Chapitre 113: 33. Sweet Escape.
After Mimi fell asleep, Damon, and Adam silently began their work. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows on the walls. Damon had entrusted Adam with the power, and they patiently waited for Mimi to fall into a deep, painless slumber. Damon concentrated, his telepathic abilities stronger and more efficient than before, ensuring Mimi's tranquility.
The air was heavy with anticipation as they prepared to remove their implants, fueled by Mimi's raging emotions. Damon went first, lying on the bed, his muscles tense with determination. With a swift motion, Adam thrust his hand into Damon's belly, his claws cutting through flesh to extract the implant. Damon grunted in pain, but felt the healing process kick in immediately. He stood up, ready to assist Adam. In a synchronized act, he helped Adam, too, as he removed his implant, their determination overpowering any discomfort.
They swiftly cleaned up, concealing their rage, as if nothing extraordinary had occurred. The absence of the implants made them feel invigorated, and more powerful. They patiently waited for thirty minutes until the nurses arrived with food. Suddenly, they pounced, their bodies fueled by Mimi's rage, unleashing destruction and mutilation upon everyone in their path.
The sound of bones breaking and screams filled the air, echoing the intensity of their emotions. Damon caught a glimpse of the shuttles. He identified them as shed session devices, assuming they had been used to torture Mimi. They did not take any information; they were just destroying everything in their path. With a relentless fury, they tore apart all the experimental specimens Mimi had mentioned, their bare hands ripping through flesh and bone. The scientists met a gruesome fate, leaving no one alive.
However, the carriage posed a risk that they couldn't ignore. They knew their best chance of escape was to descend the mountainside, avoiding the vulnerable wire carriage that led to the castle. The unknown dangers on the other side of that wire were too great to face head-on.
Determinedly, they entered the room where Mimi slept. Damon found supplies, including needles, syringes, and a cocktail of drugs. He carefully injected Mimi, mindful of her weakened state. The room was suffused with the scent of antiseptic, mingling with the faint odor of fear. Damon's hands trembled slightly as he administered the drugs, aware of the delicate balance between healing and harm. He had made enough dental substances, and he used mainly them. She was way too weak for most of these drugs.
Adam meticulously assembled the bombs in a dimly lit room, the sharp metallic scent of explosives filling the air. Meanwhile, Damon tenderly cared for Mimi, her frail body barely weighing anything as he bundled her in warm clothes. The bitter winter chill seeped through the cracks, making their desperate need for food and medical supplies even more pressing.
Determined, Damon stocked up on medicines and necessities while Adam strategically planted the bombs in the castle. They hoped that the ensuing blaze would allow them to escape quickly. However, doubts lingered about the castle's fire safety measures. Would there be sprinklers to douse the flames, or would the inferno rage uncontrollably? They had no time to put them everywhere, and they had no idea how big this place was, but as Adam planted those hastily made bombs near oxygen tanks and such, he hoped that destruction would be sufficient and it would spread further.
Drifting outside, the biting wind threatened to sap Mimi's remaining strength. Damon, donned in layers of clothing, secured her tightly to his back, cocooned in blankets. He shared his body heat, desperately trying to shield her from the gusts that could further chill her fragile form. With Adam's help, they began their treacherous descent down the icy hillside, their hands and feet struggling to find purchase on the frozen rocks.
Muttering incantations under his breath, Damon's lips moved incessantly, his voice blending with the howling wind. Adam, too, chanted, drawing upon his own reserves of energy. The strain was clear in their bodies, despite the power of their alpha bond. They harnessed the energy of the wind, channeling it into Mimi, infusing her with the strength to withstand the ordeal.
Witnessing Mimi's valiant attempts to appear strong each time she had earlier regained consciousness had been both heartbreaking and inspiring. Despite their best efforts, her condition had continued to deteriorate, her weakness growing more apparent with every passing moment.
Adam was not a telepath, but he suspected that Mimi would have long-term nightmares from that place. He knew he had his own demons to conquer, and it would take time to banish them from his mind. Life had never been easy for him, and he hadn't always been a good person. He wasn't sure if it was Mercy or some other woman who had influenced his transformation, but he knew Mimi had been the catalyst that changed him profoundly. Memories flooded his mind of their life together and how she had been in the beginning.
He vividly remembered the pain he felt when he thought she had been killed on that ship. It had been a shock, as he had never allowed himself to get so close to another woman after Mercy. But Mimi had stolen his heart, and when he had saved her, it felt like a miracle. At that moment, Adam made a promise to himself to keep her as safe as possible.
However, as his mind wandered, he couldn't help but blame himself for everything Mimi had endured. He hadn't protected her, and now he wondered if he could do better. But the aftermath of this ordeal would require his own recovery, and it wouldn't be as simple as taking a nap on the couch. As for Mimi, he wondered if Mariella would allow the pack to care for her or if they would have to go to Ireland again and leave her in the hands of strangers. Adam kept his thoughts to himself, not wanting to upset Damon any further than he already was.
Hours later, they finally reached the base of the mountain. It had taken them 18 grueling hours to descend. Damon felt Mimi stir and, finding a cave, they decided to rest for a while. They consumed the reserved food in silence, keeping Mimi asleep for her own well-being. Damon administered another dose of the drug to conserve Mimi's strength, lower her metabolism, and keep her pain-free and asleep.
He tried to stay alert, focusing on the task at hand, but he couldn't help but notice Adam's struggles. Pale, tired, and haggard-looking, Adam was clearly in no better shape than himself. However, Mimi's fragile state took precedence, and Damon provided her with gentle energy transfers, hoping to give her a slight boost. She had endured unimaginable torture, physically and mentally, and it would take a long time for her to recover.
