to kill. Chandra knew some information about them, but not enough. She only knew how they were created. Through the poison of a hybrid or a larva in an injury.

           "Did you dream again?" she asked him, even though she knew the answer.

           Joseph just nodded and smiled. He and Aleksander were the only survivors on that island, found in the river that flowed to District Two. Both were taken by the authorities, but later given up for adoption to different families. One became an inspector, the second ran a luxury mansion. In short, an obscure brothel, behind which the Island loomed like a chimera.

           "Change and call William too. We have a long way to go to get there."

           "Why did he call us to that place?" the young woman asked, but Joseph just shrugged

            He knew as much as her. Nothing. He looked at the panel intently, but at the same time lost. The paper, which exuded a sweet fragrance, seemed to him like a discrepancy in that whole picture. He took another sip of the horrible-tasting alcohol, as if he needed courage. A scowl appeared on his face and he stood up, ready to return to the place where he was reborn as a human...

           Chandra took her coat and went out without saying anything to the young man. Looking back, she saw only a mirage lingering in a twilight created by lightning. Beneath Joseph's bangs, his scar was like a flame that burned him to this day. She looked at him as she closed the door and he rubbed his forehead with his fingernails. It was also like he was trying to get rid of something that was grinding him from the inside. The young woman clung to the door, breathing deeply. He was a pale child when Joseph was brought to them, silent and frightened.

            Instead, darkness took shape in his eyes. He kept putting his hands to his ears, becoming violent, until one day when, bursting into tears, he told her that there was peace in his head again.

            After a few moments, she struggled to distance herself from the door. The contact with the cold, wet cement made her wince. He pulled out an old phone and sent a text.

             We have work tomorrow. Bring a car too.

              The next day, dawn caught the three of them crammed into a small, rusty car. It had a musty smell that made Joseph curse the day he decided to accept the invitation. Instead, William was more their driver than a partner, but his young age didn't help him either.

             They were associated with an investigative firm, created more to search for victims of hybrids. The shaggy-haired young man kept smiling as Chandra fumbled nervously for the map.

             Joseph slumped into the back seat, while his head was pounding heavily. Reflexively, he passed his fingers through his wavy, messy, light gray blond hair. In the back, where it was cut short, it was black. His hair reached his ears and his deep blue eyes were partially covered.

               He closed his eyes for a while, but found himself in the midst of a conflict.

              "I'd call you an imbecile, but that would be very cruel of me, considering you don't even know how to spell the word imbecile."

              "Why do you always pretend to be clever?"

              "Because I am and I can. What the hell did you write on this paper that I can't figure out?!" The young woman snapped and looked around worriedly.

              The sky was dark, all blue, with clouds like lead, and the whites, lying down, seemed to be painted over the dark vault. The wind has lifted, dispelling the suffocating heat. Instead, everything outside was taken over by a cold breeze, which entered through the broken windows of the car.

               William swallowed hard. The sly smile remained imprinted on his lips, making him look cocky. Also, the young woman's harsh look did not help him.

              "There's a storm coming," Chandra said through gritted teeth. "We're going to wade into that swamp and go round and round!" She shouted in exasperation, looking back.

              Joseph nodded and sat up straight on the bench, smiling a little.

               "It's getting dark outside fast," he said to add fuel to the fire, knowing Chandra was already on the verge of exploding.

               "Fuck! How can we get there if the river rises!" She continued furiously. 

               "If you'd drive faster, we'd cross that damned bridge instead of arguing," Joseph interjected boredom, looking at the desolate landscape.

              There were only dilapidated blocks, while nature took its rightful place.

              Suddenly, the sky brightened, letting an autumnal sunset emerge. The colors intermingled, red and purple predominating. In the end, the drive to Matvey Manor, on the strip of land that was surrounded by a swamp, took longer than they anticipated. Joseph's whole body felt numb, but so did the rest. The weather conditions and the road full of potholes made it difficult for them to advance.

             Aleksander's new location was right in front of the island. A thing that made many people visit it.

             "Here! Turn left", Joseph advised William.

              "Yes boss!" He replied, making Chandra roll her eyes.

