Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 56 20 Days Ago
Madison and Alice moved swiftly through the dense forest, the sunlight above filtered by the thick canopy. The air was heavy with the scents of damp earth and vegetation. Madison had filled Alice in on everything—the vision, Bella’s certainty, and the mission ahead. Alice, usually sharp-tongued and skeptical, walked silently beside her, processing the information.
Their pace was hurried but calculated, mindful not to exhaust themselves. Twigs cracked beneath their feet, and birds scattered as they passed. Madison’s mind raced with thoughts of Nate—if he was truly alive, where he could be, and what state he might be in.
Alice finally broke the silence. "You know," she said softly, her voice cutting through the ambient forest sounds, "I never thought I’d be doing this again. Running headfirst into danger."
Madison glanced at her. "Why did you agree to come, then?"
Alice sighed. "Because if there’s even the slightest chance Nate’s alive, we owe it to him to find out. He’s done too much for all of us. Too much for me."
Madison nodded but didn’t reply. They continued walking in silence, each consumed by their own thoughts.
---
Back in the cave…
Bella’s eyelids fluttered open, and she found herself lying on a makeshift bed in the medical center. The dim glow of the insects in their transparent containers illuminated the room. Ryder and Jack were present, their expressions tense.
Jack, who had been pacing moments ago, quickly approached her. "Bella, you’re awake. Are you alright?"
Bella nodded weakly, her voice hoarse. "I’m fine. Just... exhausted."
Jack exchanged a glance with Ryder, relief evident on their faces. Jack leaned closer. "About what you said earlier… how sure are you?"
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Bella’s gaze sharpened despite her fatigue. She sat up slightly, her determination clear. "I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Nate is alive."
Ryder, who had been leaning against the wall with crossed arms, exhaled heavily and pushed himself upright. "Alright," he said, his voice steady. "Jack, get the fighters ready. We move in ten minutes."
Ever since the conversation he had with Madison he has been disturbed. Maybe it was time they actually start prioritizing everyone life and start treating everyone as equal.
Jack hesitated, glancing between Ryder and Bella. "Are you sure about this?"
Ryder didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he looked at Bella. "Is there anything else we need to know before we go?"
Bella’s eyes darkened slightly, and she reached out to grab Ryder’s arm as he started to turn away. "Yes," she said firmly. "There’s something else. Something about how they’ve been treating him."
Ryder froze, his jaw tightening. "What do you mean?"
Bella hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice trembling. "It’s worse than you can imagine. They’re not just holding him. They’re… breaking him."
---
20 days earlier…
A sudden wave of icy water slammed into Nate, forcing his eyes to snap open. He coughed violently, gasping for air as the cold shock rattled his entire body. His vision blurred for a moment, but as it cleared, he saw two Keepers standing before him.
One of them held a hose, the source of the freezing water that now soaked him to the bone. The other had a hand wrapped with barbed wire, the spikes digging into its leathery skin. Their expressions were unreadable, but their towering forms radiated menace.
Nate looked down at his own body, noticing for the first time that his wounds had completely healed. The pain still lingered, but his skin bore no scars or injuries. The sight filled him with unease rather than relief.
The Keeper with the hose sprayed another jet of water at Nate’s face, the pressure forcing him to gasp for breath. He twisted his head to the side, coughing violently as water filled his mouth and nostrils.
When the water stopped, Nate collapsed forward, his breathing ragged. Before he could catch his breath, a familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
"Well, well, you’re finally awake."
Nate’s head snapped up, and his blood ran cold. It was the robed man—the one who had nearly killed him. The man’s face was calm, almost amused, as arcs of lightning danced lazily around his fingers.
The man stepped closer, his voice dripping with mockery. "You’re tougher than you look. Most people wouldn’t have survived what you did. But I suppose you’re not like most people, are you?"
Nate glared at him, refusing to respond.
The man crouched in front of him, his piercing eyes locking onto Nate’s. "Let’s skip the pleasantries. I know you came from something called the plane, and I know that plane came from somewhere called Earth. So here’s the deal: you tell me where Earth is, and I’ll make your death quick and painless. Refuse, and…"
The man’s lips curled into a cruel smile. "Well, let’s just say you’ll wish you had cooperated."
Nate’s voice was hoarse, but his defiance was unwavering. "Why the fuck would I tell you if I’m dying either way?"
The man’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "Wrong answer."
Without warning, he thrust his lightning-coated hand into Nate’s chest. Nate’s body arched as an agonizing scream tore from his throat. His veins lit up like molten lava, the electricity coursing through him and setting his nerves on fire.
The pain was unbearable. Nate’s screams echoed through the chamber, raw and unrelenting. His vision blurred as tears streamed down his face, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
When the man finally pulled his hand back, Nate collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. His skin was charred, his body covered in burns, and his face was twisted in a grimace of horror and agony.
The man leaned over him, his voice calm but dripping with menace. "You’ll tell me eventually," he said, almost conversationally. "I have all the time in the world to make you understand the consequences of your stubbornness."
Nate tried to lift his head, but his strength was gone. All he could do was glare weakly at the man, his defiance flickering like a dying flame.
