Chapter 5: Chaos on the Tracks
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The rhythmic clatter of train wheels echoed through the compartment as Adam made his way inside.
His blue, school dress outfit and innocent face immediately drew the curious stares of passengers, though he seemed indifferent.
Spotting two empty seats a little ahead, he moved swiftly toward them and settled down.
As Adam sat, his gaze fell on the two girls seated across from him.
Their eyes widened in surprise as they took in his appearance.
Whispering in hushed tones, they exchanged remarks that they assumed Adam couldn't hear.
"Isn't he kinda cute?" the first girl said, her voice barely above a murmur.
"Yeah, but he's also... different," the other replied, glancing at Adam's innocent face and imposing demeanor.
Unbeknownst to them, Adam's senses had become extraordinarily sharp since his teleportation, and every word reached his ears.
He turned his face toward the train's window to hide his embarrassment.
His heart raced, and a faint blush colored his cheeks on his face.
This interaction was foreign to him—he had never been this close to people since arriving in this strange world.
Moments later, one of the girls moved to sit beside him. Though Adam kept his gaze firmly fixed on the scenery outside, he could feel the faint warmth radiating from her presence.
Her proximity was unnerving, a reminder of how isolated he had been until now.
"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.
Startled, Adam turned to face her. She had leaned slightly closer, her inquisitive blue eyes fixed on him. Taken aback, Adam instinctively leaned back and stammered, "No... I'm from far away."
A spark of interest lit up her face. "Far away? Then you must not know much about this city. How about I show you around?"
Adam hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a deafening explosion rocked the train.
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The force of the blast flung Adam backward. He was hurled through the air, landing on the frozen ground outside the train tracks.
His body rolled a few times before coming to a halt, snow scattering in all directions. Gasping for breath, he pushed himself up and muttered, "What the hell was that?"
His surroundings were a chaotic mess. Parts of the train lay strewn across the snowy expanse, mangled metal twisted into grotesque shapes.
Smoke billowed from the wreckage, and the acrid smell of burning materials filled the air.
Adam's gaze fell upon the girl who had been sitting next to him moments ago. Her lifeless body lay nearby, half-burned and gruesomely mangled.
A sick feeling churned in his stomach as he stumbled back, whispering, "What is happening here?"
Overhead, the roar of jets drew his attention. Sleek military aircraft streaked across the sky, their ominous presence heralding further destruction.
Bombs began to rain down in the distance, each detonation shaking the earth beneath Adam's feet.
Flames licked at the remnants of the train, and thick plumes of smoke shrouded the landscape.
Though Adam's enhanced body had shielded him from serious harm, his clothes were singed and torn.
He surveyed the carnage, bewildered by the sheer scale of devastation. "Am I in a warzone?" he wondered aloud, his thoughts racing.
Through the haze of smoke and ash, figures began to emerge.
Soldiers armed with rifles approached, their boots crunching on the snow.
They moved systematically, checking bodies for signs of life. Adam crouched low, his instincts screaming at him to stay hidden.
But it was too late. One of the soldiers spotted him and shouted, "Survivor spotted!"
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In an instant, the soldiers' weapons were trained on Adam.
Panic surged through him as he raised his hands and shouted, "Wait! Don't shoot! I surrender!"
The soldiers, however, did not hesitate. A volley of bullets erupted from their rifles, speeding toward him.
Adam braced himself, expecting pain—but the bullets ricocheted off his body harmlessly, clattering to the ground.
The soldiers paused, stunned by what they had just witnessed. One of them yelled, "He's bulletproof!"
Adam glanced down at himself, the realization dawning on him. "I... I'm invincible," he muttered, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.
The apparent leader of the group, a grizzled man with a stern expression, raised his hand to halt the firing. "Bring out the tanks," he commanded.
Adam's eyes widened. "Tanks? No way... I'm not about to test if I'm tank-proof!" He turned to run, but before he could escape, the thunderous boom of a tank's cannon echoed through the air.
The shell exploded mere feet away from Adam, the shockwave sending him flying. He crashed to the ground, his vision blurring as pain wracked his body. Though he was not conscious, the impact had left him dazed and immobile.
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The soldiers approached cautiously, chains and restraints in hand. The captain barked orders, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Secure him. Bring as many chains as you can find. We're taking him to the base."
Adam's limbs were bound tightly, and despite his superhuman strength, the sheer weight of the chains rendered him helpless.
The soldiers lifted him onto a military truck, their expressions a mix of fear and awe.
As the convoy prepared to depart, the captain spoke into his radio. "This is Charlie to Alpha. We've secured a secret weapon—some kind of superhuman. We're transporting him to the base now."
The response crackled through the radio. "Alpha to Charlie. Acknowledged. Proceed with caution and deliver the asset safely. Command has been notified."
The captain glanced at Adam's unconscious form, sweat beading on his brow. "What have they been creating?" he murmured. "Is this... some kind of super-soldier?"
Meanwhile, a blond-haired woman in a soldier's uniform saluted him. "Sir, I'll take command here and continue the operation."
The captain nodded. "Good. Keep the attack going." With that, he climbed into the truck and gave the order to move out.
As the convoy disappeared into the snowy horizon, Adam lay bound and unconscious, unaware of the perilous journey ahead.
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End of Chapter 5.