Together with their classmates, Kent led them to huddle in the dimly lit corner of the cell, ensuring they remained unseen and unheard by the vigilant winged predators guarding them. The vast expanse of the hive allowed for pockets of secrecy within the cells, providing a crucial blind spot against the creatures' watchful eyes.
Kent positioned herself at the forefront of the class, ready to begin their discussion on their escape plan. She emphasized that questions about how they had arrived in this predicament were futile, as they had no answers beyond the classroom's initial poisoning. Instead, she urged them to focus on their escape strategy. Kent methodically laid out each step of the plan, utilizing the knowledge they had gained during their time within the hive.
Jessie interjected, emphasizing the importance of sleep. "The bees sleep for about 5-8 hours a day, with more rest at night due to the darkness preventing their forays for pollen and nectar," he explained. However, Cindy quickly added a complicating factor. "These creatures have exhibited human traits and intelligence, implementing a schedule shift and maintaining a continuous guard on our cells," she noted.
Gloyd, radiating confidence, chimed in with a solution. "We've considered that," he said. "During our observations, we noticed an 8 to 10-minute delay during the shift change. That's the window of opportunity we need for our escape. A well-executed plan is our key to breaking free, given the limited time we have to act against our captors." Gloyd's words injected a renewed sense of determination into the group as they collectively plotted their escape, determined to outwit their captors and regain their freedom.
Alex, still uncertain about their approach, raised a critical question. "But how do we fight against them?"
Kent's response was both straightforward and laced with sarcasm. "We don't. With their numbers, we'd be nothing more than a sweetening agent."
Alex, puzzled, pressed for clarification. "How?"
Kent's eyes twinkled with understanding, and she explained further. "We become food."
Alex was taken aback. Become food? What did Kent mean by that? It wasn't in bees' nature to eat humans, even creatures of this size. They regarded humans as foul and unsettling, not as a potential meal.
Kent, seeing the confusion on Alex's face, elaborated, "We just need to be sweet—sweet enough to become irresistible. We use the nectars."
"So, you mean covering ourselves with the juicy nectar? But we don't have access to it here. Those nectars are on the walls of the tunnels," Alex clarified.
"That's why getting into the tunnels within ten minutes is our best course of action," Kent replied.
Alex, still concerned, raised another issue. "But with our numbers, moving at the speed you're suggesting will be challenging."
"That's why we'll select the most suitable individuals to escape first, taking into account that not all of us can run and sneak into the hive with ease. Choosing people with the right attributes will increase our chances of success. I have a plan in mind that will ensure all of us get out safely without any issues. We just need to break out of this cell first," Kent explained, confident that their plan was the most viable option.
After some hesitation, Alex reluctantly agreed. While the method seemed risky, he couldn't deny that it offered the best chance of survival. He had no intention of meeting his end in this sweet prison; he still had unanswered questions and a burning desire to escape.
The class reached a consensus on the plan and immediately set to work making preparations. They carefully selected the individuals who would be the first to attempt their escape: Alex, Jay, Matt, Jessie, Kent, and Christian. These choices were based on each person's unique abilities and skills that would be instrumental in their escape. Despite Kent's lack of agility, she was chosen as the leader, as she had the most in-depth understanding of the plan. The rest of the group would remain in the cell and do their best to hope for a successful escape.
Hours crawled by as they waited for the guards' shift change. "There they go," Matt whispered, ready to burst out of the cell's entrance, crouched alongside his fellow teammates. As anticipated, the guards eventually moved away from the dungeon's entrance, disappearing from sight. "Now!" Kent commanded. With the solid nectar on the side of the cell properly prepared before the escape, it had softened sufficiently to break. This allowed the team to make their exit without any issues, slipping away into the hive's labyrinthine interior.
The first to venture out, Matt, led the way with the others following closely behind. Their athletic bodies served them well, allowing them to navigate the hive with agility and speed. They raced onward, their sights set on reaching the dungeon's entrance, where the golden lights illuminated the dark passage ahead.
"When we pass here, there will be a tunnel containing juicy nectars. Let's go," Matt informed the group.
Together, they continued their sprint, fully aware that eight minutes was a relatively short window. Their goal was to reach a specific tunnel with the coveted nectars to proceed with their escape plan. The golden lights formed streaks as they swiftly moved through the hive's intricate interior. However, the tunnel seemed endless, and minutes had already slipped away without a clear end in sight.
"It's almost time; we're running out of it. These tunnels are longer than we expected. The bees make them seem short with their flying speed, but for us, running is a different challenge," Jessie gasped, his breath becoming increasingly labored as they pressed on.
"We'll get there," Jay assured, his voice filled with determination.
However, victory seemed elusive as a familiar buzzing sound reverberated through the closed confines of the tunnels. Anxiety spread among the group as their hearts raced, knowing all too well that the relentless creatures were returning to the dungeon. The sound of the bees swarming grew louder, signaling that it was too late to turn back now. Their plan had failed, and within moments, they would be prisoners of the hive, destined to meet a grim fate. Desperation set in as they frantically searched for a hiding spot, but the straight, unbroken tunnel offered no alcoves or blind spots.
Hope seemed to drain from their faces as they realized the gravity of their situation. They knelt in agony, contemplating their seemingly inevitable demise. Christian, with a hopeless smile, uttered his final words, "So good to see you again, guys." The group looked at him, bracing for the impending attack of the creatures. Alex glanced at his classmates, witnessing the collective loss of hope.
Think! Alex urged himself, drawing on his knowledge of biology, a degree he had started but never completed. He recalled discussions about bees' unique traits and their vital role in the environment. Despite the bees' human-like characteristics, they still retained their innate bee instincts. Alex struggled to think clearly as the sound of the approaching bees grew ever closer, intensifying his anxiety.
As despair threatened to overwhelm him, Alex dropped to his knees, feeling powerless in the face of impending doom. The group's gaze turned to Jay, who sighed and stood up slowly. "I guess I have to use it now. I didn't plan to reveal this to you because I was afraid you'd kick me out of the class. I'll explain everything later," Jay muttered. His body underwent a shocking transformation: dark-colored spikes erupted from the back of his head to the length of his body. His face remained unchanged, but his hands and feet transformed into deadly claws, capable of swiftly dispatching a target. Wide mouths opened in astonishment as they witnessed their classmate's startling metamorphosis.
"Stay behind me," Jay commanded, his voice authoritative. Still processing the incredible scene they had just witnessed, they had no choice but to obey his instructions.
The vicious yellow-colored creatures came into view, their agile wings poised to eliminate their prey from a distance. The bees were aware that the prisoners were waiting for them, and with their sharp eyes capable of targeting prey from afar, they wasted no time in launching arrows designed to paralyze their captives. Jay, having experienced their attacks before, was prepared. The small, venomous arrows stood no chance against his long, piercing quills that now covered his body. He resembled a human porcupine, ready to defend himself by launching a counterattack while turning his back—a porcupine's defensive posture against potential threats. But to Jay, these creatures were far from potential threats; his massive quills were more than capable of impaling any number of attackers.
Jay swiftly turned his back toward the direction from which the arrows were fired, and a series of whooshing sounds filled the air. The feeble, poisonous arrows were repelled and rendered harmless as they struck Jay's formidable quills. Instead of finding their mark, the arrows were deflected and sent hurtling back toward the flying creatures. The bees let out shrill cries as the quills pierced their bodies, blood splattering throughout the hive's interior. The once-menacing swarm of bees, regarded as fierce predators in the vast marshlands, now lay lifeless in their own domain.