I limped our way out of the cave with Roger's support. I squinted my eyes, waiting for them to adjust. The sun was out, beaming on our heads. My stomach and hand were in more pain than before. My flight or fight stage really kicked in.

“Any guess where they could be?”

“How would I know?”

Roger groaned, obviously annoyed by the situation. Who could blame him?

“Tim always gets into random trouble! That bastard must be monitored at all times! Jill, your job is never to leave him wandering alone. We’ll alternate, but for now, it’s your duty.”

I didn’t even want to engage in this.

***

We roamed around, calling out their names. We’ve been doing it for a while with no success. Where could they’ve gone? Back to the city? Owen knew it was dangerous there, so that couldn’t be it.

I couldn’t think of anything else. He had to be around somewhere. While leaning against a tree, I heard my name called from the other side of the world.

“Jill!!!” Roger sure loved to create attention for himself.

“What!” I yelled back through the forest.

“I found Owen!”

I gasped, pushed myself off the tree, and jogged toward his voice while holding my stomach. Did Owen know where Tim was? Please tell me he did.

My legs automatically moved with more haste.

“Jill!”

I slammed the brakes, almost sipping due to my momentum. Owen waved his hands along with Roger.

“Owen!”

We both walked towards each other, meeting in the middle. I jumped onto him, awkwardly squeezing and wrapping my arms around his neck.

He was safe, unharmed.

Owen ruffled up my hair. “Don’t ask me to leave you like that again.” His voice was gentle like a calm river in the night.

He was stubborn, so I knew he was serious. But when the time came, he would listen to me. After all, he knew what I did was for his best.

“Not to ruin this sentimental moment, but Tim is dying.”

I pushed Owen away in disbelief. “Is Tim actually dying?!”

“N-No. He’s just unconscious, not too far from here. He’s injured, but it’s a wound I’m unfamiliar with,” he said.

“Really? Well, what did it look like?”

He shrugged, “Take a look at it yourself.”

“So, are we going to save Tim or leave him dying?”

And then we had the jokester who couldn’t be serious if his life depended on it. Swear to God, Roger couldn’t behave for a second. His atrocious ability to take any seriously made me want to kick them in the sweet spot.

“Can you not say stuff like that?! What the hell’s wrong with you?!”

“Owen, shut up and gain some weight.”

“What does that have to do with anything?!”

They babbled for a bit about the stupidest shit. I didn’t care what they talked about. Truth be told, I could never get used to this bickering. It kept me safe, knowing that people were always around me. We could love, hate, or argue, but we will never lose each other. This was what it meant to have people who care for you.

Owen finally shouted, “Oh, forget this! Let’s get to Tim already!”

***

He lay on his side, unresponsive. His breathing was weaker than a dry leaf. His body was damp, meaning he was out during the rain.

“Here it is.” Owen pointed at Tim’s leg. It was utterly alien to me. It wasn’t a melee wound, nor was it an arrow. It was a hole big enough to stick my index finger in.

“Whatever this is, we must get him to a medic.”

“How?” Owen asked. “We can’t go back to Walisburg.”

That’s right. For obvious reasons, we couldn’t go back to Walisburg. It was chaos there, and who knew what Sylvia would do?

And the next town is a walk and a half from here. It would be too much to carry him for that long. I didn’t want to admit it, but there’s also the possibility of him not surviving long enough.

Great, what the hell do I do?

“Oh, oh, what about the House with Answers! Maybe that place could heal him.”

“Roger, didn’t you hear Jill telling us how it’s cursed? You want to test that?”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“No… he’s right. Maybe they could.”

For once, Roger brought something usual to the table.

Owen crossed his arms. “Didn’t you say people vanished from there?”

“What I said doesn’t matter now. We need to make the best possible choice to save Tim. Even if it means to jeopardize our safety.”

He threw his hands in the air. “Your call.”

I scoffed. “Besides, we have no other choice. It’s the closest place around.”

“I guess you’re right.”

Roger picked up the absent Tim and slung him onto his back. “Don’t worry, Tim; we’ll save you. Oh, wait a second. Where’s Avery?”

“Avery? Who’s—”

Owen backhanded my head. “Tim’s friend, dummy.”

I grabbed my head, surprised at what just happened. “T-The hell was that for?”

“You do that to us!”

I stood, frozen by his words. “Huh?”

Did this look like the time to be fooling around?

“Man and woman, we must halt this utterly meaningless conversation and save our beloved from death,” Roger oddly proclaimed, stepping in between us. “Now, proceed to our destination without failure. Due forth!”

Can anyone take anything seriously?!

***

The forest was similar to the one at home. The grass I stepped on was still wet. Hundreds of thousands of trees in all shapes and sizes surrounded us. Their branches knotted together like a couple holding hands at a park. I was tempted to pick some berries but couldn't get distracted.

This gave me a nostalgic vibe, and not in a good way. I recalled the time when I stepped on this soil with someone else. Not knowing better, we ran into a SCAR agent. He died while trying to flee. A similar thing happened the second time around. She died trying to protect me. The same SCAR agent killed two of my friends. Both were scenes straight out of hell.

