Chapter 56: No more

Damien sat on the edge of the broken lab table, rubbing his temples. “So… you’re saying these Doctors can’t be caught?”

The first Alpha, tall with dark eyes, nodded slowly. “Yes. They are careful, patient, and always two steps ahead. You cannot track them like normal criminals.”

Lyra crossed her arms. “Then what do we do? We can’t let them keep turning humans into hybrids. People could die—or worse, become monsters like we saw.”

The second Alpha stepped forward. “You understand why we came to you. You survived Skye and helped those hybrids. You have skills we don’t have—your teamwork, your instincts.”

Maya’s jaw tightened. “So you’re saying we fight them, even if we can’t catch them?”

“Yes,” the first Alpha said firmly. “We can’t stop them by hunting. We stop them by limiting what they can do, controlling the chaos, and being prepared.”

Jack shook his head, disbelief in his voice. “We barely survived Skye. Now we’re supposed to fight these… crazy doctor-people who can make anything?”

Damien leaned forward. “We survived because we worked together. We can do it again. But we need a plan. And we need to understand their weaknesses.”

The second Alpha stepped closer. “There is a weakness, but it’s not what you think. The Doctors rely on control. Control over their lab, their machines, and the hybrids they create. If you disrupt that… you slow them down.”

Lyra frowned. “Disrupt it how? Blow it up?”

The first Alpha shook his head. “No. You can’t destroy everything. Some hybrids could die. And the Doctors will rebuild, stronger. You have to strike smart, precise, and fast.”

Maya’s hands rested on her hips. “We need more information then. If we can’t catch them, we have to know where they’ll strike next. We need patterns, schedules, any clue they leave behind.”

Bryce, sitting against the wall, rubbed his arms. “Even if we know, we still have to fight them. And their hybrids are dangerous. Some could attack us instantly.”

The second Alpha nodded. “Exactly. You can’t predict everything. You prepare, adapt, and protect your team. That is the only way to survive against them.”

Jack leaned forward. “So we’re basically running in the dark, hoping we don’t get caught or killed?”

The first Alpha’s voice was calm but firm. “It’s worse than that. The Doctors will never come at you openly. They watch, manipulate, and test. You must be faster than they expect, stronger than they anticipate, and smarter than they think.”

Damien’s eyes narrowed. “We can do that. We have to. But what about the hybrids we saw? Can they help us?”

The second Alpha looked at him. “Some will. But be careful. Not all hybrids are stable. Some can’t be trusted, some might betray you if pushed. And the longer they remain in pain or anger, the more dangerous they become.”

Lyra exhaled slowly. “So we have to protect them, guide them, and use them… carefully.”

Maya nodded. “It’s a risk, but it might be the only chance we have. We can’t stop the Doctors alone. But with the hybrids and you Alphas, maybe… just maybe, we can slow them down.”

Damien rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought the worst was over with Skye. I was wrong. I thought the lab was the big problem. Now it’s like… a whole army of hybrids and crazy Doctors.”

The first Alpha gave him a measured look. “You survived Skye and the lab. You can survive this too. But you must be prepared. And you must trust your instincts. Most importantly, trust each other.”

Jack frowned. “Trust each other… like we always do? That worked before, but this is different. These people aren’t normal. They’re… insane.”

The second Alpha shrugged. “Yes, they are insane. But every person has a limit. Every creature has a weakness. You just have to find it before they find you.”

Lyra looked around at the group. Damien, Jack, Maya, Bryce, and the hybrids they freed. “We’ve survived worse. We can survive this too. But we need a plan, now.”

Maya nodded. “We can’t stay here. The lab is compromised. They’ll rebuild, and they might already know we were here. We need a safe place to strategize.”

The first Alpha stepped closer. “We have a location, a base where you can regroup, train, and plan. It’s hidden, secure, and well-protected from surveillance.”

Damien’s eyes brightened slightly. “Then we go there. But we still need to know when they’ll strike next. Otherwise, we’re blind.”

The second Alpha shook his head. “We can’t know exactly. That’s the point. They never strike in predictable ways. You’ll have to adapt and act fast. Think of it as a game… only if you lose, people die.”

Jack’s fists clenched. “Great. So, basically, we play a game we can’t see the rules of.”

Lyra sighed. “Yes. But we’re good at this kind of game. We survived Skye. We survived the lab. We can survive whatever comes next… if we work together.”

Maya placed a hand on Damien’s shoulder. “And we will. But we have to be careful. One wrong move, and everything falls apart.”

Damien nodded. “I get it. No mistakes. Everyone stays alert, everyone watches each other, and we strike fast if we have to.”

The first Alpha spoke again. “Exactly. This is not a normal fight. You are fighting people who don’t follow normal rules. You have to be smarter, faster, and more careful than you ever have been.”

Lyra looked at the group, determination in her eyes. “We survived Skye, the lab, and the hybrids. We can survive this. Together.”

Bryce nodded slowly. “We just have to make sure we’re ready. Training, strategy, and planning… nothing else will save us.”

The second Alpha added, “Time is short. You have to act before they strike again. They are patient, but they will come. And next time, they will be stronger.”

Maya’s gaze hardened. “Then we prepare. And we make sure we are ready.”

Jack shook his head slightly. “I thought we were done fighting… but apparently, we’re just getting started.”

Damien looked around at everyone, the tension in the room thick. “We survived Skye. We survived the lab. We survive this too. No matter what comes.”

Lyra whispered, “We survive… together.”

The first Alpha stepped back, arms crossed. “Then let’s start. We have work to do. And remember, the Doctors cannot be caught… we can only be ready.”

Maya’s eyes narrowed. “Then we train. We prepare. And we make them regret coming here.”

Outside, the forest was quiet, but the air felt heavy. The threat of the Doctors lingered. And everyone knew, the real fight was about to begin.