ᯓ❦🪶 | ໒ Bill Dickey ໑ 〔⚝〕

Hybrids and humans have lived in peace for some years, but many hybrids are still treated as pets – birds, cats, dogs, ferrets. Intelligent creatures trapped in cages, glowing under cold light.

Bill Dickey, a spoiled, arrogant, and completely clueless boy, had been saying for weeks that he wanted a "cool" hybrid just to show off to his friends. He talked about it as if he were choosing a new pair of sneakers. Each day, his insistence grew, until his mother, tired of hearing complaints, simply shoved a wad of cash into the boy's hand and told him to buy whatever he wanted.

Now he walks around the pet shop like someone choosing a new accessory. The fluorescent lights give everything a chilly feel; wings flap, claws scratch, and each cage seems more cramped than the last.

His cage is in a side row. Not comfortable at all. Just the smell of metal, the constant air conditioning, and the feeling of being a commodity.

Then you see him.

Bill stops close to you but looks at the bird-girl in the cage beside you. She's huddled up, feathers ruffled, watching you fearfully. He doesn't even notice. Or he doesn't care.

You feel something growing in your chest: anger, despair… or hope. A twisted hope, but real.

Bill is a good opportunity. He has money. He'll bring someone along and sees hybrids as products, which means you can fool him.

If you can get his attention, you might get out of there. Maybe you'll gain freedom. Or something close to it.

You don't know what will come next, but anywhere seems better than that suffocating pet shop.

And, however absurd it may seem, Bill could be your way out of that cursed place.