Bellatrix Sinclair

In the year 2200, werewolves dominated the world, and humanity was under their control.

We lived in a hierarchical society; humans were split into different districts that were governed by different werewolf packs and each Alpha reported directly to the top of the werewolf power structure – the Werewolf King.

From my perspective, these beasts couldn’t function without order and a leader. Although I found no sympathy if they tore each other apart, I would openly cheer for their downfall. Humans have delt with decades upon decades of oppression that we have lost all hope – now we follow the rules, we breathe but this isn’t living.

Searching through my backpack for my textbooks for today’s lesson, my fingers meeting a sticky substance that instantly had my stomach dropping. Peeling the textbooks apart, a putrid smell emitting from the tar-like substance. They were completely ruined, and I didn’t have the money for a repurchase.

The core five perpetrators laughed; they were getting crafty in their torment. Everyone reared in my direction, laughter resounding from the wolves as they relished in my humiliation. Crumbled balls of paper fly at my head as Kylie approaches, her pink glossed lips curled into a devious smirk. “I see you made quite a mess.”

My brows knotted, biting my tongue in frustration as Serena yanked my ponytail, sending shots of fire to my scalp from the tight grip. Serena chuckles, “Aw, such a shame. Plus, this class requires that textbook and if you don’t have it, then it’s an automatic fail and you will be kicked out.”

I fucking knew that. My nostrils flared as Kylie lifted her flask, pouring scalding hot coffee over my head. Searing my scalp and patches of my skin, staining my uniform an ugly brown colour. My throat tightened as everyone partook in my demise, taking the invitation to throw drinks and food at me, to the point that I reeked.

Benedict threw his arm over Kylie, grabbing her textbook and knocking it repeatedly at my head. “Humans are disgusting creatures aren’t they,” he mused, “so weak, so helpless and so breakable.”

I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t scream, I couldn’t fight back without breaking the rules and warranting my own demise.

Because in Nexus Academy; I was the only human, and I had to obey. Keep my head down and suffer their wrath. The only reason I was accepted into the Academy is specifically for my talent regarding weaponry, a remarkable skill for design that surpassed even their own kind.

Which led me to my current predicament, constantly being harassed and bullied. My heart pounded viciously, eager for vengeance that tasted like sour candy. My uniform sticks to my skin, some patches drying with a layer of film, digging my nails into my palms to restrain myself.

I was no match for wolves, well…not without a weapon.

Mrs Winona enters, everyone falls silent. She was the literary professor and to my knowledge – all the guys wanted to fuck her and the girls despised her.

Surrounded by werewolves made me discover that they were jealous creatures. Another reason why they continuously harassed me is because I am better than them when it came to weaponry. A lethal combination of jealousy and hatred that they purged upon me.

“What is this absurdity?” She questioned, lifting a critical brow at me. “I’m aware that you love attention Bellatrix, but surely this is crossing the line.”

Grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw in tandem. This wasn’t my fucking fault, and she knew it, but she fucking loved the attention the boys gave her when she agreed with them.

“Please leave my class, you are disturbing the other students who actually want to learn with your foolery. If you wanted to be a clown, then you shouldn’t be here.” She sneers, her face scrunching in disgust.

Fucking bitch. Gathering my ruined belongings, icing out the mockery and quickly making my way out.

I hated them. They were an abomination on this earth.

Changing into the extra uniform I brought in cases of emergencies; the last class was in the weapons manufacturing department. Any weaponry that I create is stored in the backroom since I was human and wasn’t allowed the privileges of the wolves.

While I have access to guns, I was human and still had to obey the law. If I needed to work extra time on a project, it could only be done within the department the watchful eye of a supervisor.

The main reason why I tolerated the abuse, why I squashed my suffering and persisted in specializing in the creation of weapons was because of my father. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances when I was eight, shortly after my mother died from a rare illness.

