Captured by the Yandere Space Pirates

Syn lunged, his shoulder slamming into Ila's chest, tackling her to the ground, his weight pinning her for a moment, his fists pounding her ribs, each blow fueled by his torment.

Ila's muscles tensed, her body unyielding, and she bucked, throwing Syn off, her strength monstrous.

She rolled to her feet, her black hair wild, and kicked Syn's side, her boot connecting with a sickening thud, pain exploding through his ribs, his breath catching as he curled inward.

Mia attacked, her fists a blur, landing a rapid series of jabs to Ila's face—one to her cheek, another to her jaw, a third grazing her nose, blood trickling from Ila's nostril.

Ila snarled, her hand shooting out, grabbing Mia's throat, her fingers tightening, lifting Mia off the ground, Mia's pale eyes wide, her hands clawing at Ila's wrist, her legs kicking uselessly.

Syn staggered to his feet, his vision blurred, and grabbed a splintered piece of wood from the throne's armrest, its jagged edge glinting in the screen's crimson light.

With a desperate yell, he charged, driving the splinter into Ila's lower back, aiming for her spine.

The wood pierced her skin, blood welling, but Ila's muscular frame resisted, the splinter lodging shallowly.

She froze, her breath hitching, then turned, her teal eyes locking on Syn, a terrifying smile spreading across her face, her lips stained with blood.

"You think that can stop me?" she hissed, releasing Mia, who collapsed, gasping, and grabbing Syn's throat, her fingers crushing, cutting off his air.

Syn gasped, his vision darkening, his hands clawing at her wrist, his nails scraping her skin, blood beading under his fingers.

Mia recovered, her pale eyes blazing, and launched herself at Ila, her shoulder slamming into Ila's side, forcing her to release Syn.

Ila stumbled, her hand clutching the splintered wound, blood seeping through her fingers, her face contorted in pain.

Syn coughed, his throat raw, and tackled Ila, his arms wrapping around her waist, driving her to the ground, his knees pinning her thighs.

He punched her face, his knuckles splitting her lip, blood spraying, but Ila twisted, her legs hooking around his, flipping him onto his back with a thud, her weight pinning him, her fist slamming into his nose, the cartilage crunching, blood flooding his mouth.

Mia dove in, her foot crashing into Ila's ribs, the impact forcing a groan from Ila's lips, her body curling inward.

Ila rolled off Syn, her movements fluid despite the pain, and sprang to her feet, her teal eyes burning with demonic resolve.

She grabbed Mia's arm, yanking her forward, her knee rocketing into Mia's stomach, doubling her over, Mia's gasp sharp and pained.

Syn scrambled up, his face bloodied, and swung the splintered wood like a club, aiming for Ila's head.

Ila ducked, the wood grazing her shoulder, tearing her tank top, and countered with a spinning kick, her heel catching Syn's temple, sending him sprawling, stars bursting in his vision, the room spinning.

Mia recovered, her breath ragged, and tackled Ila from behind, her arms locking around Ila's neck in a chokehold, her legs wrapping around Ila's waist, squeezing tight.

Ila clawed at Mia's arms, her nails drawing blood, her body thrashing, but Mia held on, her pale eyes fierce, her teeth gritted.

Syn staggered to his feet, his head pounding, and grabbed Ila's legs, yanking them out from under her, sending her crashing to the floor, Mia still clinging to her back.

Ila roared, her strength unrelenting, and twisted, slamming Mia into the ground, breaking the chokehold, her elbow crashing into Mia's chest, knocking the wind from her, Mia's eyes wide with pain.

Ila loomed over Mia, her fist raised for a devastating blow, her teal eyes gleaming with sadistic intent, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

Syn's heart raced, his eyes catching the splintered wood on the floor, blood and gunpowder staining its jagged edge.

With a guttural yell, he lunged, driving the splinter into Ila's lower back again, deeper this time, blood gushing, the wet sound sickening.

Ila groaned, her body arching, her fist pausing mid-air, pain flashing across her face.

She turned, her teal eyes locking on Syn, her smile terrifying, her hand shooting out, grabbing his throat, her fingers crushing, lifting him off the ground, his feet dangling, his vision darkening.

Mia sprang up, her white hair wild, her pale eyes blazing, and kicked Ila's wound, driving the splinter deeper, blood pouring, Ila's groan raw and guttural.

Ila's grip loosened, her body stumbling forward, her teal eyes wide with shock.

Syn dropped, gasping, and drove his knee into Ila's face, the impact shattering her nose, blood spraying, her head snapping back, her smile gone, replaced by a snarl of pain and rage.

Ila staggered, her hand clutching her face, blood streaming between her fingers, her body swaying but still fighting, her strength demonic.

Syn and Mia attacked together, their movements desperate, synchronized.

Mia landed a series of rapid punches to Ila's ribs, each blow eliciting a grunt, her shapeshifter strength pushing through her pain, blood dripping from her split lip.

Syn tackled Ila, his shoulder slamming into her chest, driving her to the ground, his weight pinning her, his fists pounding her face—one to her cheek, splitting the skin, another to her jaw, her head snapping to the side, blood pooling beneath her.

Ila fought back, her legs kicking, her hands clawing at Syn's face, her nails raking his cheek, drawing blood, her strength unrelenting even as her wounds bled freely.

Mia grabbed Ila's arm, twisting it behind her back, her knee pressing into Ila's spine, forcing a scream from Ila's lips, her teal eyes burning with defiance.

Syn seized the splintered wood, yanking it from Ila's back, blood gushing, and drove it into her again, and again, his hands trembling, his eyes streaming with tears, his heart torn between rage and sorrow.

Ila's body weakened, her breaths ragged, her teal eyes dimming as blood pooled beneath her, a crimson lake spreading across the obsidian floor, reflecting the holo-screen's flickering glow.

He stabbed once more, the wood sinking deep, his hands shaking, his voice breaking with a sob.

"Why did you have to be like this?" he whispered, his tears falling onto her bloodied tank top, memories flashing—her laughter in the glade, her teasing smiles, the girl he'd loved before she became this monster.

Ila's lips parted, a faint, bloody smile flickering, her hand reaching for his face, her fingers trembling, but it fell limp, her body still, her breath gone, her teal eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, their light extinguished.

Syn collapsed beside her, his hands bloodied, his body shaking, his sobs echoing in the chamber, raw and guttural, his heart shattered by the weight of what he'd done, what she'd forced him to become.

Mia stood back, her white hair disheveled, her pale eyes fixed on Syn, her heart aching for his pain, her own body bruised and bleeding.

She knew she should stop him, pull him away, but she didn't, letting him unleash his anger, his sadness, his grief for the love that had twisted into this nightmare, for the shapeshifter who'd died in his place, for the freedom he'd nearly lost forever.