Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 47 Trapped

Nate’s eyes locked onto the faint light above, his thoughts racing. He reached out to the walls, running his hands over the smooth, damp surface. His fingers slipped instantly, offering no grip. The stone was slick and polished, almost like glass. Frustration built in his chest as he pressed his palm against it, testing the surface one last time.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, stepping back.

His eyes drifted upward again, following the light. Even if the walls weren’t slippery, the height was staggering. The thought of climbing it sent chills down his spine. If he slipped, the fall would kill him without question.

He exhaled deeply, forcing himself to push the thought aside. "Climbing isn’t an option," he muttered, shaking his head.

Turning toward the stream, Nate expected to see Alice in the water, but something was wrong. Her clothes were there, neatly piled by the edge of the water, but Alice was nowhere to be seen. His heart jolted as he scanned the rippling surface.

"Alice?" he called out, his voice low but urgent.

There was no response at first, just the sound of the water moving. Then, a faint ripple caught his eye. Moments later, Alice’s head emerged from the water. She brushed her soaked hair back with her hands, revealing her face and neck.

Relief flooded through Nate, but something else caught his attention. Her collar.

It was glowing faintly, a subtle but distinct light that pulsed within the transparent band around her neck.

"Alice…" Nate said cautiously, his eyes narrowing.

"What?" she asked, noticing his strange expression.

"Can I come closer?"

Alice hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, sure."

Before he could move, she began swimming toward him. Her movements were smooth and deliberate, the water rippling softly around her. She stopped a few feet away, tilting her head curiously.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

Nate pointed to her neck. "Your collar. It was glowing just now."

Alice frowned, her hand instinctively reaching for the band around her neck. "Glowing? Are you sure?"

Nate nodded, stepping closer to inspect it. As he studied the collar, he noticed something peculiar. The water-like substance inside, which kind ltnormally swirled and danced, was now completely still.

"It’s filled to the brim…" Nate muttered, his mind racing.

Alice blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"The collar. It’s been absorbing the water from the pool. That’s why it stopped glowing—it’s full now." Nate’s voice quickened as the realization hit him. "That’s why we can’t use our powers. This water is suppressing them."

Alice’s eyes widened. "You’re saying… the water is doing this to us?"

"Exactly. After every shift, they make sure to wash in it. The collars refill each time, keeping us powerless."

Alice glanced at the stream, her face a mix of disgust and anger. "This water…"

"Get out," Nate said firmly, stepping and turning back to give her space.

Alice hesitated, then climbed out of the pool, water dripping from her as she quickly grabbed her clothes. Nate, his mind working through the implications of what he’d discovered.

"Okay," Alice said softly after she was dressed.

Nate turned back to face her, his expression resolute. "I know how to get rid of the collar now."

When Nate turned back to Alice, she had finished dressing. His breath caught for a moment as his eyes unintentionally roamed over her. Her clothes were damp, clinging to her body in a way that left nothing to the imagination. The thin, wet fabric of her shirt hugged her chest, clearly outlining the shape of her breasts and the erect nipples pressing against the material.

Alice’s breasts, though not large, were perfectly proportionate, and the wet shirt molded to them, making every curve and contour evident. Nate’s gaze slid downward, taking in her wide hips and thick thighs. The damp pants she wore clung tightly, emphasizing the roundness of her ass and the curve of her legs, making her look irresistibly sexy.

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He quickly shook his head, snapping himself out of his reverie. Get a grip, Nate, he scolded himself. This was Alice—his friend, his ally. He couldn’t let his thoughts wander into such dangerous territory.

As Alice looked at him, tilting her head curiously, Nate cleared his throat, trying to refocus. There was no time for distractions, not here and certainly not now.

---

Madison, Ryder, and Jack stood at the edge of the water, their eyes fixed on the distant raft as it approached. The gentle waves lapped against the shore, but the air was heavy with tension. Ryder paced impatiently, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

"They’re coming back too quickly," Madison said softly, her brow furrowed.

Jack nodded, his own expression serious. "Something doesn’t feel right."

The moment the raft got close enough, Ryder didn’t wait. He tore off his jacket and dove into the water, swimming with powerful strokes toward the raft. Madison and Jack stayed onshore, watching as Ryder reached the vessel and grabbed hold of the side.

"Hey!" Ryder shouted, his voice echoing over the water. "What happened? Did you see anything out there?"

The men on the raft exchanged uncertain glances before one of them, a middle-aged man with a sunburned face, stepped forward. His expression was confused and uneasy as he looked down at Ryder.

"We didn’t see anything," the man replied, his voice hoarse.

Ryder froze, treading water as the words sank in. "What do you mean, you didn’t see anything? Then why did you turn back?"

The man hesitated, glancing at the others on the raft as if seeking confirmation. His face grew grim, and he leaned closer to Ryder, lowering his voice. "We didn’t turn back."

Ryder’s eyes widened, shock rippling through him. "What?"

"We never turned back," the man repeated, his tone serious. "We kept going, straight ahead, just like you told us. But somehow… we’re back here."

The words hit like a thunderclap, and Ryder stared at the man in disbelief. Madison and Jack, still onshore, exchanged alarmed looks.

"What’s going on?" Madison called out, cupping her hands around her mouth.

Ryder turned his head to shout back, but his voice faltered. What could he say? That the raft had somehow returned without their control? It sounded impossible, even to him.

He looked back at the man, his jaw tightening. "You’re saying… you didn’t steer back to us?"

The man shook his head, his expression bleak. "We kept going, straight as an arrow. The next thing we knew, we were here."

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the lapping waves. Ryder pulled himself halfway onto the raft, his mind racing. He scanned the horizon, as if searching for an explanation, but there was nothing out there—just the endless expanse of water.

Onshore, Madison felt a chill run down her spine. "This place… it’s not normal," she whispered.

Jack nodded grimly, his face pale. "It’s as if the island itself won’t let us leave."