The cut across my chest still stung and I couldn't even tell how far I'd gone before my I couldn't run any longer. The man with the axe was no longer in sight, probably went on his way. I was really tired, my body ached all over and to make matters worse the first drop of rain landed on my forehead before more descended from the sky with fury. Shelter was now a necessity if I didn't want to face death from a cold or worse.
But in this darkness it was hard to find any sort of cover, making me stumble all around in hopes of just keeping myself a little dry. In the end I had to settle for squeezing myself in between these two boulders that had barely enough room. It kept most of the rain from me but the cold wasn't much of a choice for me. While the rain poured my thoughts drifted back to before all this mess, when I was still working my part time job and going to college, studying to become a computer technician.
And I thought a little further back to when I was still in highschool, back then I used to live with my uncle and my friend Finn and I would walk to school together. He was just this energetic guy who spent a little to much time living in his own fantasy world he made up, no thanks to all the novels and anime he used to read and watch. Still he was fun to be around.
Keeping on with the same train of thought, I couldn't put my finger on just when I'd fallen asleep since by the time my eyes opened once more the day light was creeping in through the trees.
It was time to get a move on, as much as I'd love to just keep on sleeping in this place it would make the difference between keeping my life or losing it. I'd have to say I'm already lucky enough to be alive this long. Maybe I should have paid more attention to those survival shows my uncle loved watching, who knows, could probably keep me alive for another day or two.
My first thought was trying to find that path the man I met yesterday followed, it was my surest bet to finding some settlement or a passerby more willing to lend a hand. Easier said than done though, after running away yesterday I don't think I could tell which direction I took. And so that started hours of me just trying to piece together any of what happened yesterday while walking around. I also happened to stumble upon some more fruit, so that was a plus and when the sun was already past its highest point did I stumble upon a dirt road cutting right through the forest.
I followed it, going down the slope, a part of me was already filled with relief now that I had at least something to go along with. It was a long walk I might add and just when I thought I was going to end in another day of despair I saw the first line of stone houses quite a ways down the road, barely peeking through the trees. The more I descended, the more was revealed and at the end of my third day of this horrific experience in an unknown land I was making my way through an actual town, though a bit behind the times for my expectations.
Most of the buildings were stone and the remaining were wood, no sign of any form of electricity or technology for that matter, no cars, no street lights...no streets for that matter, just more dirt road and just some part of it made of cobble stone. Maybe it was time I considered I wasn't anywhere near home or maybe the 21st century.
Even the dress code here wasn't something you would find in the current day and age, and I wouldn't make the mistake of betting on a whole town having some sort of 1600's festival. Just where the hell was I?
As much as I was very much confused about this town, one thing for sure, they were just a confused about me. I should have realized I was the odd one out, from my ripped jeans in more than one way to my tattered shirt with a picture of a bloody shark thanks to yesternight's events. I must have stunk too cause I hadn't had a bath in three day all the while running from boars, panthers, axe wielding maniacs, and basically everything the forest had to offer.
Well, it wasn't like I could do much about it. But the problem was that everyone else was wary of me. I don't think anyone of them would be willing to help this filthy bum of a person looking like he'd been rolling on the mud all day. That thought was confirmed when I tried to approach this lady before she almost broke into a sprint just to avoid me.
Whatever, let's just try somewhere else. A few minutes of trying to gather at least one person's attention left me with the realization that this town was full of jerks and huge as*holes. My last resort was entering this not so spectacularly named establishment 'Teo's Sweet Balls' which left a lot of room for questioning myself.
Turned out it was an eatery, apparently their main dish was rice balls, which makes you wonder if it was that hard to add it to the sign. But to more pressing issues, once again everyone was staring, and they didn't look glad to see me. And at the front counter was this guy busy wiping beer glasses with a mean look on his face, which got even meaner when I approached him instead of taking the unanimous hint getting the hell out of here.
"Whatcha want, can't you see you're disturbing all my guests? Get lost!" Those were the first words he said to me before I had even gotten in a single letter.
"I'm really sorry. I'll leave, but I just need to know where exactly I am, if you would be so kind to tell me," That look he was giving me told me I wasn't going to get what I wanted, yet...
"This here town be, Yorkton. Now leave," I would if I actually knew what Yorkton was.
"And which country exactly is Yorkton in?" Yeah, he wasn't taking an extra question too kindly.
"Leave already!" That was my cue to go. Any longer and a beat down was just waiting for me. I made my way out quick and would've been home free if I didn't run into something. That something was enough to send me to the ground.
I had to look up and see whoever it was who couldn't just wait to run into me but I really regretted it.
"We meet again, ey thief," that voice still freaked me out as much as it did yesterday. Today I had a better view of the man who had eagerly wanted to cut me down and boy it wasn't pleasant.
He quite short, I was a probably a good head taller than him but his body was build like an ox, muscles ripping at every part so much that his shirt actually looked like it was in pain, or that he didn't like shirt that would actually fit him. His face was bushy from the beard, sideburns and moustache though he had a bald spot right at the top of his head. But what sealed the deal was the painful looking scar across his cheek.
"Nasty ain't it? It was one of ya kind that gave me this, not that long ago actually. I'm looking forward to repaying the favor." Before I could even think of running, his hands were gripping my shirt tight and raising me into the air.
If he were a bit taller I'd be dangling from his grip. I don't think I could take him on in a fight, and that was if I was fully fit, not this mess of man who could only retaliate by clawing at him. He didn't take that too kindly, flinging me onto two men who were busy enjoying their meal and a show of which I was the main character.
Of course they were pissed. I couldn't even get onto my feet before I was flung once more. I scrambled to get up but looked like they had no intention of letting me go, a kick right to the gut sent me rolling along the floor.
I could officially say that this had become a good ol' bar fight. The two men were already going at it with another group, the guy at the counter was...no longer at the counter. He was dead middle of the tussle and my attacker was still having me in his sights.
I couldn't handle a fight right now, that would just be bringing my end quicker. I had to squeeze through grown men wrestling each other while avoiding a casual fist or kick till I was once more at the exit...only to run into something else. The only thing I heard after that was a loud bang, then everything was silent.
"What's all the commotion here?"