12 hours later. As Liam awoke from his nap.
First time in the US?" Mr. N smirked, proud, like he owned the place.
"No." Liam grunted.
"Damn, and here I thought I took your tourist virginity." Mr. N laughed.
Liam didn't reciprocate the same energy. "Do not make jokes like that."
The helicopter landed.
Mr. N stepped out casually.
"This is my tertiary work camp. It's run by my student, Destroyer. But this week's special. A lot of my best men are hosted here. Solomon, Osprey, and others. They are just like you."
Mr. N glanced at Liam.
"I'll introduce you to them soon. But don't interact with them unless I'm there. Each member of my Elite Guard suffers from a form of psychotic, dissociative, or neurodevelopmental disorder, and unless you know how to handle them, things can go very wrong."
A pause.
"For both of you."
Liam grew suspicious but didn't show it.
Everyone is diseased? Strength comes at a cost. If they were "well," I assume they wouldn't be strong. Strength means experience. And experience means trauma.
Almost as if reading his mind, Mr. N spoke.
"Madness is a medicine for the modern world. In moderation, it's greatly beneficial. These are my fighters, the ones who will help me create a new society."
Liam muttered, "And if you overdose… on this madness?"
Mr. N smiled.
"They can't overdose. Because I am the doctor."
A slight tilt of his head.
"I control it."
"I give them the dosage."
Mr. N stepped closer.
Placing his hand on Liam's shoulder.
"For now, you are going to be stationed here. In two days, I will grant you a squad consisting of some of my best men to go rescue your friend."
A pause.
"The one you spoke about on the helicopter."
Liam frowned.
"Friend? I never mentioned—"
The words drifted past him.
The fog brushed across his skin.
Cold.
Like snow.
I'm in America?
The air hadn't changed from Greenland.
Yet everything felt wrong.
"Why is there snow?" Liam inhaled sharply.
The snow entered his lungs.
He coughed violently.
This isn't snow…?
It's fur.
As he wheezed,
he snapped out of it.
Reality rushed back in.
He caught the last thing Mr. N said.
"Until then, keep yourself entertained and out of sight."
Liam walked toward the door in front of him, pushing through the heavy fog.
He opened it.
The fog vanished instantly.
The snow—gone.
Inside was a dimly lit, comfortably decorated room.
Silent. Still. Safe.
It was just him now.
No more distractions.
No more noise.
A slight smile formed on his face.
"Comfort."