章 109: 29. Morning Train.
We drove to the activity park, eagerly expecting the adventure ahead. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow on the surroundings as we parked the pack's SUV in the spacious lot. Excitement filled the air as we gathered our sporty clothes, preparing for the survival challenge that awaited us.
The activity park sprawled across a vast area, encompassing various attractions. A fenced forest beckoned us, promising an immersive experience. Nearby, a survival track awaited our exploration, while a few large buildings housed a shooting range and indoor activities like a climbing wall. However, our pack sought a greater challenge, opting for the toughest outdoor survival adventure.
Stepping out of the car, we moved as a pack towards the largest building, where a sign of reception guided our way. Damon, leading the group, directed us to a sign-up room housed in a grand, red-bricked house. With confidence, Damon signed us in, confirming our reservation and ensuring that the survival experience would be tailored to our preferences.
As we prepared for the challenge, I couldn't help but wonder about the cost of this bespoke adventure. Yet, I was determined to embrace the unknown and face the challenge head-on. Our first task would be to navigate a fenced-off forest, a vast expanse filled with hidden surprises. Each of us would begin at a different starting point, venturing into the wilderness alone. Eventually, we might cross paths as we fought to survive, but the ultimate goal remained shrouded in mystery.
While the exact appearance of the exit remained undisclosed, we were assured that it would be unmistakable, ensuring we wouldn't miss it. The anticipation grew, fueled by the unknown and the thrill of the adventure that lay ahead.
I was the last one to go through the door, and we had each entered through five different entrances. The organizers had divided us into five groups, and I found myself in group number four. Damon was in group number four, Demon was in group number three, and Adam was as well in my group. Some of us had already gone out and a few of us were still left to wait. I could hear doors opening and closing, signaling pack members going out into the wilderness.
I settled myself on a bench, waiting for the light to turn green so that I could begin my journey. We had agreed to remain in human form and try to cooperate with one another. As the door finally opened for me, I stepped out and started walking along the path.
The air was pleasantly cool, neither too hot nor rainy, making it a perfect day to explore the forest. I remained vigilant, aware of my surroundings. However, the fenced area created an unsettling silence, devoid of any bird songs or chirping. The forest was wild and untamed, with towering coniferous trees interspersed with a few birches.
Thick vegetation, twigs, old logs, and hidden pits made it necessary for me to jump and climb to make progress. The forest floor was moist at parts, almost like a swamp, and I had to rely on my ingenuity, using logs and twigs as stepping stones to navigate my way across.
There was no designated path, but I found it exciting to challenge myself and find new ways to maneuver through the terrain. Chuckling to myself, I imagined how Mariella or the wolves would handle this situation. Would they use their energy or cast a spell? But here I was, relying solely on my mind and hands, as it was intended.
Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over me, and I couldn't shake the sensation of being followed. I briefly wondered if this was part of the task. I had been walking for quite some time, and though I hadn't heard anyone else, I had been focused on finding my way. Something just didn't feel right.
Having just crossed the swamp, the wind carried the scent of the dampness, making it difficult to detect any other presence. I strained to look around, but the dense forest obstructed my view, leaving me with no sight of movement. Perhaps I should try a different perspective.
I decided to climb a tall oak tree, its branches reaching towards the sky. As I ascended, I realized that the tree's trunk was wrapped around the chicken wire mesh, creating a cage-like feeling. The fencing surrounding the tree trunks prevented me from climbing any higher, limiting my view of the dense forest below.
I could have gotten rid of the mesh, but I somehow suspected that it was not the idea to destroy this place. Seeing from above would probably make things too easy, thus the fencing above me. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, making it difficult to see beyond the tree's perch. Aware of the need to stay alert in this survival situation, I continued onward.
Suddenly, a loud crackle broke the silence, resembling the sound of a gunshot. My instincts kicked in, urging me to seek out a fellow member of my group for support. I briefly wondered if I had wandered too close to the paintball area, but the distinct sound of a tranquilizer rifle dispelled that thought. Moving silently, I cautiously approached a clearing ahead, my senses on high alert. I had a pretty bad feeling about this right now and I hoped that I would be wrong.
To my horror, I spotted a figure lying on the ground, a red dart protruding from its back. The wind carried the scent of a pear, revealing that it was Adam, a fellow participant, who had been struck.
Confusion and anger flooded my mind as I realized that this survival course was not what it seemed - it was a trap. My suspicions had been just confirmed. I scanned my surroundings, straining my ears for any sign of danger. Finding none, I swiftly crossed the clearing and knelt beside Adam.
Gently removing the dart, I brought it close to my nose and was overwhelmed by its bitter odor. It was an unknown and potent anesthetic. Desperate to wake Adam and seek shelter, I tried everything I could to rouse him. But before I could make any progress, a searing pain shot through my own back, momentarily blinding me.
Gasping in agony, I collapsed onto Adam, feeling an electric current paralyze my body and my rage as well. The substance from the dart seeped into my muscles, causing them to sting. It became clear that my assailant knew me well, exploiting my weaknesses. This was the work of an old enemy, seizing an opportunity to strike. They knew about my weaknesses in electricity.
After a moment, an intense pain shot through my thigh, causing my entire body to convulse in the grip of the electric current. The agony was almost unbearable, rendering me completely helpless. As the stinging sensation spread, I became aware of approaching footsteps and caught a whiff of the sweet scent of passionfruit, signaling Damon's arrival.
