章 49: Run

Lanse's voice reverberated through the room, its clarity piercing the air as Tess remained fixated on the ground. The anticipation of what she had missed during her escapade in the forest coursed through her veins, mingled with an apprehension, bracing herself for Lanse's furious outburst at her abandonment.

"During that moment," Lanse began, his words punctuated by a pause, "the creature emerged from the hooded one's back, and black smoke began to wrap around it.."

Zack interjected, his voice tinged with curiosity, momentarily disrupting Lanse's account. "How strange," he pondered aloud, interrupting the flow. "Was the hooded one controlling the smoke? Is that why he didn't move since he was concentrating?"

The room fell silent as none of them possessed an answer to Zack's probing question. Lanse forged ahead, determined to provide a coherent narrative.

"As I was saying," Lanse resumed, "the smoke somehow shapeshifted into worn-out bandages that began to wrap around the creature leaving the ends of its long spiked arms. It leaned forward in a hunched posture and moved its two long arms like giant chopsticks to form an 'X' shape."

Tess's gaze lifted from the ground, captivated by Lanse's unexpected and vivid description, a flicker of amusement tugging at the corners of her lips. Lanse, his hand resting under his chin, stared intently at the floor, as if recounting the events etched within his mind.

"In the blink of an eye, everything became a blur, and Zino vanished," Lanse continued, his voice carrying a mix of urgency and concern. "That's when I made the decision to flee. I turned around and made my wayran toward the forest."

"After you left, I followed," Zack interjected, his tone filled with a blend of remorse and solidarity.

Szedra's gaze narrowed, a glare piercing through Zack. "You left me to die," she accused, her words laced with hurt.

Zack's eyes widened in disbelief, memories flooding back to him, the rush of consoling Szedra in her moment of distress. "You told me to go," he protested, confusion etched across his features.

"I didn't mean it," Szedra retorted, crossing her arms defiantly, a mixture of regret and frustration etched upon her face.

Zack's brow furrowed, perplexed by the contradiction in Szedra's actions and words. He absentmindedly scratched his head, the hand lingering on his left shoulder, a gesture betraying his bewilderment.

"I was the last one to make a move," Szedra confessed, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination. "I didn't get far, though. It was only after witnessing the strange figures vanish into thin air that I mustered the courage to move from the open. I had to drag myself with one hand to get to the trees where I at least had some cover."

Szedra's words pierced Zack's heart, his guilt intensifying. He made a conscious effort not to be the next person to speak, his remorse consuming him.

"The strange people just vanished?" Tess exclaimed, her disbelief palpable. It defied logic, as she knew deep down that the ordeal was far from over. Memories of what unfolded next flooded her mind, their vividness causing her to flinch.

Lanse's harsh voice echoed in her head, a painful reminder of his words from that moment. "Are you out of your flipping mind? You idiots are trying to give away my location and get me killed, aren't you—you turds?"

A heavy silence settled upon them, Tess realizing the necessity of maintaining absolute silence to ensure their survival.

"We need to focus on regrouping," Lanse added, his voice barely audible as he emphasized the need for discretion. Tess strained her ears, attuning them to their hushed conversation. Gradually, their soft tones became more discernible.

Lanse took charge, urging them to activate their holo-maps. They had collectively dubbed the GPS hologram that emanated from their telecoms as "holo-maps." The holographic display showcased their individual locations as tagged markers, offering a comprehensive view of their positions and enabling them to assess distances more effectively.

Their foresight in having Zino examine the device proved invaluable, providing them with essential knowledge of its capabilities. The air filled with a renewed sense of purpose as they delved into strategizing their next moves.

The events unfolded rapidly, a whirlwind of urgency in Tess's mind. As they studied their holo-maps, Szedra delivered the startling news that the enigmatic figures in black had vanished. Disbelief echoed through the air, mingling with the intensity of their situation.

