So strange.

I can't say I am an expert on drugs or anything like that, for someone that doesn't even drink alcohol, the only junk coming close to it I ever took would be caffeine; the adored substance of the modern slavers.

Yet, I know the drug Bell gave me is not that simple. My first guess on its effects was to dull the pain; this world's version of painkillers. Since I didn't feel anything less than ten minutes after getting injected with it, and when I say anything, I mean anything, not just the pain or the other sense of the body, but also myself.

But this is not the strange part, nor is it the subtle hallucination effect, but it is the antitoxin effect.

I might not remember the full results of the analyses I did on my body while my ability was active, but I do remember that the monster's claws are poisonous, and the poison is not something you can cure with tea. In fact, it is more acid than poison. My plan at that time was to use a knife to remove the infected flesh, that is just how dire it was.

But this Opiate not only dulled the pain, but it also magically turned rotten flesh into a healthy one. And it is not an exaggeration, by the time I reached the others at the place of the fight, my shoulder was inflated, and all around the wound is black and oozing with black puss. Definitely not a good spectacle to see, so much so that I vomited. Which was, now that I think about it, frankly embarrassing, but it also made me hungry.

A good sign. It means the drug symptoms are receding, it also means pain. But it is way better to have the ability to think while in pain than not thinking at all. Isn't it the reason I don't drink alcohol in the first place?

"Look in front of you and just focus on walking."

I looked away from the dancing tree to the front at Bell's advice. We are, all six of us, walking in the forest. The trees are widely spaced and the ground is even and fully covered in white snow, making a crunching sound as we step on it. The snow in this region is so piled up that the only other color you can see, in the flashlight's range, is the brown from the trees' trunks or some fallen branches.

I shifted my right arm in the hastily made arm sling. It is getting more and more uncomfortable. While the injury in my back is getting more painful, it is the itch in my shoulder that made me restless. Which is a wrong and a misalignment of priorities, since we are in the middle of the woods, and in the middle of the night. I haven't checked specifically, but it should be around ten or twelve.

When will I ever leave this damn forest?

I am getting sick of it, barely three days in this world and I am getting white hair, figuratively... and literally.

"Try this."

I looked at the hand that suddenly appeared in front of my eyes, and the biscuit held between its fingers. I unconsciously took it with my left hand and put it in my mouth. It is crunchy and dry while it tastes of nothing, the drug did number on my taste bud but I am sure this biscuit tastes of nothing, which in my opinion is worst than if it tasted bad.

"Don't make that face, it may not be a Tebirkes but better than nothing."

Tebirkes? What is that?

I turned my head to my left and looked at Bell as she walked to my side her eyes darting to every place.

"Need water?" She asked not even looking at me, yet...

I already know of her observation skills, but I am genuinely starting to believe she is a Blessed because otherwise, it would be frightening. Being able to read my thoughts like that is not in any way ordinary, and I am not easy to read either. It may not be flawless, but over the years I developed a relatively useful aptitude for hiding my thoughts from showing. While it is not perfect, it is reasonable to say I am not bad at poker.

"No thanks." I said as I munched more of the biscuits.

"Ah? What is this smell? It smells like the burned beard of an old man... Oh?! Don't tell me someone is angry." With a tug on her right shoulder, she adjusted her rifle, Svelt strapped to it, While her hands held, in a low ready position, my rifle, PK66.

"I don't know what you are talking about, I smell nothing."

Since one of my arms is in an arm sling, while the other one, I can hardly raise due to the injury on my back, Bell 'offered' to help me carry the rifle. And with absolutely no reluctance whatsoever I accepted, after all, it is a genius idea to be injured and weaponless in a forest night walk, right?

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Really? It's fine then," Even while talking, her eyes had not been fixed in one place for more than two seconds, a clear sign she did not let down her guard "now that I remember you haven't named this little girl," slightly raising the rifle in her hands "don't tell me you are not good at naming."

This scary bitch is...

Breathe in, breathe out, this is not enough, definitely not enough. If I ever had doubt before on why I should keep things a secret, now I don't. But I can do nothing about it, the cat is out of the bag, one of the cats, at least.

"I don't see why I should," I shook my head, while my face displayed a small hint of enthusiasm "I'll get a better one soon anyway."

I smiled as I looked at the beautiful rifle strapped to her shoulder.

"Is it really that bad?" she turned to me for a moment her face full of 'worry' "the hallucinations effect I mean, aren't they influencing you a little bit too much?"

