At the lake, I take off my clothes, except for my underwear.

I dip my feet into the water, testing its temperature.

Cold, perfect.

Slowly, I walk further into the lake, my hair, and feathers spike from the coldness of it, then gradually the water rises, Letting it surround me, and engulf me, I relax my body, allowing myself to float on the surface.

Oh, how I have missed this.

I sighed shutting my eyes and enjoying the moment.

After a while, The cold breeze sends shivers down my body so I dive my body back into the water, then I take a deep breath and dunk my head under it.

I hold my breath, I used to scream under the water when I was younger, but now I just hold it.

What if I didn't survive that day? What would have become of me? I know my absence wouldn't make a difference, no, scratch that, it would have made a difference.

I mean after my family pretended that I had passed away, their lives got better.

The time I spent recovering, they spent erasing my existence.

To them, I was a horrific and unfortunate past, how could they get far when I was dragging and weighing them down?

I was kept away in a room with no windows or sun, just a bed and books to pass by the time, then one day when it was time for Paloma's sweet sixteen, she got a new laptop and I got her used one.

Did I mention she is my twin sister?

Just surfing the Web was boring, but then I started using some of the books I had read and learning how to code, how to hack, and surf the dark Web. I even made "friends" with other human hybrids there.

I'm guilty of not correcting them when they thought I was an actual Puma Hybrid.

They think I'm an excellent hacker who happens to have a cool hybrid animal as well.

I should probably come to the surface, but it feels comfortable down here in the cold darkness, sort of like my old bedroom.

I wonder if I died now, would my death make a difference?

I feel an arm going around my waist and I jump pushing it away, then quickly swam to the surface.

I gasp for air and look at whoever scared the shit out of me.

An annoyed Mr. Raynard was wiping the water out of his face and glaring at me.

"What the hell?" I asked him.

"I should be asking you that," he said as he swam away to the lake's shore, "I thought you'd drowned,".

"I didn't ask for your help," I said as I swam behind him.

"Like you can ask for help with your fucking head up your fucking ass," I think he meant with my head under the water.

But I don't correct him.

Instead, I said "I didn't need your help,"

"So what now?" He asks as he walks out of the water, "are you suicidal? Because if you're, don't cause trouble for others and do it on your own time,"

"..." I was right behind him, staring at the back of his head, his annoyance reminded me of my dad's.

I'm not suicidal, I'm not, but feeling the pain is comfortable, I've lived with it for a long time, lived with its consistency, the isolation, the bullying, the house fire, then years and years of workplace harassment.

At this point, it's odd to feel pain-free.

And I'm not a masochist, I don't get off by it.

"Earth to Puma!" Mr. Raynard calls snapping his fingers, "I asked you a fucking question,"

I sigh, there was no point in arguing with him, "I'm not suicidal Mr. Raynard, please forget this ever happened, I'm sorry to disturb your evening," I said as I walked past him, grabbing my clothes and leaving him behind.

I hope this trip ends, I hope this whole three months end.

When the next morning came, we had breakfast with Ms. Bianca who awkwardly tried to fill the tense silence, then took our leave.

We flew back to our home city, and parted ways, we decided to go our separate ways home, and continue our work tomorrow.

I truly needed to get away from him, being near this man for the past week is draining me.

Once I got home, I put away my things and took a cold shower, then I wore a pair of pajamas and got under the covers, I have a lot of sleep to make up for.

But yet again, my sleep is riddled with nightmares and restlessness.

When was the last time I had a goodnight of sleep?

Did I ever?

I groggily left my apartment and headed to work, nothing much happened or was said. I did my work and spoke when spoken to, the week went by filled with Meetings, and finalizing two deals, the partnership with Ms. Bianca and the takeover of a fashion brand.

Come Friday, Mr. Raynard had a meeting with the staff, where they shared their developed proposals, the ideas were discussed, and by the end of the meeting, Mr. Raynard made an announcement.

"Today we've taken two major steps towards the advancement of Fox Holdings, one which was paved by your colleague, Crawford, and another by our newly appointed member, Puma," Mr. Raynard begins as he pops open a bottle of champagne, he then turns to the Crow Hybrid, "Crawford, like always the results you deliver are excellent," he then turns to me, "and Puma, you may be new here, but I'm glad to see you explore your capabilities and take risks," glasses of champagne are being poured, and handed, "and like always," Mr. Raynard said fishing inside his jacket pocket, he pulls two envelopes, he hands one to me and the other to Crawford, "here's a gift for your accomplishment," Mr. Raynard said.

