"John!" A mysterious and femine voice called out.
John sat beside a tree trunk. His eyes a bit dazed, pulled his head up high to where the voice came from.
He was really surprised by this person who called him as he was quite light headed from his nap. There, a girl, shimmering along in the sun she had eyes dazzling as green as an emerald, hair blonde, fortunate and glorious, and skin soft as milky smooth.
John had no words to say. He could only stare at whoever this beautiful figure was.
The girl spoke, her words only reaching as far but not intended as John saw and heard it. He translated it in another way, while the girl had her hands point at him, bending over and speaking to him maturely. But John didn't get it - what he was actually seeing was an angel descending and reaching out to him, as he too would reach and mutter a type of cringe sentence, "God, is that you.....am I.....saved - ."
The angel's hand then suddenly changed it's trajectory and instead of holding hands together, it went straight, and slapped John's head like mochi and hammer.
SLAP!
The slap hurt so bad that it finally awoken John in his state of daydreaming.
"Och! What was that for?" John asked confused his hands rubbing his head.
The famine figure that striked him then responded, her facial expression broken like a set of mirrors split into tens and hundreds of pieces, "WAKE UP ALREADY! I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU EVERYWHERE. WHERE WERE YOU?"
Realizing the person who hit him on the head, John was kind of surprised to see who it was. In all his days, he never thought that she would be worried about him. He's expression happy and joyous also turned gloomy and sad.
"Come on, let's go before it gets dark," the girl said after calming down for some time. She waited for a response.
"Why do you care?" Then out of nowhere, John asked sensely. He did so and looked the other direction.
When John replied he did it out of a clueless mind. The girl got really frustrated, and growled like a lion about to chew down her prey, "What. Did. You. saaaaayyyyyyy!?"
Couple minutes later, John and the girl are seen walking around the neighbourhood sidewalk and underneath several trees, plentiful of leaves clogged together casting shadows. John was at the back, and the girl in front, her height cutting him off his own as he quietly frowned - motionlesss. The girl, her real name is Sam, to put in a fact, she is John's older Sibling.
While they walked, Sam looked over her shoulders on her right not so precise but enough for her eyes to lay a glimpse at John, and does her lips conjured a smile.
"Tell me, how long are you going to stay silent," Sam asked, "People who stay isolated keep to themselves, are you of one."
John caught Sam's words really fast, but wouldn't say a thing. He knew well not to speak. What he thought was something he had groomed the past couple of weeks.
Embarrassment, denial, regret, shock, what were the other things that troubled him.
His eyes stared only on the road pavement, his body remained stiff and unchanged, got nothing out of him.
Seeing as how John wasn't responding, Sam became irritated but not to the point of shouting rather she kept it in and proceeded to start up a proper conversation. Something that will get him out from his soulless mind of state.
"If you're having trouble, you know I'm here," Sam casually stated.
Still unresponsive Sam continued, "Even though things might chance, mum and dad and I are here, besides," she stopped and turned, "I'll always be there for you when your going through difficulties, and although I don't seem like, we do care - the pact has to stay together. But I won't judge, you'll find it someday to be open again."
When John heard this words, his expression slightly morphed and his head raised up with a smudge of gesture on his lips, not seen but actually felt.
"Come on, let's go," Sam added, "If you smile, maybe I'll buy ice cream."
"Really?" John questioned.
"Yeah, come on let's go," Sam said reaching her hands for John to tag along.
With a bit of a smile John replied, "Yes, I would like that very much."
---------------
His head hurting and spinning in severe dizziness, he felt as if a bulldozer had just hit and flattened him to the ground deformed. Instead he was brought back to life - a miracle he survived.
The dimly lit area at first, casted less light and was hard to clarify the surroundings. He took his time and adjusted his eyes. Then he was able to see better.
It was somewhere in a secluded area, confined walls and hard surface materials. The only light he saw came from uptop - a glass frame. What he noticed was his location: large boxes, and metal shelves bigger versions for a holding place.
Then it ticked in his head, he was probably in a warehouse holding area.
He doesn't know how he got here. He remembered a pain on his side head and it happened so fast he blacked out.
John sat no longer as he sprang up from from his resting place on some large packets of grains. He then walked hazely, and suryed the walls. His mind still unwell, he kept his focus and perseverance at a stand still.
His hands were then placed on the walls trying to feeling his surroundings as the light from middle where he was previously, reached and got so far to cover the areas that were blackened in the dark.
Cling!
