The Non-Human Society

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Six – Vim – The Lost One

More than our kind lived down here.

Slowing my pace as I approached a pair of people… I forcefully calmed myself.

I had to. Since I was getting worried. It’s been nearly half an hour since I had delved into this maze of drainage tunnels. Half an hour of running around like a fool without anything to show for it.

The stink of non-humans was everywhere down here, and it made it impossible to narrow down the source. It was likely that they’ve been down here for decades, based off the way their scents were so overbearing and stable. How’d none of us ever notice?

To top it off these blasted sewers and drainage systems were joined with the old city. They merged and melded with each other, creating a labyrinth. Only further complicating my

“Then no. I’ll not tell you.”

A cold wave of understanding pumped out of my heart and throughout the rest of my body… as I stared down at a woman scorned.

I gulped a dry mouth, and for a tiny moment I thought of the many others I had met like her.

Why was it always the women?

“Kill them all, then,” she said with a smile at me.

Glancing away from the suddenly happy woman, I glanced again at the man I had just… possibly killed.

He was still leaning up against the wall. Unmoving. Head still stuck in the stone.

Looking away from his odd clothing, and lack of it in certain areas, I returned to the woman… and the little recessed area she was sitting in.

There were more than chairs and boxes. There was something of a bed. A dirty one. In the corner. Near where she was curled up. Made of straw and loose cloth.

“I see,” I said as I understood.

She wrapped herself in her arms, and I did my best to ignore the way she dug her nails into her dirty arms.

She was dirtier than the homeless humans I had just met. Dirty enough I had not noticed the bruises and injuries until now.

Taking a small breath I glanced away from her and down the hallway. To my destination.

No one had heard the commotion. No one was approaching.

Yet I heard voices down there. Echoes.

“My name is Vim. I’m the protector of the Society. I know not your name… nor your story… but know that if you desire freedom, and a life beyond these smelly stones… then find us. Come to us. The Society welcomes all who suffer, and will abide by our rules. We care not your past, only your future,” I spoke evenly… but didn’t look at her. Instead I kept my eyes on the lights down the hallway.

She was silent, but I heard her heartbeat. It was beating wildly. Even more than when she had been shaking in pure terror of me.

“We’re in the Animalia Guild, upside. If you wish to join,” I said as I stepped away.

As I walked away, I heard her fall forward. Crawling on the ground after me… I heard her stop, likely upon reaching the corner of the hall as to stare at me as I left her behind.

Usually I’d do more. I’d be surer about it… but…

Frowning, I did my best to not hate the woman who had been willing to sacrifice Renn… just so I would kill those who made her suffer.

It was hard not to. But I knew that was because of how much I cared for the one she was sacrificing.

Usually I was more…

“Stop! We don’t need to do this!”

I froze for just a moment as the, sing song like, shrill scream echoed down the hallway.

“Fly…?” I couldn’t believe it. That was her voice.

Yet she was supposed to have been at the Society... Maybe I was mistaken or...?

Someone else shouted, and then another… and then I heard it.

Flesh being hit. Flesh being bruised.

Flesh being torn.

Hurrying forward, I ran to the end of the tunnel... right as Fly screamed out in defiance.

Emerging from the tunnel, I skidded to a stop as I took in the sight.

A few dozen people were in the room.

A large room. One littered with junk. Beds. Tables. Boxes… even debris. Off in one corner was a pile of trash, stacked higher than even I was tall.

Yet none of that mattered. Nor even did the dozen non-humans matter either.

All that mattered was the odd hole in the ground. In the center of the room. Likely a drainage pipe. One that led even farther underground.

But honestly even that pipe didn’t matter.

All that mattered was Fly.

Being held out over the hole, by a woman with antlers. Ones wrapped by her hair.

Fly was squirming, trying pitifully to free herself. She looked battered and beaten… and oddly was naked. Her feathers were puffed up, giving her an odd look. As if she was far bigger than she really were.

The one with antlers held Fly be her neck. She was taller, but thin… thin and…

Stepping forward, I ignored the dozens of people watching the spectacle. I ignored the looks of terror on some… but I did take note of the looks of pure glee on others.

As I stepped forward, I felt it. In the air. Without warning, yet somehow with one.

“Stop!” I shouted right as Fly was released.

Rushing forward, I ran with all my might. Pushing aside people, jumping over a table, running through a lit campfire and causing embers and wood to scatter everywhere.

The woman with antlers turned towards me as Fly fell into the hole. My gut wrenched as I planned how I’d save her.

That hole was obviously deep. Likely many floors, even. Even if it was angled, it wasn't something someone as frail as Fly could survive.

I’d jump in the hole. But I’d need momentum to catch her. Could I fall in such a way that I could kick off the side of the hole at enough of an angle to force myself to her? Maybe, thanks to her traits, she could flap her arms and stay aloft just enough? Or…!

Before I made it to the hole, and the antler woman who had dropped Fly, I was hit.

Being slammed into, my eyes never left the hole as my hand darted out to grab the throat of the one who had just tackled me.

I was lifted off the ground, and for a few moments was in the air as the one who had tackled me lifted me. Huge arms, thick of muscle and more, wrapped around my waist and stomach… and then we landed. Harshly. Into a table.

Flinching as wood and plates crunched and broke; I rolled as the man tried to get on top of me. As to put me into a hold, and keep me down.

Even still, my eyes never left the hole.

Fly.

I’d not be able to catch her in time now.

I should have been quicker.

I shouldn’t have let those humans delay me.

It’s my fault.

The world became oddly… quiet… even though I heard yelling. And noise. Lots of it.

Many people were everywhere around us. Things were being broken, and moved. The man trying to pin me was grunting, and not just because he was more beast than man. A woman was shouting orders, and amidst all the chaos… I heard the sound of swords being drawn.

A familiar sound, amongst many more.

Ignoring the shouting and screaming, I grabbed the throat of my attacker. A large man. One covered in fur. I tore my eyes away from the hole, to stare into his.

His eyes were black. Pure black. As if he had no pupil. No iris. As if they weren’t eyes at all.

“Thank you,” I said to him.

He blinked, and then tried to sit up and back, to get free of my grip.

Yet he couldn’t budge.

He was a bull of a man, and not just because of his ferocity. He was easily thrice my size, and likely near my own weight. He was covered in thick dark black fur, and had two large horns where his ears should be. His face was more beast than not, and from glance alone was nearly lacking all human traits. His only human aspect was the way his body was shaped. He stood on two legs. Had two arms, and hands.

The bull opened his mouth, to say something… yet couldn’t. My grip on his throat tightened, and I felt the very sudden panic surge within him. He hit me, and tried to stand up and away from me… as he realized I wasn’t going to let go. After attacking me a few times I felt his panic increase many fold, likely upon figuring out that he couldn’t get me to release him.

Leaning upward, I sat up as the bull tried to flee. I ignored his full on attack of panic, as his fists hit me. In the head. The face. The sternum. He even tried to grab my own throat, yet couldn’t seem to calm down enough to actually do it.

Looking into his dark eyes, I smiled… then looked around.

At those staring at us. Men. Women. Nonhuman, and even human alike.

Some with weapons. Some with smiles. Some backing away in fear…

And then finally my eyes locked onto the one with antlers. The woman who had dropped Fly into that hole.

“Thank you. For being the types I needed you to be,” I said lowly, as I squeezed. “Thank you for making it easy for me.”

As I killed the bull, I was glad that I wasn't lost anymore.