Chapter 2

  It was 15 minutes later when the first of Iskander's expected guests stumbled out of the forest into the clearing around the house. Looking up from repacking the magazines he’d taken from downstairs Iskander smiled. Raising his hand in greeting he slides the M4 behind himself but he kept the Garand held loosely in his hands.

  “Hey,” he called out to the approaching person.

  They raise their hand in greeting as well and continued to trudge forward through the snow toward him. Finally, the person came close enough to notice the weapon in his hand and consequentially came to a stop. The person in front of Iskander was an Asian woman dressed in workout attire. She wore pair of tight leggings with her phone in the thigh slightly so it protruded out and a crop top. Essentially she was dressed exactly how you didn’t want to be for this weather.

  “Hey,” she said wrapping her arms around herself shivering.

  “Hey,” replied Iskander casually.

  His bundled-up form is a complete contrast to hers.

  “So I know I’m trespassing and all, but turns out that the whole God-thing was real and they kinda transported me here,” she said her speech rapid-fire as she tried to explain herself while freezing.

  “So I went to the gym and did my weekly workout stream for my followers and then I got teleported here for some reason and now I’m freezing so please don’t kill or rape me because I’m popular and people will come to look for me.”

  There was silence for a while and then Iskander started laughing. He laughed so hard and for so long he started to cough. All the while Yuki stood freezing in the cold. Finally collecting himself he managed to pull back the hood of his jacket and his hat revealing his face fully to her.

  Her face turned into shock and surprise then into relief.

  “Iskander?” she said in surprise.

  “Yep,” He said lifting his blanket and offering the other half to her.

  “Come warm-up,” he said still chuckling, “ I expect the others to be by soon..”

  Immediately taking his offer Yuki ran over and slid under the blanket next to Iskander. Cuddling close to him she shivered against him.

  “What do you mean by the others?” she asked.

  “ If the gods modeled this after a video game-like I’m guessing or maybe we based our games on them, there's no way to say. But I have to assume now that both of us are here with certainty that they’re teleporting us near or directly to our “spawn” locations or where we were born,” he said.

  “Wait wouldn’t that me this run-down place is…,” she began turning to look at the dilapidated house.

  “Doctor Manahan’s place,” he finished.

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  Yuki kept looking back at the place where they’d both been born in a combination of sadness and joy. It must have been the same look he wore on his face when he’d realized where he was. After a few moments, she whipped her eyes off and then looked back at him. As she turned her head back towards him she caught sight of the second gun behind his back.

  “What were you doing that you were carrying two guns with you when this all came down?” she asked.

  “Unlike you, I took the warning seriously, but that's not why I have the two guns,” he said picking up the M4 and resting it on the railing next to him.

  “I found the guns in the basement. The Garand was the doctor's old service weapon and the M4 was Ryan’s or a replica of what he’d used while he was serving,” he said.

  “And all this gear is just what I’d packed in case this whole thing was real,” he said.

  “You were always the one who was prepared for everything,” she said leaning into him.

  “I loved that about you,” she said.

  There was a moment of silence. The tension between the two is palpable to anyone who might stumble upon them.

  “Let's not drudge up old memories,” he said.

  “Well if you don’t drudge up the past what's up with this belly?” she asked poking his stomach through his jacket.

  “It's cushioning for my amazing muscles,” he said.

  “That is a lie,” she said.

  “It’s creative truth-telling,” he replied smirking.

  “Regardless of what the truth is something is coming out of the forest,” he said pointing towards the tree line where a snow-covered bush was moving, the snow on it falling to the ground as whatever it is shook the bush.

  Standing up he handed the blanket to Yuki and loaded a stripper clip into the rifle.

  “Iskander didn’t you say that the others were coming,” said Yuki her voice filled with concern as she caught the look on Iskander's face.

  “I don’t think the others would be lurking like that for so long,” he said as he aimed the rifle at the bush and slowly approached the bush. Stopping about 100 yards from the bush he waited.

  Nothing happened.

  Then from nowhere a wolf the size of a mini copper jumped out with a howl. Its teeth are as long and sharp as daggers while its claws were curved into points that could cut into steel. It growled then barked.

  Status Effect: Fear Applied

  The words appeared in the top right of Iskander's vision.

  What the hell? I can’t move…

  Iskander tried to pull the trigger, but his body wouldn’t do as it was told. The wolf followed up its skill with a pounce.

Status Effect Negated by Battlefield Courage

  At the last second Iskander regained control of his body and managed to pull the trigger. Adjusting his aim slightly he pulled the trigger. His shot went wide and grazed the wolf making its body twist in pain mid-air. Its claws caught Iskander's forearm and slashed down cutting deeply.

  Pulling away he tried to reacquire his target and fire again, however, the wolf was too fast. The beast slashed at his calf, its sales digging deep into his flesh and leaving deep gashes. Iskander inhaled and grunted in pain. Reacting immediately Iskander returned the blow with a butt stroke from the Garand. His blow found the wolf's side with a satisfying crack. The wolf yelped in pain and retreated with a large hop.

  Iskander pushed through the pain and leveled his rifle at the wolf. Pulling the trigger the wolf took the shot right in its head. The wolf collapsed to the ground bleeding from its forehead.

  “Yeah, fuck you,” he said panting.

  The wolf started to get up, slowly.

  Iskander didn’t hesitate and pulled the trigger 3 more times. The wolf collapsed again and this time it didn’t get up again.

  “That isn’t a normal wolf,” he said falling onto his ass.

  “Iskander what can I do for you?” yelled Yuki running over the blanket draped over her shoulders.

  “Just help me up, the wounds will heal themselves if things stay on-trend,” he said to her . grabbing onto Yuki’s shoulder.

  She helped himself up using her shoulder then rested heavily on her shoulder and used her as a support.

  “You’re just going to trust this new system the gods put in place to heal you?” she asked skeptically.

  “No take me to my backpack, I’ll take care of my wounds before they start to heal to make sure they heal properly.

  “I hope the others are okay, If that forest is full of wolves or animals like that one they’re in real damage. I need to treat my wounds then we’ll head out into the forest and search for them.