Animality: Prologue & Chapter 1

The average male lion weighs between 350-400 pounds & grows up to nine feet long, three feet in height. Like us, lions have thirty teeth. Wild lions have a life span of twelve years, but in captivity can live up to twenty years. His maximum speed is thirty miles per hour over fifty yards. Lions have less bone mass than other animals of comparable size. Lions are able to move quietly due to the soft pads on their paws. They are even able to pinpoint the location a particular sound originated from. A typical Lion's Pride could consist of three males & possibly ten females. Though the females are the renowned hunters of the Pride, the King usually eats first. Usually, lions won't attack as long as you're facing them, just better hope they're not hungry.

I always hated telling that last bit. For now, remember the details I've given you so far. In my world, these things could keep you alive. This story I'm about to tell you- far fetched & gritty until the very end- is only the beginning of my life, but the end of it as well.

Chapter 1: Awakening

I woke up in a cold, dark room. Where the hell am I? How did I get here? I don't feel a drift at all. Which means there are no vents in here, so I doubt I was here long. The last thing I remember is celebrating our homecoming. Wait, Leon & Lee were with me that entire night.

I shot up from the cold, tiled floor. As I began to scan the pitch black room, I noticed how quickly my eyes had adjusted. Usually takes forever for them to adjust. Must be epinephrine kicking in. I found the door. I have to find my brothers.

On, the other side of that door was a white hallway. To my left was another door straight down the hall. To my right there were more cells. I tried to open them, in search for my brothers, but they were locked.

"Great."

I went through the door on the other side of the hall. On other side of this door was an octagon. Blood was splattered everywhere... Even on the ceiling.

"Hhmm..."

Suddenly the door across from me swings open.

"Gabriel?" An old childhood friend who went missing years ago. We assumed he was dead.

"Leo?"the shock in his voice was quickly overlapped by terror & disbelief I saw in his eyes.

"What is this place? Where am I?"

"Hell."

"Gabriel?"

The look in his eyes got even more intense.

"Forgive me."

"For? If you mean for not answering my question, then no."

"No, Leo. I ask for your forgiveness because this octagon will be your where you're reunited with your father."

"Don't test me, Gabriel."

"I won't ask again."

Gabriel rushes me, but he's slow. I easily evade his large body. Built of pure muscle & unbelievable height, I cannot afford to let him hit me.

"Stop, Gabriel. You know how this ends. Just help me find my brothers & we can all leave this place."

"I've always hated your cool demeanor. So calm & collected. Even in life-threatening situations..."

"I won't warn you again." I cut him off there. I don't need to hear him threaten my life again.

He rushes me again, but I move into him with two strikes to his throat. He stops. I grabbed the back off his neck & pull him down into a rising knee. Then follow up with a push kick to his solar plexus.

"As usual, you don't take me seriously."

He recovered a lot faster than any normal man should. I punched him in his throat... twice. I wasn't aiming to kill, but he should at least be stunned still.

"I'll show you why you should fear me. If you don't, then you'll undoubtedly kill me."

"I do not want to...."

Right at that moment I began questioning everything I knew. Gabriel's body started to... transform. Black fur grew from his body, his muscles expanded, & his arms stretched giving him a longer reach. Even his eyes turned black. Right before my eyes I saw a man turn into an ape.

"What the hell?" It slipped out of me. I, for the first time since my father died, was petrified. Now I know how the blood got on the ceiling.

"Zoanthrope."

"What?"

He came at me again, this time his speed was twice what it was, but still too slow. I slipped around him & countered with a roundhouse kick to his temple. No surprise, he's still standing. I guess when he turned into an ape he also acquired the animal instincts. He turned around & grabbed me. He's going to crush me. Instead of fearing for my life, I got angry. I guess dying from an ape giving a bear hug didn't sit well. I can't... No I refuse to die here. I have to find my brothers. If they're here, then I need to get them out. Instead of my life flashing before my eyes, I thought about them. I'm so angry, I begin yelling at Gabriel. I don't even remember what I said. I looked into Gabriel's eyes & I could sense his fear, & used this time to break free of his hold.

"Enough of the shit, Gabriel. Where are my brothers?"

He didn't answer. He just charged me again. This time I was ready. It's too bad. If he wanted to kill me then he should've done so when he had the chance. This time I'll break him from the inside. I matched my speed with his, & struck every pressure point I saw open. First, I shut down his arms. He still charges me. I proceed to break his left arm. I kicked his shoulder out of place, then snapped his elbow inward. I don't expect that to be enough for a breather, though. Next, I break his ankles, which brings him to his knees.

"Now tell me where we are. What is this location?"

"Kill me."

"Don't test me, Gabriel. Although you took an attempt at my life & I should probably snap your neck right now, I'd rather not kill you."

As I thought possible, his left arm had slowly started popping back into place. When his shoulder was back in place he took a swing at me. At this point, I no longer have a choice. I deflect his attack & kicked his chin up & to the left with my right leg. I hold him there, until I'm sure he's dead after he few snaps. Then release him to watch his deformed body fall to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Gabe."

A door opens from the opposite octagon wall. I hadn't the time to look for it until now. A woman appears addressed in some sort of armor. She signals for me to follow her. I figured I had been watched. She leads me into a waiting room. I sat in there for about 15 minutes.

"Leo?"

I looked up & to my surprise find Willie standing before me.

"Will?" Why is me cousin here? I don't understand. Could he have been taken too. If so, then does that mean everyone from that night...

"Any idea where we are?"

"So you were taken too."

"Guess that's a no, then."

We sat down for thirty minutes, describing the atrocities we'd just faced. Willie had to fight twins who turned into foxes.