Rivals || Lo'ak Sully

Chapter 24: "Siren"💫

(POV: Lo'ak)

Lo'ak's brain has lost count of days that his body spent trapped in that darkly lighted room.

The researchers have already tried so many different tests on him: blood tests, athletic performance tests, reflexes tests as well as some tests of new light drugs for getting his body to sleep or go numb.

But the worst tests were the mind tests - they put him into made up imaginary scenarios that required his thinking and physical skills. One day he was running from a pack of scary mutants the next day he was trapped in a room with different codes that required so much logical thinking in order to survive.

But everything felt like isolation test. There was no people (other than a few scientists that came to run the tests), no other animals - nothing. Since there were no clocks, no windows, Lo'ak was quick to lose control of time.

But even though everything seemed to be destroying him, scientists made sure his physical body and presence stayed in perfect shape. If someone would look at Lo'ak the only thing that could give out what he was really going through was his eyes - the life seemed to be sucked out of his veins and body.

"Breakfast."

A small plate with a few fruits and other edible items was pushed into his room indicating another test-trial day.

He always wanted to just protest and not eat but every time his eyes laid down on food - his stomach would explode.

Lo'ak grabbed the food and slowly started munching on it.

His eyes roamed across the laboratory room. He used every single second to memorize the room as good as possible so that he could use it to his advantage: the empty needles were always in a black box on the upper left shelf, the liquids were held in the cupboard right in front of him just a few feet away, all electronic devices were stored in a box under the table, research papers were neatly stacked in folders and distinguished by color - there was red, blue, green and yellow. Lo'ak still needed to find out which was which but he knew red were the physical test results (he assumed not only his but previous hostages too).

Every single weapon he had before being captured was taken from him so Lo'ak focused on his physical strength. It was a good thing they did so many physical tests - his body could stay in shape. That's the only thought that was keeping him same at that moment.

His mind drifted back to the room. He already knew the plan: the scientist will come to feed him, he will grab his hand, turn it around , quick knock out and then keys. This was his way out.

Everything seemed to replay in his mind: how it should go and what moves he will do. His brain well-trained to calculate everything.

Lo'ak suddenly heard a loud noise.

Sirens.

Screams.

And gunshots.

He backed away in his cage-like-cell and tried to get out of it.

Think, Lo'ak. What would Ma'i do in this situation?

What?

He stopped for a second before gaining his focus back.

Scratch that. She's irrelevant now.

His fingers picked on the lock in all the ways it could. But it didn't budge at all.

Lo'ak's nose suddenly caught on some weak smell which then became only stronger and stronger, invading his lungs and making it feel like he's about to explode. The smoke got into his eyes and they instantly started to water.

This has to be some gas from the other laboratory.

"Come on."

He growled and hissed under his breath, trying to figure out how he could outdo the lock. The heart beating against his chest faster and faster did not help in this situation at all.

His fingers nibbled on the crusty lock once again only to be met with failure.

"Crap!"

Lo'ak's tail wiggled like crazy, while his brain was running laps around itself.

You've been trained for this, focus.

But as much as he wanted to tell himself that - he didn't know what to do or how to get that locked out of his way.

The boy tilted his head and sighed, closing his big amber eyes and slowly but steadily breathing out. He crunched down. It seemed that by milliseconds the air is just getting thicker and thicker, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Remember your trainings and skills.

His brain got foggy.

And his mind slowly drifted back. Back when he was still a teenager and now he was sitting in the grass with some random items on his lap - and one of them happened to be a locket.

It was a sunny day at the forest. Lo'ak was focused, the tip of his tongue slightly out from one corner, trying to get the locket done but suddenly it disappeared from his eyesight.

"Hey what are you doing? Give it back!"

He looked up only to find Ma'i smiling with a triumphant smirk and looking down on him.

"No." Was all she said before her feet began to run away, taking Lo'ak's locket.

Lo'ak groaned, knowing he has no other option but to run after the girl because if she will eventually get the locket - he will never get it back.

"Ma'! Stop!"

Lo'ak panted when he ran across the trees and other places. Leaves were hitting his face, blocking the sight and slowing him down.

"Catch me if you can." And then came her laughter. "Lo'ak." Ma'i said his name so softly.

His heart stopped beating for a second and then he started moving again.

"Lo'ak! Here." Her voice sounded like sirens luring their captains to a tragedy. And Lo'ak followed.

"Lo'ak..." A short pause. "Lo'ak..." Sounds were coming from all sides as it seemed like everything started spinning.

"Lo'ak..."

"Lo'ak."

"LO'AK!!"

And that's when his eyes shot open bringing him back to the disastrously familiar room.