HUNTED-Chapter 443: The Lab Again

For the next few days, the trio spent their time navigating the maze of the research centre. It was never-ending, and on many occasions, they were frustrated, feeling like animals stuck in cages with too much pent-up energy. On the third day, Keira was acutely aware that their time spent exploring was up. The games would return.

Yet, as soon as Keira stepped over the threshold of her door, heading to breakfast, Carter intercepted her, grabbing her arm and leading her away from the hall in the opposite direction. She felt Ahren’s gaze on the back of her head from where he usually waited for her and Dylan. The door shut behind her before she could interpret his stony expression.

Keira slipped her arm out of Carter’s hold just before they entered the little research lab—or torture chamber—she’d been accustomed to days prior. "You don’t need to hold onto me so tightly. I’m not going to run away."

Carter gave her a look. It hadn’t been long since she woke up in this place and attempted to escape within the first few hours. Keira looked around dramatically. "Where would I go?!" She exclaimed, and he released her.

"Remember, my gun is loaded with silver bullets," he warned, patting the side of his hip to make his point clear.

"Duly noted," Keira replied dryly. "What are we doing today?"

Carter didn’t reply as she followed a little hesitantly to the broad window that looked into the chamber she had been previously forced to shift in multiple times. However, Carter didn’t need to as Octavius moved away from whatever he was doing on his computer and smiled at her.

"Keira," he greeted warmly, but it made ice grow in the pit of her stomach. "I take it you are well rested?"

Keira nodded, acutely aware of Carter moving around her. She couldn’t see where he was, and it made her feel anxious. Ember didn’t like it. It was a position that made them vulnerable, even if Carter might only be leaning against the glass.

"Excellent," Octavius continued, clapping his hands together, which resounded in a loud slap. "We require something else of you." Before Keira could ask what it was, the scientist rattled on quickly. "Now, this will be a little painful, but if you agree and calmly lie down on the bed, anaesthetic will be used."

The ’bed’ was a metal table with straps on the sides. No freakin’ way was she going on that!

Keira didn’t like the sound of this at all. She involuntarily took a step back and bumped into a hard chest. Carter’s hands went to her shoulders, and panic kicked in. She jumped, and his grip tightened.

"What is it?" She asked, her voice pitching high. "What do you want to do?!"

"Now, now. It’s nothing to worry about. But we do need you to be calm and not move." That made her kick her legs and jam her elbow into Carter’s stomach.

He groaned but lifted Keira up and slammed her onto the metal bed. She squirmed beneath him and kicked her legs out. Ember ran towards the mental wall between them, intent on shifting, but Carter managed to get one strap on her wrist, and her wolf slammed into the wall and collapsed. The strap was made out of silver.

Keira continued to struggle, but Carter strapped both her wrists, keeping them by her sides. She tried looking over her shoulder, breathing hard, and kicked the soldier a few times just to make him bruise. When she was held down, Carter strolled towards the other end of the table and moved aside her hair from her face and neck.

"Did you have to be so rough with her?" Octavius sighed, pushing a small metal tray full of tools Keira looked away from. Instead, she’d rather look at Carter than that.

"Being gentle wouldn’t get her on the table," Carter grunted, wiping away the blood under his nose. Keira smirked. At least she managed to cause him some pain. He narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing more.

His slight kindness in not insulting Keira didn’t make her feel better. It only meant that whatever was going to happen wouldn’t be pretty. A slight sting in the back of her neck made her gasp, eyes widening at the cold liquid being pushed into her system. Her sight began to blur before darkness pulled her under.

When she next woke up, Keira was lying on her back, the bed warm and comfortable, nothing like the metal bed she’d been strapped into. She blinked and looked around, taking more than a few minutes for the fogginess to subside and realise this was her room.

Keira sprang up and then clasped the side of her head when the room spun. "Take it easy. The old man didn’t do much to you, but you still need to eat." Carter’s voice came from the side closest to her, and she looked over to discover him leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"What did you do?" She demanded through clenched teeth. She reached the back of her neck, where it throbbed in pain, and discovered a padded plaster covering the area.

