Chapter 37

GMN-1 didn't stop. The platform wasn't too big but it was more than enough for the four of them. The platform moved down again and their ankles  we're in the water. GMN-6 quickly moved away, she had no intention of being fish food. She watched GMN-1. That girl was really scary sometimes. 

GMN-1 studied the sharks, they were huge, hungry and very angry. They didn't look malnourished so she could only guess that feeding time was suspended because of them. She would worry about how they knew they were coming later. It reminded her that the defences were so elaborately planned. She removed the wood from the blade. She stretched her other hand, like she was about to bend and touch the water. 

The rest of them waited and watched. 

Thump! Thump! Thump! 

They watched the hand that was above the water and the blood dripping steadily from it. The sharks seem to notice the blood and circled faster. One of them had the courage to jump to see if it could nab whatever was bleeding and drag it back into the water. It landed a dead fish. The blade slashed into the fish, turning the immediate water to red. The fish dropped back into the water and the other sharks came for dinner. The problem was there we're too many hungry sharks for one dead fish. She moved to the other side and slashed on a shark that was making it's way to dinner and it became dinner as nearby sharks pounced on it. The commotion caused the sharks to converge at the happening spots. 

"Give me your bags" GMN-1 said. They looked at each other but complied. 

"Get across! " She said after she had collected the bags. The question of how was still nagging them but they made to obey but GMN-6 stood still. 

"I can't swim" she said. That bit of information was even startling to her. The GMNs we're taught basic survival skills among others so what did she mean by she can't swim. They looked at her impatiently but she was serious moving away from the edge of the platform. GMN-2 seem to realize something from her scared and panicked expression. He held out his hand to her

"You can hold on to us" GMN-2 said but 6 was still hesitant. "I promise, we won't let you drown"

GMN-1 was almost ready at this point to push her into the water but she impatiently waited. Something pricked her as odd yet familiar but she wasn't interested in delving deeper just yet. Her most pressing concern was the immediate danger. 

GMN-6 paused, she seemed to remember something and then took his hand. They three of them got into the water and GMN-1 sighed giving the sharks her full attention. She carefully steered the sharks away from their direction creating a feast in the opposite direction. The sharks we're hungry and didn't seem to mind feeding on their own. How long have they been here? 

GMN-6 held on to the waist part of their clothes as the boys swam faster than any human she had seen. The water was getting in her face but she managed to hold on. Something in her head was trying to push to the surface and had her holding their clothes in a death grip. 

"Ruby! Ruby! Hold on sweetie! " someone was saying 

"I can't it's too slippery" GMN-6 suddenly said out loud. The others heard her but they couldn't understand what she was referring to. How can she be talking in this situation? They were almost at the end of the water. 

"Help me! " GMN-6 said and let go. She began to sink to the bottom of the water. 

"What the...!!! " GMN-3 exclaimed and dove for her. He caught her before she was halfway. He wondered how deep it really was. Above the water GMN-2 was there to lend a hand not that he needed it but still he helped. They took the half conscious 6 to drier ground. 

GMN-1 may have not been in the water with them but she didn't miss anything, she wrinkled her eyebrows and decided to file it for later. She saw them drag her to the land at the other end. This people sure had a vast space that they could turn a great part to shark filled death trap. She wasn't too tall so the water was to her shin. The sharks we're almost done with feeding and might want to taste her. Her wound was almost healed. 

GMN 3 and 2 made it to drier ground with 6, while 3 tried to get 6 fully conscious, 2 waved to her. She pointed to the bags she held with one hand and he nodded. She tucked the blade back into the wood and threw it to the ground. It landed into the water and rested on the ground of the platform. She stepped on it and proceeded to throw the bags over with her now free hand. 

She threw the bags while 2 caught them placing them on the ground, beside him. She was now left with her bag. She didn't want to put the blade and the wood inside the bag because she didn't want it getting water on the other things inside her bag. She couldn't leave it either because it has proven useful. Not leaving it won, so she opened her bag and pulled the blade from the water. On second thought she walked closer to the opposite end and made deep fatal gashes on two other sharks that we're closer, then washed and tucked the blade back into the wood and then into her bag before throwing it. The sharks were more patient in eating this meal as if they wanted to savour it or eat to store for later. She dove into the water at the opposite side of the dinner even before she was sure that GMN-2 had caught her bag. She heard the sound of something dropping deep in the water and chanced a glance down at the dark depths while swimming. 