He swiftly turned me onto my back, removing the dart with urgency. In his strong embrace, I could feel his arms enveloping me, offering support.
His voice, filled with strict anger, pierced through the chaos. "Baby, the others managed to escape. This damn thing, it was a trap. But don't worry, aarrgh..."
Suddenly, Damon's face contorted in pain, freezing into a pained grimace, causing him to stagger backward and release his hold on me. He collapsed, lying motionless on his back. I desperately tried to summon my rage, to fight back, but the overwhelming force of the electric current had left me immobilized.
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and the effects of the drug began to take hold, mercilessly dragging me toward unconsciousness. My consciousness faded as I sensed the men lifting us onto a stretcher.
The weight of their hands on my body felt heavy, and I struggled to keep my eyes open. Muffled voices filled the air, but their words became incomprehensible. Then, everything faded away, consumed by the overpowering effects of the drug, as my consciousness slipped away completely.
Damon woke up in a hospital bed, full of drugs and sore. His mind was a jumbled mess, he was nauseous, and it was a struggle for him to open his eyes at first. He had a moment to remember what had happened. He started to recall how it had been obvious that it had been trapped, as there were a few weird things.
How Mariella had smelled strange men and drugs. He remembered how he got the hole in the net made when Mariella and the others had realized they were being chased and had been put on a different side from Mimi or Adam; he remembered everyone had teleported to safety and had gone to rescue Mimi and Adam. Even though he had been in Mimi's group, they had isolated Mimi and Adam for some reason.
He had seen Mimi lying on top of Adam, convulsing. He had gone to help her, taken out the one dart, and then he remembered the pain in his back, but that was all. He got his eyes open and groaned as he tried to get his mind cleared.
He couldn't use his energies properly, he was too drugged still, too slow and energies just slipped out of his grip. His telepathy didn't work, not as it should; telekinesis worked poorly and was exhausting. He got himself to sit and dizziness was almost too much for him to bear. This seemed to be a hospital room or examination room, but this was not a nice place where they were.
White walls, cabinets, and shelves lined the room, but there was few medical paraphernalia around. There was a coffeemaker, fridge, and sofa so this was almost like a little apartment and somehow damon knew that whoever had planned to catch them wanted to keep them in there. The sound coming next to him got his attention.
He looked to his side as Adam groaned and woke up, but he didn't see Mimi anywhere. Damon didn't even know how long he had been unconscious or where he or they even were. Adam was in the patient's bed, an old-fashioned, and not a fancy one. He was pale, seemed to be drugged as well, and he struggled to get himself awakened.
"Adam, are you awake?" Damon asked.
His voice was low, and he started to feel maybe a little less dizzy.
Adam said, " Yes, I am, but what the fuck happened here?"
Adam's voice was thick with drugs, and he was trying to get his eyes open properly.
Damon said, "You, me, and Mimi got captured. I got the rest of the pack to safety and came to rescue you when some damn arrow hit me. You and Mimi were targets and I guess I was a bonus then."
His voice was sarcastic and dry. He could feel drugs dissipating from his mind.
Adam grunted. Damon got out of bed and searched the room. He looked through shelves, cabinets, fridge, and everything. He tried to kick the door open, but it was a steel door and not even he could kick it open.
Adam was getting himself to sit and said, "Don't bother, that is reinforced steel, not even Mimi could kick it open."
Damon grunted. He said, "Fine. I am going to have a shower, and change clothes. There are scrubs here so we can see then what to do."
Adam groaned. He was feeling way too drugged to go in the shower and he was pretty damn sore.
Damon went to the bathroom, took off his patient gown, or whatever he had worn, and found out his body was covered in bruises and a few stitches. He went to shower, determined to get himself washed. There were few washing liquids, and he chose the most natural one. Not so many additives.
Quite an inventive list of profanities erupted from his lips as water hit those stitches and pain exploded all over his body. But he pressed on. Got himself in some way cleaned and he took a pair of scrubs with him. He fast dried himself and dressed himself.
He exited the bathroom. Adam was walking around the room, trying to find the way out.
Damon told him, "Be careful if you go to the shower. I had stitches and goddamn it hurt when that water hit those."
Adam nodded. He said to Damon, "We have implants, I can feel it, but I have not taken it out yet. We need to be ready if we can get them out. I have implant sensing ability, which is difficult as they are in our abdominal aorta, so it is not fast. And I have found at least three cameras here. "
Damon told him, "Fine. I will make some coffee and let's eat. We need our strength and we need to find where Mimi is and what shape she is in."
He went to the kitchen area and made some coffee. Adam joined him. They talked about what they had found and observed, and the result was that they found nothing useful.
After the meal, Damon wanted Adam to try to eat his implant away. He went to bed, took his top off, and waited. That was the last thing that he remembered when he woke up again, now in patient clothes, drugged and more sore. Adam was sleeping in his bed, pale, drugged. So it was no go. They had to be more inventive.
Because they had implants, they couldn't get out. If they could get those implants out, then they could attack anyone who would come into this room. Next time they covered those three cameras, but the same result. Loss of consciousness and waking up sore and operated on.
They tried several times, constantly losing consciousness even as they tried to remove them from each other. They had no sense of time, and when they woke up, they found themselves in bed, sore. After the procedure, Damon was just wondering where Mimi was and what to do with her.
They had not seen her one time and Damon had felt strain in his body already. He had tried to remember in what shape Mimi had been but she had been so furious and he had not gotten to grope her properly. He feared the worst, Mimi being thin as hell and weak too.
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