“Tell me James, what happen in that forest?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Because I’m the only one who can get you out that cell.”

It’s probably because of all the blood I lost earlier, but I was too tired to face the him.  I just took a quick glance at him. The man who stood at my cell was shrouded in darkness, but even though I  couldn’t see him. I could tell by way he was leering into my dark cell that he wanted to hear the story.

“If I tell you will you get me out of here?”

“Yes, I promise.”

*Sigh* this story is one that I rather not tell, or even remember, but this is probably my final chance at redemption. I gather my remaining strength, and rewind my memory to the beginning of the tragic incident.

“We were abandon….”

Chapter 9

Survival

It was the worst possible scenario. Stuck deep in the forest, with a horde of monsters heading to our position. With our commander gone, I volunteer to lead them. That decision will forever haunt me.

.

.

“Form a circle! Make sure no monster can sneak up on us we’ll hold them off here!”

“What?! You expect us to fight an entire forest of monster!”

“Yes.”

“Fighting them is impossible! We should just run!”

“Running is also impossible. The monsters has better knowledge of the terrain. If we run in the forest we’ll easily get overwhelm. Our best option now is to fight them right here were we have a clear view of our surrounding.”

“So this is it.” Jack drops to the ground. “We’re going to die.”

“No we’re not. I know it may sound like an insane plan… well it is, but we’ll survive if we pull it off. All we need to do is hold them off until we find an opening, then we’ll make a run for it.”

“But you just said that the forest was a no-go.” Jack face went from despair to confuse.

“Yes, if we go in the forest now then we’ll die. But if we wait it out and let the monsters come to us, then they’ll eventually fight each other. Monsters are territorial creatures after all, so when that happens then we’ll make a run for it.”

“That plan is insane, but it’s probably our best chance out of this mess. It better work.

After explaining my plan, we immediately form a circle so no monster could ambush us. And so we waited for the inevitable clash. Soon the entire forest was engulf in silence. Time itself seem to stop as we waited for a monster appear. But strangely, not one appear. They were definitely here, I could feel them watching us. It was like they were also planning something. Not knowing when they might attack mentally drain me. But finally, after waiting for an eternity, the first monster appear.

A huge red lizard with spikes sticking out of its back pops out the forest. We waited for it to get into our attack range, but for no reason at all, it suddenly stop moving.

“W-What do we do, should we go attack it?” One of the knights next to me said.

“No, don’t move from this circle. Who knows what might ambush us if you do, were just going to have to wait for it to get closer.” I tried my best to sound as compose as possible. Why the hell did it stop advancing? Don’t tell me it’s smart enough to know it will get kill if get any closer. Not only that, but why haven’t any other monster rush us yet?

Too many questions were popping into my head, but they all ended abruptly. Once the red lizard begin to glow.

“Guys, it’s doing something!!” A knight shouted.

"Shields up, now!” I shouted in response.

The shot out a couple of fireballs from its mouth.

“If we don’t attack it now, it’ll burn us to death!”

I know that, but something tells me if we go out an attack it, something will ambush us.

“I’ll take care of it.” Jack pointed his bow at the lizard. “It’s pretty close, so I should be able to hit it.”

“Forget it.” I put my hand up to stop Jack from shooting. “I doubt your arrow will be able to pierce it.”

“Then how about this.” Jack reach into his pocket and grabs a yellow marble. Then he ties it unto his arrow.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Improvising.” Jack fires his arrow at the lizard. Just as I predicted the arrows bounce off the lizard body

“Wait, it’s not done yet.” The arrow softly hit ground and explode. The lizard entrails scatter all across the ground.

“Well, you were right about my arrow not piercing, I still manage to kill it though.”

“Guys, more coming over here.” A knight pointed at a group of lizards crawling towards his side.

“Jack, can you do that again?”

“Yea, just give me a sec to prep my arrows.”

Jumping out the forest, a blood wolf rushes towards us. The directions it was heading, it look like it was going directly for Jack!

“Protect the archer at all cost!” I shouted

“I got it!” A knight intercepts the wolf with his shield. “Hurry up and shoot!”

“Alright!” Jack finish stringing a blue marble to his arrow. “Move!” Jack fire his arrow just as the knight rolls away from the blood wolf. Upon impact, the arrow freezes. The ice quickly spread to the wolf.

Suddenly, the dead silent forest burst with life, as a swarm of monsters charge us.

“James isn’t time for us to run?” Jack had a slightly work look on his face.

“No not yet, we just need to hold them a little longer.” This isn’t right. Why aren’t none of the monsters attacking each other?

*Rumble* the ground begin to shake violently.

“An earthquake? Why now of all time?!” A knight loudly complains.

“I don’t think it’s an earthquake.” Jack said.

A giant comes crashing out the forest. The creature only had one eye in the center of his face.

“It’s a cyclops!! What the do we do?!

Watching the cyclops confirmed my suspicion. Cyclops are an apex predator that’ll eat anything that moves. Yet this one is being awfully cautious not to step on anyone. I don’t know how or why, but every creature is working together to kill us.

“Everybody focus on the other monsters! I’ll take care of the cyclops.” I charge straight at the cyclops’. If it gets any closer it’ll destroy our formation. I can’t let that happen, I need to stop it from moving. Taking his leg out should do the trick.

