(((DAMMIT! I NEED MORE TIME!)))

That was all I repeatedly heard, overlapping in a chorus of distorted voices as we traveled through the portal. It was strange, as I knew that I was screaming from being yanked through, but I couldn't hear myself. The sensation of agony was once again present, no doubt, but all sound had been voided except for those aforementioned words resounding inside my head. I gathered that was because it was the last thing to grace my ears before we were whisked away. Actually, I don't even think I heard anyone scream or shriek once the extraction began.

Well, I surmise that's what had happened.

It's the only logical reason for D'Voorz to rage that she needed more time. We were being returned to the real world.

*🌙*

I've finally returned to my proper state of consciousness, finding myself in a room similar to the one from earlier, but minus the voracious-looking pterodactyl. Thankful for that, albeit I'm certain I could handle him this time around. Just a quick activation of my Fuego-Fists and roasted wing-fingers will be on the menu for some starving soul. (Never for me though! Blecch!)

There aren't any EKG pads or IV tubing attached this time, though I am strapped to another cold, metallic surface, most likely another experimentation table. It's uncomfortable, and that discomfort is reinforced by the subtle grogginess I'm feeling, but I can at least move my head better than before. That's great, because I hate having my ability to survey impaired.

Once my eyes adjust to the lights bathing everything in their incandescence, I scan my surroundings, taking note of two panels in the middle of the room: one located in the ceiling and the other in the floor, directly under the first one. They give me Mortal Kombat vibes, though they don't seem out of place. I doubt the T'Karians were going for inconspicuous with that design choice, but one would be forgiven if the panels weren't noticed immediately since their outlines blend into their surroundings. As for me, throughout ten of my seventeen years on this earth, I've trained myself to notice things others wouldn't. However, doing so has never been useful until now.

Upon further inspection, I spy Zuri to the right of me strapped onto a slightly larger and more intricate table. She's still unconscious and looks rather peaceful, so I'd hate to wake her, but we need to get out of here. Eschewing responsibility and being hindered by apprehension is the old me. The new Dexter Bartholomew James Seagrave is a guy who takes charge.

"I claim it, therefore it will be so: Absolute Strength — ACTIVATE!" With minor effort, I shatter my restraints and leap from the table. I'm still light-headed, but also excited, and all of a sudden feeling wary. That was entirely too easy to escape from, which means Doctor Mordecai is somewhere, not that far away, watching me. He was expecting me to break free, which means that I have just stepped my big-ass feet into a trap. Shit!

Despite that possibility unsettling me, I make haste and free my friend. "Zuri!" I scream, forcefully shaking her. "C'mon, Zuri! You gotta wake up!" I can't seem to break her slumber, though her breathing is steady and her heartbeat appears normal, so I guess that's a good sign. However, she's burning up like she has a fever. Don't know if it's a result of the wild, psychological trip we went on, or if she's been doped up again.

Admittedly, her condition was much worse before she was experimented on. Whatever the case may be now, I can't dwell on it. I'll just have to carry her out until she awakens and can walk on her own. Only problem with that is trying to hold on to her while beating down whoever the doctor sends my way as we escape.

Stolen novel; please report.

Upon lifting her, I was startled by the sound of three mechanisms unlocking behind me, followed by the sound of air escaping with a slow hiss. Eventually there was a loud humming, or whirring, like elevators descending. I was too afraid to turn around, for I knew what awaited me. Like I said before, I had stepped into a trap. I continued to move Zuri, when I felt something cold, hard and wet attached to the small of her back: it was a blood-soaked chain.

The doctor had rigged Zuri with some kind of Saw-like contraption, which would be activated upon my inevitable rescue of her. (The intricate design and size of the table makes more sense now.) He knew that I couldn't resist being the hero, and I played right into his gigantic, soiled paws. If it's one thing I've always been, it's predictable. Most tend to know me better than I know myself, so I am not shocked this happened. I am pissed though, and sick of playing Mordecai's games. I gotta get out of here, by any means necessary.

*🌙*

I was still holding Zuri as the blood streamed, drenching my hands. The whirring was getting louder, but I chose not to focus on it. Whatever's coming is important, no doubt placing us in imminent danger, but it's not a priority. Zuri's well-being is infinitely more precious to me.

I examined the chain and noticed that it appeared to be sloppily sewn into her, but I didn't know how far it went and what it may have been attached to inside, thus I was afraid to indulge my curiosity. Although she's now an Eclipsed like me, I didn't want to snatch it out and possibly paralyze her. I don't know if she has a healing factor like I do, but in the likelihood she doesn't, it's best to err on the side of caution. Shantrice would raise hell if I harmed her cousin in any way, so the optimal choice would be to break its connection to the bed-like structure.

"Man, this is not looking good," I sighed, becoming resigned to my apprehension once more. "So much for the new Dexter Bartholomew James Seagrave." It appears that my caution and worry had become palpable because Zuri suddenly woke up, stretching and yawning. "Yes! Thank God you're awake now!" I rejoiced. I almost jumped for joy, but caught myself just in time. "You know, I was just wondering how I would fight these T'Karians off with you in tow."

I laughed nervously and Zuri yawned again, hitting me in the face with overwhelmingly—well, almost overwhelmingly—hot breath. She blinked a few times and stared at me like she didn't know who I was, then yawned once more before speaking.

"Dexter?"

"Yeah?"

"Put me down, please."

Amused, I oblige and lay her back on the table. "Well, that's the nicest thing you've said to me so far today."

"Bruh, fuck you!" she spat, smirking tauntingly. "Now, how's that for being nice to ya' ass?" I can only chuckle in response as I can't draw my attention from the fact that she looks to be in a daze still. However, that may just be her readjusting to consciousness. As I initially surmised, she had been injected with something, most likely to keep her sedated long enough for me to trigger everything. Also, factoring in that she was psychologically whammied before that, recovery is not going to be easy.

I was prepared to say something sarcastic in a roundabout way to bring up the danger arriving for us soon, when Zuri abruptly grabbed me by the wrists, her face flooded with shock as she examined my hands. "Bruh, why are your hands so fuckin' red? Is that blood, my nigga?!"

"Uh, heh, yeah. Yeah, it's blood………Heh heh……," I said with a slight wheeze. I don't know why, but I was beginning to panic, which led to perspiration drenching my armpits once again.

Zuri was panicking also, but her anger subsequently overtook that. I could tell by the murderous glare making her heterochromous eyes blaze. "WHOSE?!"

"Um, it's………Uhhhhh………NOT IMPORTANT!"

"LIKE HELL IT ISN'T! TELL ME WHOSE IT IS, BRUH, OR I'LL BEAT THE FUCK OUT OF YOU!" Zuri began to morph into her hulking, muscular form, but stopped mid-transformation. Something in her peripheral had caught her attention.

There was a final hiss of air released as a circular panel in the ceiling opened up, revealing a trio of large, silver, capsule-shaped chambers. The chambers made a slow descent into the middle of the room, where another panel located in the floor had opened to uncover several, rectangular prongs that stood in-line. The chambers covered the prongs and locked into place with a short sequence of beeps as a confirmation that they were properly linked. Afterwards, there was a bright flash of light accompanied by a noise that I could only describe as a reversed whoosh reverberating like it was inside of a tunnel.