After a couple of minutes the others started to catch up to us, but looking back, there was a few who hadn't crossed and didn't seem like they were going to. The train was still there with its doors open, it seemed like people backing out was normal. But where did they go?
"You've done well to have gotten over here, is that what you're expecting to hear?" Asked the woman in the middle as the other four turned around and went back into the middle building.
"Where are they going?" Xynthia asked.
"Oh they're going to get everything ready for you all," she said with a smile.
"This all seems suspicious, I don't like it," I said.
"Well I guess everyone who is going to make it over already has, time to send the failures to the next camp," and then she snapped her fingers.
For a few seconds nothing happened, then the ground shook a bit and wave of earth rolled down the path and knocked those that didn't cross back into the train. When the door shut again the train left and where that was just a path suddenly was just as wide as the rest of the island.
"Failing the preliminary test, always the worst. Just tests courage, nobody could actually have fallen and died there," the woman said with a sigh.
Some murmurs and complaints could be heard around us from the others, but nobody said anything too loud.
"So who's ready for the first real test? And don't worry, all who pass will finally get to have some introductions," again said with a smile.
So far I was not having a good feeling about anything here. A fake test to make us fear for our lives, those who didn't cross being thrown back into the train and shipped off. Most of all the lack of any explanation at all for anything. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Now follow me," she said as she turned and walked back towards the center building. Not waiting for any response at all.
"Well I guess we don't have a choice," a girl had said.
"So we may as well just follow her," a guy said.
The closer we got to the buildings the more the bitter taste in my mouth grew. Apparently it showed on my face, because Xynthia would get a worried look whenever she looked at me.
When we got inside the building it didn't look anything special. A spiral staircase on the wall leading up with a bunch of doors at the back wall. Other than that it was nearly empty.
"I hope you are all ready, because the first test is about to start," the man in the suit said as he came down the staircase.
Suddenly the doors behind us slammed shut and from the man a pink gas could be seen coming from his hands.
"Don't fight it to much, it's just simply to put you to sleep. When you wake up the test will have begun," said with a devilish smile.
Resisting it was hard. I could only hold my breath so long, and as soon as I took a breath of the gas my entire body started to feel heavy and I felt exhausted. Before I passed out I could see several of the others already unconscious and others doing their best to stay awake. Then it all went black.
While I was asleep, I had the absolute strangest of dreams. It was like i was living thousands of lifetimes. But each one was drastically different in one specific way. Each time I was a different creature. From a spider, to a shark, a turtle, a porcupine, an eagle and so many more. Every one feeling more real than the last. At times I nearly forgot who I was it felt like. Like being an animal or insect was completely normal. Even some creatures I didn't recognize, that may or may not even be real I experienced lives of. Giant lizards with wings breathing fire, horses with wings and a horn, foxes with multiple tails. It was both a pleasant dream and a nightmare all at once.
After what felt like several eternities have passed, I finally woke up, and was left with more questions than answers. Where I was was also a big issue. I was on an island below the mountain, I could even see it from where I was on the beach. The biggest issue was the water looked like if I touched it I would die in an instant and the typhoons made certain I wouldn't even try.
With nothing left to do I figured I should at least explore the island, it probably had something to do with the test they were talking about. The island seemed decently large, it had its own mountain in the middle, and a dense forest around it, and then the beach.
"I guess the best idea would be to go up the mountain and get a good view of the whole area," thinking out loud always helped me organize my thoughts, mostly because Xynthia would tell me if an idea was bad without hesitation. I wasn't too worried about her, she would be fine, she's always been resourceful. Hell, if everyone is all on this island, then she'd probably go to the mountain first too.
As I went into the forest it suddenly became way to quiet considering the water was still in my view if I looked behind me. But I could hear nothing. As I tapped the trees and hummed, I could hear faint sounds from them, but it all seemed so distant.
Not liking that at all, I quickly started running forward to the mountain. The closer I got, the heavier my body started to feel, and the louder a buzzing in my ear was becoming. Whatever this place was, I was not feeling very fond of it.
Everything I could see was slowly starting to glow a faint green. It felt like my own senses were fighting against me now. Making it harder and harder to move forward. I wanted to scream but even just opening my mouth seemed impossible. Whatever this island is. I hope if I manage to get off of it, I never have to go somewhere like it again.
Somehow I managed to get out of the forest and ended up at the base of the mountain, but my senses were still acting all funky, and there was no way I could climb the mountain. I needed to rest somehow. Give my brain a break before I go insane.
I sluggishly circled the mountain until I found a small cave, without hesitation I went inside and laid down to close my eyes, hoping to bring my body back to normal.
That didn't last long till I felt a hand shaking my shoulder. When I opened my eyes I was sure I went insane. In front of my with their hand on my shoulder was what I can only describe as an angel smiling at me.