More sharks! And they we're heading for her, so not happening! She increased her speed, there was no way she was becoming fish food. The water was deep buying her some time but it seemed that the new fishes sending that dinner is about to escape we're infused with more energy and swam faster, getting closer. 

GMN-1 made it to dry ground with GMN-2 pulling her up before some sharks got close enough to snap at her. The sharks seeing that they couldn't reach them gave up and hurried back to join the other feast. How on earth did they get their hands on this number of sharks?

She stood up and tried to wipe some of the water from her face while GMN-2 picked up the bags. She saw GMN-3 still beside 6 who was staring off into space. She looked up to the sky. Yes she could see the sky and tell that time was passing, soon the others might come to look for them if they were here till dawn, they needed to move faster. She would bet that the worst traps lay in the house. 

"Mom, Dad, help me" she heard GMN-6 mutter, she turned to look at her and walked to them. She squatted and felt GMN-6's temperature using her own body temperature to compare. It was a bit warmer than hers. She checked for wounds or cuts, she didn't find any. She looked at the girl who was sitting on the floor, half supported by 3. She had a blank look. 

"6!, 6!, GMN-6!" GMN-1 called before the girl snapped her attention to her. She looked at her blankly before recognition surfaced in her eyes, she blinked twice. Then she sat up fully her hair was dripping water all over her. She buffed angrily and grabbed the mass and began to wring them. 

Okay? 

That was not the first thing they expected her to do. 

"Are you okay? " GMN-3 asked her slightly puzzled 

"No I am not okay" she replied and they tensed. "I'm wet, my hair's wet and I'm a mess!" she complained. 

GMN-1 hissed and stood up. The rest were relieved but puzzled. She acted like nothing happened, like she wasn't just calling someone for help, parents she didn't have. 

GMN-6 made to stand up and 3 helped her. She looked at him and he had a worried expression and so did 2. GMN-1 had a bored expression like they we're wasting her time. 

"We need to move! " she said aloofly collecting and wearing her backpack. The guys looked at her then at GMN-6. They didn't understand why the two of them were acting like nothing happened. In the end they said nothing because the person they were worried about was brushing herself up a little and wearing her back pack. 

They moved forward. There was no water and they could see the house in the distance. GMN-1 suggested they run but 3 disagreed. If they ran, they will become easier victims to the unknown traps. However they quickened their pace. They we're surprised that they we're walking on plain grounds that was flanked by nets and poles. The poles looked kind of weird. GMN-1 didn't like the look of things. 

"What are the poles for? " GMN-6 asked

"Don't ask" GMN-3 grumbled 

"I think now would be a good time to run" GMN-1 said

They heard something switch on. So far they have learnt that sound can never be good. 

They heard the sound of something being charged, they looked around it was the nets attached to the poles. They we're metallic nets that were now crackling with electric current. They made a mental note to themselves not to go near the nets. Something was still bugging  GMN-1, like there was more to this than static high voltage nets. Don't get her wrong but all their traps so far were challenging and for some would have been a brush with death. She looked up at the poles they crossed, the poles looked like light poles but the bulbs on them were quite different from regular light poles.  Some of the poles also had this weird speaker-like thing embedded in them. They made their way forward but suddenly stopped shielding their eyes. It was like a very bright light was turned on, more like numerous bright lights. The first one turned on followed by another until they couldn't open their eyes. 

"You've got to be kidding!!! "GMN-2 screamed to no one in particular. Yep they had never heard him this riled up. They would have said seen but in their current situation it was even painful to close the eye without shielding it let alone open them to see. It was true they could see in pitch darkness like it was day time, it also made them a bit sensitive to very bright lights. Their eyes with training have been able to adjust to bright light but definitely not one of this intensity. As it is, they couldn't see their next step. 

To make matters worse they perceived a very foul odor. It seemed to be emanating from everywhere around them. GMN-6 was already having graphical images of what she would do to the twins when she caught them. To make matters worse loud music began to play from all directions, it was deafening. It was a music that made absolutely no sense to them. It was too loud that hearing was difficult let alone pick out words from it. They didn't know whether to shield their eyes, hold their noses or cover their ears. The music seem to increase. This was sensory pressure. They felt like screaming in fustruation but they couldn't, they didn't have enough fresh air. 