Crawford who already knows what's inside the envelope, puts it away in his pocket, I on the other hand had a huge frown on my face, "what is this?" I asked Mr. Raynard.

"It's a little monetary bonus to keep you guys motivated," Mr. Raynard explained.

"Oh, okay," I said and put the envelope away in my jacket pocket.

Mr. Raynard moved on with his speech, "have a relaxed Friday and enjoy your weekend!" Then everyone cheered and drank their champagne glasses.

My phone vibrates so I take it out and put my champagne glass down instead, "Hello," I greeted.

"Hi, Puma, how have you been?" Maverick asked.

"Okay, you?" I asked as I stepped away from the table, and the loud chatter, to stand by the tall glass window.

"I'm good, you seem down though," he pointed.

"Am okay, " I assured the Shark Hybrid.

"If you say so, anyway, I'm calling to ask you if you have time this evening to have a drink together?" Maverick asked.

Oh, right, the drinks.

"Yeah, I'm available," I tell him.

"Great, bring Noir with you," He orders.

"What?! No, he can bring himself," I declined.

"Please, you know he's not fit for the Abyss, he'll get mugged," the Shark Hybrid explained.

"The Abyss? I thought we were going drinking," I was confused.

"Yeah, we are, you guys will come down to the Abyss nightclub, it's convenient since I work there, also it's close to our apartments," he reasoned.

It's not really close, it's in the same district, "if that idiot gets drunk, I'm not taking him in a second time," I warned the Shark Hybrid.

"You don't have to worry about that, he can stay at my place again," Maveric tried to reassure me, but I'm not thrilled.

They could get comfortable and I don't want to hear them through the walls.

"Fine, we'll see you tonight," I sighed feeling defeated.

I hung up and turned around walking into Mr. Raynard, "excuse me," I said as I tried to walk around him, but he grabbed my arm.

He doesn't say anything but only seemed to stare at me, "Sir?" I called trying to remove his hand that honestly started to hurt.

"Got any plans tonight?" He asked.

"Yes?" Not really sure where he's going with this, please don't say overtime work again.

"With who?" Is this an interrogation?

"I haven't asked him yet, but with Noir," I answered.

"Who were you talking to then?" He frowned.

"Not like it's any of your business," I said as I removed his hand, "but I was talking to Noir's mate,"

"Are you not going to invite me too?" He asked folding his arms, "it's about time I met that two-timing bastard," he snared.

"..." Yup, I'm way too involved in this shit, I miss having no one to talk to.

I sigh and shake my head, but if this is gonna get him off my case, then be it.

"We're having drinks at the Abyss tonight, make it or not, I could care less" I informed before turning and leaving.

The rest of the day is uneventful, I finish my work and head home.

Honestly, being at home after a long day of work makes me wonder, why leave the comfort of my home and go to a place that makes me uncomfortable?

After getting ready I chill at home waiting for the time to pass.

I almost fell asleep waiting, but I sat up and blinked the sleep away.

I should go out and hang around the area until it's time for us to meet.

I walk away from my apartment building, through the same route to the subway station.

I fight the urge to instinctively walk to the station out of habit and look around me once in a while, checking the shops here and there.

I stop by a shop with an item that caught my eye, adorned with crystals it was sparkling through the window, and the sun rays falling on it sparked rainbows in its surroundings.

Do they work? Should I fall into the gimmick of dream catchers?

"...Puma!" Called Noir pretty loudly next to my ear, causing me to wince, I had heard footsteps approaching but I thought like everybody else, he'll walk around me to avoid me.

I didn't expect them to arrive so soon, I thought as I glanced at Mr. Raynard who stood behind Noir.

"What are you looking at?" Noir asked trying to see through the storefront at what caught my eye.

"Nothing," I shook my head, it was a silly thought, "let's just go," I said as I pulled Noir away, then lead the brothers to the bus stop.

"From here, you take the bus to this bus stop," I was explaining to Noir the bus routes on the map.

"Why does it seem like you're not coming with us?" Noir frowned.

"I'm not, I'm walking there," seeing Noir's frown deepen, I explained myself further, "I'm not really welcomed on busses,"

"Great! So am I!" Noir cheered, "let's walk together then," Noir suggested.

I shook my head, "it's not safe to walk around in these streets at night or anytime,"

"Come on, you take one side, I'll take the other, and we'll keep Raynard safe," Noir winked.

