Celeste had no clue when she zoned out. All she could recall was the jarring click of a switch, the sudden glow of crimson lights, and a jolt of electricity coursing through her body, causing her to let out a scream.
She squeezed her eyes shut, almost envisioning a lightning whip crackling against her wolf-like form. The excruciating pain hit her like a sucker punch, making her body writhe and convulse, but the damned silver chains held her captive. Yet, this first wave of agony wasn't enough to knock her out cold.
Thankfully, the electrical surge was only fleeting, disappearing as swiftly as it had come. As Celeste regained her wits, she gulped down air as if she'd been trapped underwater, her heart hammering against her ribcage while her surroundings swirled in a dizzying haze.
Once she'd gathered herself to some extent, Celeste's gaze fell upon Kevin, who was also gasping for breath, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. Had he just experienced a shocking shock too?
Before Celeste could even begin to fathom what was going on, a split second later, another surge of electricity snaked through the metal patches clinging to her body, lashing at her skin like a vengeful whip. This new surge packed a mightier punch, sending sharper stabs of pain coursing through her. Unable to contain herself, Celeste involuntarily let out another piercing cry, her eyes fluttering shut.
But even before her eyes were sealed shut, she managed to catch a glimpse of Kevin. He, too, was enduring the relentless flow of electricity. But damn, that guy clenched his teeth so hard, it was a miracle his lips hadn't disappeared. His fists were balled up, every muscle in his body tensed like a coiled spring. Oddly enough, he seemed almost prepared for this shocking ordeal.
When the electricity's torment finally subsided within Celeste's body, she couldn't resist taking deep lungfuls of air, greedily refilling her deprived lungs. With her eyes wide open again, she fixated on the sweat trickling down Kevin's forehead. It hit her like a lightning bolt–these sadistic creeps were zapping both of them at the same time.
But why? Why were they doing that to them? Celeste hadn't the faintest inkling.
Celeste's attention snapped back to Lucien, only to catch him staring at the computer screen. She had no clue what had captured his attention, maybe it was some wild experiment they were conducting.
A tingling numbness crept into Celeste's hand, and from the corner of her eye, she spotted Kevin's hand quivering ever so slightly. What on earth were these hunters planning? What could they possibly discover by zapping the life out of both of them simultaneously?
But before Celeste could delve into her thoughts, another surge of electricity ripped through her, intensifying the torment. This time, the jolt seemed even more powerful than before, and she finally heard Kevin stifling a groan.
Celeste couldn't pinpoint when she had blacked out. All she remembered was a brief moment of awakening, only to find herself still strapped to that godforsaken chair. As another bolt of electricity surged through her body, her hand instinctively curled into a tight fist, her nails scraping fiercely against the leather. Ah, so that was where those marks came from.
In the midst of yet another electric shock, Celeste was swallowed eventually by the engulfing darkness. When she regained consciousness again, her bleary eyes were greeted by two familiar faces.
Celeste blinked her eyes in disbelief, but even that seemingly simple motion felt surreal, like she was trapped in some bizarre dream. Her muscles seemed sluggish, as if they belonged to a different body altogether. Even the act of blinking sent a strange, tingling numbness coursing through her.
A gentle hand rested on Celeste's head, its touch carrying a hint of carefulness, as if there was a thin veil of plastic separating her from reality. Yet, amidst that ethereal sensation, Celeste could still bask in the comforting warmth emanating from that hand.
Without hesitation, she found herself instinctively tilting her head, drawn towards the touch. She longed for this feeling. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, as if they were desperate to escape their confines.
"Mom..." her voice trembled, quivering as it escaped her throat, causing her lips to join in the dance of uncertainty.
"Cel, don't worry, we're right here," the hand on her head grew even gentler, almost as if it were an extension of a soothing breeze. Celeste yearned to grasp those hands and be enveloped in a tight embrace. But the hand merely rested upon her head, unwilling to take that next step.
With a deep breath, she blinked, suddenly realizing that she remained lying on the ground. Her entire body ached, the soreness radiating through her being. As she turned her head, she discovered her right hand numbed, still bound tightly to the wall.
Suppressing the lingering numbness, Celeste mustered the strength to sit up, her gaze finally falling upon her parents. Jeff and Nora, too, found themselves ensnared in the metallic restraints, their hands held captive, reflecting an eerie silver glow tainted with malevolence.
Celeste despised that sinister silver metal, her gaze aflame with a burning intensity. If only her eyes had the power to transform into fire, she would have effortlessly melted those wretched restraints long ago.
Blinking away the intensity, Celeste's focus returned to her parents' faces. Could this be real? With each inhalation, she could sense their familiar scent, so palpable, as if it transcended the realm of imagination. It was far from the illusions her electrified mind might conjure.
"Mom? Dad? Are you really here?" Celeste's disbelief overflowed, her words slipping past her lips before her thoughts had time to catch up.