After what felt like a lifetime, Jack came back to reality. Facing the ever-increasing torrents of pain, he couldn’t keep track of time.

His lips were dry and his face was haggard. “The pain has decreased a lot compared to before. My wounds have basically healed. I seem to be in a tent. Was I rescued by somebody?” Jack thought hazily.

He crawled out hurriedly.

Dozens of rough-looking men laughed as they shared jokes. Some were cleaning their swords while others wandered about. Jack was stunned. ‘Was I rescued or kidnapped?’

“Look at that scrawny boy over there. What’s he doing here?” A burly man with a ferocious face shouted.

Immediately, a lot of people looked at him. Jack shivered indistinctly. He didn’t doubt he would find himself three feet under if he fought one of them.

“Catch him and bring him to the Leader. He wants to escape.” Another man shouted. Jack immediately raised his hands in surrender.

It was not that he was cowardly. They were holding guns!

He watched as a burly man near him roughly twisted his hands behind his back. The man laughed. “Old Black, you were right. This kid’s waist isn’t as big as my muscles!”

Old Black sneered. “You’re bragging again.” The crowd burst into jeers as the man holding Jack scowled.

“Let’s go. I’ll bring you to Leader.” In a bad mood, he twisted Jack’s arm further. Jack could only groan in pain.

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After a few minutes of walking, Jack was led to a large tent. He could hear muffled moans and heavy breathing. Neither Jack nor the burly man near him were kids. They waited beside the tent in silence. Not absolute silence, as Jack could not hold back hisses of pain as his arm was twisted further.

The sun wasn’t compassionate either as it heated Jack up. He felt extremely thirsty.

“What do you want? Be quick.” Jack almost shouted in joy as a huge man with tattoos and scars covering his body swaggered out.

Jack saw the man bullying him instantly burst into a smiling face. “Great Leader, this man was caught wandering around our camp. I suspect he is a spy from one of our rival gangs.”

“Torture him and then kill him.” The huge man answered and turned back to walk inside his tent.

‘Fuck, isn’t it you who rescued me? When was I wandering around?’ Jack cursed in his mind. He had noticed that this ‘great leader’ loved to be flattered as his scowl from being disturbed had changed to a smile when he was praised.

“Great Leader was the one who saved me out of his righteous and benevolent heart. I wasn’t spying!”

The huge man turned back with surprise. “Oh, it’s you? The injured guy?” He looked at Jack who was feverishly nodding his head.

“You have paid for your treatment with the bottle of water and that piece of meat.” The leader pointed at the man who brought Jack here. “Mike, throw him out.”

‘Fuck, you shouldn’t have rescued me, if you want me to die wandering about in the desert.” Jack was sure that he wouldn’t be able to survive if he didn’t have food, water and a place to go. He hurriedly came up with something to say “Great Leader, I was stunned by your wisdom and kingly aura. I want to fight for you, great Leader.”

The huge man smiled when he was called a king. He laughed, “I can crush you with a finger. Why would I need you to fight?”

Mike, the burly man who had twisted Jack’s arm, also smiled. “Great Leader does not need weaklings like you.” Mike lifted Jack and was about to leave.

“I can cook!” Jack shouted. When Jack saw that the two other men were still laughing. He changed his words. “I am a doctor too!” The men froze.

…

A few burly men were thanking a man enthusiastically as they supported a limping man. Others lay down as they waited for their turn patiently. It looked like a good and healthy relationship between doctors and patients. Or not.

Jack was no doctor.