Ellis sat in a barn. It was a small barn, isolated deep in the woods. It was abandoned but still sturdy, well sturdy enough to keep the sun out. About thirty newborns occupied the space around him, ranging from ages fifteen to twenty. They sat huddled in small groups, trying to pass the time. Dead skin seemed to glow in the gloom, joints twisting with out a sound. Hauntingly beautiful.

Ellis watched them, eyes scanning their figures. Pale cold skin, blazing red eyes and an unyielding beauty too icy to be human. Ellis could see himself in them. They all shared the same monster. A thing that chewed on their minds with hunger. It would take their identities if they let it, leaving them nothing but instincts. A few had already succumbed to the beast. They sat in the corners, twitching slightly with the need to feed.

"Ellis". Riley appeared behind his shoulder, not surprising him as Ellis had heard him coming. "Victoria wants you". Riley's youthful face and blond hair hid the robot underneath. Ellis had seen it, they way the boy did anything for Victoria.

Without a word, Ellis rose gracefully and shadowed the blond boy outside. Riley was only about a few years older than him when he was turned, Ellis having been only fifteen. He personally found it a ridiculous type of punishment to have to spend the rest of eternity as a teenager. It was trapping someone with overflowing hormones in their body forever. A twisted cruel fate.

Riley guided Ellis out of the barn and into the dark green woods. The trees seemed to stalk them, hanging over the two figures as they moved. The rustling of the leaves a made Ellis uneasy. It felt like the trees were whispering to each other about him, judging his choices. He almost wished that he could stop to knock one down but Riley would catch him.

The twilight sent a somber sheen across the landscape. Ellis' undead eyes picking out easily any branch and leaf in his path. A giddy breeze tickled his neck and twirled in his unruly mess of curls. Overall, the landscape would be peaceful if it wasn't for the two creatures venturing silently between the trees.

Victoria was crouched on the edge of a lush green clearing. Only having the diameter of about ten meters, the clearing was small. It was the perfect size for a fighting ring. Her muscles were coiled and her eyes fixed on a shape in the centre of the clearing.

A girl stood in the moonlight. Her nut brown skin shone along with her long black plait. She was only about seventeen, not much older than a child but the blazing red in her eyes told otherwise. Ellis halted at the tree line warily.

"Ellis, come!" Victoria's voice was commanding and Riley pushed him forward until he and the girl stood about two feet apart. Ellis felt himself shudder as Victoria sauntered towards them and ran her fingers down both their cheeks. Her red hair flickered like flames and Ellis caught the glimmer of lust in the girls' eyes.

"Now my lovelies ", Victoria crooned. "You will fight to the death. The winner will have a prize of their choosing".

The girl curled her lips in a feral grin, baring her teeth as she snarled. Ellis gripped his body into a fighting stance, arms raised in an effort to protect his head. Victoria giggled, dancing around them and out of the clearing where Riley waited. Her voice rung like a bell, quivering with excitement. "Begin!"

The girl waisted no time and charged, nails out to scratch. Ellis recoiled, bending backwards to avoid her arms and rolling under her feet. Twisting around to grab him, the girl lunged at his feet only for Ellis to flip over her head. There came a growl of frustration as the girl once again lunged towards him. He dodged to the right in an effort to stay out of her line of sight. The girl turned only for her eyes to not see him. Flailing, she screeched. "Where are you?"

Using this moment to his advantage, Ellis slithered under her arms and caught her in a head lock. She struggled but found no means to escape. Bending his head down, Ellis whispered softly in her ear so Victoria would not hear. "What is your name?"

The girl scrabbled feebly at his arms in one last desperate attempt. "Jade", she wheezed. Ellis hung his head low, letting his hair cover his face. "Jade, I'm sorry". Her neck tore with a sickening crack and her body dropped to the floor.

Ellis raised his head to look at Victoria, Jade's head hanging from his hand. The redhead ventured right up to him. She trailed one finger across his neck and collar in a seductive manner. Ellis caught Riley's jealous gaze and fought the urge to shudder.

"Invisibility", Victoria tasted the word in success. "You are able to completely mask your body and smell, making you virtually undetectable". She cackled in triumph. "Yes! You will make a very good solider indeed my knight".

She raised her arms to wrap them around his neck. Ellis let the head drop to the floor as Victoria pressed her lips against his in a passionate kiss. Ellis let her stick her tongue in his mouth despite his rising urge to vomit. She rubbed her body up against his, clamping their hips together.

"Well", she breathed once she had pulled away. "What do you want as a prize?"

Ellis let a small smile grace his lips. "I want my own space to do what I please until you need me".

Victoria pouted in mock disappointment but she was glad that he had not chosen to leave. "Very well," she purred. "Come with me". She turned and glided back into the forest.

For a brief moment Ellis just stood there, lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly, he reached down and yanked a canine out of Jade's severed head, concealing it in his palm before following Victoria. Leaving the mess to Riley.