"You know I can hear you, right?" Mr. Raynard asked not interested as he scrolled through his phone.

"C'mon let's go," Noir said as he hooked his arm with his brother.

I lead the way to the club, it was a twenty minutes walk from where we were standing.

There was a long line outside the Abyss, even though it hadn't been long since they opened.

We walk by the line of people and straight to the front doors.

"What are you kids doing here? Are you even legal?" One of the bouncers asked, his questions were directed at me and Noir, "Shouldn't you be at home studying for college instead of hanging out with that creep?" He asked cocking his head towards Mr. Raynard.

"We are all adults here, and this creep is my brother," Noir argued defensively.

"Do you have an ID?" The second bouncer asked.

"As a matter of fact I do," Noir replied, while Noir was busy fetching his ID and proving his age, I texted Maverick, letting him know of our arrival and current situation.

Not too long after the front entrance door opens and out comes Maverick, dressed in a black suit and an earpiece.

"Hey guys, these are my guests, let them in," Maverick ordered.

The bouncers soon retreated and handed back the ID to Noir, "Sorry boss we didn't know," one of the bouncers apologized.

Although the two bouncers looked a lot older than Maverick, Maverick exuded more authority.

We walked in afterward, and the loud music was deafening to my ears, so I take out my earplugs and plugged them in.

It doesn't block the noise a hundred percent, but the pounding in my head is less painful.

We moved further in and I took in how this enormous space was massively crowded, the human hybrids were so close to each other, it looks like they were grating cheese with their bodies.

The bar area wasn't an exception, the poor bartenders looked overwhelmed.

Sensing the discomfort in us, Maverick asks us to follow him.

He takes us through another guarded double door and we walk through them, into a corridor, away from the loud music and the grinding bodies.

We get to the end of the corridor, and one of the security employees takes out a card and swipes it to unlock the second set of doors.

Once in we are greeted by an expensive-looking bar and lounge.

The human hybrids on this side looked in a whole different league, expensive jewelry, expensive cigar, expensive alcohol, expensive clothes, etc.

I felt out of place.

And being with the siblings isn't helping, even if their outfits were casual, their clothes are from designer brands.

Human hybrids stared at me while Maverick guided us to a reserved booth, he gestured for Noir to slide in first, while I waited for Mr. Raynard to slide in as well.

After we sat down, Maverick flirted with Noir, complimenting him on his outfit.

I take out my earplugs and put them away, now able to listen to the whispers of others.

"I thought this was members only," one commented.

"I guess the Abyss is living up to its name," another snickered.

Yet, you're a member of a club where only the poor and outcasts live... probably feeling better about yourself and your life every time you come down here, the irony.

I snorted, catching the attention of my companions, I looked away pretending to look around, "do we go to the bar to order, or are they going to take our orders?" I wondered.

"Oh yes, my bad I got swept away," Maverick said winking at Noir, causing his mate to blush.

Maverick then gestures for one of the waiters who got here with menus for us to check.

"You can order food as well, we have excellent chefs here," Maverick informed us.

I rolled my eyes at the Shark Hybrid, although the waiter had brought him his own menu, he was leaning closer to Noir, giving his recommendations about the drinks and food on the menu.

I did not need to order food, instead, I skim through the drinks section, specifically the fruit-based one.

My eyes landed on the drink called "Paloma" and I unconsciously click my tongue in annoyance.

"Something wrong Puma?" Maverick asked, garnering both the attention of Noir and Mr. Raynard.

"No," I shook my head, my face completely blank, then I look towards the waiter standing by our table "I'll have a painkiller, please."

The rest gave out their orders and finally moved on with their introductions, after our drinks arrived, the conversation got pretty serious, it felt like I was sitting through an interrogation.

I don't even know why I'm here, if the bench was white, I'd have blended with it.

I excuse myself to the washroom, allowing myself to get away from this uncomfortable air, I could've been relaxing at home but here I'm getting dragged into shit that's not my own.

I dry my hands and dump the tissue paper in the garbage can.

I don't have to stay long do I? I thought as I left the bathroom.

Although Maverick invited me to have a drink with him, which I already did, I'm really bored just sitting there, it's not that I'm jealous, but if you wanted an excuse to see Noir, just ask him out goddamn it, don't drag me into this.

"Puma?" Someone calling my name gets my attention, "I can't believe this, it's really you, Puma."

My eye twitches at the sudden appearance of an old, very old classmate.