It's been a few hours since Cynthia left and I used my 1 available hour on the laptop to check if the Terrans have made contact with alien species. By Adun I did not expect such a result.
They have made contact with multiple sentient beings and a lot of them are living here. Most of them look human except a few minor differences.
"This raises a few abstract questions. The fact that Terrans and Protoss have similar humanoid form could be a coincidence but if you add these species like Martians and Kryptonians to the equation then it becomes something more. Food for thought, but irrelevant."
I shake my head and continue my research since my time is limited. And after finishing, I sighed. It became apparent to me that returning home will be a long and arduous journey.
"The fact that aliens are already here makes this much easier but...most of them are part of an organization as form of protection and those that aren't, have different personas or secret identities. I cannot trust anyone with my identity as I might not even be from this universe...this reality. At least my new form will easily blend in."
I thought of the events today and yesterday before and realized that I haven't trained at all.
It was getting late and that presented the perfect chance. I informed Lorelei that I would go to walk so I could clear my head. After checking if I was feeling alright, she gave me a key in case I returned while she was sleeping.
I left and started walking both as reconnaissance and to clear my mind of distractions.
I noticed that the more I walked in a certain direction the less people I saw as regular passerbys changed to a few homeless people and then nothing. I was the only one there which suited me perfectly.
I stealthily entered a dilapidated structure in case someone was already inside and made my way to a small room at the back of the building since the entrance was very wide and I could potentially be spotted.
I began with some basic stances as a warm-up and then focused exclusively on getting used to basic footwork with Terran legs.
"Good thing nobody can see me. I would die of embarrassment."
While I was training, I heard the engine of a vehicle and saw light illuminating the central room of the building I was in. Immediately hiding behind a fallen wall, I peered from behind to see who's coming.
Two men exited from a large white vehicle with a square back side. On the sides I could make out a drawing and the words 'Fresh Meat'.
Man 1: This is the place?
Man 2: Yeah, now let's get out of here and don't think I forgot about our bet. You're buying tonight.
Man 1: Fine, fine...
They walked away just like that while leaving the vehicle behind.
"What was that all about?"
I slowly stepped closer to the vehicle to see inside. The front of it was empty and the windows at the back were painted so I couldn't see.
I wanted to leave but two people leaving their vehicle in a place like this at night without even locking or taking the keys was pretty suspicious even for Terrans.
As I was contemplating my next move, I heard another vehicle approaching.
"Is this some kind of hotspot or something?"
Hiding once again, I spotted two different men with paintings on their arms approaching the truck. One of them went to the back and opened the doors.
"Those are people and...CHILDREN?!"
They were tied, gagged and unconscious.
"Why would someone abduct them? Isn't slavery illegal here?"
The man who opened the door took out a small device and after pressing some stuff, he contacted someone.
I didn't understand their language but I could pretty much guess what he said.
"What should I do? Should I take them out now or follow them."
I decided to go at the source of this. As the two men split to one vehicle each, I quietly climbed on top of the large white one. Just as a precaution, I focused my shadow energies and camouflaged myself.
It took around five to ten minutes to reach their destination. It was a building that had the words 'Warehouse Prime'.
The white vehicle entered in reverse and as it stopped, three other men came and started carrying the unconscious people further inside.
As the last person was carried, I followed, only to enter a secret compartment that lead downwards.
After my descent I started feeling a bit tired because of my invisibility.
"Why am I getting tired so soon? Damn it!"
Clenching my fists, I endured the exhaustion until we reached some kind of jail. Inside were around fifteen people including three children. When the men locked the last person from the vehicle, they went back.
As I was about to drop my cloaking, a door close to the cell opened and weird loud music that was a mix of shouting, growling and english was unleashed. A thin man wearing strange clothes covered in blood came out with a spring in his step.
?: Ahhh! New friends to play with! I haven't finished with the previous ones yet but I guess you can never have enough!
He went inside the cell and grabbed the first person he could reach. It was a blond man that started struggling the moment he was grabbed. He also began screeching as much as possible since he was gagged. Tears started falling as the guy literally oozed desperation.
It seems the bloody man enjoyed himself. He pulled the guy into the room with a disgusting, twisted smile on his face.
As I watched this, my heart was beating so fast and strong that I thought it might pop out of my chest. I almost lost control of my powers and instead of cloaking completely, you could see a very light distortion where I stood. Thankfully nobody noticed as I entered the room after the bloodsoaked man. The smell inside made me sick and felt something rising in my throat before I pushed it back down.
In the center of the room was a flat metal table-like surface where the blond man was put and tied with straps, before his previous bonds were cut. Besides, was a table that held different kind of tools.
The bloody man was washing his hands on a sink near a corner and a contraption that looked like a huge fridge was next to it. At the other side of the room was another door leading to who knows where.
Unlike the clothes of the man, the tools and the surface was spotless which raised the question.
"What took place here?"
?: So my new friend, how about we begin huh?
He said as he got close to the blond guy who was struggling and tossing like a fish out of water while his face was stained in even more tears. But try as he might, the straps were too strong for him to break out of.
?: You know, it's not recommended but how about we start with a little shock eh? And please-please-please scream as much as you can. I just love seeing someone whimpering, crying and begging just before their end.
He laughed as he took of the guy's gag.
The guy was on the brink of a mental breakdown as he screamed incoherent things.
I couldn't delay any longer or I would have his life on my conscience.
I held my necklace and activated it.