The sound of metal alerted John, his hand feeling a broad shape swathe, he immediately wrapped his hand around it - held it tight. He would slowly then turn the lever, and push open the hidden door. In his wake, brightness glowed on his face. He was out of the holding area as he followed out, and was back at the rear of the store. Yet it seems, it reminded the same so what changed.
He shook it off - the feeling. It wasn't hardly sticking too, since he doesn't know what happened. The concern as he saw fit was getting to the other town. But would he really know. After being in this country for half a year, John wasn't too sure of his own location. The best option he took was only from a agent holder; his other priorities were left onto John to take after. Although it couldn't be that hard though, since he is in a store, it would be a plausible to solve the case if it held some papers, tools, and items to find his way through - and indeed it was, just by a near counter, John found himself a map. All that remained is food. When he remuged on the shelves there were not even much to grab; like John wasn't the first to arrive, people do anything to survive, and that includes getting all the necessary items leaving only crumbs and leftovers that won't be sufficient for the next few.
Nevertheless, John was able to gather the necessary few needed. It included: 2 paper rolls, 3 canned peaches, a knife, a set of wearable clothes, and a watch for telling the time.
As John walked over to the entrance, the same entrance he came in before, he spotted something at his peripheral vision. When he did come into contact with it two meters from it, he was stunned to come by this figure. It also reminded him as to why he blacked out. As he was about to take another step closer, John heard footsteps behind him and also felt an unnerving fright. He would not move, when from behind someone spoke.
"Don't even think about stepping any closer - one step and you're good as dead," the person from behind instructed and threatened.
John stayed stiffened as he knew what is going on. This scenario is a problem. If he were to move the slightest, he's life would be on the line.This words spoken sound soft and gentle. Whoever was behind was obvious. So it meant careful consideration is intimate.
"Put your hands up - NOW!" Subtle as the voice was, the mysterious person instructed again.
As it was as of now, John released his fingers that dropped the plastic bag and raised his arms up. The mysterious person who was in charge searched John's pockets, which the person was still behind John found nothing out of the ordinary that seemed lethal or dangerous. She then said, "Alright, move to the side," and John walked slowly but John wasn't the one to be taken lightly. Instead, John tripped by pure intention, got back up, and wanted to take at his captivator. When John looked at the mysterious person, a relaxed atmosphere filled him. He was stupifed. But the person wasn't and reacted at his action, "Hold it there, don't even try anything funny." The mysterious person in question is a girl, it would seem.
At first it might seem normal, but there was somethings off with this particular girl who was infront of him in a completely different form. Apart from there usual girly character, the girl must be a teenager at most. This is because how the girl's appearance appeared her height close to John's shoulders, and the way she talks. What is also concerning is that she is holding a small firearm handled like a fine soldier, she used it and trained it directly at John. Her eyes filled with scrutiny.
John was quite taken back by this revelation. He couldn't move even if he wanted. The only thing that snapped his thoughts was the girl pointing her gun towards him. This and that, John raised his hands up again only this time it was close to his chest, and tried to handle the situation in the best of his ability. He did it whilst waving his palms wide open. Thus he moved back. After he moved he stopped and stood still. The teenage girl on the other hand, turned her head left and right; to him and to the child John saw. She then gladly shifted her position and got down on her knees next to the child.
"Sweetie you okay - no pain, no harm. It's okay, I'm here," the teenage spoke gently at the child her hands rubbing her cheeks and grazing her hair,"Okay here, stay with me."
Just as things were going smoothly, another figure caught John's eyes. The same couldn't be said for the teenage girl. In her pov, she had an mixed expression on her face, yet it was a mixture of calmness and anger, and also sincerity. The other figure then shouted at the teenage while it ran there way,"There you guys are! I've looking around for you guys everywhere!"
When the silhouette of the figure came into the light, it was none other than a girl it would seem, yet again. When John saw these girl it was sure enough that they knew each other. To be fair, it was like he witnessed a family reunion.
"Where were you!?" The teenage girl then went on to yell at the other girl with a barrage of questions, "Liney! You were suppose to look after Sweetie while I find some supplies! What were you even thinking? What would happen to Sweetie if you weren't around, hmmm?"
Liney, the other girl's name, was getting a ton of lectures and questions from the teenage girl. She wasn't paying attention even. She rolled eyes, and replied with a low remark, "So your just going to leave me behind while you go do the awesome things leaving me bored. Besides, Sweetie is fine isn't she. So why are we even complaining."
