The Phases: After Dark

Chapter 3. Just to tell you, these are the darker Phases. The Reptiles and Raptors. The mammals and other birds wouldn't kidnap kids off the streets.
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"Come on, kiddies!" Called Devic. "Through here, and we'll untie you." The teenagers looked at him fearfully, and with mistrust in their eyes. They'd been up all night being sorted: soldiers, workers and spies. Deada watched Maria closly. After about half an hour they'd finally got her to tell them her name. Even now she still wasn't talking, though most had tried screaming when their gags had been taken off. She just looked at her and Devic with disgust. Deada had a feeling that this girl had guessed something, and wasn't happy. "Oi!!" Yelled Devic. A small boy had broken loose and was running towards the door. Deada dived on top of him, and they fell. Deada pulled him to his feet. He was crying. "Do you know what they do weaklings and runaways?!" She hissed. The boy shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "They kill them. Anyone who isn't useful but knows about us dies. Understand?!" The boy nodded, taking in deep breaths. Deada turned back to the rest. Plenty had heard what she'd said. "Anyone else who acts like this will be bound up. Ok?" The others nodded, looking terrified. Deada continued to untie them. She half expected Maria to try and fight them, but she didn't, just looked at them as if they were pieces of dog poo. Deada looked curiosly at the girl. She had no idea what was in store for her, she couldn't have, could she?

Maria was furious. Not scared, not shocked, just angry beyond belief. What she had seen only confirmed her suspicions. We're going to become like them. She thought. We're going to have to fight for them too, and anyone who doesn't want to dies. The injustice of it was burning her up, and it was almost like a physical thing. She hated them, and any of the other unnatural things that she was going to become. Crimes against nature. Her mind screamed at her. Evil, vermin, unnatural... She'd never hated anyone or anything more. She'd seen the animal reflexes of her captives, and had felt the claws on her back when she'd been captured. Not to mention the fact that they'd practically been told what was going to happen to them. Maria looked up. They were being moved again, into a little room with lots of beds in it. "Sleep well." Smirked the man, and he shut the door. Maria was suddenly exhausted, and she dived for a bed. It was bumpy and had broken springs, but Maria was asleep before she even registered this. It gad been a long day...