Odyssey Of Survival

Chapter 59 The Young Healer II

Ann nodded her head solemnly. Alice crouched down to her level, her tone soft but firm as she spoke, "Ann, why aren't you bound like the others?"Madison stood silently behind Alice, her arms crossed, eyes darting toward the girl, waiting for an answer.

Ann hesitated, glancing down at her hands. "Because of my powers," she said softly.

Alice tilted her head. "Your powers? How do they protect you?"

Ann's voice trembled slightly as she answered. "I can heal. The owner of this mine... he makes me use my powers whenever he tortures someone."

Alice's face tightened with anger, but she nodded, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I understand," she said grimly. "Ann... have you seen anyone named Nate among the workers here?"

Ann furrowed her brows, thinking hard. After a moment, she shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry. I don't know anyone by that name."

Madison's heart sank, but she crouched down beside Alice and locked eyes with Ann. "He has wild, curly hair that falls over his forehead," she said, her voice steady despite her growing worry. "He's tall, with broad shoulders and piercing eyes. He..." She trailed off,

The sight before them froze Alice in place. Nate was hanging limply from chains, his hands bound above his head. His feet barely touched the ground, and his body was a canvas of bruises, cuts, and burns.

Alice gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Ann's face was pale, but she pushed forward, urging Alice to move. Together, they rushed to Nate's side.

"Help me get him down," Alice whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ann grabbed the chain, struggling to lift it, but it was Alice ice power that made the difference. In a single motion, she yanked the chain, breaking it under Nate's weight after freezing it. He fell forward, and she caught him before he hit the ground.

"Nate," Alice whispered, cradling his battered body. "Oh my God..."

His face was swollen and disfigured, almost unrecognizable. Wounds crisscrossed his body, deep and angry as if he'd been whipped with a spiked weapon. Blood caked his skin, but his body was still warm. He was alive—barely.

Ann knelt beside Alice, her hands hovering uselessly. "We need to move him now," she said urgently.

Before anyone could respond, heavy footsteps echoed from behind them.

Alice turned toward the sound, her heart pounding. She expected to see Madison returning from dealing with the guards, but instead, a tall, middle-aged man in a deep purple robe stepped into the room.

He dragged something behind him, the sound scraping against the ground, though Alice couldn't make out what it was in the dim light.

"Well, well," the man said, his voice dripping with condescension. He clapped his hands slowly, the sound reverberating in the confined space. "What do we have here?"

Ann froze, her face draining of all color. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "It's him..."

Alice, still cradling Nate, turned her head toward the man. Her eyes burned with fury as she tightened her grip on Nate's limp form.

Ann clutched Alice's shoulder tightly, her voice trembling with fear. "We have to go now. We can't stay! He'll kill us if we don't leave right away!" Her wide eyes darted to the man in the purple robe, and Alice could feel the panic radiating from her.

Alice turned to Ann, about to tell her to stand up and move back, when Madison appeared behind them in a flash of movement. Without wasting a second, Madison wrapped her arms around Ann, Alice, and Nate, her voice calm but urgent.

"Hold on," Madison said.

Before the man could take another step toward them, Madison teleported them away.

The transition was dizzying. When Ann and Alice opened their eyes, they found themselves back in the forest. The sunlight broke through the thick canopy, illuminating the group. The warmth of the sun was a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive air of the mine, but neither Alice nor Ann felt relief.

The momentary peace shattered when a voice rang out, smooth and condescending.

"You're a slippery one," the man said.

Ann froze, her face pale as she looked a few meters ahead. The middle-aged man stood there, his hands clasped behind his back, a smirk playing on his lips. He looked utterly composed, as if he hadn't just been left behind in the depths of the mine.

"You'd be very effective for me," the man added, his tone suggesting he was offering a compliment, though it only sent chills down their spines.

Madison turned to face him, narrowing her eyes. "Dream on," she said coldly.

In the blink of an eye, she teleported again.

This time, they reappeared at a clearing they had passed on their way to the mine. The familiar sight of twisted trees and uneven ground greeted them. Madison didn't release her hold on Nate, but she did take a moment to glance around, ensuring they were safe.

"Are we—" Alice began, but her words died in her throat as she noticed Ann's horrified expression.

"Look," Ann whispered, pointing ahead.

There he was again. The man in the purple robe stood a few meters away, the same composed expression on his face.

"Impressive," he said, nodding as if appraising her. "You're quick, I'll give you that. But not quick enough."

Madison's heart raced. She tightened her grip on Nate's limp form, her mind racing as she tried to process how he could possibly be here.

Alice stepped forward, her voice shaking. "How… how are you doing this?"

The man tilted his head, amused. "Do you think you're the only one with gifts?" He gestured vaguely toward himself. "I have my own ways of getting where I need to be."

Madison didn't wait for further explanation. Without a word, she teleported again.

This time, she took them to the riverbank they had passed earlier in their journey. The sound of rushing water filled the air, and Madison immediately turned to Ann and Alice, her voice low but firm.

"Stay alert. If he's tracking us somehow, we need to figure out how and stop it," she said.

Ann nodded, though her face was pale, and Alice clenched her fists, determination mingling with fear.

They didn't have long to think.

A ripple of energy crackled in the air, and the man appeared again, stepping onto the riverbank as though he had been walking there the entire time.

Madison's eyes widened in genuine shock. This wasn't just speed—this was something else entirely. She stepped forward, placing herself between the man and the others, her mind racing for a strategy.

"How are you doing this?" she demanded, her voice sharper this time.

The man gave her a small smile, as if he enjoyed her confusion. "Do you really think I'd share my secrets so easily? You have potential, young one, but you have much to learn."

Madison's jaw clenched. She didn't wait for him to make the first move. In a flash, she teleported again, this time to a rocky outcrop further into the forest.

The moment they appeared, Madison scanned the area, searching for any sign of pursuit.

Ann grabbed her arm, her voice panicked. "He'll just show up again! What do we do?"

Madison didn't answer immediately. Her mind raced as she tried to connect the dots. How was he following them? How was he always one step ahead?

Before she could come up with a plan, a familiar voice echoed behind them.

"You can't run forever," the man said calmly, stepping out from the shadows of the forest.

Madison's blood ran cold. For the first time, she felt a flicker of doubt. How could she fight someone who seemed to anticipate her every move?