"That's not even a point to make, Liney," the teenage girl replied. Her hand expression twitching as she comforts it with a finger rub, ending with an added hush.
"On that note. Who is this gentleman here?" Said Liney, her voice changed. With a bit of curiosity, she moved in and tried to inspect John.
John who was minding his own business was stunned. His reaction upon a closer view must be deceiving him, right.
'Nope, it is real. I'm not seeing things.'
The small girl's name is Sweetie and was the one John met first, but wasn't able to interact long enough because all of a sudden, he got his lights turned off; and then it comes to the teenage girl who must've been the one that hit him on the head like a battling ram. It goes to show that, she holds an imposing title and is the grown up among the three. Her long hair black as night, and a beautiful figure but instills a rather criminal aura; and the last one is Liney, the girl who appeared right in at the worst time. As John saw it, she must be the middle Sibling. Her height only 3/4 of the teenage girl, and she has an uncanny way of speaking and thinking makes her the curious type. But is she that curious. Well, it's not long before she gets closer to John, her eyes brimming with enthusiasm. She wanted to know.
'If they are here then there parents should be nearby as well.' John wondered in seconds.
Alas Liney's movements were cut short when the teenage girl recognised her.
BANG!
'Nope. I highly doubt it.' John conjured a quick thought.
The sound of gunfire abruptly rang and echoed in the exterior. This gunfire loud, and defeaning to the ears startled John as well as Liney. For the teenage girl who fired the shot remained still like a rag doll looking at John and Liney with eyes that of a demon. In fact, Sweetie the small girl, didn't even flinch a feather. Maybe it was because she is still a child, or maybe she just covered her hears to dampen the single round sound from the firearm.
When she was done, she spoke relatively chill with a stare as cold as ice, "You there - where do you think your going. Come on, let's go."
"But I just -," Liney responded until she was heavily interrupted - the teenage girl's voice going deeper.
"LINEY!" The teenage girl said aloud in her stance.
Finally without hesitation, Liney nodded and agreed, "Yes Tahira."
There closely standing at the entrance Liney, Sweetie, and the Teenage Girl were now together and ready to depart. Not until John who was left unhinged, got a few last words from the teenage girl, "I hope we don't meet again," and with that, they left through the same entrance John had previously entered.
Being left on his own, John thought to himself.
'Well that was something I'll never see again.'
~~~~~~
As the only person left in the store, John did what he could, and that was wrapping up all the necessary items and products he needed for the long road.
'Let's see if I got everything right,' John thought. He did so by counting his fingers. Enlisting all the items.
In addition, John picked up a bagpack that became rather handful, and used it to sort out his items in order. Before he put in the items, he counted the availability of space and what needed to be inserted first. On hand, John put the first lot of items he pulled from the metal rake shelves, and at the end, he put the next items which he that might be of useful value. This included a lighter, a piece of fabric, ten bottle of water, a compass, and a flash light. The knife and map, John held-on for the road.
When all was done it was time to head out; Grabbed the bag, and strapped it over his back. But when he made made his way out of the entrance door, his ears suddenly heard the reckoning shots of gunfire coming from the parking lot. The bangs going off several rounds.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The sounds became weary to hear as John covered his ears.
John arrived at the parking lot to grasp the situation. He was stunned to find his findings, yet again. Only this time, he was familiar with it. It was down right criminal and offensive. A couple meters from where he stood, the situation consisted of the following: People defending and fighting over each others - but this one was different. Why? Because it was the same people he met earlier and are now surrounded and pinned to the ground - the teenage girl that is. Her other siblings could only cower in fear. Their skins shivering in shock as they could do no more than hug each other, frightened to the bone.
Although constraint, John hid beside a nearby car and observed at a safe distance. Something really seemed off when stared longer, he thought. The people surrounding the girls is two largely built man. The first with a scar on his right arm, and the second man having a slim figure but still looked strong and buff. Altogether John summed up that they weren't regular man. No. They looked like the exact shape and size, and actions they shared are as that of a gangster. No doubt about it - these two man are a dangerous few. But should he be worrie that is the question. Should John intervene? Is it even a fair choice he can make? Rather, John wasn't too much sure to begin with. He did not want to get in more trouble. And that trouble is with these two men, and the girl who tried to kill him, out of context.
Likewise, he paved a new path: Don't meddle in other people's businesses. He evaded detection and went the other way. But is it a reasonable start, though. While he did make his mark the cries and screams from his back repeated more than once taking time to subside. This he could not clear up to make a proper decision.