GMN 1 and 3 who had more sensitive senses that could distinguish between sounds and smell were really having it worse than others. 

"Something just cut me" GMN-2 shouted then gaged and began to cough. He was closer to 1 and 3 so they we're able to pick up what he said. GMN 1 and 3 tried to listen carefully, they could feel the strain on their ears, eyes and lungs but they needed a way out. They heard something drop. It sounded like 2 ,this was fustruating. 

GMN-3 suddenly moved GMN-6 that was beside him. He had strained his ears in order to isolate the different sounds in his environment. He had detected something flyirin the air, heading towards them, 6 and him. 

GMN-1 tried to listen, her ear drums we're being tortured, if only she could see clearly or this annoying music stopped. She tried to think but this sensory torture seemed to put up a barrier and made concentrating almost impossible. She remembered when they we're coming she saw the poles. She put her hand in her bag and brought out a gun. She shot we're she remembered seeing a pole. Something shattered and the lights seemed to reduce a fraction. She shot more shattering more of the lights but still it wasn't enough to open their eyes and the noise seemed to get louder. She could feel her ears bleeding and she was in need of fresh air. She was completely disoriented and so were the rest. GMN-3 tried to prevent himself and 6 from being shot, it seemed to him that 2 was already down and they needed to get him help as soon as possible. He thought about lying flat on the ground but they might just become sitting ducks. He tried to reach his backpack behind and quickly retracted his hand moving to the side. Whatever it was flew past him and headed for 1. He wanted to tell her but he couldn't yell over the noise. GMN-6 was already on the ground, he didn't know if she was hit. 

GMN-1 was about to fire more when her highly strained ears heard something, she barely shifted in time as it passed close to her nose. Very close!  She thought. 

She began dodging series of darts in rapid succession. She had to remove the hand covering her eyes and the bright light even on her closed eyes was very painful. Her ears and brain were on fire. She was thankful for the GMN ability and training that enabled her to hold her breath this long and in this stressful situation.  She managed to get her footing and place her hand over her eyes again, she felt the wet liquid, talk about crying blood! 

Here goes nothing! She thought 

GMN-3 felt the lights beginning to dim but those annoying noise was still irritating his eardrums. He was finally able to reach his backpack. It seemed that the darts had stopped its attack. Why? He didn't know but he decided to use it. He grabbed a gun and shot. One loud speaker went down, he fired more bullets in areas he could pinpoint. He was finally able to open his eyes. He opened it and blinked to adjust his eyes to his environment. The sight that met him wasn't funny. GMN 2 and 6 we're on the floor beside him with some darts imbedded in their skin, their ears we're bleeding and they seemed to be somewhat unconscious. A little distance in front of him, GMN-1 was kneeling with her face covered in blood. She had her head down as she shot the second to the last light. He could understand how the lights dimmed. He used his gun to shoot the remaining loudspeakers till he shot and destroyed every single one of them. He noticed that with each one he destroyed, the annoying smell seemed to recede. He squatted and turned GMN-6 over. She had darts embedded in her hand and in her legs. From the corner of his eyes he saw GMN-1 stand. He left what he was doing and went to her. Her eyes and ears seem to have stopped bleeding but her nose still seemed to be bleeding. He knew that the bleeding stopping means her cell regeneration had already started but he didn't know why her nose was still bleeding. She tried to opened her eyes with very great difficulty. Her eyes we're bloodshot. The light might have damaged some blood vessels, she seemed to have difficulty focusing on him and her pupil seemed larger than normal. She closed it back after few seconds. 

"Are you okay? " he asked her. It sounded hoarse to his own ears but he could still hear and from her nodding, she could too. 

"Just giving myself some minutes to repair" she replied after nodding. 

"2 and 6 got hit. I don't think we should stay here for long" GMN-3 said after a while. 

GMN-1 opened her eyes again. They were brighter than they were before and her pupils had returned back to their normal size. She stood up and stretched her neck, then put the gun back in her bag. She wiped the blood from her nose, for some reason it was taking its time to stop. She ignored it. 

They walked over to the two of the GMNs on the ground and turned them over. She pulled out one of the darts from 6 and noticed that she seemed to stir, she brought the dart to her nose and almost choke. In the process of trying to sniff the dart she inhaled the blood back into her nose. She handed the dart to 3 as she pulled out the rest. 