There would be consequences from this long journey, and Damon sighed in his mind as he realized the gravity of the situation. As he thought about returning to Mariella, he feared he might once again mistreat Mimi, forgetting the hardships she had endured. However, he pushed those thoughts aside for now. The priority was reaching the safe house.
The air was crisp and filled with the scent of snow as they made their way through the wintry landscape. Damon's telepathy remained inactive, frustrating him. After a few hours of rest, they resumed their journey towards the safehouse. The terrain was challenging, making their progress slow even though they used magic to conceal their presence.
Damon had transformed into his tiger form, while Adam securely tied Mimi to his back, morphing into a cat himself. Together, they ventured into the snowy, cold night. Despite their top speed of over 50 kilometers per hour, it meant little, as they couldn't use the roads. They had to navigate through rough terrain, prolonging their journey.
It took them two days of travel to finally reach the Safehouse. Along the way, they had to take breaks, during which Adam administered more drugs to Mimi, ensuring she stayed warm and preserved her strength. Damon couldn't help but feel frustrated by Mimi's weakened state, cursing her pretender ability. He vowed to find a way to share that ability with her, to know when she was truly struggling. If only he had noticed her frailty sooner, he would have rescued them earlier. But Mimi insisted on pretending to be stronger than she actually was.
When they arrived, Damon felt a surge of familiarity as Mimi projected the door code and security system into his mind. He punched in the numbers and the door swung open with a soft creak. Stepping inside, Damon was taken aback by the spaciousness of the house. It was no mere studio; it was a decent-sized home. The air was heavy with the unmistakable scent of strawberries, confirming that this was indeed Mimi's sanctuary.
Damon couldn't help but acknowledge the significance of this place. Somewhere deep within him, he knew he would want to return to this haven someday. It was time for Mimi to share the kindness and warmth of this house, where there was enough room for everyone. What struck Damon the most was the vibrant energy that permeated every corner. This was a true home, unlike anything he had experienced before. He couldn't help but wonder if their Irish castle could ever compare to the coziness of Mimi's abode.
Adam gently untied Mimi from Damon's back and carefully laid her down on the soft couch, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion.
Damon swiftly transformed into his human form and dialed Mariella's number. "Darling, we've been imprisoned for God knows how long, and we're in Austria. This place is Mimi's Safehouse, and she's in bad shape. We're in Kuchl, under the name Minnie Alderman. Please come and get us," Damon pleaded with urgency.
Mariella let out a weary sigh on the other end of the line. She had tirelessly searched for Damon, resorting to countless spells and seeking help from others, including Magnum and Murdock, the members of Mimi's pack. But they had all come up empty-handed. It had been a torturous 14 weeks since they had gone missing. Mariella suspected Mimi was the intended target, and Damon and Adam had become collateral damage. She seethed with anger towards Mimi for endangering the pack, convinced that Mimi had known she was being pursued but chose not to disclose it.
"We'll be there soon, my love. An hour, tops. I've been so worried about you, This is all Mimi's fault and she will hear from this!" Mariella assured Damon, her voice filled with relief and concern.
Damon ended the call and let out a weary sigh of his own. Adam gently scooped Mimi into his arms and carried her to the makeshift medbay. He carefully inserted a cannula into her arm, administering fluids and any other supplies he could find. The room was a hodgepodge of medical equipment, a makeshift setup to tend to Mimi's fragile condition. Adam trod cautiously, not wanting to overwhelm her already delicate system. There was little of this and that, and he was not sure of the drops and meds that Colin had left in here.
He gently wrapped the soft blankets around Mimi, ensuring she was warm and comfortable.
Half an hour later, Damon entered the room and spoke in a hushed tone, "The Pack will arrive in an hour. We've been held captive for over three long months, and Mariella is visibly anxious. She unjustly blames Mimi for everything, so I may need to soothe her. I'm uncertain when I'll find the time to care for Mimi. I hope she understands, although I have no right to demand that. In an ideal world, I would be the one to look after her, even when I need to rest. But I am far from perfect, and Mariella remains my priority. I can't promise that she won't rally the Pack to care for her and leave Mimi once again in the hands of strangers."
Adam nodded in understanding and reassured Damon, "Don't worry, I'll inform Mimi. I'll do my best to ensure the Pack takes care of her. Charles will be deeply concerned and will want to be by her side. The same goes for the boys."
Damon approached Mimi, gently stroking her, and whispered almost inaudibly, "She sacrificed herself once again to give me strength, and now I fear I won't be able to return the favor and help her recover. I'll be in a different state of mind, and she..."
Adam interrupted him with a grunt, saying, "You're not in great shape either. We both have a long road to recovery ahead of us. Let's not worry about the future for now; it will unfold as it should."
Damon nodded, taking a seat beside Mimi until the sounds of the Pack entering the house reached their ears.
Mariella rushed into Damon's embrace, hugging him tightly and expressing her frustration, "Damn it, Mimi! Always dragging you into trouble. She probably didn't tell us how much danger she put the entire pack in!"
Damon chuckled softly and replied, "It wasn't just Mimi they were after. Adam was also a target. They wanted to create another Mimi. There were experiments with genetically engineered individuals, but they failed, and we eliminated them all. So, please don't solely blame Mimi. I was merely an added amusement to them, not their primary objective."
Mariella glared at Damon, her gaze filled with determination, and declared, "Fine, but you won't do that again. Now, you're going to receive treatment. We're heading to the Belgian castle. It was Mimi's purchase, and we've transformed it into an exceptional pack stronghold."
With that, Mariella went to embrace Adam, feeling his thin and weak frame. Damon had been barely noticeable, and Mimi lay in bed, resembling a fragile skeleton. However, Mariella was determined to nurse the men back to health while the rest of the Pack tended to Mimi.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone