In the dead of night where only the boundless darkness could be seen. Nathaniel's figure sat weary inside his makeshift resting place. His fingers trembling as he brushed it across his wrist where the bold words were written. As if a sign for his impending doom.
"Holy mother of -" Frustrated with a mix of nervousness, he grabbed his hair as he helplessly leaned back against the dirt wall. "I haven't had enough sleep yet. I wish I had my coffee."
Nathaniel couldn't help but mumble in irritation. Albeit subconsciously he kept his voice low. Afraid that his pursuer would be nearby. Grabbing the pocket watch from the satchel. It was stating that the time was currently 9:25 pm. Almost four hours since dusk.
Which means that Xael's pursuers have arrived four hours ago and from the looks of it. They must've witnessed the gruesome scenario by the meeting place they stated. But it looks like despite the threat of the Lampher beast, they decided to search for Xael's whereabouts. The mysterious text that appeared was a testament to that.
Although Nathaniel doesn't know the origin or motive of the mysterious text that seems to be only visible to him. He trusts its validity given to the experience he had since waking up in Xael's body. It seems to have the purpose of guiding him. Although he doesn't know what triggers it to appear but from what he observed, it's prompt was closely related to his life.
A bit thirsty, Nathaniel took out the gourd and took a sip of water. His eyes focused on the scenery outside. Trying to figure out any silhouettes from the small gaps of the roots.
"Your mother. Why does this remind me of generic horror plots in the movies." Nathaniel couldn't help but smile bitterly as he joked to himself. A bad premonition surging up inside him.
Crunch!
As if in response to the curse he said. A breaking of twig could be heard. His bitter smile has gone stiff. His hand slowly reaching inside the satchel as it grabbed the knife. He held his breath in suspense as he tried to make sense of anything outside.
As if his prayers were heard, a gust of wind blew causing the foliage of the tree to sway. Letting a sliver of moonlight to penetrate the darkness. Stepping of the leaves could be heard. Nathaniel squinted his eyes as he stared focused on the situation outside the pit. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw what caused the sound.
Illuminated by the moonlight, he saw that it was a chonky rabbit that hopped along the dry leaves. It was very fury with its beady eyes shining in the night. He lowered the knife beside him as he patted his chest.
"Whew, scared me to death." He muttered as he released the breath he was holding.
The rabbit outside was trembling slightly. It's nose could be seen moving, as if sniffing out a scent. Its long ears perked up. It was unknown what the rabbit was hearing or what scent it caught but it's chunky body's trembling got worse. Almost spasming as if it's experiencing a seizure.
The rabbit's strangeness didn't go unnoticed. Nathaniel furrowed his brows as he watched what was happening to the rabbit. Question marks looming over his head. He was thinking whether the rabbit ate something poisonous that caused it to spasm. He couldn't help but feel thankful that the berries he ate earlier wasn't poisonous.
Suddenly the rabbit turned its head. Its bead eyes meeting his sky-blue ones. Nathaniel was shocked about the eye contact and leaned his head slowly closer to the gap to see the rabbit clearly. The rabbit hopped towards his direction. Then hopped again. Nathaniel's face was mere inches away from the gap and the rabbit was also only a few meters from where he was hiding. When suddenly.
His eyes widened when the rabbit disappeared from his view, leaving only that very familiar and dreadful head. It was the Lampher beast! It seems like it already got it's foot out of the tree. The Lampher beasts' red eyes glowed ominously in the dark. It swallowed without chewing and raised its head. Leaving nothing but a few fluffs of the rabbits' white fur on the ground.
"Shia, I thought it was Xael's pursuers that I have to escape from. Why did the Lampher beast appear now." Nathaniel couldn't help but whisper under his breath as he stared outside.
As if satisfied from its meal, the Lampher beast methodically licked it's lips and glanced on its surroundings, making sure that there was no prey left for it here. Nathaniel closed his eyes and chanted in his mind for the Lampher beast not to notice him. A few minutes has gone by before he heard a loud flapping of wings. The sound started to grow farther and farther.
Making sure that the surroundings was silent and free from that beast again. Nathaniel opened his eyes and glanced outside. Seeing that the beasts' silhouette couldn't be seen anywhere, He exhaled heavily as he let his taut body to relax.
"Ever since I woke up in this guy's body my life's been full of suspense and anxiety." Nathaniel complained, leaning his back against the dirt wall again. His eyes caught sight of the writings on his wrist again, there was still the original text that he saw earlier but now with an addition of something written on it.
[Escape The Pursuers Who Are After Xael's Life]
[Survive the Lampher beasts' Attack]
His lips twitched when he saw those words. Feeling a bit ridiculous and helpless. "Don't you think there's been a delay for your message huh?"
However, what answered him was the silence and stillness of the night. The mysterious text left unmoved on his wrist. He brushed his hair in frustration and surrender. He changed position and sat crossed legged. He played with the compass and occasionally looked at the pocket watch. Trying his best to stay alert and awake till sunrise.
Fatigue and lack of rest caught up to him. About two hours in of battling drowsiness, his eyelids finally gave up. With his cheeks resting on his palm, he breathed evenly in the middle of the night. His body relaxing and free from worries despite the danger that lurks outside. Waiting for a moment to catch him off guard.
Nathaniel's sleep was relatively peaceful, contrary to what he expected of having full blown nightmares playing in his mind. His brows furrowed as his eyes fluttered open. Still half-awake, he stared confused at the tree roots in front of him.
"Where am I?" He questioned himself before the memories of yesterday came rushing back in his mind. "Right. Looks like I wake up in this nightmare once again."
He stretched his body and grabbed the satchel by his side, while munching on the few berries that was left inside, he took a glance at the pocket watch. It was already 7 am in the morning. He yawned and decided to go out of his makeshift place with his satchel placed on his shoulder. HE tilted his neck and did a few warm-ups routine before glancing around.
Breathing in the fresh morning air, he grabbed his compass and decided to continue on his journey. Although afraid of encountering the beast or his pursuers, he'd rather die trying than wait for death in that pitch. Besides he already ate all his remaining berries. He regretted that he was inattentive before, He should've grabbed a lot more. At least it could become a staple for him for about two or three days before rotting.
"We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship." Nathaniel hummed quietly to himself as he ventures in the woods. His right hand holding the sturdy stick he broke off from a branch and used it to separate the grass he was walking to in case there was snakes or any other dangerous insects or animals hiding under its cover.
He didn't know whether he's lucky or not, but he encountered an expanse of vines with what seems to be like some fruit. Its shape was similar to that of an apple, but it smelled like mangoes. Nathaniel glanced around searching for any animals, but he caught no sight of any in the vicinity. He observed more of those fruit and saw that some of it has worm holes or was bitten by birds.
He picked a few handfuls of these and stored it in the satchel. He wasn't in a hurry to eat it and would only take it out as a last resort if he finds nothing edible that he knows in this forest. Although he thinks that it's highly unlikely to see a fruit or vegetable that was the same as the ones on the earth with what he observed. The only thing he saw that has resemblance are the animals and the humans he has witnessed.
He continued his journey walking towards north again. It didn't take long before he saw another river. He was delighted when he saw the clean river with some fishes swimming underwater. After observing that the surroundings were safe, he knelt down by the side and scooped up some water to wash his face.
He doesn't have the time to wash his body and leaving his wet clothes on to dry would've led to a cold or fever. He can't afford to be sick in the situation he's in right now.
"Hahh. That's refreshing." He smiled feeling the coolness against his face. He washed his hair with water before drinking a few gulps.
Deciding to take a short rest in the river he's in, he roamed his eyes. Aside from some few small animals that came to take a drink he noticed that the river was actually larger. It's estimated that the river he saw before was just a creek with only about 2 meters far from the other side of the riverbank. However, he estimates that this one has a width of about 10 to 11 meters with some large boulder by the side.
Remembering that there was actually a notebook and a charcoal pen inside the satchel, Nathaniel took them out. The notebook only has transactions with money written on it. It probably served as the record book of those two to keep track of the money they received and their past missions.
He flipped the page until he reached a blank one, He folded it in half and wrote 'Nathaniel's Observation Log' on it. After that he turned to the next blank page and drew the Lampher beast based on his memory, he then wrote danger beside it. Then he drew the berry and the fruit that he saw, writing edible beside the berry and their flavor then writing 50/50 on the fruit.
After that he turned to another page and drew his current face, he then proceeded to write Xael Eitan Laurhette beside it. He stared at it for a few more seconds before he sighed and closed the notebook. He places it safely in the bottom of the satchel along with the charcoal pen.
