Hybrid Aria
Introduction
Fear. Pure fear, the sort of fear that makes your skin itch. When you can feel every hair on your body rise, when you feel like your skin is crawling. Fear that makes your body freeze, paralysing you on the spot, that’s the sort of fear I felt when I heard her blood-curdling scream.
The only thing was I was her big sister, so I couldn’t run away. I had no choice but to move, to go to her. I forced my legs up the front porch of the Pack house, running in the direction I could hear her screaming my name. My feet pound on the floorboards in panic. I’m moving so fast, I felt myself slipping on the hallway rug, making me skid along the floor and into the wall. My head and shoulder twist at an awkward angle into the kitchen door frame, with enough force that black dots danced in front of my vision. My collarbone and shoulder send shooting pain through my body as I feel my shoulder dislocate on impact.
“Aria! Aria!” Her petrified scream echoed through the house. Jumping to my feet, my head spun. I turned the corner into the kitchen to see the Alpha dragging my sister by her hair into the basement with a whip in his other hand. I start running to her, grabbing the basement door frame just in time for him to slam the door shut on my fingers. My own scream escapes my lips in agony. I reach for the door handle, only to find it’s been locked. I start trying to yank my hand free. I could hear her crying and screaming for me on the other side of the door.
“LEAVE HER ALONE!” I screamed at him, slamming my body into the door, trying to free my fingers and get in. Not being able to get a run-up, I threw my body with all my might towards the side where my fingers were stuck, the door moving just enough for me to free my injured bloody mangled hand. My fingers were definitely broken as they twisted and jutted out at unnatural angles. Backing up into the kitchen, I ran full force into the door and bounced off, knocking the air out of my lungs. I stood up, backing up again and running harder. I dropped my shoulder hitting the door with so much force it burst open, my feet hitting air as my body was thrown down the stairs landing at a weird angle. My head smashing into the basement’s concrete floor.
Aria’s POV
Two weeks earlier
“Come on, Lily, time to get up,” I whispered to my six-year-old sister. She rolled on the mattress stretching and yawning, her beautiful sapphire blue eyes fluttering open to look back at me. Our room was the smallest in the Packhouse and at the back of the house away from everyone. The room consisted of a double bed mattress, a window, and a few toys for Lily. All our possessions easily fit in the duffle bag that was also our wardrobe.
“You’ve been jogging, Ari,,” she said, sleepily looking down at my outfit.
“No, they are just comfy now. Come on you have to get ready for school,” I sat next to her on the mattress on the floor. Lily sat up frowning at me. I pulled her pyjamas top off before pulling her school shirt over her head.
“Quick, hop up and put your pants on while I get ready,” I told her.
I quickly got up, walked over to the duffle bag next to the mattress, and pulled my work uniform out my bag before quickly undressing and slipping it on. I reached for my brush, pulling my hair into a high ponytail before doing the same to Lily’s hair while sitting next to her on the bed. I reached over, grabbing her joggers and socks, placing them on her feet and tying the laces. We could hear people moving about in the house. Lily froze, staring towards the door.
“He’s up, Ari,” Lily whispered.
I quickly threw my shoes on and grabbed the duffle bag, throwing her pyjamas in it and the clothes I had on earlier. Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I walked over to the window, knowing we wouldn’t be able to sneak out of the house using the front door. Slowly opening the window, I dropped the bag out before reaching for Lily. She climbed up onto the windowsill before jumping to the grass below. It wasn’t a big jump; the house was only one level besides the basement and the attic. I climbed through, jumping to the grass below before reaching up and shutting the window behind me gently.
Running up the side of the house towards the side gate, I glanced to make sure none of the Pack members were in the front yard. It was exceedingly early still. The sun had only just started coming up, light starting to break through trees that surrounded the house. I grabbed Lily’s hand and started jogging towards the bus stop at the end of the dirt road, which was also the driveway. As we neared the end, I could hear the bus coming past. We ran faster to the bus stop, getting there just in time. I threw my arm out, waving the bus down. The bus driver smiled when he saw us.
“Hey, Bill,” I said, getting on the bus and passing him our bus fare.
“No smile today, Lily?” he asked, smiling down at her. Her lips tugged at the sides before she gave him a big toothy grin.
“That’s my girl,” he said. We moved to the back of the bus. The drive into town was only ten minutes long, and Lily stretched out on the seat next to me, placing her head in my lap.
“Ari, I’m hungry,” she said, gazing up at me.
“I know, I will make you some lunch and breakfast when we get into town,” I told her as I leant down to kiss her head.