Chapter 66 - Volume 2

My eyes slowly pried open, and I began to make out faint shapes and sizes that were surrounding me. Where was I? I was lying naked, save for my underwear, on an unforgivingly cold, steel table. My head exploded in pain, but my hand refused to grasp it. I wasn't tied down was I? I tried to move my head to get a better view of my limbs and torso, but it, too, refused to move. I didn't feel anything wrong retraining my body. I didn't feel any ropes, threads, or metal clasps against my skin. But, I wasn't sure. I couldn't even feel the air around me. Maybe I was drugged? I shut my eyes again; they were tearing up due to the almost blinding lights on the low ceiling. It was weird. I couldn't feel the burning sensation; I couldn't feel the pain, but I was suffering from tears. I laid there not having much else to do. What was I here for? The smells of antiseptic and bleach lodged themselves into my nostrils. My mind was foggy as if it were high. Was the stench getting to me? I breathed sharply out of my nose only to find myself regretting the action. It seemed as though my nasal cavities were linked to my center of balance. A pang of discomfort sifted through me. My body instinctively tried to vomit, but nothing came out. Which was a good thing. Otherwise, I would have drowned in my own fluids.

I would have drowned in my own fluids. I would have drowned in my own fluids. I would have drowned. I would have drowned? Drowned! Electricity coursed through my nervous system zapping my brain back to full consciousness. Where was George?! Bill?! I still couldn't move a bit, but I felt my eyes shaking furiously. What happened in the Evolution Games? We got knocked out, didn't we? I asked myself several questions to which I already knew the answers to. The more I began to think, the more my body started to release sweat. The expelled fluid caused the steel table underneath me to feel slippery and warm like I was being swallowed. Slowly. How did my plan fail? I rewalked through all the steps that I took before concluding: I didn't fail. I clearly remember the players being swept off the side of the platform that we were standing on. I clearly remember the water turning from a crystal blue to a muddy, rusty red. So, what happened?

*Click*

My head jerked. Well, at least it tried to jerk. Nothing essentially happened. The door closed again with the same sound. Graceful footsteps came closer to where I was. The only object that was lit in the room was the table, with me on it. The rest of the room (assuming I was in a room) was pitch black. They must have installed some type of light absorbers that halted the light from invading any further. When the footsteps stopped. I tried to say 'Who are you?', but it came out as, "H...rrrr...u?"

Surprisingly the voice seemed to understand. In a gentle voice, it replied, "Do not fret. I am the doctor in charge of the Evolution Games." A small hand with slender fingers reached out and touched my toes. "You were given treatment regarding the overuse of the pills. They cause more stress to your body rather than all the others. Make a sound if you can feel my fingers poking your toes." I watched his latex-covered hands pushing the skin on my toes, but I didn't make a sound. "Let me ask you this. Can you feel anything anywhere on your body?" Again, I didn't make a sound. "Well, that's alright." The voice distanced itself from me before it came back. "I'm just going to give you this," a thin syringe came into view, "It should be able to give you your tactile sensation back in a few minutes." The voice made its way up my body, towards my arm. The voice's warm and took my arm and tied a knot around my forearm. A finger traced my veins before I saw a needle plunge deep into my arm. I felt no pain, but I cringed as it was slowly pulled out. "There," the voice said, "You'll start to regain your sense of touch in about three minutes. Once you do, you may leave the building via the door in front of you." I stared at where the voice was coming from and waited for the door to close. Once it did, I pondered on what I would do now that the games are over. I should try to find the twins, but then what? Maybe I could get a job; go back to the original plan of moving into the middle sector with the orphanage? I sighed. Things did not turn out the way I wanted them to.

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Flin POV:

I waited outside of the same building that I was at when Vincent beat that kid up. The creeper van had an excruciating smell of weed. It burned my nose and my throat. I should have never borrowed this heaping pile of dog shit in the first place.

As soon as Vincent walks out, he would be alone. No friends, no cops, no passers-by. No cops because he was never filmed during the games. Micheal takes care of the concealing factor. All video and audio are delayed by almost a day before it goes out to the public, so it's a perfect way to manipulate the system. I checked the police department's wanted list; it's for the bounty hunters, even though none of them would about little ol' Vince here. The bounty was still there, so cops would be on the lookout.