I am not angry.

I pursed my lips and was about to retort by it seems she hadn't finished not angering me

"I know the special Opioids the professor made had an odd trips effect, but going as far as to delude yourself into believing you have more than seven centimeters inside your boxers, is just plain sad." She said with a sad voice and sad face before resuming her duty.

Contrary to her intended intentions, I am more curious about who made the drug, this professor, than angry at getting called a small dick. and honestly, such insults can never elicit any other emotion in me than amusement.

What I found curious in her word is the way she refers to this professor; the professor. As if everyone knows him, common knowledge, in the army at least.

I wanted to ask her more about this professor, but doing so directly will, with certainty, result in using that knowledge as some sort of bait. So I would either use more subtle ways or just ask Zane later, I will still use subtle ways with him too, but to a lesser extent.

"At least, now, I know you haven't checked me out while I passed out." I said with a smile, people underestimate the power of a smile in this situation.

Initially, I tried to keep my voice low for fear of drawing unwanted and feral attention, but then I thought otherwise. The Shredders, while you might not call them deaf they frankly aren't far off. When I baited the Shredder with my blood and it didn't, I used sound to direct it to below the tree I was in. I did succeed in doing so only after three failed attempts, however.

That also explains why none of the team had their gun fitted with a suppressor, nor do they seem to care all that much about staying quiet.

I looked around, nothing other than trees and snow, and the team. We are walking in more of a two-by-two queue than a tight formation. Bell to my left side, Alec and Eric at the front, while Zane and Bart are taking the rear. While the formation may not seem well thought out, it is. Especially if you take into account that Eric is a Blessed. They keep it, from some modest probes, confidential. Still, I might not have learned his ability or its specific use, it is not hard to guess.

"You got it wrong, I didn't check you out because there is nothing to check out."

"Who said that."

"Your face pretty boy, your face."

Pretty boy?

That is quite unfair.

"Oh! thank you, you are maki--"

"Shut up," A voice full of anger come from the front, "can't you fucking see where we are? What we are doing? huh?" Eric stopped and half-turned his body, with not happy eyes directed at me "do you fucking know what focus means."

"Stop it Kelliv." With a firm tone, Alec shoots him a pointed look.

"Why is that Captain, I don't understand," Eric turned to Alec "I might be opposed at first but I understood, he's gifted, he can be of help albeit small," He looked at me for a moment before turning back to the Captain "but what now, he can't even move his arms, he can't be of any help, what can he do, huh? Other than burdening us."

"There is something I don't understand too," Bell smiled widely showing her pearly white teeth, her eyes, however, weren't smiling "what is pressing you, princess?"

Wow, that is the most beautiful toss I have ever seen.

She also has skills as a lawyer.

...I wonder how her naming skills are.

"Pressing me? Oh? that, I don't know, perhaps the eighteen fucking killer machines three kilometers away."

"Don't play the ignorant with me, princess, you have been restless since we left the base as if someone shoved a porcupine down your ass."

That is... not something I want to see or imagine.

While this heated conversation started partly because of me, I am more than happy to be excluded from it. So I just stood aside trying to not make anything that will bring attention to me. I even started some breathing exercises, and hopefully what I read on the internet will be true and I will be invisible.

"You fucking bitch, did you start getting idea of a high life now that you got a Blessed fuck toy?"

The smile from Bell's face disappeared, and a frown took its place, while her right hand index finger moved from the trigger guard to the trigger.

"Do I really need to remind you each and every moment?" Looking at Bell and then Eric, his voice cold with a hint of anger in it "do I, Roney? Kelliv? What is so hard to understand? I said I need concentration in this mission, are these words hard to understand, they aren't hard, are they? Right? What are you waiting for? Shut your damn traps and move."

That sucks, I don't want to be them.

Regardless, neither of the two said anything, other than looking at each other, sparks flying in the air, before everyone resumed their walk in silence. Well, the walk was silent even before save for the occasional nib between me and Bell, but now, only the crunching sound of boots stepping on snow and wind.

The solemn walk continued for about an hour until we arrived at what looked to be the edge of a cliff. From then it was a search. Going left searching then right. What are we searching for? No when seems to know other than Alec who maintained his lips shut. But that question did take more than thirty minutes to get answered.

On the rocky walls of the cliff's edge, hidden behind a giant tree is...

a cave.