Chapter 5: Enigmatic Connections
Time: 12:00 AM
Nisha's Point of View
I was startled awake by a noise, or rather, by people conversing. I could make out two voices, but they were whispering, making it a unique and intriguing encounter. Despite their hushed tones, I could still hear them clearly. I checked the clock, and it read 12 a.m. Confused about what was happening, I sensed that they were somehow pulling me outdoors.
Getting up from my bunk, I grabbed a jacket and put it on as I rubbed my eyes, still trying to shake off the sleepiness. Although I could hear their voices, the words were indistinguishable to me. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist the curiosity that had taken hold of me, urging me to find out what was going on.
I cautiously opened the door so as not to disturb Nathalie's beauty sleep. Taking a deep breath, I turned my head towards the front door, where the voices seemed to be coming from. I knew I was walking into the unknown and possibly digging my own grave, but at that moment, my curiosity overpowered any fear of danger or death. I felt compelled to uncover the secrets hidden within the whispers and unravel the mysteries that surrounded me.
The frigid air greeted me as I stepped outside, and a sense of foreboding washed over me. It felt like I had become a character in a narrative, bracing myself for an uncertain fate. The whispers of the two individuals were still audible, and it was evident that they were discussing something of great importance. Driven by curiosity and an inexplicable connection to their voices, I followed the sound, ignoring the biting cold.
As I continued on, the sensation I was experiencing became oddly familiar, as if I had been in a similar situation before. Eventually, the whispers ceased, but I could still hear their breaths, indicating that I was getting closer. The revelation of this newfound ability to hear voices left me feeling uncomfortable and perplexed. What was happening to me? What was I?
Lost in my thoughts, I realized I had wandered far from our dorm room. Nevertheless, I remained determined to see this through. I soon arrived at an old, decrepit structure. It seemed like a residence, but its ancient appearance made it stand out from the rest of the university buildings. A faint light emanated from inside, confirming that the voices were indeed coming from there.
Approaching the old house cautiously, I stopped about three meters away. It was clearly abandoned, covered in dust and neglect. My instincts told me to find a hiding spot, and I took a step to conceal myself, ready to observe without being noticed. I needed to understand the purpose of this clandestine meeting and, most importantly, my strange connection to it.
The girl's voice echoed, "This University is weird." I turned my attention towards the door, but there was no sign of anyone coming out. They must still be inside the building. I kept watching them from my hidden spot when suddenly, I heard a loud noise as the door broke open, revealing the two individuals inside.
"I don't know what's happening at this university, but something doesn't feel right. This abandoned place is a mess, with items scattered about. Earlier, one of my roommates was talking about it when the bell rang," the man said. As they stepped outside, I could now see that they were a young lady and a man. But it was the man's words that captured my attention. I listened closely, mentally preparing myself for whatever revelation might come next.
The young lady demanded an answer, "Would you mind explaining?"
"He said that the Fentanyl experiment failed again. And when the bell rang, it meant that the person they experimented on had turned into a mutant and escaped. The bell serves as a warning to those connected to the Peur Organization-it's a sign that we're in danger," the man explained.
The surroundings were dimly lit, and I struggled to think clearly. However, the mention of Fentanyl troubled me as well. What exactly was Fentanyl, and how did it work? The term sparked curiosity and fear within me, knowing it had something to do with the mutant situation they were discussing. I needed to find out more about this mysterious experiment and its potential implications.
"Let's get started. It's possible that we'll become stranded here," the man's voice said.
As I turned my gaze back to them, I saw them leaving the abandoned house. The information I had just heard left me stunned for a moment. Nathalie had been lying to me about the bell, and I couldn't help but wonder why. And now, the man's claim of danger due to a failed experiment and the emergence of a monster added to the already growing sense of unease.
Before I could react or take a step, they disappeared from view, and suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth, preventing me from screaming. I struggled to break free, but the person was too strong, and I had no choice but to be dragged away against my will. Fear gripped me as I wondered if I was about to face my death.
"You're not going to die on your own. Tss," the man's voice whispered into my ear. It startled me that he seemed to know my thoughts. He kept going with his back to me, pulling me along, and I could sense his body structure. A name sprang to my mind, but I couldn't believe it.
"Shawn Caylus Dwyne," I mumbled, confirming his identity without needing any response from him. Until we arrived at a modest room in the middle of the woods, Shawn remained silent. When he turned around to face me, his serious expression confirmed my suspicion that he was the one dragging me all along.
"What you did was a fucking hazardous thing," he said sternly. I simply stared at him, feeling indifferent and uninterested in whatever he had to say. Responding to him seemed pointless, and I chose to remain silent.
"How did you end up there?" he asked in a neutral tone.
"Gossiping," I replied coldly.
