Reunion

Some people believe that dreams are a true reflection of one's thoughts but Jin Lin could not make sense of what he was dreaming. It was an endless dream of him running in the dark and the more he ran the more heavier his body felt as his body temperature rose sharply.

He naturally became slower in his footsteps but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that he didn't even know what was chasing after him. All he knew was that he was so terrified with his five senses literally screaming at him to run.

Eventually, his body gave in causing him to collapse on the ground due to dehydration and overexertion. He couldn't keep running any longer but that also meant whatever was chasing him would catch up.

His hair stood on end with his heart beating faster and faster the longer he stayed on the ground. The hurried footsteps of a hot pursuit suddenly halted a few feet from him but he couldn't see anything. His body shuddered with sweat dripping from his forehead.

He was so petrified that he couldn't utter a single word more especially when a pair of azure phoenix eyes appeared in the dark with the rest of its body covered in the shadows. Jin Lin felt drawn to those enchanting eyes that seemed to lure him in.

Blazing azure flames soon engulfed those beautiful eyes that were peering at him. The pupil was barely visible as the eyes drew nearer to him with each small step.

The beast suddenly lunged at him scaring him so much that Jin Lin woke up in a start. He abruptly raised his head within the gaming capsule accidentally banging his forehead against the glass in the process.

His eyes stung from the pain as he rubbed his forehead that is when he realised he could finally move. He didn't hesitate to push the glass to attain freedom but because his legs were asleep from being in the same position for a long time he came crashing down with a loud thud.

The sound was loud enough to attract the people outside. Jin Lin scanned the room looking for Fen Hao in the other capsules but he couldn't find him.

He was about to crawl over to the other capsules and search when the door was suddenly opened and a man dressed in a form-fitted black and grey suit like those in superhero movies. The outfits seemed rather futuristic with a badge glowing a faint neon red colour on its edges.

Jin Lin was about to ask where he was when he was suddenly kicked in the abdomen. For a person who rarely got into fights, this experience was excruciating making him curl up into a ball on the floor.

"Another rookie is up," said a tall man with a deep scar on his left eye.

The man who kicked Jin Lin jumped over him and said, "Send him for deep cleaning. Who knows how long he has been stewing in there. Disgusting...," he said before walking towards the door, "Oh and if the others don't wake up by tomorrow morning take them as damaged goods and kill them."

"Yes sir," said the scar-faced man before grabbing Jin Lin by the hair till his feet were off the ground. He tried to fight back but his limbs were too weak.

He was thrown into a box room and before he could even make out what was happening he was suddenly sprayed with chlorinated hot water making him almost faint from the pain. The hospital gown he was wearing uncomfortably clung to his body weighing him down.

By the time the deep cleansing finished, a pair of clothes were tossed in his direction by scarface who turned to walk away after that. "Dinner is ready, follow the purple line to get there," said scarface as he exited the room. Jin Lin changed into the clothes that were fairly similar to the ones the other men were wearing. The only difference was the badge. This badge was grey and lifeless clearly depicting his rank.

He couldn't help but question if this was still a game as he followed the purple line. The pain was too real to be just a game. Wouldn't it mean the game developers would lose players because the pain index was high? Jin Lin didn't have enough time to analyze the situation because he had arrived at the dining area.

There were a lot of people already seated. He grabbed a tray and followed the queue looking out for Fen Hao. Lucky for him, he didn't have to look for long. Fen Hao was sitting in a corner looking rather pitiful.

Jin Lin couldn't remember anything from the night they were sedated but his body seemed to tell him that he went through something traumatic. He somewhat felt that Fen Hao went through the same thing so he hurriedly strode over after he got his pathetic-looking dinner.

As soon as he sat opposite Fen Hao the poor kid's face lit up like a candle but he restrained himself scanning the cafeteria vigilantly. This wasn't the right place to talk. In tacit understanding, the two silently ate their dinner. Something was absolutely wrong with this place and one wrong move could get them killed.

"Attention all recruits please leave the dining area and proceed to the living quarters..... lights out in thirty minutes. Attention all recruits please leave the dining area and proceed to the living quarters..... lights out in thirty minutes," repeated the voice echoing through the room.

Immediately after people began to pack up as though afraid of something. Jin Lin followed suit. He wanted to ask where the living quarters were but judging from Fen Hao's face, he seemed to know where to go. Jin Lin blindly followed his friend down a wide passage.

After walking for two minutes the crowd began to disperse entering several doors along the passageway. Fen Hao led him to the last door and inside was a six-person room with only the two of them and one other person.

He didn't see that person's face but that blond head of hair was ever so familiar to him. If he had any other choice he would rather sleep elsewhere but he had to trust Fen Hao.