Aaron was back in the dreamscape—a place that once felt foreign, but now strangely familiar. The air was heavy with pressure, like walking through a storm. Before him loomed the eyes again—those glowing, hate-filled orbs, larger and meaner than ever. They didn't just look at him. They reached for him, clawing at the edges of his consciousness, pulling at the threads of his humanity.
He stood his ground, defiant, refusing to yield. But then, the dark mist around the eyes began to shift and fall away, unraveling like a curtain. A figure stepped forward from the darkness.
It was him—but not quite.
The creature was tall, its posture a twisted echo of Aaron's own. Its frame was lithe and muscular, covered in sleek gray fur. A fish-like tail waved slowly behind it, flicking with tension. Its glowing eyes were wild, primal. There was no kindness in them—just hunger. It looked just like Aaron did in the real world... but feral, untamed, and fully willing to kill.
Before Aaron could react, the creature lunged at him, snarling. They hit the ground with a thud, rolling violently. Aaron kicked it off, scrambling to his feet, but it was faster. The beast pounced again, pinning him to the hard dreamscape floor, pressing down with brutal force. Its claws dug into his shoulders, and it let out a guttural growl right in his face. Hot breath, filled with the scent of blood and rage, washed over him.
Back in the lab, Aaron's body stirred violently. The transformation chamber's lights flickered. David's heart sank as he watched the monitor—Aaron's vitals were spiking again. Something was wrong.
Then... a low growl.
Aaron's body tensed. He dropped down to all fours, his glowing eyes now a terrifying shade of violet. The beast was waking.
David's eyes widened in panic as Aaron started crawling around like an animal, sniffing, twitching. Not his son. Not right now. This thing was something else.
Suddenly, the chamber doors opened—a loud hiss of hydraulics. One of David's colleagues, Dr. Hanna Patel, had entered with a sedative gun.
"David, we have to stop him before—"
But she didn't get the chance.
Feral Aaron spun around at the noise. His ears pinned back. A snarl ripped from his throat as he lunged across the room.
Hanna screamed.
He pounced on her, claws sinking into her arms as she raised them to defend herself. His teeth flashed, glistening with saliva. She screamed again, struggling beneath the weight of the beast.
Inside the dreamscape, Aaron cried out as the creature's claws tore across his chest. It wasn't just a dream—it hurt.
He slashed back with his own claws, fighting for his life. The battle was brutal, primal. No technique. Just survival.
But he was losing ground.
The creature was stronger, fueled by rage and instinct. Aaron fought with desperation, dodging, scratching, biting when he had to.
He glanced down—his hands soaked in blue blood, but not all of it was the creature's.
David banged on the chamber glass with both fists. "AARON! STOP!!" His voice cracked, helplessness choking him.
Inside, the beast didn't respond to his words. It wasn't Aaron anymore.
Aaron's claws tore through Hanna's shoulder as she screamed, still trying to reach the sedative gun. Blood pooled on the floor. David couldn't look away.
Then, something changed.
In the dreamscape, Aaron finally dodged the creature's charge with feline precision. It skidded past him. Aaron seized the opportunity and leapt onto its back, claws sinking into its spine. With a roar, he dragged it down.
The beast fought wildly, but Aaron didn't let go. He snarled through gritted teeth, "I'm not your puppet. I'm done being afraid."
He struck once more, this time deep—straight into its chest.
The creature collapsed beneath him, shuddering. Its glow dimmed. And slowly, its wild eyes looked up at Aaron... with fear.
Aaron stood over it, panting, victorious. "You're part of me," he growled. "But I'm in control now. Obey... or vanish."
The beast didn't speak. But it bowed.
In the real world, Aaron's body shuddered violently—then froze.
His eyes snapped open, glowing bright blue.
He looked down—his hands were soaked in red. Blood dripped from his claws.
Dr. Patel lay sprawled before him. Unmoving. Mangled.
Aaron froze in horror.
His eyes darted to the chamber glass—and found David staring back, motionless. Aaron's breath caught in his throat.
"No..." he whispered.
Then louder, trembling: "No, no, no, no..."
His voice cracked as the tears began. He backed away, inching to the far wall, sliding down with shaking limbs. "No, I didn't... I didn't mean to...I wasn't..."
His claws dug into his own furred arms, breaking the skin, letting pain anchor him. He held his knees, rocking slightly, the blood on his hands now his and hers.
David burst through the doors. "Hanna!" he dropped to her side, checked her pulse.
Nothing.
His body went numb. His mind blank.
He looked up at Aaron, who was huddled against the wall, crying like a wounded animal. His lips trembled.
"No...Don't come closer!," Aaron sobbed, eyes wide with terror. "Please... I'll hurt you too. I don't want to—but I might—I might—but I don't want to... I-"
David stood frozen. He couldn't take another step.
All he could do was nod... and leave. He walked slowly out of the chamber, each step heavier than the last, and slid down outside the glass, burying his face in his hands.
His sobs echoed softly in the sterile silence.
Inside, Aaron curled into himself, rocking and shaking, whispering again and again into the blood-slick fur on his arms.
"No... no... no..."