The cyclops’ swung is large arm at me. I duck as low as my body would let me to avoid the swing. Finally reaching his leg,

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I tightening my grip on my sword, and put everything I had into my slash.

Blood splashes everywhere as I sever the giant’s leg. Watching the cyclops fall, I realize I made a grave mistake. The huge monster was going to fall directly on the formation! Unable to do anything, I watch as the giant slowly fell on the group of knights.

The quake the cyclops’s caused after falling knock me down. I quickly scramble to feet praying that no was crush by the cyclops’. My prayers were answer, ever manage to avoid the being squash, but they were separate. The cyclops’ manage to destroy our formation.

With everyone separated, the monsters had an easy time picking people off.

“Everyone regroup on me!!” No one responded to my order. Everyone was in a state of panic. What do I do?! I kept thinking, hoping a solution would come to me, when a dark thought crept on me.

I should just run. This the exact opportunity I was looking for. While the monsters are busy feeding. I can easily slip away unnoticed.

Just as I was about to run, I notice Jack sitting on the ground. He had a horrify expression on his face. The person in front of him was being rip into pieces by a pack a lizard.

I may have failed to save everyone else, but the least I can do is protect this kid. I dash past all the monsters and quickly snatch Jack without them noticing. Without looking back, I left all the knights to their fate.

I ran as fast as my body would let me. I wanted to put as much distance as I could between us and that death trap.

After running for who knows how long, I stop to catch my breath. I was so focus on escaping that I forgotten that I use everyone as a sacrifice just so I could escape. The moment I stop to rest, the guilt came rushing back to me.

Well, I least I did one thing right. I turn to see Jack was shivering badly. If I ever want to be forgiven for my actions. I’ll need to protect this kid.

“Jack”

“Why did Alexander abandon us? I mean, I understand that I’m no one special, but still for him to leave us to die like this.

Am I… Am I really this expendable?!!!

“Keep it down.” I quickly cover Jack’s mouth. “Take a deep breath and relax.”

“Listen Jack, I know things may seem hope less now. But we still have a chance at getting out of here.”

“How?! All our comrades our dead. And the forest is swarming with monsters?!”

“Keep it down!” I quickly cover mouth again. “You remember that explosion from earlier? It was a signal to get all the monsters to gather and one area which means-“

“That there’s no monster in the area! And we can escape without fighting right?!”

“Yes, but for this to work we need to be quiet can you do that?”

“Y-yea I can do that.”

“Good. I’m going to take a look around just to make sure there’s no monster in the area. So stay here until I come back.”

“Don’t take too long. Who knows how long they’ll will stay in that spot.”

“Right.”

I’m glad I was able calm him down. But still, it feels like I’m lying to him. I’m actually not going to check for monsters. I already know this area is clear of them, well except for one. It’s been tailing us ever since we escape. I didn’t tell Jack because I didn’t know how he would react if he found out that a monster was chasing us since the very beginning.

“Are you following me?” Closing my eyes, I let a small pulse of mana throughout my surroundings. I manage to pick up on one creature

“…” There’s still only one creature in the area. I don’t know its exact location, but I know that’s it’s nowhere near Jack.

Which means it’s after me. Well, if I’m its target, I’ll just let it come to me.

I take a seat by a tree nearest to me. Using my mana, I create clear field around me. There’s no point in chasing it. Even if I knew its exact location. It’ll probably run away the moment I get close to it. So, I’ll wait for it. The moment it enter my field and attack me I’ll kill it.

The sound of rustling leaves grew closer. The creature would probably run away if I made any sudden movement. So I sat perfectly still like a statue. Waiting, for the creature to attack me. As I waited the entire forest went silent.

“…” It stop moving. Did it notice my trap? I waited a few more minutes. Until a thought pop in my head.

Did it go back and attack Jack instead?! I quickly cancel my field and let out another pulse to find the creature.

“!!!” This time, when I pick more monsters in the area. They clearly had me surrounded. What hell going on?! How did this many get close to me?!

I quickly hop unto my feet. There was still no monster in my field of vision. But they were definitely close to me.

When did they surround me without me noticing?! It doesn’t matter, right now I need back to Jack.

Just as I was about to make a run for it, an object comes flying out the forest.  I instinctively rose my hand to protect myself. Pain quickly swept through my left arm. As the object pins my hand to a tree.

Was this all part of their plan? To separate us and take us out? What kind of creature am I up against?

The object they shot me with is shape like a nail. I don’t know any creatures that have an ability to do that.

Another projectiles fly’s out from the forest. This time I pull my sword out and deflect it.

I need to get out of here and check on Jack. But I can’t unless I get this nail out of my hand, and I can’t do that if they keep firing at me. Damnit, It was dumb of me block with my hand. Now I’m stuck here.

More and more projectile came flying at me.

I see they have no intentions of revealing themselves. They’re probably going to keep shooting until I’m exhausted. For monsters, they came up with a very solid plan. I’m not getting out of here unless I’m willing to make a sacrifice.

“Heh heh, I’ll admit, this trap is pretty solid. If any other creature fell for it. They definitely wouldn’t survive it. Unfortunately this trap won’t work on a human. You see we humans are a desperate bunch. We’ll do anything to survive, even if it means tearing our own body apart!”

I thrust my sword straight into my left arm.

Next Chapter

Not forgotten