Pitch was looking at the cobra looking snake-person Cryptid that was potentially a hybrid that just attacked their group. Everyone was shooting stun rounds at it after it just felt a potentially fatal blow to one of the men. It moved side to side, dodging the shots with an unnatural agility. It started backing away to create some distance between itself and the group. The snake lady wiggled at a distance and hissed at them as they continued to fire at her before she charged in again. She swiped at another Black Eagle soldier, pouncing and coiling around him after only to still get shot at despite having a hostage they could crush. The snake-lady dropped them to run as the group continued to fire rounds, several landing and hitting the Cryptid.

  Pitch moved quickly and cut it off, preventing it from escaping. “If you are a hybrid and can understand what I'm saying, you should surrender. We can help you restore some of your humanity. The creature let out a combination of hiss and laughter. “Restore humanity? What exactly is humanity? How does one define it? I am physically capable of more, yet still my mind is intact. If anything, this form is a gift. Why would I give that up?” Pitch blinked a few times. “Why are you attacking people then?” The creature writhed on the ground little. “Usually they strike first, I'm just hunting when they freak out and start blasting. So I started being a little more proactive and making preemptive strikes.”

  Pitch put up his gun, aiming it at the air and indicating for the others to stop. “The surrender and we'll move you someplace where people don't normally go, like a nature preserve. It works for the Sasquatches.” The creature seemed to stop in thought. “The arrangement could be beneficial, but not perfect.” Pitch sighed. “An improvement, even if small, is still an improvement. You should take it and figure out how to get other things you want to further improve your situation later.”

  The snake-lady shrugged and put her hands behind her back. “Okay, migrate me.” Hammer came over and cuffed the Cryptid to load her up into the containment car while the wounded and dead were also loaded up. While moving the Cryptid to a new location the group took samples of blood and scales to give to the lab. The cobra hybrid Cryptid was released in an area with little to no risk of human interaction to roam freely. “Now if we somehow get another report we're taking you in dead or alive.” Pitch explained as he removed the cuffs. The woman nodded, thanked Pitch, and slithered off into the woods.

  Once back at the HQ, Pitch filed a report and turned it in. Ishwada glanced at it and sighed. “For a long time our policy has been to investigate Cryptid activity, then when we find it capture it if possible and kill if necessary. We were always told to fix and cover up the problem however we see fit with capture taking a priority. However, Director Hawkes sent me a message today that is changing that. He wants to eliminate them on sight, capture only when convenient. No more relocations, no more negotiations. Thankfully he can't make that call on his own. I get why he wants to be more strict because of the increase in activity, but he can't go full scorched Earth on all Cryptids just because.”

  Pitch nodded. “He's the director, but I guess even he answers to someone. Good thing too. Otherwise I'd probably be boned.” Ishwada nodded. I know you've just done two cases in a row, but we've still got issues. The person we put in charge of the asylum after that one incident called and wanted me to send some people over. He wouldn't say why exactly, but it didn't sound like it was life or death urgent. Considering what happened last time I'd suggest taking a team. Anderson and Hammer are both taking care of wounded so it looks like you're going to have to take charge.”

  Pitch sighed. “I'll remind you I hold no official rank here.” Ishwada nodded again. “ That shouldn't be a problem. Just grab whoever, up to ten people. We can't send more on any one mission because of the high traffic right now.” Pitch grumbled. “Yeah, okay, fine. I'll grab some people and be right over there. I hope it's not a problem if I grab a team of non-humans.” Ishwada shrugged. “I'm leaving the team composition up to you.” Pitch waved and grabbed his team. A pixie female he remembered from a few cases, some Doppelgangers and Succubi, and some faces he remembered from cases he's worked on with little care as to if they were or were not human.

  Once everyone was ready two vehicles were sent out to Bedlam Asylum to see what the call was about. Hopefully it wasn't a waste of time or something that would kill, maim, or traumatize the soldiers. Pitch and his team entered the building and Pitch walked right up to the newer head caretaker of the building who waved them over. It was an older silver haired woman. “Alright lady, what is it you wanted?” Pitch's tone was one of exhaustion. He definitely wasn't looking forward to handling another case right after the last one.

  The woman looked just as exhausted as Pitch sounded, her voice devoid of energy. “Ah, that was quick, but I don't think you needed this many people. There's no Cryptid this time.” Pitch crossed his arms. “You gave us so little information that there was no real way of knowing that.” The woman sighed. “I mean there wasn't really any urgency in my voice, but I suppose that's fair.” She looked around. “Some of the patients have been acting up again. Chanting and whatnot and it's creeping me out. It's not all of them, just the ones in the isolation rooms. Those whose state is too far gone to be in the general areas. My predecessor sure did a number on these poor people.” She lowered and shook her head.

