Chapter 4: Capture
Jo glanced back over her shoulder, but could no longer see Billy. He had already disappeared into the thick undergrowth of the forest. 'Ah well,' she said, shrugging. He could do whatever he wanted as far as she was concerned, and none of the others were particularly keen to have him around. They then all went on with their introductions, while Aster briefly examined each in turn. None were hurt badly - Johanna and Damian were completely unhurt, Kasumi would have a bruise where she had been kicked, nothing worse, and Lucian's nose was indeed not broken, only bleeding.
Five minutes later, they were all stood round discussing what to do next. Each now knew each other's name, and were being civil with each, at least for the moment. They all quickly agreed that there would be no point in fighting, and would be best off sailing to the island as soon as possible, either together or separately. In doing so they had broken the first barrier of distrust - the instinct to eliminate all they came across.
'Those boats are too big to handle alone very easily,' Kasumi said from where she stood near the center of the group. She was a good judge of character, and didn't think that any of her newest companions was stupid enough to start a fight. Nevertheless, she still hovered near Damian.
'So we should sail to the next island together,' agreed Damian in his matter-of-fact way. 'It would be easier for all of us.'
'I agree,' said Johanna, 'but it would mean having at least four more rivals in the next round. If no one minds that, I don't see any harm in working together. Though I must warn you all, if any of you get in my way I won't hesitate to take you down.'
'I won't cause any trouble,' Aster replied. 'Benefits me to have you guys around, not being much a fighter myself. And perhaps I can of more use than I guess your last travelling companion was.' She chuckled and smiled at this, a smile which was returned by Jo, her hostile front broken down.
'Long as I get a shot at that cane guy, I'm satisfied,' Lucian said. He stepped forward, assuming an authoratitive air. 'Seems to me like this exam is geared for teamwork. It'd be hard for most people to get through that forest and across the sea alone. And if it's teamwork they want, well, let's give 'em it.'
'A masterful speech!' The voice had come suddenly from behind them, and was accompanied by clapping. They all looked to see a short man with a pointed hat and a high collar walking towards them from out of the forest. 'Teamwork is, indeed, the order of the day. And what a colourful team you've got for yourself!'
Lucian recognised the man as the one who had attacked him on that first day. 'Hey, You're...' Lucian tried and failed to recall the man's name.
'It's Viv Serkham!' he yelled, annoyed at having been forgotten.
'You know him?' Johanna asked, readying herself for a possible battle.
'Attacked me on the first day. I took one swing at him and he ran off.'
'Ah, you do remember!' Viv was pleased. 'And now you're wondering what I'm doing here. Well, my teammates and I have been tracking your movements since our first meeting.'
'Teammates?' Damian said in surprise. Almost simultaneously, the five of them, with the exception of Lucian, felt something cold and hard press against their necks. As each looked back as far as they could without turning their heads, they saw someone holding a knife to their neck. Viv took out a pistol and pointed at Lucian, the only one who was still free.
'Everything will be explained in due course,' he said, as his associates each used their spare hand to frisk their respective captives, taking everything of value, their weapons, their tools, their equipment, and dropping them in a small pile on the floor. None were foolish enough to resist with a blade at their neck, but Kasumi was reduced nearly to tears as her swords were taken from her. Her fists clenched and she had to stop herself fighting back.
Once the frisking had taken place, the four of them were tied up, their wrists and ankles bound, and forcibly sat down on the sand. While two of their enemies stood over them, the other two proceeded towards Lucian, ready to perform the same task on him. He drew his sword, and yelled, 'You're not getting me!' A cough from Viv reminded him of the pistol he held and after a few moments fighting with hismself, Lucian had to relinquish his weapon.
Soon he sat alongside the others, swearing and cursing their captors under his breath. Their five assailants stood before them in a row, triumphant.
'Well, what is all this?' demanded Damian. 'You gonna kill us or what?'
'If we were going to do that, we would have already done so,' Viv replied. 'But please, no more questions, I will explain everything. We are not going to hurt you, at least for now. We are merely going to... detain you, for a few days. Until, to be more precise, in about three days. 6.30am on the morning of the First of May.'
'But that will only give us twelve hours to pass the test!' protested Aster. 'And what if all the boats have been taken?!'
'I said no questions, but I will indulge you. If all the boats are taken at that time, all ten of us will fail. However, I do not think that will happen. As you correctly surmised, this test requires teamwork to pass it. Most people on the island have not realised that. In fact, as far as we are aware, apart from ourselves and the group that left not long ago, four teams exist. Assuming each of these take one boat, that will leave one for either our team or your's.'