"What am I? A freaking pioneer explorer or some sort to actually document what I've seen in this new world." Nathaniel raised his hand and covered his face as he laughs bitterly. Losing hope of returning to earth the longer he stays in this dangerous new world.
"Although I did complain that I didn't want to attend mid-year because I'd have to take on Physics for Engineers and Calculus 2 straight for two months doesn't mean I want this to happen. This is clearly over the top." Nathaniel bit his lips, his memories of earth flashing in his mind. His parents, his sisters and his younger brother. His friends, his classmates and teacher. The online games he was playing. His mind only spun on one thought. He wants to go back home.
A single tear slowly escaped his eyes and dripped along his cheeks down to the ground. His lips trembling. His recollection was cut short when he heard footsteps. He immediately rubbed away his tears and vigilantly stared in front of him. From the other side of the river, he saw a silhouette approaching.
He decisively hid behind a large boulder. Leaning his back against the hard rock. He kept quiet, taking light breaths and his hand firmly gripping on the knife. It was a person; He saw from the vague silhouette that it was a human that was approaching on the other side. And as if to prove him right, he heard a voice calling out.
"Hey, someone there?" A rough male voice shouted.
Nathaniel kept his mouth shut. He wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal himself. What if that person was one of those people who want Xael's life. Although there's the temptation since it felt like an eternity since he last saw a living person. He can't afford to risk his safety.
"Hey, I know someone's there, I can see you boots peeking out." The man shouted again.
Nathaniel immediately glanced down, He wanted to face-palm when he noticed that the tip of his leather boots is really peeking out.
"Look I'm not a bad person. Won't you come out?" The person asked again.
Knowing that his presence was already known, Nathaniel sighed. Also taking into consideration that the other person was on the other side of the river, he was safe for now. Unless that person was his pursuer and has a gun then he's really doomed. Nathaniel cautiously stepped out and faced the stranger.
It was a bearded male with average height. He was wearing your average country man clothing. Faded shirt with underneath a tweed sport-coat with faded jeans paired with a cowboy boot and a twill flat cap. He looked like a rugged man.
"Who are you?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes and asked the stranger in front of him.
"I'm Hanes. I'm a local in the Serian Village just southeast this big river. I'm a hunter and I mean no harm. What about you?" Hanes introduced himself while pointing to where he said the village was located.
"I'm Nathaniel." He responded with a short introduction of just stating his name.
Hanes nodded in response to his introduction as he took off his cap. "I presume you're not a local in this area. Are you perhaps lost? Do you need any help?" The man asked sincerely when he saw how messy Nathaniel's clothes was. Not to mention the stress and haggardness written on his face with his dark under eyes.
Nathaniel's mind raced. The man seemed so sincere with no malicious intent. The man also stated that there's a village southeast here. It there's more people there and he'd be out of this goddamn forest!
"Can you help me reach the village Mr. Hanes? I will pay you for your help." Nathaniel muttered excitedly.
"No need for payment. It's my duty to help you. First you need to cross this river since the only path towards the village is on my side. I'll throw some rope at you, okay?" Hanes said as he took out some thick ropes on his back to which Nathaniel nodded and prepared himself to catch it.
Hanes threw the rope, and Nathaniel caught it with difficulty. Hanes Praised him for catching it efficiently. "Now you can tie it to the boulder beside you for support while I tie this one on the tree on my side. It's dangerous for me to pull you since the current is fast. But with both ends tied, it could serve as a sturdy support."
Nathaniel eagerly approached the boulder and raised his hands planning to tie the rope, however his brows furrowed when he saw that the Lampher beast notice has vanished and there was another line written on his wrist.
[Escape The Pursuers Who Are After Xael's Life]
[ 13 m]
His eager smile slowly stiffened as he realized what it was stating. He lowered his hands holding the rope and silently turned towards Hanes again. On the other side Hanes finished tying the rope and noticed him.
"Why haven't you tied the rope on your end? Do you need guidance to do a knot to keep the tie tight?" Hanes asked with a warm smile on his face.
However, Nathaniel's heart grew colder as Hanes walked towards him and at the same time the number on his wrist decreased. Now it was stating 10 m on it. He lost his smile as his lips stretched to a thin line.
"You lied to me Mr. Hanes."