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It was the next day when something major happened.
Adam still slept that night. Even if he was an alternate, he had slept every night all his life, and his body was not about to let him stop anytime soon. He had learned that Alternates didn’t necessarily need to sleep, but they did need to rest to recover energy. As such, they would sometimes go into a ‘dormant state’ where they just at and stared off into space. They wouldn’t so much as blink until they were done.
When Adam woke up, he was not alone. Others were gathered around him watching him either out of curiosity or concern. One Alternate had even curled up next to him, inhumanly long arms wrapped around him. Adam found that he didn’t mind at all.
He wasn’t really sure what to do besides wander around or watch the television. He’d asked an Alternate if there was something he was supposed to do, but the response he got was ‘wait for Lord Gabriel to give you a task’.
So Adam waited. He wandered. And in doing so, he found someone.
“Did you help my cat?”
Adam froze at the familiar voice. He looked over to see an Alternate sitting by herself on an old couch. She looked mostly human, but the glow in her eyes and the size of her smile gave her away. She stood up and slowly walked over, but Adam didn’t move from his spot.
“My little cat Johnny,” the Alternate continued. “Did you help him?”
“It was you?” Adam asked. “You were the one who called us?”
“Lord Gabriel’s orders,” the Alternate shrugged. “It’s fun to mess with the beasties, so I happily made that call. Who knew you could lure a beastie to their death with the promise of cash?”
“Shut up!” Adam snapped. “You don’t know how things work for humans.”
“And you do?” the Alternate tilted her head. “I know about you. The Alternate who was raised as a beastie. You’re... tainted. You’re not truly one of us... and I don’t trust you.”
“Funny you should mention trust,” Adam said. “Considering how you were the one who tricked us into going to that damn house. You tricked us and Jonah died because of it.”
Adam didn’t often get angry, but he was getting angry now. While he didn’t really show it, he did care about Jonah at least a little. Maybe not as much as Sarah had, but... he’d enjoyed spending time with the other. He’d enjoyed their adventures. Buried deep in his heart, he was mourning Jonah.
But what made him angrier was what this Alternate was saying about him.
“Oh no,” The Alternate’s tone practically dripped with sarcasm. “The little beastie died? Oh no!” She giggled. “Of course he died. Who do you think killed him? I was tasked with watching over you two, and when he fled like the little coward he was... well, I couldn’t let him get away. I trailed him. I tried to infect him, but he was stubborn. So when he stopped to vomit on the side of the road...”
Her smile grew and her eyes glimmered.
Adam felt his eye twitch. Then his fingers twitched. His anger had reached a dangerous level.
“Oh, it was so much fun!” Said the Alternate. “I played with him a little before I finally granted mercy and sent him to paradise. His neck snapped so easily in my hands. Those beasties are so fragile. But hey, I’m sure he’s in a better place now. Isn’t that what matters-”
Adam lunged.
In that moment, his anger boiled over and he snapped. All he wanted to do was hurt this Alternate. And while Alternates were very durable and he’d yet to see anyone kill them, he was determined to make this one hurt.
Maybe it was because he wasn’t fully human, but he was actually causing some damage. He could hear the Alternate screaming, he could feel her struggle and attack him back, but he didn’t stop. He clawed at her, he bit, he punched, he kicked, he wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed as hard as he could.
And then he heard new shouting. Multiple people were shouting, and then hands were suddenly grabbing him and trying to pull him away. Adam landed a few more good hits before the others were able to pull him away.
Adam panted harshly and actually growled at the others. The other Alternates stepped back from him and looked at his victim. They all looked... nervous. Some were even scared.
“Lord Gabriel will be most displeased...” he heard one of them whimper.
“What is going on here?!”
Speak of the devil...
A bright light filled the room, and the Alternates shielded their eyes. When it faded, Gabriel was standing in the room and looking over the scene with an uncharacteristic frown. Most of the Alternates shrunk back from him. Others sank to their knees.
“What happened?” Gabriel asked a nearby Alternate.
“I beg your pardon, My Lord,” the Alternate squeaked out. “I did not see. But it appears that Adam and Delilah were fighting.”
“I heard them,” said another Alternate. “She upset Adam.”
Gabriel turned his attention towards Delilah, who was standing up now. Blood poured down her face and one of her arms hung at the wrong angle. Gabriel’s frown deepened as he approached her.
“Delilah,” he said. “Is this true? Did you provoke Adam?”
Delilah wiped her face and hissed.
“It’s not my fault he’s still attached to the beasties,” she said. “He’s one of us, isn’t he? He shouldn’t care about them! He’s a traitor! He’s going to sell us out to the beasties!”
“Delilah!” Gabriel snapped. “You know I do not tolerate anyone sewing discord among their siblings. Now apologize to your brother and ask him for forgiveness.”
The others waited with bated breath to see what would happen. Lord Gabriel had given Delilah an order... but she stayed silent. After a few moments, Gabriel grabbed a handful of Delilah’s hair and harshly pulled it.
“Apologize!” He shouted, causing the others to flinch.
Delilah glared at Adam with her inhuman eyes. Her smile once more reappeared, and she slowly shook her head. Some of the others gasped. Delilah was disobeying Lord Gabriel?
Gabriel’s face darkened with rage, but then he paused and glanced over at Adam. His face then lit up with a smile, and he pat Delilah’s head.
“I see,” he said. “Well, obviously something must be troubling you. Why don’t we... go and have a little chat about this? Come with me.”
He took Delilah by the elbow and led her away. She looked back to give Adam one last glare before they turned a corner and left his line of sight.
When Gabriel later returned, he was alone. Adam asked him about Delilah.
“I... had her transferred to another base,” Gabriel smiled. “You do not need to worry about her anymore. Now then... I understand that you are still adjusting, and that you are having difficulties. As such, I will let you off with a warning. But heed these words, Adam... I do not tolerate fighting in this family. If you hurt someone again... I will be most disappointed in you. And you don’t want to disappoint me, do you?”
His tone was as gentle as ever... but Adam couldn’t help but hear something dark lingering just beneath it.