21 - Blackout

After the argument was finally settled, and unfortunately we didn't have time to look around the basement, Zhan and I went into one of the unused patient rooms and talked about the abilities he and his family have. And I was also interested in the boot camp thing that had been talked about.

Zhan said, "Our families lived together in one house for 15 years, so we grew up together. Even when Yanli and I were little, we had the abilities to sense others' feelings and thoughts. Our parents knew that. And they did everything they could to protect us. Yanli and I, we were, well, somehow always much too weak and too soft and often couldn't handle the feelings of others that we sensed. And so our parents decided to send us to a boot camp at the age of 14. A whole year of hard drill just to make us stronger. Become more tougher, you know what I mean?"

"Mmm, I understand. And how come the red eyes?" I wanted to know.

"Honestly, we don't know. It happened for the first time a year ago, and it doesn't happen very often. The doctor who has taken care of the three of us since we were kids said it could be that my body is at its limit. But it could also be that I'm about to develop a new skill!

"And how have you guys kept this a secret all these years? I mean, didn't anyone notice that you were different?"

"Well, our doctor made sure of that. He made false reports in which he wrote that Yanli and I suffer from agoraphobia. So fear of crowds. But also fear of panic attacks and fainting in public. We went to a special school in Yunmeng, in the province of Hubei. There was a school there for kids like Yanli and me, and then later Cheng as well."

"And can you really communicate telepathically?"

"Yes. But we can only do that with each other, not with others."

"Can you influence other people's feelings?"

"If they are unstable and allow it, sometimes."

"Have you influenced my feelings, too?"

"Of course not."

"Have you been able to see past lives of my soul too?"

"Yes."

I found this so incredibly interesting that I just wanted to know more, especially about my past lives. But Zhan said there was still time for that and the next moment the announcement came, lights out. We ended our conversation, at least for now, and went back to our room with the others.

As I held Zhan in my arms and tried to fall asleep, I couldn't stop thinking, what if they from the institute heard that Zhan, Yanli and Cheng have special abilities? Because when that came up, the elevator doors were still open. I can't, won't, and will not let those from the institute, get their hands on my Zhan and his family.

First thing in the morning, I will look for a way out of here. No matter what happens, I will make sure that we all get back home and that no one can harm Zhan or his family. Who knows what the ones from the institute would do to them. I don't even like to think about it.

*~*~*

It is 8 am and still it is dark in the station. Neither did the announcement light on, nor did the light turn on at 6 am. We are now sitting in candlelight in the dining room waiting for the lights to come on. I have a strange feeling.

I don't have to be an empath to know that my cute boyfriend is anxious. He's clinging onto my left arm, and has been since we got up. Is it inappropriate that I think he's especially cute right now? Is it also inappropriate that I'm proud that he trusts me and trusts me to protect him? My heart is totally racing at this moment. Not only with excitement, but also with love for Zhan.

It's also kind of weird to know that I don't have to tell him, but he can feel what I feel. At the same time, it's also nice to know that, because that way he can always be sure about my feelings for him.

Oh man, I'm talking about my feelings here while we're sitting by candlelight not knowing what's going on.

*~*~*

2 pm, still all the lights are out. The elevators are also out of service. Some kind of noise that sounds like laughter keeps coming from the stairwell.

I grabbed a broomstick and sharpened the end. André has his scalpel. Cheng demonstrates his skills for the first time. He made a shield out of the seat of a chair and tied Han's knife to a stick. The way he swung that weapon, I'm sure it's not the first time he's done that.

Zhan and Yanli did something strange. They sat down on the floor facing each other, holding hands, and suddenly, something like a bright aura appeared around them. I have never seen anything more beautiful. Cheng said that this is how they combine their powers and can also perceive and classify the feelings of others who are not on this station.

For minutes they held this position and although it looked so easy, they were both completely exhausted when they released their hands from each other again. Yanli said, "There are only three people left in station 2. And something is in the station above us. Two individuals, human and yet not. They feel, Zhan give me a hand."

"They feel joy in hunting. They hunt and they are very strong, and they are excited by the thought of hunting." Added Zhan.

The next moment, screams were heard in the stairwell. Yanli was shaking all over and whispered, "It's May. They got May." Before she fainted.

Worried, we all retreated to a room. We put Yanli on the bed, I kept Zhan with me, in my arms, where he is safe. My brother and Cheng listened at the door, but nothing could be heard.

We know they can't just come in here. The door to the station is locked, the door is solid. But, what if they come through the elevator shafts? What are they? And, couldn't we handle them together?