'Er, we're not exactly a team,' put in Lucian. 'But more to the point, how do you know all this?'
'That would be thanks to me,' piped up another of their captors, a petite young woman with black pigtails and large dark eyes. 'The name's Amy Lester, tracking extraordinaire.' She took out a small capsule and held it between two fingers. 'This thing contains a faint but distinct perfume. Upon breaking the capsule, the perfume is released onto a target. Its potent stuff, the smell will remain on the target for up to a week, though in this forest where there are a million other smells, it should only last about half that. I've got hundreds of these things, each with a slightly different odour, and I've trained my sense of smell to detect each from up to two miles away. Most people can't even smell them, but I can pick them out pretty accurately, even among all the other smells round here, for up to about a mile. I was also careful to break a capsule on as many of the contestants before this exam started as I could. Think I got about half of them.'
'It's also how we followed you're movements,' Viv interrupted, wagging a finger at Lucian. 'Remember the other day, I put my hand on your shoulder? I was actually breaking one of the capsules I'd borrowed from Amy on you, thus marking you with a scent by which she could track you. That was my reason for attacking you in the first place. I also performed the same task on several other contestants.'
'That's right,' continued Amy, 'and it all meant we could tell the location of those contestants who we'd marked, so we know who has grouped up with others.'
'But what's the point in tying us up and waiting until twelve hours before the exam?' enquired Jo. 'Why not just kill us, take a boat, and pass yourselves?'
'You've these three to thank for that,' Viv said, gesturing to his three other companions. 'Marc Ross here suggested that idea,' he said, indicating a large, chubby man with a pleasant face, 'and Ted Bauerstein (a man with curly brown locks) and Bella Thomson (a tall, red-headed woman) said it suited their plans too.'
'But we won't explain why just yet,' Ted said, nodding at them. 'More fun to let you guess.' The others nodded in agreement.
Despite more protests from their powerless victims, Viv's team pulled all five of them to their feet. Marc Ross carefully put all their belongings into a sack which he slung over his back. Once again they were put at knife-point, and were forced back into the forest. Viv lead the procession, followed by Bella, Ted and their captives, with Amy and Marc bringing up the rear.
'Where are you taking us?!' demanded Lucian. 'You said you'd explain everything, you haven't explained a damn thing!'
Viv ignored the shouts and continued leading them on through the vegetation...
***
'They're leaving the beach,' Boyd Volos whispered to one of his cohorts from their vantage point in the trees not far away as they watched the group of ten return to the forest. 'Weird they didn't kill them. But at least it means ve don't have to fight.' The teammate he was speaking to gestured to the others behind him to follow, and all five men hurried out from the trees and down to the boats. They threw their equipment up onto one and climbed aboard. Quickly each went about their pre-arranged duty for readying the boat. Five minutes later, they were setting out. Four boats remained on the beach...
***
The pecualiar band of examinees had been walking for fifteen minutes. Now they had apparently reached their target destination, and Ted and Marc walked off into the trees to their left, apparently on some errand.
Lucian, Jo, Damian, Aster and Kasumi were forced forward to the edge of a large hole, about ten foot in depth and big enough to hold at least eight people. The sides were almost sheer, making climbing up the sides difficult. At the bottom were layers of dry leaves and grass, which made it look almost comfortable. However, each realised they were mistaken when they were, one-by-one, untied and forced bodily down into the hole by Bella and Amy. Amy and Bella returned, a rudimentary fence carried between them. It consisted off many tree branches criss-crossing each other, tied together with more rope. This they placed across the hole, completing the cage.
'We spent all our time up 'til now setting this up,' Viv explained. 'When we found this hole the possibilities for fun, and experiment, flooded to us. It's also in a great tactical position. No one can get close without one of us seeing, or in Amy's case, smelling. Plus we can keep an eye on you, make sure none of you try anything. Not that I think that you could. We've got everything set out to keep you here, safe, for the next three days. You'll be given food and shelter, and don't worry about your belongings, we'll return them to you as soon as we've set you free. We'll also explain everything. And this time, I really do mean everything.'
Viv waved brightly at them from between the 'bars' before all five of them turned to walk away. Now Lucian, Jo, Damian, Aster and Kasumi were left to contemplate their disasterous predicament...
