"Hah?" Kiyro could not believe what he was hearing. An academy that delves and studies into the psychic realm.
"It is a privately funded academy. Well, you can call it a college, I guess. I honestly don't know where we are located. We were put to sleep before we all arrived here. When you go outside, you'll see that we are in the middle of the forest. By the way, you never told me your name."
"I'm Kiyro. I shouldn't be here. I was going to meet my brother when I got jumped. How did they
know that we were going to meet me there?"
"So that's how they got you. They planned it."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm saying they sent out that message to get you alone. They've been watching you, waiting for
the time to spirit you away."
"This is kidnapping. A federal offense. Who would go this far?"
"From my short stay here, I believe something more is happening here. Therefore, I suggest keeping your profile low, especially if you have special psychic powers."
Kiyro stared at him strangely.
"I'm very serious. The powerful ones are experimented on and valued more than anything. They especially won't let you go if you are considered a valued material. Everyone here is psychic with abilities. That's why you are also brought here."
"This feels like I'm straight out of a comic."
"Buddy, this is nothing compared to the comics. This is real."
Kiyro felt something uncomfortable on his neck. He reached up his hands and felt a cold metallic ring around his neck. "What?"
"I wouldn't pull it if I were you."
"?"
"It's encased with poison. So if you pull it off or speak about this academy, it will inject a lethal dose of poison into your system and kill you."
Alarmed, Kiyro peeled his hands away from the ring around his neck and gulped. He was in a serious predicament that put his life on the line. Whoever these people were that ferried him away were mentally disturbed, especially if they put a collar on him.
"I'm dead serious. I've seen someone die trying to tell someone in the outside world. This is not a joke."
"These people are insane. They want to keep us here forever."
Someone knocked on their door, and the door creaked open. A woman stood in front of their door. She was wearing a white lab coat with glasses. Her golden locks were tightly in a bun as she smiled. Both of them whirled around to see her standing there.
"Welcome. You must be Mr. Koga. My name is Angela."
Kiyro wearily stared at her. He was displeased that he was kidnapped and brought to an unknown place. "What do you want? Why am I here?"
"I'm sorry on their behalf for the rough treatment. We didn't plan for you to get into a fight. They
were only supposed to negotiate to bring you here."
"So you think I would now?"
"Not."
"Then let me go."
"We can't let you till we know for sure that you have psychic power or not."
Kiyro crossed his arms and leaned towards one leg. The conversation that he was talking about with this chick sounded crazy. Psychic. Him? "You must have gotten the wrong person. I'm no psychic."
"No, we are sure you are one. Everyone who had gotten the Seed in the game of Growth has some form of psychic power. Not one had failed the test. We have been monitoring and searching for all Seeded players in America and throughout the world. Some people had their abilities awakened a little earlier than you, but eventually, you too were given an ability."
"You are basing one psychic power on the Seed that one gets in the game of Growth? Do you know how crazy you sound?"
"Yes, to the normal people who do not understand that the game of Growth is more than just a game would think such a thought. The Alive Gear is a machine that was created with the sole purpose of bringing people into a virtual world. Still, later on, it was discovered that it could stimulate one's brain, causing one to awaken to their inner ability. Unfortunately, only a few people know this."
"This time, the Yami Hikari game company has been doing illegal experiments on people?" Kiyro had a hard time believing such a ludicrous tale. This was truly out of a sci-fi story, and he was smack in the middle of it.
"Yami Hikari Company? Please do not compare us with them. We are a different private company that has nothing to do with them. They don't know anything about the Seeders being psychics. It was our group that found out that the Seeders were blooming psychics. We will get you situated in your new life if you follow me."
Angela straightened up, turned around, and left. Daulton motioned his head to follow. Kiyro was hesitant to go with strangers, but so far, he had no information that he knew of the surroundings that could help him escape. He needed to plan out his route carefully, or he would not get another chance.
"I was just like you when I came here too. Confused, Angry, and lost. It took a while to get used to this place, but you'll like the setup they have here. It's truly the top of the line for the gaming world."
"Gaming world? I'm not following you."
"Look." Daulton pointed towards the clear glasses windows where they were passing by. On the other side, he saw dozens of egg shape pods placed in a straight line. Inside each pod were humans hooked up to the machines. They all wore the Sense Gear helmet and an oxygen masks on their faces. Rubber swimsuits tuck perfectly on their whole body with lines connected to their skin. All of them were floating inside the middle of the egg, filled to the brim with water. Each moved in odd movements as if they were fighting, running, or climbing.
"What are they doing?"
"That's the new Machine called the EMBYRO Type II Machine. It is supposed to help the body not deteriorate during the Growth game. We would be using that as well when we enter into the game. It helps strengthen our body from all that movement that we do in the game, and it transfers to your own body. I've tried it out, and it was pretty cool. But, that's not all; you get a balanced diet curtailed to your specific body needs.."
"This sounds great and dandy but don't you want to leave this place?"
Daulton thought it over for a moment. "Yes, I do, but I also want to see how far I can push myself into this psychic power. Don't you think it's so cool? We are like superheroes in the making."
Something about what Daulton had stated had made him worry. A school where budding psychics were being trained and even fed well. An illegal operation where people are kidnapped to be experimented on. This could only spell trouble. He did not know what these people would want them to do later. Nothing was ever given freely, especially for a facility with a top of line equipment. Whatever these people's purpose was, he had a horrible nagging feeling that it was not good.
"We get to play the game twenty-four seven if we wanted to. However, they recommend that you play every day." Daulton stated excitedly.
Angela stopped before a glass door and waited for it to open. Instead, she raised her pass that allowed the door to open. They followed her into a small room, where another person with a white coat was hunched over, jotting something down on paper.
"Alex," Angela called out towards the man.
Kiyro's eyes widened when he heard the name. But, what surprised him the most was that he knew the face that stared back at him. It was Alex.
"Kiyro?" Alex stared confused at him. "What are you doing here?"
"You guys know each other?" Angela asked. She was a bit too delighted in Kiyro's opinion.
"Yes. He's someone I know very well."
"What are you doing here?" Kiyro hissed. His face darkened at the thought of Alex being part of the crazy group that kidnapped him here.
"Me? I'm a temporary replacement doctor that just arrived today."
"You are? You're not with them?" Kiyro shook his head towards Angela.
"No. Why would I be? I'm here for a temporary job."
"Oh." Kiyro sighed with relief. He was immensely glad that he knew someone who wasn't truly part of the lunatic group.
"It's quite shocking that even Eve is here. What are the chances of that?"
"Eve's here?" Kiyro asked in disbelief.
"I just did a check-up on her not too long ago. I think they were also other familiar faces present here. What was that famous Hercules guild leader's name again?" Alex twirled his pen and tapped it a couple of times onto the desk.
"Will."
"Ah, yes. Will. I saw him eating at the cafeteria not too long ago."