I stepped outside of the van before I died of the miasma. I leaned on the white, inconspicuous exterior. I looked at my watch and counted down the seconds.

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Vincent POV:

A slight tingling sensation returned to my fingers and those before I screamed in pain. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Tears flew out of my eyes. And this time, I could feel the pain. The slight tingles suddenly shot from the tips of my body to my heart, leaving a trail that felt like a strike of lightning. My body secreted enough cold sweat to cover the entire table the fold. My eyes shook awake, and I was jolted to a sitting position. Some tremors of electricity were still zapping me in certain areas, but I could bear them. They were nothing compared to what I had just experienced.

When the soles of my feet touched the cool, tiled floor, a burst of lights shuttered on. I fell back, blinded. This place was wicked. I spotted a pair of blue, faded jeans, and a solid golden-yellow hoodie waiting for fo me on the other side of the room. I dashed over and put them on. The room wasn't that big. Maybe, twenty-by-twenty feet. The walls were a sterile white color that hinted at no previous exposure to patients or players like me. I slid a pair of white socks on and tugged a pair of black shoes to go over them. My bag, which I had present with me before the games, was hanging off the door's knob. I grabbed it and opened the door.

Somehow, I was back again in the small claustrophobic office that was previously transformed in the grand hall. I sighed. It was almost as if fate was telling me to go back to who I was. Although, I didn't know who I was, nor did I know where I came from, nor did I know where I would be going.

I stepped outside and was greeted by the same white, marble steps. Spotless, faultless, and squeaky clean. I walked down the steps, one at a time. No robots followed me this time. I must be extraordinarily clean. I chuckled. Where does the time go?

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Flin POV:

I have him in my sights. I walked over to him as he was descending the stairs and called out, "Hey, kid! If you need a ride, it's only six credits for every five miles!"

He finished walking down the steps and said, "No thanks, I don't have any money." Then, he started to leave without even taking a glance at me.

I stepped in front of him and gave him the best smile that I could. "C'mon! Look, I'll even do it for free if you tell your friends about my services!"

He stopped and said, "I don't have any friends." I paused and added, "Even if I had friends, they wouldn't have any money."

Well, dang. I gave him an awkward laugh and tried, "How about I just give you a free ride in my state-of-the-art van?" I pointed at the on-wheels weed lab.

He looked at the can and then at me before saying, "I understand if your unemployment benefits went down the drain, old man, but that's hella shady."

I've had enough of this smart ass. "Okay, kid, I'll give you two options: get in the van or GET IN THE VAN!"

He looked at me unphased and said, "That's the same option you just said twice. Do you have dementia or something? Can't you rob some other kid WHO ACTUALLY HAS MONEY?!"

I cracked my knuckles. "Look, I don't want your money, I -"

He interrupted, "So, you're a pedophile? Who wants to taste my supple skin?"

I slapped my head. At this point, I couldn't tell if he hit his head too hard when he went down, or if he was...unique. "No! I am not a pedophile! Just get in the van, and I'll explain it to you later!"

"Sir, I'm not sure if you've seen some movies these days, but that's how the pedophile always gets the kids."

At this point, I was about to break. "You just have to trust me."

"That's also what the pedo says. You sure you aren't a pedophile? Maybe you're just a really good actor?! Am I on TV?" he showed much false enthusiasm.

"Okay, fine. You can go on with your day." I can always track him down later, anyway. I felt like I was sounding like a pedophile; tracking down kids. I inwardly cringed.

"Really?! You sure that's not because you lost your boner? You don't have erectile dysfunction right?" he mocked.

I couldn't take it anymore. "You motherfucker!" the veins on my forehead bulged as I swatted the kid's hands away, "You now don't get a chance!"

Vincent immediately jumped back and yelled, "What the fuck are you doing?!"

I brought out my handkerchief and yelled back, "Prepare to be kidnapped!" I dashed over to him and covered his mouth and nose with the handkerchief. He struggled for a second or two before his body collapsed into my arms. I tossed him it eh van and drove off. What a fucking day.