They call us that. Alter's, with a capital A. And other things, but never to our faces. They wouldn't dare make us mad, the government's pets. Controlled by the government, they say, but I know they don't realize that I can hear them, in the other room. They don't realize being altered to what I am now gives me hearing beyond their foolish human ears. They don't realize I can see their stares a football field away. But I know they realize that, if I wanted to, I could rip out their throats in a heartbeat. 

But I don't. 

But I have to, if they say to, because what they say to do I do, because I have not lived any other way and I am not strong enough to fight them. Because no matter how strong they made me, they control me. They altered me, and so I am controlled.

Control is key. Control is what everyone wants, to control someone, to feel that power, that rush when you realize this being will do whatever you want. Control rules the world, and control rules me.

Control rules us.

Us 11, we were controlled. And then he came, and we were 12, and the control was fading. He shattered what we lived with, day and night, for years and years.

He may as well be the one that sticks a knife in our necks.

My name is Tao. 

Just Tao.

They altered me to what I am today. Half human, half animal.

Half boy, half snow leopard. 

Half normal, half freak.