He turned away, taking a deep breath, and then turned back to pour himself some water from a small table. He sipped it slowly, his gaze fixed on me. Feeling uneasy, I looked around the room and noticed an array of weapons, including samurai swords, shurikens, knives, ropes, and chains. It became apparent that this was some sort of training room. A red punching bag hung in the center, adding to the ominous atmosphere.
I couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Why was Shawn involved in this? And why had he brought me to this secluded place filled with dangerous weapons? My mind raced with questions and uncertainties as I awaited some explanation.
I heard him say, "This is my training room," but I didn't look at him and continued to wander around. It was a simple, dark space, devoid of life, with only guns on display. Despite its simplicity, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. After all, this was his private property, and I didn't want to intrude or disturb anything.
"You can," he spoke again, and this time I turned to look at him. Was he somehow able to read my thoughts? "Tss. You can work out here," he stated. My brows furrowed in confusion.
"It's exactly what you need to know. But for the time being, you must return to your dorm. If Nathalie realizes you're not there, your life will be in shambles. If that happens, you won't be able to go anywhere," he explained, offering a lengthy response. Despite his minimal chit-chat during our introduction, it seemed he was willing to share more information now.
"This place is strange," I observed.
"I can't say I blame you. In any case, I agree. My workout space is a mystery. Only my father and I are aware of it. Even Nathalie had no idea what was going on. Since I don't have a roommate, I can safely come here anytime. However, you should be cautious. Many eyes are on you, especially as a transfer student," he added. It amazed me how much he could convey with just a few words. His explanation was quite extensive.
"I'm going to return you to your dorm room. Remember to keep this location a secret. I'm putting my faith in you. I'm not your adversary, and you're not my rival. Let's get started," Shawn said as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me along once again. I had no choice but to follow him. Despite the situation, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of closeness between us.
As we walked, I hesitated to ask him about everything that had happened. There were so many unanswered questions swirling in my head, but I didn't feel empowered to demand more answers at that moment. Perhaps a bit of rest and time to process everything would be helpful.
As I gazed at Shawn's back, a question kept nagging at me, "Is he a trustworthy individual?" He had stated that we weren't rivals, and I wanted to believe him, but there was still so much I didn't understand about him and the mysterious world I seemed to have stumbled into. My mind was filled with uncertainty as I tried to figure out exactly what our connection was and what role he played in all of this.
-
I had been awake for about an hour, unable to sleep. After Shawn and I returned to our dorm, we didn't speak again about what had transpired. Perhaps he sensed that I needed some space and time to process everything, so he respected my silence. He had managed to bring me back without anyone noticing, which was another issue that troubled me. It made me realize that I needed to be more vigilant and prepared for any emergencies that might arise in this mysterious world I had become entangled in. I knew I needed Shawn's help to learn how to defend myself properly.
His presence was comforting, and as he held my hand, I felt a sense of ease and security. Despite the chaos and uncertainty surrounding us, being with him felt harmless and familiar, as if we had known each other for a long time. It puzzled and irritated me, as I couldn't remember ever having met him before coming to this university.
Closing my eyes, I tried to reflect on the events of the past few hours. Disturbing images of a bloodbath and the cries of people in distress haunted my mind. However, I couldn't recall experiencing those events while I was sleeping. It was as if I had been part of something else, or perhaps my memories were being manipulated in some way.
The more I tried to make sense of everything, the more confused and unsettled I felt. There were so many unanswered questions and unknowns, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and anxious. As I lay there, trying to find some peace in the midst of the chaos, I knew that I had to find the truth about myself, this university, and the Peur Organization. Only then could I truly understand what had happened to me and why I was connected to all of this. But for now, the answers eluded me, and I could only hope that time would reveal the hidden mysteries that surrounded me.
As I lay there, my mind drifted back to the conversation I overheard earlier between the woman and the man. It struck me that they might also be transfer students like me, seeking answers and solutions out of curiosity. It was evident that many innocent students had found themselves entangled in the web of mysteries surrounding this university.
But the most troubling realization was the growing feeling of insanity creeping over me for no apparent reason. The strange occurrences, the secrets, and the unknown dangers were taking a toll on my mental state. It was as if I was being pushed to the brink of my sanity, and I couldn't shake the unease that clung to me.
And then, the memory resurfaced - the Peur Organization. It was connected to this university. This revelation added another layer of complexity to the already bewildering situation. What was the Peur Organization, and how did it relate to the university and the mysterious experiments taking place?
The more I learned, the more questions arose. I felt like I was trapped in a maze of secrets and conspiracies, and there was no clear path to escape. All I could do was keep my wits about me, trust my instincts, and find a way to navigate through the darkness to uncover the truth that lay hidden within the walls of this enigmatic institution.