"This is bad" I utter to

myself. My carrier lightens with the loss of my tent. It belongs to the

sky now, along with all my dry clothes. An angry wind robs me last night. Leaving no choice of sleeping with no shelter. I hide from the anger between rock crack under the hill. Cold is what keeps me company.

The next morning still griefing on my tent I swing my head looking deep into the border where a line drawn between savanna and the woods. "Where is the path?" wonder if the path were rob by the wind as well.

I checked my compass,

and she just swimming around. Wonder if the north were rob by the wind. It almost mid-day and I haven't get my tea. Drowning in your own clothed. Getting colder as the air blowing softly around my neck. "Dang it." That's when I looked down to the stream where the rain skin this mountain alive revealing its rock. "way down must be way home."

Among the trees make fire I did. When the flower is dancing gracefully a life filled my body once again. I almost forgot what being a living being is like. In the heat, I dry my skin. The fire's smoke smells delicious. Sipping my tea make burn-in mouth one or two was worth it.

Beware the ***** man! These woods were haunted with the ***** man, roaming around demand its tea. Beware the ***** man! Its appearance will rape your sight. I humor myself. I stood up from long crouching, I can feel only certain parts of my skin were warm. That is when I notice two men stay low and closing.

Like an ambush move. They stood up along with me. Revealing their long knife-like sword. Me on the other hand, reveling my dong.

They looked young, slightly older than me. with face build, I never know. They looked alien to me but still humanly related. Their clothing was a three-layer of fabric, like prepared for cold weather but too poor to buy a decent warm outfit. appear to be used very often. Heck, maybe it's their only cloth. No sigh of zip, all button-like system for clothing, maybe missing one or two. A tiny rope here and there to attach each end. Boots made from animal skin, not very well made. Very old style.

Their drawn sword, not long but sure can kill, I see a bit of rust spread along the blade. Not a

fine made. It looks like very bad maintained.

The sword, the eyes, the weird cloth, from there I know they mean harm. Outnumbered is scary. I take my hatchet and run in the opposite direction. You never know how fast can a man run *****. Society slowing people down.

When I have thought of escape in my mind, a split second I notice they plan an ambush well.

Behind the tree a man waiting for me with a drawn sword. It was a close call but I throw my hatchet hoped I could stun him for a second.

Aftermatch he got axe on his shoulder and I got stab on the gut. This is

an example of a bad gift exchange.

I ran. Adrenaline flow thus my pain was gone. My gut muscles were tight keeping the blade stay intact. I ran far. Far enough the ground no longer sloping. In the middle of the valley, a river cut half the land. A small cave I found give me some shelter. Get some rest and take care of my wound.

I grab a couple of leaves. And try to dress my wound. Make donut shape of leaf shack. "Not gonna pull it until I'm ready." Tied it up with some rope from bark skin I collected with shard stone. With some stick and rope, I make a trap and install them where some unfortunate rodents will passing by. So I spend my night starring at fire ***** trying not to die from cold. I could not sleep knowing what will happen soon.

Then, the adrenaline wears off then it hit. the pain is intense. No feces comes out of my wound. "I'm in luck," that is how I respond knowing that. I could just sew my wound back together. "now Bara, bet you regret not to take

medical school."

Spaak..!!!

I heard my trap goes off. I walked there and found a very healthy looking hare died on the

spike of my trap. "wait we have this kind of rat here?" I say in my head. Not wasting any time I harvest its bone and intestine. Then I crack the rib bone to a small shard and sharpen its edge with a smooth stone. Carve some hook with a small stone on another end and I made a needle in no time. Next, I cut thin and long the intestine and dried them up in the fire.

Must keep them flexible and dry, continuously dry, and roll them in a stick. In the meantime, I make some dressing from leaf, root, and honey. When all is ready, the last thing I need is good light. It was around 8 in the morning. I was prepared to intensify my pain and choosing to die slowly instead of died from short suffering. My plan is died of old age. I'm not old enough to die.

So here's goes. I bite tight a stick and I unplug the blade and there you go, you got blood faucet. The flow erect along with my moan. I found it funny myself.

Moaning ***** man is not a good sight to see.

Hepfnnnnggg....!! huf...huf...huf...

I press the wound, calm myself down from the pain, and start sewing. Other than cloth, the flesh is easier to sew. Because all the failures are internal for yourself to carry and regret, but now it's literary. Nobody gonna mock my work.

I do my best. I'm not gonna use this skill as my career anyway. Stop telling me what to do. Can you? Shut your so calling goddam mouth. Nobody wanna hear that. Ever consider counseling? The Class workshop is not where personal issues go. Can't go? Too expensive? How about you! Find a better job than a high school skill course teacher! How about that Ms. Melati?! HOW ABOUT THAT?!? as the pain drives me insane and wrongly address my personal conflict.