  Pitch looked over to the pixie. Well we may not need this much force, but I'm sure as shit not going alone. I'll take you and one other person.” Pitch pointed randomly. “You.” The three of them followed the older lady who led them to the isolation area. As soon as they entered the hallway Pitch could hear lamentations and moaning from the poor broken souls kept in this part of the asylum. It was hard to make out what exactly they were saying at first, as they weren't synchronized like last time. Their voices overlapping and cascading over one another in a confusing cacophony that might as well have equated to the vocal equivalent of television static.

  Pitch closed his eyes and tried to focus on just one voice to make out what they were saying, tuning out the others. However, he found himself instead only catching parts of what the people were saying before he'd tune into a different voice instead, catching bits and pieces in no particular order with zero cohesion. “Hungry hungry. I'm so hungry.” “Deep in the darkest blue, blacker than night in the abyss, a deep red slumbers.” “Screaming screaming. All I hear is screaming.” “Consume all. Become all.” “Slumbering since ancient times, the mindless mass, the lump of flesh.” “It's name is Gluttony, it's name is Legion.” “The flesh that eats, the flesh that hungers.”

  Pitch sighed as he picked up more chunks of words. Something about teeth, another thing about eyes. More titbits about some red mass. He stopped trying to listen, letting the noise return to meaningless static. “It's hard to make sense of it, but my guess is there's something in the ocean that has been or is going to be disturbed. Something ancient with only one thing on its mind, an endless insatiable hunger.” The pixie woman shrugged. “Well if it's in the ocean then it's outside our region. So if or when something turns up we won't be the first ones called.”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Pitch hummed and put his hand to his chin. “We should at least warn those near the ocean if possible. Considering what happened last time I'm taking this seriously. If they say there is something in the ocean, then that's good enough for me. These people may not be mentally stable, but they were in touch with The White Room.” The pixie looked confused. “I didn't read the report on this case and have no idea what you're talking about.” Pitch looked at her. “You should have been at least skimming the case on the way here. No matter, we got what we came here for and I think we can leave.”

  The group made their way back out of the building and returned to headquarters. After filling another report, Pitch was finally allowed to go home. He tried his best not to speed down the night roads as he made his way to his house. Once home he practically sprinted from his vehicle to his home, rushing into his home with an inhuman quickness. Once inside he started looking around for Kathryn but spotted Kasa standing around in night clothes. She had frozen mid step with a snack in her mouth. “Sup.” She said after pulling the turkey leg from her mouth.

  Pitch blinked a few times at Kasa's mostly undressed state. “Are you home alone?” Kasa drew out her answer. “Uhhh…. Maybe?~” Pitch sighed as he punched the bridge of his nose. “Is Kathryn home?” Kasa slowly shook her head. “She texted just a bit ago to say she was on the way. She knows I do late night snacking right about now. Most people think cats are nocturnal but they are actually crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk.” Pitch let out a short sigh. “I didn't ask for the nature lesson. Also, what the heck are you wearing? A cut tee-shirt crop top and Daisy Dukes? You look like a Brazilian trying to be a redneck hooker.”

  Kasa does a pose and gestured at her body as she moved in a suggestive manner as she wiggled her eyebrows “Oh? Does this tempt you?” Pitch’s expression was as good as words. “I don't want to deal with this” was written on his face. “I'm more than satisfied with the partner I have. Besides, the hesitation to respond and the time of the response leads me to believe you've had a guest over to help you with that already.” Kasa scoffed. “I wish. However, I may have let in an animal from the outside.” Pitch's face of displeasure didn't change. “I'm guessing you let a stray cat into the house.”

  Kasa made a so-so gesture with her free hand as she took a bite of turkey leg. “Stray, yes. Cat, not exactly. It's some sort of Cryptid actually. Though it isn't a hybrid like myself it is definitely unusual.” Pitch let out a long drawn out sigh as his head hung low. “Alright… let me see the critter.” Kasa led Pitch to her room where a four legged furry creature thrashed about with a ragged pillow in its mouth. It looked like a mix between a raccoon, a badger, and a skunk. Its size was comparable as well. It gave off a hint of energy indicating it was a Cryptid. “I found it going through our trash.” Kasa explained. “I cleaned him up, gave him an old pillow to play with and some food, then I stashed him in my room.”