With both parents’ dead, the only family I had left was my twin sister Bonnie. Although mother always thought of her as my little sister, in the last few days before her passing she made me promise to look after Bonnie. Only then was she able to leave this world with a semblance of peace.

We were sent to a human orphanage after her death, which wasn’t pleasant or kind to us. Most of the children were swallowed by despair, the way most humans are by the reality that our lives were owned by the werewolves.

I blame these abominations for my father’s death, and I couldn’t sit back and watch them dominate any longer. I couldn’t watch them rule the world for another fifty years without consequences.

That’s when I started studying, delving into the mastery of weapons so that I could develop one that could destroy wolves. This class placed a spotlight upon me, I outsmarted them in every regard here.

“Bellatrix, please demonstrate the weapon you have created.” Professor Dante instructed, motioning to the podium.

“Yes, sir.” I respond with a curt nod, grabbing the duffle bag and descending the stairs towards the podium.

Immediately I’m smacked by glares of glowing irises spewing with hatred. Professor Dante took his stance at the far left. The atmosphere suffocated by hostility as I unzipped the bag, curling my fingers along the cool metal handle of an ordinary looking gun.

Sliding the top backwards until a soft click resounded, lifting the gun in one hand and aiming at the checkered pattern circle situated in the middle of a metal wall. Pushing my finger upon the trigger until the kickback pierces my shoulder with a slight sting.

Laughter echoes since the bullet didn’t hit the target.

But I was an excellent shooter.

A small explosion erupted against the wall; the target completely blown into pieces while the metal wall was stained black. Professor Dante gaps at my side, stricken in awe as he asks, “What was that?”

“Silver mixed with gunpowder, charged with a little electricity.” I simplify, lying through my teeth and keeping my heartbeat steady. That wasn’t even the core components, I fed them what they wanted.

The royal five were grinning.

The gun in my hand flickered with a brush of heat, grinding my teeth as it intensified to the point that it burned my skin. It was searing through my palm, viciously stinging to the point that my body reacted, shaking uncontrollably.

They tampered with my gun, and I didn’t know how.

I didn’t even hear Professor Dante dismiss the class, all I focused on was the five wolves approaching, beaming with satisfaction.

Archibald is the first to reach me, kicking the back of my knee until I collapse. Kylie laughs, a high-pitch sound that grated on my nerves. “Look at you now, so pathetic.”

Benedict cocks his head, silently ordering Archibald. He steps behind me, twisting my arm holding the pistol backwards until I felt a sharp pain shoot to my shoulder, making me drop it. Suddenly, he drives his boot into my back.

A wave of nausea cultivated in my throat, bile touching my tongue. My back throbbed from the pain, I almost felt like he broke my spine. Through blurry vision, Serena swiftly shifts to my right and snatches a chunk of my hair, pulling until I feel each prickle in my scalp. “You think you are something here, newsflash little human bitch. Just because you play with guns, doesn’t make you anything special.” She snarled.

Benedict approaches and Serena yanks until I have no choice but to look up at him, his dominance and malice exuding from his pores. My stomach twists in fear as those vicious obsidian orbs bore into mine, “You know the rules human, what is it?” he grips my jaw, “Repeat it.”

“Humans aren’t allowed weapons.” I recite with a shaky voice.

“That’s right.” He says, pushing me backwards until I fall on my elbows. “Now give it here.” Stretching his hand out for my weapon.

My hands tremble as I attempt to grab the pistol, Archibald’s boot crushes my hand before I could reach it. “Ah.” I cry.

He laughs, “Know your place here human. Everything you own is ours, even your life.”

Biting my lip to suppress the pain shooting up my arm, Kylie takes the pistol and gives it to Benedict. “Is this your only one?” he questions, lifting a brow.

Archibald twists his boot, agonisingly getting the answer out of me. “Yes.”

He retracts and I’m not even prepared for the iciness of the fresh black paint being poured over me. The chemicals tickle my nostrils, the paint thick and blinding. Humiliation bubbles in my chest, stinging my eyes from the tears that want to fall. Cradling my injured hand, unable to breathe properly from the way my body quakes.