GMN-6 opened her eyes and blinked slowly, they were red and looked a bit swollen from pressing her face to the ground, her ears had stopped bleeding. She looked at 1 and 3, 1 looked much worse. She couldn't remember much of anything since she fell a few seconds after 3 moved her. She wanted to talk and ask what happened but her mouth was very dry. 

GMN-3 proceeded to turn 2 and removed the darts from him, he had about 5 on him one on his chest. When he removed the one on his chest he began breathing, few more seconds longer and who knows. He opened his eyes, looking confused. 

GMN-3 placed the dart GMN-1 had given him but he couldn't place the scent on it. He put it and some others in his back pack for later. He looked over at GMN-2, he looked better than all of them maybe it was because he went out early. He looked back to GMN-1, she was slowly rubbing GMN-6's leg and hand as if to get the blood flowing. He felt amazed by the girl.  She always remained standing and somehow he was grateful for that because it always gave him hope. 

"I got your blood flowing, it may take some minutes for you to move them on your own" she said to GMN-6 before walking over to where he was with GMN-2. For some reason he noticed GMN-2 couldn't meet her gaze. He was tempted to roll his eyes. He did the same thing trying to get the blood flowing while 1 just stood over them watching. It seemed that there was blood cloth and a little swelling close to where the dart had been embedded and they seem unable to move that part of their body. 

GMN-1 went back to help GMN-6 up while GMN-3 helped 2 up. They didn't deem it wise to keep hanging around and it was a few hours to day break and they were yet to get the box. They looked ahead, the house was closer than it had been a while ago, the sooner they got in, the sooner they got that box. At this point they were questioning why they still wanted the damn box seeing what it had put them through but then again they had survived one of the worst nights ever and they were not leaving without the box and for GMN-6, the head of those twins. 

They supported each other and made their way forward. The journey seemed uneventful as the house drew closer but they had learnt not to underestimate those psychopath and constantly scanned around. Few minutes later 6 was feeling well enough to walk on her own leaving 2. He had the worst hit but he seemed to be doing fine, gradually regaining locomotion of those parts. 

They kept moving when suddenly GMN-1 stopped looking at the stupid house that was still a little ways in front of them. They had been walking for half an hour now but all the while the house seemed a stone throw away. The actual reason was the ground was beginning to feel funny even though it looked fine. 

"Something's wrong, the ground feels funny" GMN-1 said 

She could feel it that their little game wasn't over yet. She brought out her gun and shot straight ahead and listened after some minutes she heard the sound of something shattering. So the house was some distance away but the ground wasn't as it appeared to be. At least there was a house even if the way to it was unsure. 

"Let me guess, our uneventful journey is too good to be true?" GMN-6 said sarcastically

"We could be going round in circles" GMN-3 said

"We need to go back" GMN-1 said suddenly and turned back

"Pardon? " GMN-6 said. She wanted to go back but she knew GMN-1 and the house was just in front of them.

"Qui mademoiselle, there is a house somewhere but the ground leading to it feels so artificial.  " GMN-1 replied and beckoned them to fall back. Not more than two seconds later the ground caved in and they made a dash to safety. Standing on solid ground and looking down GMN-6 heaved a sigh of relief. Two seconds later… She made a mental note not to doubt GMN-1 especially in matters connected to her safety.

Looking ahead, GMN-1 said "I guess those long jump training are finally going to come in handy and since I hold the highest record, I'll go first"

"There has to be another way" GMN-3 voiced. He didn't like this idea one bit. They didn't know what was out here or how far the house was or even which direction to jump. 

GMN-1 brought out her gun and shot at the house. He didn't want anything happening to her because he wouldn't know how to explain it. 

"It's about one hundred and sixty seven metres or more" GMN-2 said, looking everywhere else but at GMN-1."we still don't know if it is actually the house that is there" He was still embarrassed by what happened but that didn't mean he would stand by and watch her take such a risk. 

"What if it's the house? " GMN-1 asked them 

"I say we turn back " GMN-6 said they all turned to look at her. "I'm tired of all these surprises, dangerous surprises. Doc gave us a location, no heads up on what we are going to face. We've been going blind surviving on instinct and I'm tired of these games okay? I've witnessed and withstood more today than some of our missions combined and I'm done. If the box is so important and she doesn't mind sacrificing us then I mind sacrificing myself " she said taking a deep breath and turned to go. Everyone had unreadable expression on their faces. 