Lanse, driven by a relentless need for confirmation, commanded Tess to utilize her extraordinary eye ability to determine if the mysterious ones were truly gone. Yet, as she attempted to activate her unique vision, she encountered a roadblock.

The pain ravaging her body made it nearly impossible to concentrate, each breath an arduous task. The grand surroundings only exacerbated her discomfort, threatening to unleash a merciless headache atop her existing torment. It became evident that Lanse harbored little concern for their well-being, particularly hers.

Silence enveloped the air as Tess waited, grappling with her own doubts. Eventually, she mustered the resolve to convince herself that the danger had passed. Although lacking tangible proof, she chose to tell her teammates what they desperately wanted to hear, bringing the telecom closer to her lips.

"I don't see them. They must be gone."

Their collective gasps of relief reverberated through the silence, a palpable release of tension. Tess hadn't lied, for she had never sought out the mysterious ones in the first place. However, the unfolding of subsequent events would prove her assumption wrong.

Her gaze shifted from Lanse to the rest of the team, but their attention was elsewhere. As always, none harbored suspicion toward her, readily accepting her words as truth. Deception had become her art, a skill honed through experience and necessity.

Amidst the fading remnants of fear, Zino's voice resonated with newfound strength. "What did they want? Sensei never mentioned anything about—"

"Forget about Sensei," Lanse interjected, his voice rising in volume and his anger growing more pronounced. "This fragment is what they want—another stupid test by that blond-haired maniac."

Even after enduring countless trials under Sensei's tutelage, Zino couldn't help but bristle at Lanse's derogatory remarks. However, she remained silent, aware of Lanse's propensity for hurling hurtful epithets at everyone, including her. Fear had become a constant companion in their interactions, stifling any protest she might have considered.

Tess's mind raced with uncertainty, contemplating the events that followed Lanse's ominous silence. His brief declaration to focus on regrouping hung in the air, leaving his teammates in a state of anxious speculation.

Breaking the tension, Zino's voice came next. "Lanse, are you okay?"

Zack and the others began to panic, their frantic thoughts echoing in the silence. Had Lanse been captured? Didn't Tess assure them that the enemy had vanished? And if Lanse was indeed caught, how would they execute their teleportation without him?

The sound of water droplets splashing intensified, magnifying the weight of their wait.

Zack's pressing question brought Tess back to the present. "Lanse, why did you go silent? You made us worried."

"Are you alright?" Zino chimed in, her voice filled with concern.

Though Szedra and Tess remained silent, their curiosity burned just as intensely. Lanse's response, delivered without raising his head from the tiled ground, carried an unmistakable falsehood. Tess sensed the deception, yet she harbored no inclination to probe further. She cared little for whatever had silenced him and was not going to start.

As if transported back to the moment, Lanse's voice crackled through the telecom. "Forget about me," he urged, the strain evident in his labored pants between words. "We need to focus on regrouping so we can teleport the hell out of here."

Ignoring the struggle in Lanse's voice, Tess activated her holo-map. With her teeth, she tugged down the cuff of her glove, revealing the device, and bit down on the yellow button at its side.

A vibrant blue hologram materialized, taking the form of a circular grid with intersecting lines. The tags representing their positions dotted the holographic display, forming a semicircle. Noting Zino's position further away, a consequence of her remarkable speed, Tess understood the disparity. Szedra occupied the center of their formation.

"Szedra, remain exactly where you are," Lanse commanded. "The rest of us will move toward your location. Keep a close eye on your holo-map to make sure we're moving."

"I'll try. I—I mean, yes, I'll do it," Szedra stammered, her nerves evident in her voice.

"Everyone else, travel above ground if possible. And don't stop for anything," Lanse urged, gasping for breath. "We need to get in close range or you can forget about making it out here alive."

Lanse's words stirred a flicker of doubt in Tess's mind. Did he somehow sense her lie about not spotting their adversaries? What did he mean by their survival being in question? Did he possess knowledge that they had never truly departed?