               In front of them, the old mansion was surrounded by thick and defiant smoke. Dense undergrowth camouflaged the island, but in the distance its sinister outline was faintly revealed. It was in tandem with the moment when all the lanterns lit up at the gate and then the mansion came to life in the mud that surrounded it.

               William began driving carefully, watching a carnival of naked bodies unfold around them. He whistled excitedly as Joseph leaned forward, whispering to him to get his mind together. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Chandra grinning.

              "We have reached the hell of depravity," he announced to the two who were still bickering. "Let's go!"

               Once out of the rosy-hued vehicle, Joseph felt ashamed, but made his way to the massive iron door. He looked curiously, noticing a rather fanciful decorative pattern. In the middle was a massive harpy that was outside, surrounded by a snake, and at the corners, finely painted spider webs stood out. The massive door opened and Joseph's gaze fell on the bare busts of the two young women who greeted them. They were greeted by a strong, pungent smell; a mix of tobacco, sex and cheap alcohol.

             Instead, Chandra glanced under her thick lashes at the two women. She nodded as a thought subtly crept into her mind. I am a sinner! She smiled softly, but her thoughts were quickly shattered.

             "Ah, sweet evil!" William whispered, ready to rub his palms together.

             "Sweet as hell! Here you arrive rich and leave poor", said Chandra, clutching an old camera to her chest.

             "Maybe worse, with many diseases or in a plastic bag, thrown into the swamp," added Joseph, scrunching his nose, ready to enter.

            In the darkness of the hall, two eyes like two torches appeared, and a treacherous smile appeared on the lips.

           "You're finally here!" came a soft, delicate, but at the same time masculine voice.

             Joseph glared at the man who appeared in front of them. He emerged from the darkness of that brothel, eclipsed by the play of lit candles against some wooden walls, scratched and scribbled. Aleksander's appearance was distinct at first glance. He was easily distinguished by his slim, petite figure, but also by his pale complexion. His long blue-white hair was tied in small pigtails, all coming together in a tail that reached his thighs. Dressed in black, he looked like a specter. He smiled and his fangs pierced his pale pink lower lip. He approached Joseph and sniffed him as if he was stalking prey.

              "What did you call me for?" he asked him tiredly.

               Joseph wasn't going to join his game, so he pushed him aside with his fingers, pushing him gently, and entered the mansion safely with him. The floor was rotten and everything inside looked ancient, especially the stairs whose steps were broken or missing.

            "Ah, how cold you are against the one who saved your ass, so you don't become skewered."

               Aleksander licked the corner of his lip as he let a cheeky grin escape him. He put his hand to his chest, looking sad. He then shifted his gaze to the other two, but soon ignored them, leaving Chandra with her hand out, foaming at the mouth.

             "Thanks," she said between her teeth, knowing full well that she could play that coin too.

              For someone who was supposed to be somewhere in his forties, no one gave him more than twenty in reality.

              "With pleasure," the hybrid quickly cut her off, noticing a dark cast on her face.

                She was irritated. Aleksander hated touching people for no reason. He didn't want to read their minds or feel their emotions. That was another trait of theirs. By a simple touch or being close to someone they could easily see what was in their soul.

               "Don't hybrids age?" William wondered aloud, remaining more of a shy spectator in a corner.

                He was fascinated by everything he saw.

                "No, because they can stall their process," Joseph informed him, fumbling in his pocket for something, but stopped short of continuing.

               "Get busy!" Alex cut him off purposely, and grabbed Joseph by the neck with his arm. His eyes twinkled in the semi-darkness, shining like the stars in the sky.

               Joseph saw his real eyes, but the lenses he wore now made it look like he was seeing a specter.

               "Say quickly, I want to get out of this mess," concluded Joseph exasperated, losing sight of the two. "Do you have money to return or you killed to feed yourself?"

              Aleksander looked at him through thick lashes, and his eyes narrowed.

             "You just know I don't do that kind of thing..." he told Joseph, while licking his lips with his forked tongue.

             "If you say so..."

              He knew full well that he was lying, and Joseph did not continue. He didn't feel like it and he didn't have any time.