Sunlight shone through the forest leaves. The soil was soggy, clinging to clothing.
"How much longer?!"
"I don't know, he could be anywhere,"
The squad leader paused, then continued.
"Use your detection worm."
"Leader, he hasn't even awakened his soul yet."
The squad member placed his palm on the ground. A worm burst through his skin and vanished into the soil.
"There's nothing. No footprints. Should we trust the bloodhounds?"
"We have other methods as well. He can't run forever, he still needs time to awaken."
"Is he trying to reach Achone?"
"And why?"
"To be placed under their protection," another said. "Legal status and resources."
"Maybe, it's the most logical. Report to the rest of our teams. He escaped through our border."
***
A boy limped around trees, pausing at uneven intervals as the bushes rustled nearby.
A cold breeze swept through his wounds, carrying the smell of damp earth.
"Damn! It's pitch black. I haven't eaten in days."
A poisonous smile crept across his face.
He raised his trembling hand toward the moon, squinting as if telling the time. "Eleven already."
"I'm too dehydrated," he collapsed against a tree, vision blurred, his body numbed.
Good.
Border Patrol would be watching him.
"Huh, an hour left before I awaken. I might bleed out first."
A blurry figure stepped out of the bushes, approaching him with caution.
"He's alive, are you sure? He can be a spy."
She placed her palm against the boy's chest. Water surged outward, washing his wounds and stripping away blood and mud.
After she ripped his shirt open—she froze.
A skull tattoo glowed faintly on his skin.
"Fuck. He's really a carrier," she said. "We've got twenty minutes for protocol—now!"
Figures emerged from the trees, surrounding them.
"Where's the nearest chamber?"
"Opicid Academy."