"Octavius inserted a device to monitor your vitals-"

"WHAT?!" Keira slammed her fist into the bed and glared at Carter.

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"You will be starting a new game soon. The drones can only show so much," Carter continued like she didn’t have a little outburst. "You’re not the only one to have this done, so stop bitching."

"Has everyone going into the game had this done?" Keira asked. It was the only thing that made sense to her.

Carter shook his head. "I can’t tell you who. Keep that on until you can shower next. I’d suggest grabbing some food before the food station closes," Carter said before pushing off the wall and leaving her room.

Keira rushed to the bathroom and checked the back of her neck, but there was nothing to see. The bandage was only there until her body healed the wound. She hated that something had been put inside of her. She felt molested in a way and icky just thinking about them seeing her vitals on a screen.

Keira shivered and then pushed aside her feelings. Carter said there was a new game, and it was obvious she was going to be in it. Without any information, it was better to eat before it. With those thoughts, Keira left her room and strode towards the hall. The sound of cutlery being used and low chatter surrounded her as she focused on the food line.

"What happened?" Ahren’s gruff voice and tender hand on the back of her neck snapped her out of her focus. Ember was still asleep, recovering from the silver that had been placed on her wrists—silver that left a ring of burns around her wrists and ankles. They would go by the evening, which is probably when Ember will return.

"Oh, the usual. Taken away. Tested on." Keira shrugged, making light of the situation.

"What did they do to your neck?" Ahren’s hand dropped, but his eyes probed her to open up more.

They were in an open space, though, and some still looked over curiously. Although they weren’t known characters in this hall, it was clear that Keira, Ahren and Dylan had formed a little alliance.

Keira did hear a few she-wolves snidely commenting about how the trio were more than just an alliance, but she didn’t bother correcting or getting involved in any fights—it was a distraction and time-consuming.

"Not here." Keira continued looking ahead, her stomach rumbling as she saw some scrambled eggs.

"Keira, your wrists…" Ahren’s large hand clamped around hers as he gazed down at them.

She felt him shake and placed her other hand over his. "They will recover," she said soothingly. "Now, where is Dylan?"

Ahren didn’t answer her question meant to distract him and anyone else paying close attention to them. An alliance meant strength, but they might see they were close and use it against them. With a sigh, releasing her hand gently, Ahren answered, "Helping some of the newbies."

Keira followed his gaze. Dylan was indeed helping someone she didn’t recognise. Although she was still familiarising herself with some of the other werewolves here. "I see." She started loading up her tray and returned to one of the tables where Ahren had been sitting. Somehow, the food tray he left still had some food on it. Nobody had touched it.

Either the guards would attack them, or they didn’t want to fight Ahren. There was something undeniably powerful and dangerous about the guy. Keira had grown used to it, but the same could not be said for everyone else. She was still trying to decide if that was a good thing or not.

It didn’t take long for Keira to devour her food. She didn’t realise just how hungry she was. "There’s going to be another game," she whispered after drinking some orange juice.

"Figured that much." Ahren leaned closer, staring at her. "Do you know what it is?"

Keira shook her head. "We aren’t exactly friends," she jested but grimaced, thinking back at how she’d been strapped down to the table.

Ahren watched her a moment longer before drawling. "Maybe you should try."

"Huh?" Keira frowned and stared at him, confused.

Ahren shrugged. "It might help you. That’s all I’m saying."

"I don’t think I can win over someone like Carter. And the scientist is already obsessed with me…" Keira corrected quickly. "Not in a good way."

"I’m not pushing you on it. But I don’t think this will be the last time you’re called away from us." Keira nodded along to his words. It was clear they were trying to get as much data on her as possible. She hoped to escape before much more could be discovered.

"Ladies and Gentleman." That same voice from before spoke through the speakers. "You have had enough time to rest. Now it is time to put your limits to the test."

Keira was expecting a new game. What she didn’t expect was to be paired up with someone who never wanted her to live in the first place.