Chapter 8: Obsession
Obsession — it was a problem of Axel’s, but also his greatest asset.
Due to hyperthymesia, Axel couldn’t forget what he wanted to forget; however, he could at least suppress bad memories by creating a memory of greater value — even if only temporarily. To do so, he replayed something in his mind over and over, tricking himself into overvaluing it and overshadowing the truly terrible memories.
This form of his self-trickery just so happened to manifest in the form of creating a savior. Then, when his mind would have otherwise wandered and he would have thought of the past, he focused all his thoughts on the Savior.
The problem was just how obsessed he would get sometimes...
In essence, he wasn’t the happiest camper being separated from his savior, who was the current object of his obsession.
It was a bit of a wicked perspective on life; a twisted way that could only cause disaster and ruin...
A fact Axel was clearly aware of.
And it was also a fact he disregarded.
***
The stinging pain had faded and settled into a dull ache as Axel furtively glanced at his group while nursing the wound.
’They’re certainly unique...’
To put it mildly.
There was the man obsessed with his own tattoos. One obsessed with girls. A nervous girl with puffy hair who looked on the verge of a mental breakdown. A man holding a flat expression as if this were a typical day to him. A burly man who twirled his mustache while observing the abnormally large crows with reverent curiosity. A beautiful woman with sleek, blonde hair. And Mikhail, the stone spitter gacha man.
Tapping his foot and scanning the group, Axel waited for someone, anyone, to take charge.
After waiting a minute in the deafening silence, Axel decided to bite the bullet and start the icebreakers. Even worse, he’d probably have to lead the squad.
Though he’d rather lead than put his fate in another’s hands.
’Especially not someone like tattoo man...’
Something about that man seemed off.
Axel couldn’t exactly explain, but he got the gut feeling of unadulterated loathing and fear when he looked at the clueless guy.
’I feel kinda bad for disliking him for no reason, but can’t exactly ignore my instincts when they’re screaming this loudly.’
Maybe Axel would find out why he had that feeling when looking at this man once he regained his memories...
"We should introduce ourselves."
Axel rested his hand on his chest and was suddenly reminded he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
’Ah... right.’
He looked just as odd as the rest. Actually, more so since he was the maniac whose left arm was drenched in blood.
Trying to hide his surprise, Axel hastily continued:
"I’m Axel Hart. Twenty years old! Before this, I worked as an IT assistant for a software development company. I don’t have much experience outdoors, but I know some of the basics from when I went camping as a kid."
IT support for a tech company might have seemed like a redundant job, but one would be surprised by how many people knew how to code but were clueless when a problem arose on their PC. One time, Axel got called when someone accidentally unplugged their monitor and thought their entire desktop had broken because the screen "wouldn’t turn on."
People who knew how to code seemed only to know how to code sometimes. That’s what happened when someone dedicated their life to developing one skill.
There were also many reasonable cases, but it was the dumb and trivial that stood out.
After Axel’s introduction, the shy girl, whose face was half-hidden by her bushy brown hair and who wore a zebra-striped, long-sleeved shirt and egg-white corduroy pants, stepped forward.
"Um, I’m Claire Thompson..."
...
’Is... that all?’
"Um, I, um, am nineteen and uhh... am... um... uhh... a college student. And umm... also on the... umm... Canadian Olympic archery team... umm. T-that’s it."
’Oh gods...’
’She was way too scared!’
That girl was indeed nervous. But, not due to being kidnapped. No, no, that would be much too sensible and normal...
’She has crazy social anxiety!’
’How is she stuck on that in a situation like this?!’
Quickly losing faith in his group, Axel nearly hung his head in surrender that this girl was the second one who spoke.
But, at the very least, if they found a bow, they knew who to give it to. Given how developed her shoulder muscles were, to the point where they were clearly outlined through her shirt, it was clear she was telling the truth.
To spare her from the spotlight any longer, Axel gestured for the big buff guy to go next. Thankfully, he understood.
"I’m Connor, and I didn’t do much before this. My parents forced me to join the Boy Scouts until I became an Eagle Scout. I’m also a herbalist."
Connor returned to twirling his mustache as his eyes locked on a large butterfly hovering overhead.
Slack-jawed, Axel stared at the man. Maybe the others didn’t understand, but as an American himself...
’Are you dumb? Why the hell were you with us? Someone, please, anyone? Call him out!’
...
’No? None of us? I mean, I’m not gonna do it. Seriously, one of you three, do something! Some poor girl with little experience was forced to lead the foraging group!’
"I’m Ryon!"
’Yup, I guess we were letting him get away with it.’
"Twenty-one, single, and before this, I worked as a volunteer firefighter."
Ryon spoke with such confidence that Axel almost forgot he had refused to speak until after the meek girl. Even more, he didn’t have the confidence to question the man about why he hadn’t led the hunting group...
’While this isn’t Earth, a basic level of botany knowledge would be helpful, right?’
Axel felt like this all had to be a bad nightmare.
First, he was kidnapped and his arm was sliced open by unknown means. He had to sacrifice his shirt, a stranger almost died saving him, and now he was being forced to lead some ragtag group into a forest that looked like it had been pulled straight out of a Stephen King novel!
’I just want a damned shirt...’
Thankfully, the rest of the introductions started to move smoothly.
"I’m Mikhail, nineteen. Ack... Before I was... Ack. Summoned, I was in uni at South Ural State studying mechanical engineering. Ahem."
It seemed like he wasn’t entirely over his coughing fit just yet...
"What’s up! I’m as cheery as one can be after being summoned to their deaths! Name’s Leora, nice to meet y’all."
The grim, cheery... grimcheery(?) beautiful woman with long blonde hair gave a foxy smile, signaling that was all she was willing to share about herself.
"I’m Huang Gao... nice to meet you all."
The man spoke with such authority that none dared to question or ask more about him.
It was almost alluring the way he carried himself.
Still, Axel would never shake it from his mind that all of these people were speaking after the girl with criminal levels of social anxiety.
Axel stared at the last group member: tattoo man.
’...’
The man didn’t even glance up, still tracing the contours of his jet-black tattoo of a thorny vine.
’Next, next!’
Axel begged.
’Please don’t make me speak up. You knew you were next; you’re the last one! Oh god, is he an edgelord? Does he want to be all mysterious?’
Axel coughed, then said:
"And you?"
The man blinked, then looked up.
"...Zayn Gatlin."
’And...?’
Axel waited...
’Come on, there had to be more. Please? No... Don’t go back to observing your tattoo. Talk!’