Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall
Introduction

Fear. Pure fear, the sort of fear that makes your skin itch. When you can feel every hair on your bodyrise. When you feel like your skin is crawling. Fear that makes your body freeze, paralysing you onthe spot, that's the sort of fear I felt when I heard her blood-curdling scream. The only thing was Iwas her big sister, so I couldn't run away. I had no choice but to move, to go to her. I forced my legsup 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 hallwayrug, making me skid along the floor and into the wall. My head and shoulder twist at an awkwardangle 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 onimpact.

"Arial Arial” Her petrified scream echoed through the house. Jumping to my feet, my head spun. Iturned the corner into the kitchen to see the Alpha dragging my sister by her hair into thebasement with a whip in his other hand. I start running to her, grabbing the basement door framejust in time for him to slam the door shut on my fingers. My own scream escapes my lips in agony. Ireach for the door handle, only to replace it's been locked. I start trying to yank my hand free. I couldhear 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 fingersand get in. Not being able to get a run-up, I threw my body with all my might towards the sidewhere my fingers were stuck, the door moving just enough for me to free my injured bloodymangled 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 ofmy lungs. I stood up, backing up again and running harder. I dropped my shoulder hitting the doorwith so much force it burst open, my feet hitting air as my body was thrown down the stairs landingat a weird angle. My head smashing into the basement's concrete floor.

"Aria"