They laugh and I feel that familiar ball of fire flaring in my chest.

“Black really is your colour.” Serena giggles in parting.

“We should have gone with red, give her a Carrie moment.” Kylie suggested.

“Wasn’t that pig’s blood?” Archibald queried.

Kylie waves a dismissive hand, “Next time.”

Because there will be a fucking next time.

Another exhausting day has finally come to an end. Plopping onto the small single bed, I managed to scrub majority of the paint from my hair, although there was no saving my uniform. I still had reminiscent of black splotches along my chest and collarbone, strips along my arm.

Black Out Days by Phantogram starts playing from my phone, a smile creeps upon my face when I see Emmett's name pop up. Swiping to answer with a big smile, “Hey Em.”

“Happy Birthday Bella.” His voice cheery as he sings.

The fragment of happiness he brought was devoured by rage, “I hate my birthday, Emmett.” I retort bitterly, “It’s just another reminder that I’m one step closer to being added to the werewolf mate registry.”

Once human females turn eighteen, they must undergo a genetic screening so that werewolves can identify which of them are destined to be their mates. It was debasing, it was disgusting, it was another reason why I despised them.

“Bella” his voice softens, “It’s not that bad and some werewolves aren’t what you think. Some are kind, not all of them hurt their mates.”

I scoff, “Emmett, you’re a man and maybe that’s why you think that way, but they are cruel. If they have a human mate, no doubt they would abuse them.” I continue, my voice acidic, “Humans are nothing in this world, we don’t matter.”

Emmett is a human; he should be able to understand my grievances especially my hatred. How is he still able to see the good in them, although he was a person who tried to see the best in people. But they weren’t people, they were monsters.

“I’ve experienced it Bella, I know there is kindness in them.” Emmett argues, sombrely.

I chuckle, darkly. “This screening just shows what they are, they lead us to slaughter. How can you sympathize with our enemies?”

“I’m just trying to make you see the best in people, you are going through life with such hatred, and I don’t want that for you.” His voice filled with concern.

“They are not people.” I protested angrily. “They are monsters, and in a few years, we are going to die because of them.”

“Bella.” He snaps before his tone gradually filled with sadness. “You know I’m just trying to help-“

“Well, you aren’t.” I exploded, “I can’t talk to you when you are like this.”

Without waiting for his response, I hang up. Tightening my grip on my phone, the only thing I look forward to is his calls, the only one who gives me peace in this fucked up world. He give me hope of what my life could have been if the wolves never took over.

I could have had the choice to be with him, my only friend and yet he doesn’t understand the magnitude of my disdain, he doesn’t know the torture I have to endure in this Academy. He has no idea that I’m being bullied daily and apart of me wants to keep him separate from it.

Because he was my solace in this hell.

Emmett holds a special place in my heart that even meeting him would threaten the balance of my life, I was too anxious and nervous to face the person I have loved for so long because….what if he was disappointed with me.

Another call comes in and I’m tempted to decline because speaking more with Emmett, I might end my only friendship or give into my heart’s desires of meeting him in person. Except it isn’t Emmett, it’s Nathan Torress from the Weapon X Manufacturing company.

“Nathan-“

“Where are you?” his boisterous voice questions, “you have five minutes to get here otherwise you won’t be paid.”

Fuck, I forgot.

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Winter certainly wasn’t kind, and I was shivering on my way to the company.

Escaping their tyranny was never an option. Technology has advanced to the point that humans are registered since birth in their system, they would know who has left.

I couldn’t avoid the genetic screening either because the consequences weren’t death, it was solitude and torture for months or years. Educational resources are controlled by the wolves, and I’m determined to learn everything to improve myself.

Education was my only avenue now, because if I become a weapons expert, then I can seek out the rumoured resistance fighters, whether it be fake or not. I needed to join the human rebellion, that is the only thing keeping me going.

For that one chance to give humanity an uprising.