Chapter 152: Escape

•Arius

As we both lay on the mat I wondered if it was okay to trust them, "Arius." I said and the boy next to me shifted and turned his face in my direction. I looked at him too, "My name is Arius."

"Caesar." He replied, "And that's my mother."

I gulped, "I was smuggled across the border." I came to a decision, "I want to go back." Caesar kept his eyes on me as I began my story and the series of events that had happened to me, "I just want a way back to my father."

"Are you sure your father is alive?"

He nodded, "I hope so."

He held my hand, "Good luck then. For now rest. You'll need it."

"Yea…"

I didn't think I'd fall asleep that fast again but I did and I woke up in the morning Caesar was gone.

I rubbed my eyes looking for him but there was no sign of him.

"He went to work." Caesar's mother said.

"Oh…He works?"

She smiled, "I'm blind so he has to be the man of the house- or should I say tent." She tried being funny but it was awkward, "I'm sorry, I know I make bad jokes."

"It's okay. At least you try to keep everyone cheerful."

I got up, "Is there anyone I can ask for directions?"

"You're leaving already?"

"I can't stay here and be a burden. Oh! And thank you for feeding me. I hadn't eaten in days. I was on the run for many days."

"You didn't eat anything then?"

"I stole…" I wasn't proud of it but I had to do it, "I'll be leaving."

"Wait." I stopped

"Yes?"

"Come here." She patted on the ground in front of her, "I need to talk about something very important."

I walked up to her and sat down, "What is it about?"

She took a deep breath before speaking and I stared into her eyes. They were very pretty. Like the deep blue sky.

"I heard your story last night. I have a request."

"A request?"

"Yes. But first I'll tell you our story." She smiled, "After all you told us yours."

I nodded and she began to tell me about the tribal rules and customs and what had happened to them. I listened to her carefully and when she was done she placed her request.

"Can you take Caesar with you?"

I blinked in confusion, "Take him with me?"

"Yes. If he stays here he will just destroy himself."

"But what about you. Don't you want to come with us?"

A broken smile spread across her face, "I can't. I'm blind and weak. I'll hinder you both. Plus." She placed her hand on her leg, "I need support to walk."

"Oh…" I thought about it. He was nice enough to bring me to his tent and give me food and water. He even listened to all my story and wished me luck, "Okay. I'll take him with me." Plus he had gone through bad experiences like me. Maybe worse.

I managed to save my sister but his died such a gruesome death.

His father disowned them and they had nowhere to go but I did.

So the least I could do was take him with me in hopes that we both will end in a better place.

"But," A question popped in mind, "He won't leave you alone."

"I know." She nodded, "That's why I have another request."

"Hmm?"

"I want you to go to town. In the local pharmacy and ask them for 'Euthanasia'"

"Euthanasia?"

"Yes. And if they ask for something else, say these words, 'The hound has lost all it had.' Hurry up. We don't have much time. I'll explain what that is later."

"Ah- Okay." I got up and went to the town. It wasn't hard to find the pharmacy since it was at a pretty visible spot.

I went in to the reception and spoke only one word, "Euthanasia"

The receptionist looked at me a bit shocked but after seeing my appearance he only asked me one question, "Who is it for?"

"My mother." Unexpectedly, I said that more casually than I thought I could, "She said I had to get it no matter what."

The receptionist asked if I had anything else to say so I said the code words, "The hound has lost all it had." He didn't ask me anything else and handed me an injection filled with some chemical.

I took it back to the tent and handed it to her.

"I never asked for your name." It suddenly hit me so I asked her.

She felt her vein on her arm and injected herself, "Malika."

I didn't know what it meant but it sounded like such a pretty name, "I like it."

She chuckled, "Why thank you."

"So what does Euthanasia mean?"

"A pain free death."

"Huh?" The smile on my face faded, "Are you going to kill yourself?! WHY!?!!"

"So that Caesar can leave with you." She held my hand, "Just take him away from here." She placed her other hand on my cheek, "Please."

"I will, I already said I would but why would you kill yourself."

"Because there is peace only in death now."

"..."

I did not know what that meant so I just sat there quietly.

"Oh. Before Caesar comes." She moved back and picked out a rough bag along with a broken sword behind her, "When you get back. Give it to him. Tell him to keep it as a memory of me."

"Okay…"

***

Caesar came back before evening. He rushed back and was covered in sweat.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, "You look-" He came to me and held my hand.

"You need to run."

"What?"

"They're looking for you."

"Huh?"

"The smugglers." As he said the word I went pale, "They're here for you! You need to leave now!"

"O-okay!" I got up, "But you have to come with me."

"What?" He looked at me awkwardly, "Why would I?"

"Caesar." Malika called him, "Leave this place with him."

"What?" He walked to her mother, "Why would I do that?! I have to stay with you."

"I don't have much time to live child." She laid down, "Soon, I'll be gone."

He crouched down in front of her, "What do you mean?"

"I've been sick for ages." She closed her eyes, "So go. I leave today too."

"I don't get it! I-I-I don't get it! You're going to leave me too!"

"Oh child." She placed her hand on his chest, "I'll always be here. In your heart."

"But…"

"Heaven is a wonderful place Caesar." Her breathing slowed down, "I'll meet you there in the far future."

"Mom…"

"I love you and I always will."

"I love you too…"

She smiled and placed her hands over her stomach.

Soon life left her body but Caesar didn't cry.

He stood up looking at her, "She's in a far better place I guess."

"She is." I nodded, "She'll probably meet my mom there and become best friends with her."

He smiled, "Can we bury her?"

"What if we get caught?"

"..."

"I'm sorry."

"I can't move." He said so I walked over to him and held his hand, then walked out as the sun had started to set.

But yet again people had betrayed us.

Just as we both got out we noticed a man pointing towards our direction. He was guiding that same bald smuggler to our location.

"Caesar run!"

We both sprinted at full speed.