After the wound sews together I put pasta mix of random leaf I found and honey, then compress them with dressing rope. Cross to my mind to burn the wound but I think it's a bad idea. My wound sure gonna infected so I have small time before the fever kicks in. I'm starting to feel dizzy after all.

I still don't know where am I. All I know is I already in the valley. I looked up a notice that mountain I just hike is gone. All there is a small hill. About 600 meters high. Just notice that all the trees are alien to me. Some may share familiar characteristics. Still green leaf and smell the same. Smell like a tree of course. "all I want is a quiet solo hike."

I need penicillin or I'm

gonna die from an infection. I need my medication box. Being dumbass that I am, I plan to ask nicely my robber. It's not my best idea or what. But I have nowhere to go. This plan has a lower mortality rate than wandering around. Before that, I need to do something. Food is not my main concern right now, that rat I just caught is worth three days of food if I ration them. Clothing on the other hand. I hate to feel the wind

on my skin. The rag from what is left from the surgery is not gonna cut it as simple clothing. The skin rag is about 15cm long, it's too small, even for underwear. *wink.

So I collected all large leaf I could find and craft some rough clothing. Not the best cloth I have ever worn. The friction, oh my god, doesn't feel so good. then I go up the hill. It feels weird that I usually hike. Despite of ***** and barefooted. There's nothing weighing my shoulder. That's it I don't have my backpack. Oh god, I fell unprepared

The smell of fire cross my face, so I scan my surroundings. and there it is, a cloud of black smoke. 2km away. I walk for an hour to closing by. I can't run or else my gut would burst open. When I thought I was at 300m radius I scout around. As stealth as possible. I found a couple of my stuff scattered. That track of my stuff and man's footprint brought me to the fire. and there is a tent in front of a fresh campfire with some cook on top of it. There are three men over there. seems to be talking at each other. I think it's all of them.

One man has a large build and seems to be their youngest. his moves seem like under command of someone, always nervous. Being the youngest makes him always be underestimated. Always be the one to be making fun of. The lack of experience and confidence makes him can't stand for himself. In his eyes enormous desire to be approved. The second one has a long face, his gaze is unsettling. Always looking suspiciously at everything. always scan surrounding but got nothing. His suspicions are all in his head, battling inside him narrowing peers he can trust with. The third one in the one stabs me in the gut. He seems to be charismatic enough to lead a

small group of men. He has a vision in his eyes, looking sharp and picky on choosing his men. This man has initiative. Looking at him holding my beloved axe is very uncomfortable. It cost me a lot of money.

I should have read a lot of books before investing in smithing.

I sharpen a lot of long stick as spear and hid them behind the trees. Not an easy job for a dagger. I really miss my axe.

I approach them with hands in the air. with one hand holding and showing the dagger. I'm scared and hid them well. They seem to be surprised. Their eyes were expecting my death. Like seen a dead man walking. In confusion, they give a sharp stare and caution. Hand in the hips, Ready their blade. I give them a sign that I mean no harm and that I need help. I show them, give them a gesture but the more I tell the more they become hostile. The language barrier is too large to overcome. They trying to circle me. They closing in hot from three directions. definitely hostile. The young big one tries to block off my escape path. Sudden move I get to his direction. stopping his move give the message I'm in high alert.

Still surrounded, I throw the dagger on the dirt. Final sign, my gamble on approaching attempt. Then they seem to lower their guard. The leader takes the dagger. Still raise both hands. Pointed at my torn backpack. These people are alien with zipper apparently. The leader sided his body seems to give permission. I walk there, backward-facing them avoiding backstab. Meanwhile, the long face drew his sword at me. You never know how scary a blade point until a blade pointed at you. I remain calm hid my fear. I see my medical box were scattered among the trash near the campfire. I think they thought it was some kind of spice or something. I pick some pills on the dirt that I think is penicillin. All pills looked the same to me. All I have is paracetamol and anti-biotic. ate the pill in front of them. It's bitter, I'm sure it's the right one.

They seem disgusted. A thrown away cook answered my wonder.

That's when a woman's voice comes up from the tent. Suddenly burst out from that shitty shelter a woman, with the sound of her voices like signaling her presence. Only head is visible from where I stand. Her eyes looked at me. Surprise and confused in her gaze. I'm not the hero she expected to be, nor capable of such deed. What do you expect from a half-***** man with infection?

The leader of the group rushes to tighten the knot. Not very gentle of him. It's some kind of something they trying to hide. Saw me saw that, the group leader yell at the long face and suddenly he rush at me. Being dexterous than I am, dash forward toward the campfire and grab handfuls of orb that still red

hot in both hands. The moment I saw her, there is a pile of a booty like cloth, bag, and jewelry. all that runs in my mind is what these people are. Bad guy, bad people, ringing in my head, not concerning how this women's condition is. Fight or flee kicked hard. I swing my hands and spray hot orb at the long face and the so look like a leader in the eyes, then I run like hell. Leaving all my leaf cover torn apart. All left the young one to chase me.

