CH 4

♚♔

I painstakingly open my eyes. Thank goodness it’s not too bright. 

A hand is gently wiping my forehead. I try to speak and the hand stops and then helps me sit up. 

It’s a young, fair girl of about fifteen. She hands me a bowl of water with a kind smile. Right in time for my parched throat. I take it and feel much better after downing the bowl in one go. 

I sit up straighter and observe my surroundings. I’m lying in a pelt tent, and it’s only after feeling the soft fur underneath me with my own hands that I’m convinced this is reality. I pinch my arms and face and scratch my legs and can’t help but let out a breath of relief. 

I didn’t die; I came back alive. 

Turning around, I see her beaming brighter than the sun. 

“You…saved me?” 

Once I speak, I notice my voice is so raspy I can barely hear it myself. 

She nods and smiles but does not speak. Then she pulls the covers up, motioning me to lie back down. I feel a little uneasy and refuse to. A bold voice call from outside the door while we are disputing. 

“Has the young man awoken?” 

The girl gets up and lifts the curtain up. A person enters, back bent, and only after do I see who it is. A tall, buff and bearded man of about fifty walks in and smiles kindly at me. Both he and the girl are dressed in Yan attire, but they look like people of Rui to me. 

“Good that you’re awake,” he says as he sits down. “That branch of the Rope Hill Creek may be narrow, but it’s a lot deeper than you think.” 

Memories of that night come rushing back. 

“Thank you for saving my life,” I say, my head lowered respectfully. 

The man pauses then laughs, “Hearing your accent; you’re not from ‘round here, are you?” 

I nod and watch for their response. 

“We’re not either. In fact, we only moved here recently,” he continues. “Excuse me for asking, you look like you’re from the city, what brings you all the way out here?” 

I take a big breath as I consider. They don’t look like they’ve got anything to do with the military so I answer. “I’m originally a soldier of the Rui army. I had no choice but to escape after being captured by the Yan troops, and I fell into the river when they caught up to me where the river splits.” 

The man listens in silence and ponders on it before responding. “We used to reside close to the borders. Who knew when the Yan invaded the whole place’d be abandoned by the troops? Me and my daughter escaped with the other refugees and started a nomadic life here.” 

He looks as though he’s in pain and falls silent. The girl quickly pats him on the back gently, eyes brimming with tears. 

“Blood washed the streets. Corpses everywhere. Her poor mother was killed right in front of her. Since then she can’t speak no more,” he says sorrowfully. “Ah, this cruel world.” 

♚♔

I’m freezing cold. Amidst the haziness, water swims up my nose, and I cough violently. Only after several tries do I get my eyes open. 

“Still playing dead, I see.” Someone kicks me hard. “Get the fuck up!” 

I frown from a splitting headache and a drowsy consciousness but struggle to get up nonetheless. I can’t help but moan after taking in my surroundings. 

Another motherfucking prison cell! 

After prying myself out of the jaws of a tiger, I end up in the home of wolves; I think all the bad luck I’ve collected from my past eight lives is coming onto me now. I get captured for no rhyme or reason just when I decide to leave for good—what kind of sick joke is this?