  Pitch put his face into the palm of his hand and shook his head. “We don't need a pet Kasa, especially not some amalgamated trash bandit. We don't even know where it came from or what kind of emotions spawned it. The thing looks like it would fight god for half of a moldy bagel.” Kasa frowned slightly. “Don't be so harsh. I happen to think he's kinda cute. Who's an adorable little dumpster gremlin?” The critter seemed to leap to attention at Kasa's words before waddling over to her with the pillow still in its mouth. Kasa patted the thing on the head and it made strange growling noises as it pushed its head into her hand a bit.

  Pitch pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine, you can keep it. But you have to take care of it. At the first sign of trouble it's gone. No more pets after this though, we have enough going on right now.” Kasa nodded enthusiastically. “I'll take good care of it.” Pitch sighed and left the room to go to his own. Once in he claimed into the bed with a groan. “What a long day this was. I'm so warm out I might just pass out. I went from only needing to sleep a few hours a month to needing to sleep every week or other week. I wonder if it's because my body adjusted to using holy water instead of people.”

  His eyes slowly shut as he lay face down in the bed, but he didn't want to doze off as Kathryn would be home soon and he was looking forward to spending the remainder of his night with her. Pitch suddenly feels a strange shifting sensation as if he fell forward causing him to shake his head and open his eyes only to find himself standing somewhere else. He was no longer in his room, or even his home, but standing on a metal grated floor somewhere dark. “Crap, I fell asleep didn't I.”

  Pitch looked around to try and get his bearings before walking around, he turned a corner to a door and walked out to see he was standing on the outer deck of an air rig. Other than the lights on the right it was completely black outside. No stars, no moon, just black. The only reason Pitch knew the ocean was even there was he could hear the waves smacking the rig and even feel them. He looked at the rig, trying to figure out where it was and why he was here in his dream when he saw there was an older man smoking a cigarette out there on the deck with him.

  The older man stared at Pitch with widened eyes as he held the lit cigarette. “Uhhh… hi?” His voice was deep and full of gravel. Pitch waved awkwardly. “Yo.” The old man shifted around. “You don't look like a member of the crew, or anyone I've met before. Who are you and why are you here.” Pitch shrugged. “I'm not sure why I'm here. I was laying on my bed trying not to fall asleep. I don't even live anywhere near the ocean or have any idea where this is.” The old men let out a soft chuckle. “Is that so? Well this rig is somewhere in… you know, I don't think it matters. I haven't been on this rig in years and yet I regularly dream about it.”

  Pitch nodded and looked back out into the black. “So where are you right now? I mean when you wake up, where will you be?” The man flicked his cigarette into the darkness. “I'm the captain of a research vessel, it's bobbing out somewhere near the Bermudas. Right in the center of where The Devil's Triangle used to be.” Pitch looked over at the old man with a cocked eyebrow. “You're with Black Eagle?” Thean lets out a short laugh. “Yeah, kinda. Why else do you think I'm just rolling with someone talking to me in my dream? I don't even question weird shit anymore.”

  Pitch chuckled a little bit. “Yeah, I suppose this would be strange for most people. I'm not a nightmare so I don't know how I managed to access someone's dream.” The man shrugged. “You know the funniest part? I don't even remember falling asleep. The last thing I remember was choppy waters and a sky as black as this one.” The man slowly faded into light that vanished. The oil rig creaked before the area blurred and Pitch found himself standing in an empty courtroom. Suddenly he was sitting in a chair but he quickly stood up and looked around. “The fuck is going on?”

  A judge wearing a strange mask and white powdered wig came up from behind the podium. “I'm not sure you're supposed to be here.” He looked over paperwork. “... This file is a mess, but I'm confident you're not due in here for a while.” Pitch had an extremely confused expression before the judge adjusted his mask. “Ah, I see. You've been here twice before as well. Well not in this exact “room” but the general area. Either way, go on, get out of here.” Pitch continued to look perplexed when everything rippled again and Pitch found himself staring face down at his bed.

  Pitch’s body felt off, he rolled over and looked at his hands only instead he lifted two tendrils as his arms had shifted to his true form while he was out. “That's never happened before.” He tried to reform the arms but was struggling to. Instead the skin of his mask started unraveling as his mask slowly disintegrated away. Pitch hovered above his bed in his true form when the room started melting away and the coffin-like bed was floating in a raging sea being knocked around. Pitch quickly realized he was still asleep and forced himself awake.

  Pitch took a big breath as he suddenly sat up in his room. His real room. Dazed and discombobulated he blinked several times and looked at his limbs while regaining his bearings. “The fuck was that all about?” Pitch felt a strange pull, there was something out there trying to call to him in a way like Abe once did. However, whatever it was was far far away and the call was faint. “I've got a bad feeling whatever it is trying to call out to me isn't good. It's not Phobos, but I doubt it's friendly.”