Earthbound: Land of Fear Collab

Chapter 2: Stowaway

(Flashback into Nine's Past)

I shivered on the damp floor. I had been sick so many times, but this time had to be the worst. I stared at the tinted glass in front of him. The scientists could see me, but as hard as I tried, I couldn't see them. I winced. There was nothing left in my stomach, but I knew from experience that after receiving such a high dosage of the experimental drug, my system would reject even the smallest trace of it.

My black hair was slowly fading to grey. One of the head scientists had told me before that this was referred to as melanin naturalization. He said that it was an alleged condition of hair suddenly turning white when the body was under an enormous amount of stress, explaining that it had been discovered during times of war, when torture subjects underwent sudden changes in appearance.

I had thought this to be a myth, but was coming to discover personally, that it was real. I looked intently at the glass and imagined the group of scientists furiously taking notes and looking back at me with expressionless faces. My eyes were wet with tears.

'Why?' I thought. What had I done to deserve this cruel treatment? 'I had been nothing but kind' I thought, 'and these scientists were treating me like a caged animal.'

(Marina's Perspective):

"Finally," Liam says. "Took him long enough! Now let's get that reward!"

I scowl at my brother and begin untying Ryuu's restraints.

Liam's face is taken over with worry. "What the heck do you think you're doing?!"

I roll my eyes. "He needs to lie down, otherwise he'll never get better."

When I finish undoing the ropes Ryuu falls forward. His head is on my shoulder and I can feel his hot breath in my ear. I turn red and shake my head, disgusted I would ever be flustered over such a trivial thing.

"Well at least tie him to the bed or something" Liam says in disgust.

I glare in his direction. "How stupid do you think I am?" I respond in a huff.

I tie Ryuu's hands and feet together to put his mind at ease and motion to him for help. Liam frowns. "I am not helping a fugitive! For all we know he could be faking and be plotting our demise!" He says in frustration.

I let out another big sigh and turn to Zander.

"Will you help me?" I ask. Zander nods his head compliantly and lifts Ryuu off the chair. He carries his to a nearby bunker and lays him on the bed, making sure to pull apart his hands and feet and fasten them to the bed posts.

Liam glowers down at Ryuu with a look of disdain. "Thanks a lot Zander." He says angrily. "You just had to choose my bed didn't you?"

"Don't get your panties in a twist. He'll only be out for a few hours." I say jokingly.

Liam slumps into the chair that had originally been used as a means of keeping Ryuu from escaping. He wrinkles his nose in disgust when he notices blood on the floor.

Liam sticks out his tongue. "Gross!" he says. "Hey sis, think you missed a spot." He points to the blood splotch.

Zander, after securing Ryuu to the bed, walks over to me and places his hands on my shoulders. "You look a little tense" he says. "Relax."

I smile up at him as he massages my shoulders for a minute. When he's through, he reaches for a strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear. Zander lightly kisses my forehead, before walking over to his bunker.

"I'm going to get some shut eye," Zander says. "I suggest you do the same." He motions to me. "Can you get us off this planet?" Zander asks Liam with a snarky tone.