(OOC: Sorry about the rather odd plot development. It's mostly to move the clock to closer to the end of the exam, as well providing one last challenge before they leave the island, which you'll find out about in my next post (which will take place three days after this). For now, talk or try to escape or whatever. However, no matter how hard you try, I won't let your characters escape. ^_^)
Jo glanced back over her shoulder, but could no longer see Billy. He had already disappeared into the thick undergrowth of the forest. 'Ah well,' she said, shrugging. He could do whatever he wanted as far as she was concerned, and none of the others were particularly keen to have him around. They then all went on with their introductions, while Aster briefly examined each in turn. None were hurt badly - Johanna and Damian were completely unhurt, Kasumi would have a bruise where she had been kicked, nothing worse, and Lucian's nose was indeed not broken, only bleeding.
Five minutes later, they were all stood round discussing what to do next. Each now knew each other's name, and were being civil with each, at least for the moment. They all quickly agreed that there would be no point in fighting, and would be best off sailing to the island as soon as possible, either together or separately. In doing so they had broken the first barrier of distrust - the instinct to eliminate all they came across.
'Those boats are too big to handle alone very easily,' Kasumi said from where she stood near the center of the group. She was a good judge of character, and didn't think that any of her newest companions was stupid enough to start a fight. Nevertheless, she still hovered near Damian.
'So we should sail to the next island together,' agreed Damian in his matter-of-fact way. 'It would be easier for all of us.'
'I agree,' said Johanna, 'but it would mean having at least four more rivals in the next round. If no one minds that, I don't see any harm in working together. Though I must warn you all, if any of you get in my way I won't hesitate to take you down.'
'I won't cause any trouble,' Aster replied. 'Benefits me to have you guys around, not being much a fighter myself. And perhaps I can of more use than I guess your last travelling companion was.' She chuckled and smiled at this, a smile which was returned by Jo, her hostile front broken down.
'Long as I get a shot at that cane guy, I'm satisfied,' Lucian said. He stepped forward, assuming an authoratitive air. 'Seems to me like this exam is geared for teamwork. It'd be hard for most people to get through that forest and across the sea alone. And if it's teamwork they want, well, let's give 'em it.'
'A masterful speech!' The voice had come suddenly from behind them, and was accompanied by clapping. They all looked to see a short man with a pointed hat and a high collar walking towards them from out of the forest. 'Teamwork is, indeed, the order of the day. And what a colourful team you've got for yourself!'
Lucian recognised the man as the one who had attacked him on that first day. 'Hey, You're...' Lucian tried and failed to recall the man's name.
'It's Viv Serkham!' he yelled, annoyed at having been forgotten.
'You know him?' Johanna asked, readying herself for a possible battle.
'Attacked me on the first day. I took one swing at him and he ran off.'
'Ah, you do remember!' Viv was pleased. 'And now you're wondering what I'm doing here. Well, my teammates and I have been tracking your movements since our first meeting.'
'Teammates?' Damian said in surprise. Almost simultaneously, the five of them, with the exception of Lucian, felt something cold and hard press against their necks. As each looked back as far as they could without turning their heads, they saw someone holding a knife to their neck. Viv took out a pistol and pointed at Lucian, the only one who was still free.
'Everything will be explained in due course,' he said, as his associates each used their spare hand to frisk their respective captives, taking everything of value, their weapons, their tools, their equipment, and dropping them in a small pile on the floor. None were foolish enough to resist with a blade at their neck, but Kasumi was reduced nearly to tears as her swords were taken from her. Her fists clenched and she had to stop herself fighting back.
Once the frisking had taken place, the four of them were tied up, their wrists and ankles bound, and forcibly sat down on the sand. While two of their enemies stood over them, the other two proceeded towards Lucian, ready to perform the same task on him. He drew his sword, and yelled, 'You're not getting me!' A cough from Viv reminded him of the pistol he held and after a few moments fighting with hismself, Lucian had to relinquish his weapon.
Soon he sat alongside the others, swearing and cursing their captors under his breath. Their five assailants stood before them in a row, triumphant.
'Well, what is all this?' demanded Damian. 'You gonna kill us or what?'
'If we were going to do that, we would have already done so,' Viv replied. 'But please, no more questions, I will explain everything. We are not going to hurt you, at least for now. We are merely going to... detain you, for a few days. Until, to be more precise, in about three days. 6.30am on the morning of the First of May.'
'But that will only give us twelve hours to pass the test!' protested Aster. 'And what if all the boats have been taken?!'
'I said no questions, but I will indulge you. If all the boats are taken at that time, all ten of us will fail. However, I do not think that will happen. As you correctly surmised, this test requires teamwork to pass it. Most people on the island have not realised that. In fact, as far as we are aware, apart from ourselves and the group that left not long ago, four teams exist. Assuming each of these take one boat, that will leave one for either our team or your's.'