While John's mind clashed in a tug of war: Help the girls vs get out of this predicament. The two man did a number on the girls, giving them a rough time.
"Uhhhh, is the Big Sister Prince still want to fight," the scarred right-arm gangstar nonchalantly said, playing around with the teenage girl in a disdainful manner.
"W-what are you.....you talking about?" The teenage girl weakly said her body pinned to the ground and the scared man holding her hair high tightened and grim, "Besides, there's better things to do than this."
"And what will that might be," the scarred man asked closing in his ears.
The teenage girl, her name is Tahira, smiled and replied cold heartedly, "GO FUCK YOURSELVES YOU SONS OF BITCHES - ."
Slam!
Saying those words, it was like wishing for death sentence. It was then her sentence was halted mid way as the scared man slammed her face right on the concrete surface. He then pulled her hair up again, on her face, Tahira sustained a nose bleed and her head started to ooze blood, dripping down her face.
"What did I tell you, it's not nice to talk bad shit about people. You agree right," the scarred man said in his poker face.
Tahira didn't mummer a word. Her mind completely blank for few seconds - before it took time to revitalise.
"Bro you should be careful with her, don't wanna break her," the other man said to the scared man. His voice lower than the scarred man's deep voice. Him hinted a horrid theme.
"Ah, sorry. It's just this bitch is a hassle," answers the scarred man, "How bout yours?"
"Oh it's going well," the slim man replied before he turned to the two girls (Liney and Sweetie) with a cringe gesture on his face.
In defence, Liney, the girl protecting Sweetie lunged into the frontline and confronted the slim built man, "D-Don't c-com-come any c-closer.....or you'll regret it ."
She acted so brave and valiant against the opposing figure. Her stance shaken in fear proved difficult to reach such a high feat. Amidst her confrontation, her hopes are but a tiny twig against the man. His height three times than that of her, buffs muscles, and a menacing gaze.
"What are you gonna do about it missy," the slim built man said to Liney, taunting her.
"I'm...gonna fight you," the girl says trying to hold her ground her fists on guard.
"Ahhhhhuhuhuhhuhuh," finding her words pathetic, the slim built laughs hysterically, "Is that your best."
"Hey bro, get a load of this."
"Yeah, a perfect classic."
"Really, I can't get over it,"
Not paying attention, the girl got pretty upset. She instinctively rushed close to the man and punched him in the nuts. The man seeing his clumsiness, chucked in pain.
"How is that," Liney said.
The man looked up and looked pissed, "Why you little shit," he slapped Liney to ground with one powerful blow to the face.
When Tahira saw her sister slapped, she was angry at how the man laid his hands on her, "Get your hands off her!"
"Oh your awake," the other built man with the scar said.
Tahira didn't want this to continue. She begged the man not to hurt her sisters, "Please don't hurt them take me instead."
"Oh so you wanna talk now huh," the scarred man said, "Well that ain't gonna happen."
Tahira was shocked how the scared man spoke. Later it would get worse as she saw the scarred man signal to the slim guy. Slim man then reached down his belt loosening the grip, and hence he lowers his pants.
"I'm gonna enjoy this," Slim man said joyfully and creepily at the same time towards Liney as she was flat on the ground, and on her side, Sweetie soon got tears on her eyes.
Slim man grabbed Liney by her hand as she struggles, "Get your hands off me." However, it only made the slim man smile - her head got pinned to the ground.
As Liney struggled, she was beginning to cry, "Tahira...p-please help me."
Tahira could only watch as Liney was being dominated by this grown man who they had become their worst nightmare. It was a rush against time. Their chances cut short as they are being assaulted, unwillingly.
"Liney, it's okay," Tahira shouted and kept on yelling, signalling to Liney as if it was her last words, "Remember what I used to say..." as if time slowed down her lips resonated with the flow in silence. This was her last chance - if she had any left.
At a much safer distance, the resonated flow of wind combined with Tahira's voice reached and travelled at a fast phase, and it landed at the right spot. When a pair of ears heard the ruckus, his mind switched to that voice, and his head turned immediately to the direction where it came from, evading all unapologetic reasons, and questions.
Back to the scarred man, he enjoyed himself holding down Tahira on her hair like that one time from JJK Nanami holding down a guy's ponytail.
"Enjoying it," the scarred man said.
That was not until he looked to his right, and was met with something rushing over to him and the figure tackling him aside
"W-what the!?"