*~*~*

Zhan is sleeping in my arms. All of a sudden, when we heard loud banging on the door to the station, Zhan's eyes started to light up red again. He sat down on the floor and looked like he was meditating. But his head was moving back and forth, he looked like he was really struggling. He whistled a song that seemed strangely familiar, and then there was silence again outside the door and Zhan just collapsed to the side.

Cheng said that Zhan had never done that before. He looked very worried and guessed that maybe it was a new ability that was developing faster because of the extreme situation we have been in for over a week now. "Normally, abilities are developed slowly and are trained a lot in order to be able to control them. But Zhan didn't have time for that. I hope it wasn't too much for him. I've heard of cases where the abilities broke out and the person went into a coma." Said Cheng.

Cheng lifted Zhan up and put him in my arms. He is really very strong it seems. I am worried about Zhan. His body feels really hot and he just won't wake up.

*~*~*

6 pm, we have light again. After Zhan did whatever that was, we didn't hear anything from the stairwell. Then an hour ago, we heard gunshots. An unbelievable amount of gunshots, then silence returned and shortly after we had light again.

The voice spoke to us again over the loudspeakers: "The situation is under control for now. Nevertheless, stay at your station and do not leave under any circumstances. We must first find out how the Hyper Sapiens got in here and why. As soon as it is safe again, we will let you know."

While I continued to hold Zhan, who was still all hot, in my arms and was busy kissing his forehead and caressing his cheeks, Meng Yao shouted at one of the speakers in the hallway, "You fucking asshole! What are hyper sapiens? And why is there even such a thing here? Is that one of your sick experiments that went wrong? Answer me you fucking bastard."

André looked at Zhan and then at Yanli. He gave me something to cool Zhan's forehead and injected him with something to help with the fever. Yanli is just exhausted and sleeping. "Don't worry, your Zhan will be better soon." Said André to reassure me. It was only then that I realized I had tears in my eyes. I'm really fucking scared about Zhan!

In the hallway, Meng Yao screamed until Cheng slapped him, bringing him back to his senses. "Are you that stupid or just pretending? What if there are more of these Hyper Sapiens out there and you're luring them here by yelling? Just shut your mouth and help the others secure the station better instead." Said Cheng.

Cheng looks like he has mutated from my big brother's cute and cuddly boyfriend, to a fighting machine. His eyes are perfectly clear and he looks very controlled. He holds his weapon close to his body and walks up and down like a security guard, keeping an eye on everything. I can't really describe it, but he seems like a different person. Impressive!

*~*~*

An announcement just came again, "Guests in station 5, please open the station door as soon as you hear the knock. We have two new guests who have just been rescued from the cave. Sarah and Brian Krieger will be staying with you for the time being. Help Sarah, she is injured. End of announcement." Still no all-clear and then we were supposed to be taking in new ones.

When there was a knock on the door, there were two completely dirty and exhausted people standing there. Cheng pulled both of them inside and secured the door again after taking a quick look down the stairwell. The two were alone.

André immediately rushed to take care of Sarah Krieger. She had a deep cut that extended from her neck, to about halfway up her upper left arm, and needed stitches. Brian Krieger sat on the floor, whimpering softly. "Where the hell are the others? Our leader Andy has disappeared too."

Han became bright-eyed and kept asking Brian. "What happened to Andy? You had gone into the cave with him? Where is he?" But this Brian couldn't answer any of his questions. He was still in shock.

As it turned out, Andy is Han's little brother and this year, for the first time, Andy has a group tour alone. In the years before, he always accompanied Han to learn everything from him. Now that Han knows Andy is missing, he is beside himself with worry and if it were up to him, he would want to beat the information out of this Brian Krieger.

9 pm Brian and Sarah were sitting in the room with us. They said they were from London and booked a tour with Andy as their guide, with them were 6 other adventurers who disappeared as well as Andy who disappeared first. At first they thought it was funny and thought it was part of the tour, but when he wasn't back even after two hours they realized it was serious. They panicked and wanted to go back to the entrance.

After a few minutes, however, they had realized that they were totally lost. And the panic gripped them more and more. And when they stumbled over a badly mangled female corpse, they all ran away in different directions. In the process, Sarah Krieger had also injured herself.

They had been in the cave for two days, wandering through the darkness, when they were grabbed, bags were put over their heads and they were dragged away.

Someone asked them their names and ages, after that, they were told to count to 50 and then take the sacks off their heads and knock on the door in front of them. And there was our group.