Over a century ago, humans have waged war upon the demons. The sun was blocked out by a blanket of black smoke from fires while the battlefield ran red with blood. Human ambition and greed had initiated the war. Their burning desire to rule the world themselves. The first battle broke out in Central Asia but the battlefield soon expanded into Europe, then to Africa and until it stretched from one pole to another. Humans had used swords, bows, siege weapons but these were all inferior to the demon’s strength and spells. This was the peak of the infamous Human-devil War.

However, humans have their ingenuity. The humans began their first experiments to infuse ‘Demon Energy’, the energy that allowed demons to maintain the their edge in war, into humans. Wanting to turn the demon’s power against them. Eight years later, the first generation of demon hunters emerged which began the downfall of demons. These ruthless opponents went on to eradicate army after army, camp after camp of demon forces.

The territory of the demons was shriveling, fading away like their chances at victory. Eventually it all came down to a final resort. The last stand of the demons was held at Fort Bertrutspez, the former house of the vampire lord. Constant besieges by siege weaponry weakened the fort’s defenses until the demons were forced to raise the white flag. The thirteen-year war had concluded with demons suffering a humiliating defeat. Hence, the number thirteen was considered unlucky ever since.

The aftermath of the war was severe. Demon colonies were subsequently pillaged and their inhabitants purged in the masses. Children were often kindnapped and trafficked as slaves to the rich. The remaining of the demons lived in shattered communities across continents, living off what meager resources they could forage. A stark contrast with humans. Humans lived in prosperity and indulge in wealth, they divided the territories into what was now the modern countries, ruling under royalty or monarchs.

Over a century later, demons have integrated themselves into human society, disguising themselves amongst them. Some just want to survive while others held feelings of hatred, wanting to exert revenge. However, those suspected of being a demon were sent to the notorious ‘Demon Cage’. No one ever leaves there alive. Demon hunters soon took the role of bounty hunters or anti-demon enforcement. Experiments of infusing Demon Energy continued in order to ‘enhance’ humans. The only people who have access to this power were the royal family, their imperial guards and the demon hunters.

Reality is often cruel, many of those with the powers became delusional and corrupt, abusing it whenever they want. It wouldn’t be long before countries start turning against one another. The were walking on thin ice over an abyss of blood.

A world with both species was destined to end in blood.

Everyday, I wake up to the same scene in front of me, a cold, sterile room painted full white with a tiled floor. I listened to the same clicks and beeps of the machine that trapped me, a cylindrical chamber with glass walls. Dozens of wires, tubes and other knickknacks came off of various parts of the chamber.

Half past ten read the digital clock fixed on the wall. Around this time, some human scientists would have shown up to subject me to their god-knows-what experiments. Maybe I wouldn’t be in this predicament if only I wasn’t so foolish five years back.

I wanted to explore more of the forest that my clan of seven had lived in. I wanted to know about the outside world. But alas, who knew the ‘majestic’ outside world was so cruel. I was abducted the moment I left the safety of the canopy of trees. Drugged, blindfolded and tossed in the back of a van. The next thing I knew, I was in some hellish mechanism.

I wondered how many more experiments my fragile body could handle. One day they would only take blood samples, but the next they would strap me to a cold slab resembling an operating table accompanied by a tray of wicked-looking tools.

I was a fox spirit, a demon as they liked to classify us. Born on the thirteenth of June fifteen years ago. I had long white hair and crimson red eyes coupled by a pair of large white fox ears and a fluffy white tail wagging behind me. Otherwise I looked like a normal human. Be it luck or fate, I was born an albino. Which was the only reason I was still alive, humans liked to study never seen before phenomenons.

I was trapped in this facility ever since. I had longed see the forest again, longed to see the faces of my two twin sisters. I still remember the cheery smiles they had on their faces, we’ve been together since the day we were born as triplets. I remember Kera and Krystal were their names which are among the few things I can vaguely recall. I wanted to see them again. The wait was long but one day, the opportunity to escape revealed itself.

On that fateful day, an apparent riot had broken out in the cells of Block C. At that time, I was in the operating room in Block E. The scientist accompanying was with me mumbled something into his radio over his chest and frantically rushed out of the room with his personal Beretta 92 pistol drawn.

When he turned the corner, I noticed the heavy vault door was left unlocked, my chance to go back into the forest which I yearned so dearly has arrived! I quickly hobbled out the room, my fresh wounds were certainly taking a toll on me. Hopping in and out of the shadows along the corridors I made it to a honeycomb of prison cells.

When I first arrived, I had already started to draw a mental map of this place, every nook or cranny could have been an opportunity to escape. So I knew it was a couple more lefts and rights before I made it out to the perimeter fence.

As I was moving quickly along the corridor of countless cells filled with vampires, were-beasts and even animal spirits, I came across one that held a little boy about the same age as me. Maybe he was three years younger than me, give or take a few years due to his ragged appearance.

I stopped by to inspect the cell. What the hell was I doing? Im just wasting time! The boy’s behavior gave off the vibes of timidness and fear. He was huddled in the very corner of the cell with his head buried in his arms.

I inspected his appearance thoroughly and was left stunned. No physical traits of any demon, even his scent was distinctively human. He was not a demon. He was just a human boy**.** Then what in the world was he doing here?