Somewhere in the house 

Some people watched them on big screens. They must say they were the first to make it this far and they had speculations as to what they are or if they were humans but then how will they know if they allowed them go back. The tip was worth the effort as they ramped up their security. These kids would have seen their previous security measures which were rather daunting to real humans as a walk in the park.

One of the twins pushed a button. He had patiently waited for his fun and he was not to be disappointed. Besides they had lived up to their tip and he was willing to see how far they could go. He needed to get them into the house they needed to find the box so he can get his chance to hunt and then refurnish because he was betting on serious damages. The other people in the house cheered. Everyone was anxious and excited and the twins considered themselves good hosts. Compared to the clowns downstairs who had a much easier way in, these kids were epic.

The GMNs turned at the slight sound and stared towards the back.  GMN-1 stifled the urge to clap but rather scoffed under her breath. She had to admit she was impressed by the owners of this property and whoever designed it. It was quite the masterpiece. Not only did they just make sure that there was no turning back, they successfully limited their options.

GMN-6 stared at the sight in front of her. These people were just toying with them. She looked at the imposing house and the gully before it. To say huge was an understatement. She walked past them closer to the edge she saw the fire below as it increased and she smelt sulphur. Great! Just great! She turned to face her mates. 

"There's no way in hell... " she couldn't finish the sentence. They couldn't make it across and even if they could there was no way she was going with them, she was done, out. 

"Technically there's a way over he'll" GMN-1 said and they looked at her then at the gully and then looked back at her like she had lost it. They couldn't tell what was driving her on, at some points she seemed in thought. 

"Well for you but I'll love to watch you perform a miracle" GMN-6 said there was a hint of mockery in her voice. 

"You can't go back now" GMN-2 said

"I for one would like to see her try" GMN-1 said, this drama was giving her a headache. 

"We've come so far and you want to give up and turn back? Besides Doc is not going to take your petty excuse and who knows what she might do" GMN-3 reasoned

"I don't care" GMN-6 replied 

"Well I do. If not for the box then something else and I'm running out of time and patience. This place is a freaking death trap who knows what you'd meet alone on your way back" GMN-1 said without looking at her. It was as if she was talking to herself when she was actually talking to 6.

"The rest of you want to go back it's fine" GMN-1 said sizing up the gully

"I'm not leaving you" GMN-2 said in a voice that brokered no argument incase she got it in her head to convince him otherwise. 

"Neither am I." GMN-3 said. He had no intention of abandoning her, he turned to GMN-6 "It would be safer if we stick together, we've already made it this far looking out for each other"

GMN-6 sighed it was no use going back anyway because technically, she couldn't at least not alone. Like they said, it was safer to stick together. She was battling feelings she didn't know and she felt that somewhere along the line something had changed and that scared her. Until she figured out what and how to go about it, it would be unwise to wander off alone. She took a step towards them. 

"What now? " GMN-6 asked in a resigned tone "How are we going to make it across. It's too long even for us and the probability of making that jump..."

"We gather momentum and jump up. It would be enough to propelled us the distance " GMN-1 replied 

In few words she explained to them what she meant. It wasn't the best of plans but it was better and hopefully feasible. They jumped higher than longer. If they could gain more distance up, they could use it to cover more distance length wise.

They moved as far back as they could and took off in a run. They jumped high enough and used their momentum to dive  forward upon descension. They literally crashed into the house.

"I'm surprised that actually worked" GMN-3 was the first to comment

"Oh ye of little faith" GMN-1 said with sarcasm 

"Time to face those bastards that put us through hell! " GMN-6 said, making a fist. 

The men at the control looked up and smiled. They turned to their audience who were already on their feets. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've been waiting for. We've got a tough and determined bunch who shouldn't be underestimated... " one of the twins began

"For most of us here it is our sworn and sacred duty to protect the chest and for a few others your services would be duly compensated... " the other said

"Let's end this game, feel free to use any method possible but bring me their heads! " the first one said. 

There were hearty cheers around the room and they dispersed. The twins returned to their control station anticipating the show. 

The GMNs at the door heard their announcement that they were not really quiet about. GMN-1 looked up at the camera that was positioned at the door. 

"I'll send you to hell" she said with the slightest hint of wry amusement. The psychos laughed

"I like that one, maybe we should keep her" the second twin said

"Definitely brother" turning back to the screen "challenge accepted belle, challenge bloody accepted" he said with a sinister smile.