'Er, we're not exactly a team,' put in Lucian. 'But more to the point, how do you know all this?'
'That would be thanks to me,' piped up another of their captors, a petite young woman with black pigtails and large dark eyes. 'The name's Amy Lester, tracking extraordinaire.' She took out a small capsule and held it between two fingers. 'This thing contains a faint but distinct perfume. Upon breaking the capsule, the perfume is released onto a target. Its potent stuff, the smell will remain on the target for up to a week, though in this forest where there are a million other smells, it should only last about half that. I've got hundreds of these things, each with a slightly different odour, and I've trained my sense of smell to detect each from up to two miles away. Most people can't even smell them, but I can pick them out pretty accurately, even among all the other smells round here, for up to about a mile. I was also careful to break a capsule on as many of the contestants before this exam started as I could. Think I got about half of them.'
'It's also how we followed you're movements,' Viv interrupted, wagging a finger at Lucian. 'Remember the other day, I put my hand on your shoulder? I was actually breaking one of the capsules I'd borrowed from Amy on you, thus marking you with a scent by which she could track you. That was my reason for attacking you in the first place. I also performed the same task on several other contestants.'
'That's right,' continued Amy, 'and it all meant we could tell the location of those contestants who we'd marked, so we know who has grouped up with others.'
'But what's the point in tying us up and waiting until twelve hours before the exam?' enquired Jo. 'Why not just kill us, take a boat, and pass yourselves?'
'You've these three to thank for that,' Viv said, gesturing to his three other companions. 'Marc Ross here suggested that idea,' he said, indicating a large, chubby man with a pleasant face, 'and Ted Bauerstein (a man with curly brown locks) and Bella Thomson (a tall, red-headed woman) said it suited their plans too.'
'But we won't explain why just yet,' Ted said, nodding at them. 'More fun to let you guess.' The others nodded in agreement.
Despite more protests from their powerless victims, Viv's team pulled all five of them to their feet. Marc Ross carefully put all their belongings into a sack which he slung over his back. Once again they were put at knife-point, and were forced back into the forest. Viv lead the procession, followed by Bella, Ted and their captives, with Amy and Marc bringing up the rear.
'Where are you taking us?!' demanded Lucian. 'You said you'd explain everything, you haven't explained a damn thing!'
Viv ignored the shouts and continued leading them on through the vegetation...
***
'They're leaving the beach,' Boyd Volos whispered to one of his cohorts from their vantage point in the trees not far away as they watched the group of ten return to the forest. 'Weird they didn't kill them. But at least it means ve don't have to fight.' The teammate he was speaking to gestured to the others behind him to follow, and all five men hurried out from the trees and down to the boats. They threw their equipment up onto one and climbed aboard. Quickly each went about their pre-arranged duty for readying the boat. Five minutes later, they were setting out. Four boats remained on the beach...
***
The pecualiar band of examinees had been walking for fifteen minutes. Now they had apparently reached their target destination, and Ted and Marc walked off into the trees to their left, apparently on some errand.
Lucian, Jo, Damian, Aster and Kasumi were forced forward to the edge of a large hole, about ten foot in depth and big enough to hold at least eight people. The sides were almost sheer, making climbing up the sides difficult. At the bottom were layers of dry leaves and grass, which made it look almost comfortable. However, each realised they were mistaken when they were, one-by-one, untied and forced bodily down into the hole by Bella and Amy. Amy and Bella returned, a rudimentary fence carried between them. It consisted off many tree branches criss-crossing each other, tied together with more rope. This they placed across the hole, completing the cage.
'We spent all our time up 'til now setting this up,' Viv explained. 'When we found this hole the possibilities for fun, and experiment, flooded to us. It's also in a great tactical position. No one can get close without one of us seeing, or in Amy's case, smelling. Plus we can keep an eye on you, make sure none of you try anything. Not that I think that you could. We've got everything set out to keep you here, safe, for the next three days. You'll be given food and shelter, and don't worry about your belongings, we'll return them to you as soon as we've set you free. We'll also explain everything. And this time, I really do mean everything.'
Viv waved brightly at them from between the 'bars' before all five of them turned to walk away. Now Lucian, Jo, Damian, Aster and Kasumi were left to contemplate their disasterous predicament...
(OOC: Sorry about the rather odd plot development. It's mostly to move the clock to closer to the end of the exam, as well providing one last challenge before they leave the island, which you'll find out about in my next post (which will take place three days after this). For now, talk or try to escape or whatever. However, no matter how hard you try, I won't let your characters escape. ^_^)
