Tall trees with wide, dark-green leaves stretched out ahead. The forest canopy grew denser, darker, cold and damp.
"Phase One. Tropical Forest."
The robotic voice was flat, emotionless, yet it sent a chill straight down my spine.
Out of the entire Radon team, I was the only one trembling, stuck at the very back of the line. The deafening bell rang, making my knees go weak. Everyone sprinted into the forest at once, leaving me behind as I dragged myself after them.
The moment we entered the arena, no one cared about teamwork anymore. Everyone was focused on their own survival. It didn't matter if we were on the same team; eventually, we'd have to face each other anyway.
And the fewer participants left, the better the odds of winning, right?
And me… I probably wouldn't survive even this first phase.
The low electric hum of my baton filled the air as I activated it. I stood at the edge of the forest, staring into the eerie landscape ahead. Thick undergrowth, tangled vines, moss. Everything overlapped in chaotic layers.
With no idea where the way out was.
And no idea what waited for me inside.
From a distance, I heard unfamiliar sounds, some kind of animals. I kept glancing around warily, my steps slowing even more.
"Calm down, Maddie. Calm down," I whispered.
I lowered my gaze to the ground; fresh footprints, broken branches, torn bushes. I followed the existing trail, hoping to catch up with the rest of the team.
But the deeper I went, the more the tracks scattered. No—worse. Some of them just disappeared.
That wasn't normal.
I froze, unsure which way to go as time kept slipping by. If I got stuck here, I'd still be as good as dead, right?
I closed my eyes and tried to inhale anything my nose could pick up; fresher air, the warmth of sunlight… or—
Kael's scent.
Faint, but unmistakable. I was sure of it. It led straight ahead, deeper into the forest's darker part.
I took a step forward—and heard a soft rustling sound like plastic brushing together. Or palms rubbing when the air turns icy.
Who was there? Where?
I scanned my surroundings, but there was no one.
"Hello?" My hoarse voice echoed back at me.
Something wet dripped onto my shoulder. Instinctively, I looked up and saw a thick white substance clinging to me, like sap.
And the smell—
"Maddie!!"
At the exact moment of the shout, something slammed into me and knocked me off my feet, sending me rolling across the ground.
It hurt—God, it hurt.
I groaned, my mouth filling with dirt, pain exploding through my body.
My eyes met Kael's as he hovered over me, our faces inches apart.
"Duck, Maddie," he growled.
Kael stood up effortlessly. Above us, something dropped down fast, hanging from milky-white webbing. Not just one.
Too many.
Eight legs. Multiple pairs of eyes. Massive, threatening pincers.
I gasped. "Spiders?"
I struggled to my feet as Kael charged straight into the fight. His claws slashed through every giant spider that came near us. The wet, splitting sounds of their bodies made my stomach churn. Their high-pitched screeches as Kael tore them apart were disgusting.
"Run, Maddie! Now!" he shouted—half command, half fury.
I dragged myself forward, the pain in my body fading into numbness. Adrenaline and noradrenaline surged as I ran, obeying Kael without question.
Then Kael's scent grew strong. I glanced back and saw him sprinting fast, until he was right beside me.
"Can you move any faster?" he snapped impatiently.
I fought back tears. "My whole body hurts."
"They'll catch up if you're this slow, Maddie!"
"Then leave me!" I panted. "I'm useless, just go! Save yourself!"
"Idiot!!"
Suddenly, Kael grabbed me and lifted me without hesitation. My body bounced with each of his powerful strides as he moved swiftly through bushes and over fallen trees. Each time he jumped, he tightened his grip to keep me from falling.
I could hear his heartbeat—fast, but controlled. His ragged breaths brushed against the top of my head.
This was a life-or-death situation, but somehow… I felt like I was going to live. Like, there was still hope.
Kael leapt forward as we entered a different part of the forest. The trees here stood tall, their needle-like leaves glossy green, releasing a sharp, heavy scent.
He set me down on a sturdy branch, and I instinctively clung to the trunk.
"They can still follow us," I said, shivering. "Those spiders, they can crawl up trees."
The image alone made my skin crawl. Chest-high bodies, bloated abdomens, long hairy legs.
"Isn't there somewhere safer? A cave or something?"
Kael shot me a brief, cold, annoyed look. "Safer? We're in a cedar grove."
"Cedar trees?"
"Spiders hate the smell. High resin content. I'm sure they won't come near this area."
I hadn't known that. There were no trees in my district—only moss and hydroponic plants, rare and expensive. I didn't say any of that to Kael.
I already felt small enough. Just another useless Strain holding everyone back.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Just a scratch. It's fine."
"From here, we'll head to the second safe point. The route will curve around. If we go straight north, their lair is there, before the summit," Kael explained.
I barely understood anything he said. North, south—I'd lost all sense of direction, just like I'd lost my sense of purpose.
"Okay," I nodded.
Kael frowned briefly. I noticed him pressing a hand to his left side.
"Are you injured?" I asked, worried.
"It's just a scratch."
Funny. And a little irritating, Kael smirked slightly as he said it, like he was mocking me.
"Let me see it. I was a nurse in my district," I offered.
Kael shook his head and placed both hands back on the branch.
"Stay here. I'll check the surroundings," Kael said, changing the subject.
Without another word, he dropped down from the tree, leaving me alone, clinging to the branch.
I looked down, then quickly looked away. Damn it. That's really high.
How am I supposed to get down from here?