When two of them rubbing

their face in pain the young run after me. Chasing me like a fat dog. A race that I definitely triumph. Even if with one leg and infected wound. I act afraid and looked panic, he is cocky about it. Yell at me, sound very vocal and harsh, don't understand what he is saying but sure it was a cuss. Hell, the first word I learn here is a curse.

My wound is open again. I try to cover it, feel my hand dripping with blood. I Act like I was tired, drip some of my blood along my path, and smear it on trees. He seems to buy that. That large man laughs and utters some short line. I know what he is saying, everyone will. He says "my death is certain" or something. I slow down my pace. His step is getting closer. It feels like winning. He also slows down his pace. In a sudden move, I did a quick turn to hide behind a large tree. He utters some line I'm not sure what it means "I see you" or "hide is useless" or "you gonna die".

Trying to flank me, he makes a turn before the tree. That's what I want. That's when I show up on the other side with my spear, ready. I just do some simple ****** and my spear pierced his skull. My palm stop my spear from going further. The weight of my spear against the large man's head torn my burned palm skin. Then his bloodstream down to my hand. I paint my hand with sin I hope never to commit.

Turn point of my life

when I turn someone's life not. I wasn't ready, as my mind is not capable of coming to terms with such a picture. Regret is not what will I feel. Kill or be killed. No moral I should question what I did. But no, the fact I stop someone's future right here, right now. What life he could possibly have, is gone. A man died without the recognition he deserves, even names his murderer to acknowledge isn't there. Killing is wrong. I take something I shouldn't. Killing is unfair. Life is a gift and it is a crime to take it from someone. To take something I shouldn't.

I shouldn't.

This man, this young man has a second chance he deserves that I give him no chance of taking. My tears drop. I don't know why. Maybe I hate myself for not strong enough to take another path of choice. Then, I remember that woman and all their loot. They are criminal, they don't value life as I do. Matter on that second all become clear, this is all about survival.

So I take his long blade and jump out from behind the tree. There I met the two already chasing me. Face them with the left hand in the hips holding bloody spear and right hand holding a blade to the front ready. They stop and stand cautious like I was dangerous and realizing their companion is dead. Their look showing confused, surprise, and mostly anger to see me had tears still flowing. Must be some kind of insult to them.

Ready my weapons at each of them. Coming from 10 and 3 with weapons also ready. My blood would satisfy them from anger and grief.

Holding both of my weapons like wings because outnumbered, I was in a big disadvantage. I keep my distance, prevent them from surrounding me. Keeping them in my sight. Then I run. Throwing spear as an attempt to give me more distance and as a warning shot. Taking steps like a mad man. Running like my life depends on it.

Oh, wait...

Fear is better fuel for running than anger. Feels like I burning my feet. To the wood, I going deep. In their eyes fear glowing dim, more and more scared along with me going deeper into the woods. Like they chasing a moron who knows nothing ahead. When fear is what filled their hearts, spill any feeling before, a man stops for what feels right to what is feels necessary, survives. They stop to what is need to stay away from. To me what I need to be avoided in them. To think these two-man give up on revenge is foolish. These two-man avoiding something. I don't know what but I can feel it necessary. But as long as no idea form for what to be feared of, fear is irrelevant.

Tired of running I lean against a tree, rest my legs to cool off. Cold on my butts from the direct contact with the dirt. One or two leaves lick my asshole. Really forgetting I got wound to be closed about. My eyes start to fill with black dots. My head feels so heavy yet nothing there. I breathing uncontrollably. My eyes getting hard and start closing up. I can smell blood. I can feel pain for my entire body. My ear can hear nothing.

I blink and think I'm hallucinating because at 50m from me there is a giant dog as big as a sand mining truck just appears out of nowhere. Like the hides behind something invisible before. I blink again and its face getting clearer. Like a two dog wants to get away from each other. V like jaw, with three eyes. The eyes of a devil creation decorated each side of its skull. Mean looking eyes. Intimidating like only death upon what is waiting on its end of sight. The middle eye terrifyingly looks so human. One fully forms human eyes in a dog's face. The Jaw opens and its tounges just daggling neatly from one throat. Its teeth are completely set on each side. With two noses and two ears. I can hear it growl and sniff. Fate places me where I was the one on its end of sight. It runs at me at full speed.

Moment of seconds I realized it never was a hallucination. The reason that two-stop chasing me. It rushes my heartbeat that I shocked myself and pass out.

Suddenly all black, as my eyes covered in my eyelid.