Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 48 Breaking Out

Back in their cage, Nate sat cross-legged in front of Alice, his face set with determination. Alice glanced at him skeptically, unsure of what he was doing, but the clicking of the lock in his hands soon made it clear.

"What are you doing to me?" Alice asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper in the dimly lit space.

Nate didn’t reply. He was entirely focused on the task at hand—unlocking the collar around her neck. His fingers worked deftly, sliding a makeshift pin into the collar’s small mechanism. After a few more moments of tinkering, a soft click broke the silence.

The collar fell from Alice’s neck with a dull thud.

Alice gasped, her hands instinctively flying to her throat. Relief surged through her body, almost euphoric, as the restrictive weight was gone. A rush of energy coursed through her veins. She felt her powers returning like a flood, overwhelming and uncontrolled. Frost burst from her fingertips, spreading rapidly across the ground and freezing Nate’s leg in place.

"Alice!" Nate groaned in pain as the icy chill bit into his skin. "Stop!"

Alice snapped back to reality, her eyes wide with horror. "Oh my God, Nate, I’m sorry!" She quickly willed the ice to retreat, her powers obeying her command with more control this time.

The frost melted, and Nate exhaled sharply, brushing cold water from his knee. "Okay," he muttered, shaking off the lingering sting. "At least we know it works."

Alice blinked, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and joy. "I can see." She rubbed her eyes, blinking rapidly as her blurry vision gradually sharpened. She looked around the cage, her surroundings becoming clearer with each second.

Nate smiled faintly. "Good. That’s one problem solved."

After giving her a moment to adjust, Nate handed her the pin he’d been using. "Your turn. Help me get mine off."

Alice hesitated, holding the pin uncertainly. "I don’t know if I can do this, Nate. What if I mess it up?"

"You won’t," Nate assured her, his tone calm but firm. "I’ll guide you. Just trust me."

She nodded reluctantly and moved behind him. As she adjusted her position, she suddenly froze. "Wait," she said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Where did you even get this pin?"

Nate’s response was immediate, blunt, and devoid of any embarrassment. "After you finished dressing, I noticed you weren’t wearing your bra. Must’ve been uncomfortable with it. I pulled the pin from it."

Alice blinked at him, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. "You’re... observant," she finally managed to say, her voice tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and reluctant admiration. "Smart thinking."

"Thanks," Nate said casually, as if discussing something mundane. "Now, let’s get this thing off me."

Alice shook her head, both amused and flustered, as she knelt behind him. With the pin in hand, she studied the locking mechanism on his collar.

"Okay," Nate began, his voice calm. "The mechanism is simple. Feel for the small groove inside the lock."

Alice’s fingers trembled slightly as she inserted the pin into the lock. "I think I’ve found it."

"Good," Nate said. "Now, apply light pressure. You’ll feel the pins inside—it’s like a series of tiny notches. You have to lift them one at a time."

Alice adjusted her grip, her fingers brushing against Nate’s neck as she worked. Her warm breath fanned across his skin, but he ignored the sensation, keeping his focus. "Do you feel resistance?" he asked.

"Yeah," Alice replied.

"Okay, that’s a pin. Gently push it upward until it clicks into place."

Alice followed his instructions, carefully lifting the pin. She felt a soft click beneath her fingers. "I think I got one."

"Good," Nate encouraged her. "Now keep going. There are usually five pins in a lock like this."

The process was slow, each click taking an agonizingly long time. Alice’s hands were steady but tense, her concentration razor-sharp. Finally, after the fifth click, there was a loud snap as the collar unlocked and fell to the ground.

Nate exhaled in relief, rubbing his neck. "Nice job."

Alice sat back, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. "I can’t believe I did it."

Nate raised his hand, and flames danced to life in his palm, flickering with a newfound intensity. The heat illuminated the dark cage, casting eerie shadows across the walls. He strode confidently toward the cage door, his fiery fingers trailing along the heavy lock.

The metal glowed red-hot, then white as it began to melt under the intense heat. Within seconds, the lock dissolved, and the door creaked open. Nate turned back to Alice, his face calm but determined. "Let’s get out of here," he said quietly.

Alice followed, but her steps hesitated as she realized Nate wasn’t heading toward the entrance. "Where are you going?" she whispered urgently.

"To get Axel out," Nate replied without breaking stride. "Wait here."

Before she could argue, he disappeared into the darkness. Alice paced nervously, her mind racing with concerns. She hadn’t waited long, however, before Nate returned, Axel trailing closely behind him.

"Alright," Nate said, motioning for them to follow. "Let’s go."

Axel’s brows furrowed, his face a mixture of skepticism and unease. "I hope you’ve got a plan, Nate," he muttered. "I overheard what they did to the last guy who tried to escape, and trust me, you don’t want to know."

"Don’t worry," Nate said firmly. "I’ll think of something."

Axel wasn’t convinced. "That’s not exactly reassuring—"

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Alice interrupted, bumping her shoulder into Axel with enough force to make him stumble slightly. "Nate just got you out of that cage. The least you could do is shut up and follow him."

Axel grumbled under his breath but didn’t argue further. Nate, unfazed by the exchange, was already focused on the task ahead. His mind raced with possibilities, weighing risks and strategies.

They made their way to the mining area, moving cautiously. The sounds of hammers striking rock echoed through the air, accompanied by the occasional bark of a keeper’s guttural command. Nate scanned the area, studying the keepers’ movements.

"They’re patrolling," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "They have a pattern. Wait for the interval when they’re out of our path."

The group waited in tense silence, hearts pounding as they watched the keepers move. At Nate’s signal, they crept forward, their steps careful and deliberate. They managed to pass through the mining area undetected, their nerves taut like a bowstring.

The tunnel beyond was dimly lit and eerily quiet. The walls were lined with strange crystalline veins that pulsed faintly with light. This was the same path Nate had seen the keepers use when transporting the mysterious crystal substance.

"This is too easy," Axel muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

As if on cue, the sound of footsteps echoed from ahead, growing louder with each passing second. Panic flickered in Alice’s eyes, but Nate held up a hand, signaling for calm.

"Stick to the wall," he instructed in a low voice. "They can’t see or smell us. They rely on sound. As long as we don’t make noise, we’re safe."

They pressed themselves against the cool, damp walls of the tunnel, their breathing shallow and controlled. The footsteps grew closer, heavy and deliberate.