It was a tremendous force. The tackle he felt.
The scarred man stopped. His position no longer in it's original. Where it stood was someone entirely. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Like who the fuck is this guy, he thought.
The person in question is a familiar fellow but not to the two man they knew. Because the guy, was none other than John, in the flesh.
"I don't know who the fuck you are but you've with the wrong guy, " the scarred man said to John.
When he was about to walk towards John, he felt a tingle, then an excruciating pain. When he looked down to his lower body, he saw blood gushing out from a wound on his left stomach. The wound had a rather potent shaped. Instead of small open cut, the wound he saw led all the way to his chest. It was like a linear claw ripping into his skin.
'What the...what is this?'
'This was never here before. How did it even get here?'
On John's right hand as he was face to face with the scarred man, he was holding onto a blade - a crispy, sharp, and edged knife. If the scarred man glanced closely, he would have seen that the knife is coated in a red pigment. It is blood. In addition to the blood, a little yellow liquid was also strapped to the tip of the blade.
'So that's how it is. When he tackled me, he must've stabbed me in the process and then went with a slash. Well no matter, I'll handle it.....'
Just as the scarred man wanted to react, he's head unknowingly got dizxy, aching very much in an abnormal state. He then has his eyes becoming ultimately blurry, and his senses fading into oblivion. Unfortunately for the guy, he collapsed to the ground. Still breathing, but unconscious for the time being - or better or yet, he would soon surcume to death.
'Who is this guy?' Tahira thought, amazed at John.
John faced Tahira there eyes interlocking with each other.
'Wait, isn't he..'
As was Tahira thought to finish her realization. One hand cut through their intimate moment.
PUNCH!
Before she could formulate her thoughts to match the current change of events, John was punched right on the jaw and sent him flying uncontrollably.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" the mysterious guy said, angrily loud and obnoxious.
John got up; picking his ground to whatever punched him. And prepared himself for the worst to come.
"YOUR GONNA PAY FOR THAT," the mysterious man said.
On Tahira's side, she saw the slim man attack her protector as they exchanged blows - the slim man launching his fists first while her protector tried to avoid every punches. And as they fought, Tahira couldn't bother to watch them. Therefore, she crawled away from her spot, and with hardly any strength left, she was still able to stand up and make her way to the girls.
During the fight, John was losing strength as he wasn't the best at hand to hand combat. It was a total bust for his talent to adapt this unpredictability of punches. And was he really that dumb to respond to her voice. Was it worth it? Having to save the girl.
Now at his absolute worst, it was getting more harder to keep the fast phase of punches coming his way. He blinked once a second, and instantly got punched again. Rarely did it affect. But in this case, he gave up and dropped to the ground, his stamina drained out completely of his skill to tolerate.
With his fast feet, the slim man got to him quick and sat on him, straggling John by sheer force and strength.
John panicked. He was out of breath. His mind losing focus. He tried to break free from the slim man's hands but it was too strong. He even tried to stab his eyes with his fingers reaching on both hands.
Unsurprisingly, it got much tougher as the slim man pressed him on, adjusting the strength and choking him more, and more.
"There. Just sleep," the slim man said in a lower tone.
The sun shined bright. It seemed as if John's time was about to be up. His eyes slowly coming to a point of no return.
JOHN
like a ghost, a voice in his mind called out again, and this time it was he's name. It was then that his eyes shot up to the sky.
Using only one hand, he grabbed a brick and smashed it right on the slim man's face. Free at last, John now had the upper hand. As same as the slim man did, John hopped over him and started to straggle him. But this time it was no ordinary kill torture. Instead it was a bloody and brutal kill. On both of his hands, John held high a solid brick. And the brick he used to bring down on the slim man, plunging it down and up several times in a row. Until a pool of blood splattered on the cement.
SMASH!
SMASH!
SMASH!
SMASH!
With one last blow, John screamed at the top of his lungs.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
SMASH!
Huffing greatly in his triumphant, he succeeded in the unthinkable. When he looked up, he was faced with mixed elements of fear and horror. It was the group of girls he stared at - Tahira, Liney, and Sweetie both of which just experienced a murder in front of them.
They trembled.
They were shocked.
They even wanted to vomit so badly but held it in.
It really didn't matter. Because John had to do it. And besides, no one stopped him. All in all, it was the most reliable option. Like they say, hunt or be hunted.
John then looked elsewhere. His face blanded well in the warmth of the sun, delightfully smiling at him.
End of Chapter 5 (Part 2)