I yelled while kicking the first tree trunk I found. I grabbed onto my toe and hopped on one leg. It felt like my toe was crushed against a brick wall.

“Jill?”

“Zip it, Roger.”

I sat down for a moment, hoping the pain would subside. The bushes were rustling as if something was moving through them.

But my gut felt strange. It felt uncomfortable sitting down, so I got up on my feet. It was so familiar—the same ominous pressure. Without a doubt, it had to be the SCAR agent. It's somewhere around here, waiting for any leaks in my stance.

Owen darted his head around. “What’s going on?”

“Stay close to me, and don’t refuse whatever my demands.”

“Watch it be another squirrel?”

“What do you mean by that?” Owen asked, obviously confused.

“Ah, nah, it’s nothing. I forgot Tim’s half-dead. He would’ve gotten the reference, though.”

“For the love of—!”

Before I could finish, something dropped from the tree above me. My gut was right. It’s a SCAR agent!

It was much bigger than I was. I glanced over to Roger. Its bulkiness reminded me of him. It surpassed my level by miles. It would attract me with any sudden movement. Knowing that, it felt like a dagger pressed against my bare back.

It didn't wield a weapon—just its fist coated in heavy armor. The last time I saw it, it was tainted in blood. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again—not three times!

“Guys, whatever you do, stay put.”

“Jill, your hand and your leg. You aren’t in the position to do anything crazy.” Wow, for once, he said something sensible.

“I’m going to do something stupid. You will forgive me, right?” I didn’t look back, but I could see the horror in their faces.

Without further delay, I threw a rock and ran away from the others. My strike was rendered useless. Without hesitation, the agent charged, pulling his fist back and swung. I couldn’t react to his fist. I took a hit, which sent me tumbling to the ground.

My heart stopped. The numbness in my body became contagious, and I clenched my teeth, trying to hold my trembling body. I wasn’t sure where I was hit. How far did it send me flying?

My name screamed multiple times. Ignore it. Save them. Even if you’re unable to walk, you must protect them.

Do what you couldn’t do the last time. Avenge your friends, fulfill your desires, and protect the ones you cherish.

I had to do whatever, even if it meant losing an eye. But I had to avoid one thing.

Death.

And this bulk of blue and black with a chrome yellow visor was a walking trip to the reaper.

The agent crept towards me. My entire body felt like it was going to break down any second. I had to go. I had to run as far as I could.

On my fours, I stumbled while getting up but managed to do so. My legs ran automatically. I realized it was an action to escape injury, no, escape death, and I put all my energy into running away.

“Jill!!” They said simultaneously.

I ignored them, running through the forest as if the trees were pebbles beneath my feet. From what I recall, SCAR agents lack in terms of running speed. If I could use that to my advantage, all should be well.

Panting heavily, I doubted my actions. Was it wise for me to tackle this agent alone? What good would Owen and Roger be? They would shackle me down. So it’s a good thing I bolted away, guaranteeing their safety. I didn’t know where I was going. I ran straight, not looking back.

My heart ached from running so much. I slowed down, taking a quick break on a tree stump. I tasted blood in the back of my mouth.

Nothing pursued me. The only sound in the air was the sound of the birds tweeting at each other.

Good, I can finally rest.

My rest was only for a brief instant. The monster wouldn’t let go of its prey.

I tied the bandage on my hand, straining for a few breaths. How was I going to do this injured? My hand slowly turned numb.

My feet couldn’t take another step. I wasn’t sure how far I ran, but the feeling of my legs yelled I’ve been running for a while. I was exhausted. My head, hand, stomach, legs, everything hurts. I focused on my breathing, relaxing a little to rest my body.

A twig snapped behind me. I turned around, jumping onto my feet, but they couldn’t handle my weight. I collapsed onto the soggy ground. How did…

I couldn’t breathe. My brain stopped, and even though I couldn’t think, I understood there was no way out.

I was going to die.

Really? After all this, I was going to die?

My legs couldn’t move. I drained all my energy. The SCAR agent was probably the last thing I would ever see.

I dragged myself back, only for it to continue to stand over me. I had no energy in my body. It took it out in one punch.

All I could do was stare at it. That agent would impale me any second. I couldn’t move. My eyes were attached to both fists, hoping it would somehow miss.

There was nothing I could do. My organs were on the verge of fumbling within. My legs were overworked to its core. My mind was bleached white. There was nothing more I could do.

I wasn’t sure what my plan was. I was thinking at the moment, wanting the boy's safety to be secured, not once having considered myself.

Wait, what’s with this negative thinking? There’s no time for me to sulk around.

Determination. I needed determination. I already knew what I had to do: go to the House with Answers and save Tim.

I couldn’t call it quits. I already defeated Sylvia. It couldn’t end here.

But my strength was nothing. There was only enough energy for me to breathe. I saw no light at the end. I guess it really was going to end here. At least they’ll live on, I hope.

“Use me…”

There was no one around me. A distant voice repeated those words over and over in my head.

“Use me. Use me. Use me…!”