Camp Exodus

014 - The Sleeveband Colours

"Nng." Groaning, Jongdae forced his eyes open when he felt movement from beneath his body. Huh?

"So you're awake? Finally- get off." A voice commanded, loosening the support around Jongdae's legs and thighs, effectively dropping him onto his butt. Wincing at the pain he felt shooting through his legs, Jongdae managed to get himself into something that somehat resembled a standing position. Upon looking properly, he realised that the person who had been carrying him was Minseok.

"Ah, why were you carrying me around though?" He stuttered, still feeling hazy. Minseok sent him a blank look.

"I was wandering around in this place and I found your body just lying there. I originally thought you were dead but there was no blood and you had a pulse. Ah, well. I couldn't just leave you lying there. With those women in charge, I can't read the situation well enough to know whether or not their threats about this test have any substance. You seem like a smart enough kid, so you can help us get out of here." Jongdae blinked as he looked around. They really were surrounded by forestry. How were they supposed to get back to the facility?

Jongdae narrowed his eyes as his body remembered the suffering it had been put through the day before and also when that bitch Taeyeon had knocked him out so hard that his head still felt like turtle shells were being crashed against it.

"Ah, seriously!" He yelled crossly, punching a nearby trunk with the side of his fist, ignoring the electric ripples that fired up and down his arm. Minseok watched him, humoured.

"I would ask what happened, but Luhan already told me about you getting beat up. He also told me that you said something about beating them at their own game. When exactly do you plan on doing that?" He chuckled. Refraining from cursing at him, Jongdae chose to ignore the elder and crouched down, bristling through his pain as he tried to analyse.

They put us out here to test how smart we are.

This area, apparently, is uncured and dangerous.

It's over when we get back or pass out. Or die.

Jongdae glanced at his arm curiously, remembering the instructions he had been given earlier on. Why did they get me to put a red sleeve band on? Standing up as pieces started to slot in place, Jongdae checked out the elder man's arms and moved quickly in his excitement. Minseok almost punched him when the sharp cheeked male suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Yah! What do you think you're- what's this?" Minseok stopped short when he took note of the sky blue band that happened to be on his sleeve. He hadn't put that on himself. Did the disciplinarians do this? Jongdae looked around, thinking. Sky blue, red...

"Hyung, do think it might be possible that the sleeve band colours have something to do with the items we're supposed to bring back?" Minseok was thoughtful.

"So, what, we just have to find something that's the same colour as our sleeve bands? Isn't that too easy though?"

"No. I don't think it is." Jongdae murmured as he glanced at the sky, which was conveniently the same colour as Minseok's band. Was it possible that the colours were linked to the area they were in?

"I don't know. I don't know!" Jongdae grumbled, shaking his head in frustration. He yelped when Minseok's hand flew over his mouth.

"Hm, muh? (Hyung, what?)" His voice came out muffled because of the tight hold Minseok had on him. One look from the elder and Jongdae silenced immediately, only then hearing the distant sound of an animal, maybe, growling. The two waited and the sound stopped just as quickly as it started.

Sending each other curious looks, Minseok began leading the two of them in the direction that they had heard the sound from. At first Jongdae was going to protest, but then he realised that going to the place that whatever animal it had just been in might be the safest idea, so he remained quiet.

Neither male attempted any unnecessary conversation, primarily because Minseok was keeping an eye out for any trouble and he felt that Jongdae was close to understanding how they could get back into the facility.

Even though he didn't really want to go back.

Holding his arm out when he heard sound, Minseok guided Jongdae into a brush of low trees, indicating that the slightly taller youth should keep silent. The pair observed as the sounds of movement came close enough that they could now hear the sounds of conversation that the pair who had just entered the area were making.

Upon seeing who it was, Minseok made to come out, but it was Jongdae who held him back when he took note of the coloured bands on each person's sleeve. Eyes darting around, he searched his mind, trying hard to figure out what the hell was going on.

"It's over when you get back or pass out."

Crap. Jongdae thought as he finally understood what those women had meant. Grabbing Minseok's arm, Jongdae tugged him using all his power and forced him to keep up. Minseok didn't say anything until they reached a small clearing. Yanking his arm free from Jongdae's hold, Minseok sent him a sharp look, though he didn't glare.

"Why? Why didn't you let me come out? Isn't it better if we go in larger groups?"

"Hyung, didn't you notice? That kid, Sehun. His sleeve band is red." Minseok paused, not fully understanding until he took in the fact that Jongdae's sleeve band was also red. What?

"Are you saying that more than one of us has the same sleeve band? What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm starting to think that there aren't as many items as they implied. There must be one item that matches one colour, but there's more than one person per colour. I'm guessing this is some kind of first come, first served test. You lose if you don't get the item first."

"And how exactly are we supposed to find something when we have no idea what it is? Yah. Do you think we'll have to fight for it?" Minseok said after a pause.

Jongdae really hoped not, because if it was him against that beast of a kid called Sehun, he was a goner.