Everyone started taking quick steps between trotting and running. Not because they're sure something's chasing them, but because the view they saw moments ago, made them run from fear. running and escaping unconsciously without a particular road or purpose, They just flee with fear as their fuel, their hearts want to rip their chests and escape to the farthest place away from this terrifying thing, Their ears can't ignore the screams of those people they left behind. It all made them run to escape their unconscious fear, ignoring their injuries or themselves, they just moved till they get as far as possible from this monster.
"Oh ....shit!" Joey looked behind to see the source of the voice and saw that Zain was leaning on a tree putting his hand on his waist cursing in pain, then sat with a strong thud on a knee on the ground, soaked in his sweat, and panting heavily. His face was very tired as his brows lowered and his lips curled, and the blood almost disappeared from his face, gathering only in his eyes. Joey looked at his injury and knew it would surely reopen after all the running.
They were all like this. Tired, shocked, and lost, Joey walked toward Zain after he took his breath, and they sat down as their bodies loosened to the ground in tiredness. They began to take their breaths with difficulty and heaviness, Everyone was tired and absolutely hungry and in need of water and rest. the situation was deadly bad.
Joey sat on his knee facing Zain:
"You ... are you okay?" He said while panting.
Zain tried to calm his breathing and took a deep breath in tiredness with sweat all over his face and white lips:
"So we will die here.., I don't even know anymore where are we, but for sure this is not a part of the test, something happened, it seems that a gate was opened during the test"
Zain said and grabbed Joey's wrist and pulled him closer until he was close enough to Joey's ears, he sighted from fatigue and The words hardly came out of his mouth, as if he knew he wouldn't be able to stay awake for long: "We can't trust anyone from the underworld, the witch will come back, you shouldn't obey her orders, you can play with some dirty cards here too, I'll tell you about it later, to survive, we have to play dirty. Joey, sometimes. they will disguise themselves with faces of angels but with hearts of demons. Beware..."
Zain jerked his head towards the rest who were sitting there in confusion, and continued: "Anyone with a weak point or weak character, even more; a shattered past, will be exploited and chased to the last breath, that's what they feed on... "
Joey was shocked by the things Zain said, as he pulled away from him and tried to register what he just heard. he looked down at Zain's wound. " How do you feel?" Joey asked as he did not utter a word about what Zain said. but deep down, Joey knew what Zain said was right, he saw how evil and manipulating this world could be.
Zain didn't reply or could be said he doesn't have the energy to.
"Damn ... you are bleeding again .." Joey said in a low voice . that Only Zain heard.
Zain felt that his eyelids were too heavy and that he could not move a muscle anymore, drowsiness and fatigue prevailed, and because of that wound on his thigh and that extreme exhaustion, he couldn't resist and lost consciousness right in Joey's arms.
" Hey!" Joey shouted shaking him by his shoulders, but no response. Joey put two fingers on Zain's nick, checking his pulse, then he looked up in confusion, didn't know what to do anymore. but was at least relieved that he was alive even though his pulse was not normal. he may be having an infection.
"We have to find a safe place to rest, also to get water and food," said Joey, then slowly leaned Zain's head against the tree. took off his jacket and covered him with it.
"Will he be okay?" Aran asked with a low voice.
Joey nodded, "Looks like he got an infection because the wound was reopened"
Joey stood again, "But where ... and what do we do now?" he asked himself
"Ouch! What is that!" Ryou was stunned as a hail stone fell on his head? he held it in his hand as he rubbed his head
"Hail stones?" Alicia moved and approached him and took it from his hand to check it.
Joey looked up, "It was sunny just a little while ago! It's hailing now!"
"Shhhh, shut up!" Aran shish them while gesturing with his hand to them to stop talking: "Someone is here ..." he whispered.
It's true, Aran heard the sound of something running through the trees. They all raised their weapons and stood with their backs to one another and behind them was unconscious Zian.
"Don't move! Raise your hands!"
Someone shouted at them from behind the trees.
A group of people came out from among the trees, carrying various forms of weapons, directing them toward them. They were of a primitive shape with shabby clothes that are not modern.
Joey and the rest of them raised their hands in surrender. The number of these gunmen outnumbered them anyway, besides they were surrounded from all sides.
"We got lost in the woods and came here to escape the Nuckelavee, "Joey said stating.
"What !! You escaped the Nuckelavee!" One of them said, shocked.
"I am happy that you are human beings like us and this is something that I missed, but why weapons now? Ha?, Can't we become friends and help each other please?" Ryou said as he raised his hands above his head.
"You ... you are the people who Elia said are coming!" One of the gunmen said while lowering his weapon.
"Yes ... she said five! Coming from Paria river!" another one also said happily as if they had found a treasure.
"Forgive us, forgive us! We did not know! Usually, Elia informs us if any lost people came or are injured and guides us to them so we could take care of them in our humble village!" One of the men said as they lowered their weapons and the expressions of caution and treachery changed into expressions of joy and gratitude.
"Elia?" Joey asked wondering. as he also lowered his handgun.
"Uh-huh, you'll know her later don't worry!"
a man said while his eyes fell on Zain who was unconscious behind Joey.
"And it seems you need help for your friend young man!" The man looked at Joey smiling.
Joey looked back at Zain and then sighted. the old man was right, they are indeed in need of help and care.
And when they thought about it for a while there was no escape from this. as they exchanged glances at each other, and then looked at the people in front of them. they surrendered to their fate and went with them to the location of their village, and it seemed that the more they walked towards the village, the colder it got in their way, the weather was strange, and it seemed as if the sky was divided into three, one part that was very sunny and hot, another with a good atmosphere and another one that was freezing, Snowy and windy.
Joey was very surprised at the climate change in the same space! "the climate here is very turbulent!" Joey said while walking beside one of the villagers.
The man did not reply to Joey, but Joey noticed that the hailstones began to decrease and suddenly disappeared upon their arrival in the village, the fluctuation of the weather was suspicious indeed.
When they reached the village, they found a giant wooden gate surrounded by a short wood fence on all sides, as soon as the gates were opened, all they saw were green meadows and roses of different shapes and colors, a scene that seemed to be a part of a dream.
Ryou ran toward the meadows in happiness and excitement, and stood in front of the brightly colored roses, "Very cool, how beautiful! Look at the colors!"
Alicia followed him, smiling "Yes ... the air here is very fresh unlike outside. Isn't that strange, but it's beautiful."
Aran, carrying Zain on his back, followed, "Yeah, this atmosphere here, will surely help Zain to recover."
Joey did not feel at ease, and as soon as he walked a few centimeters inside the village, he felt a terrible pain in his lower abdomen, he grabbed his stomach, bent over, and sat on his knees and it looked like a severe twitch, he muted his voice as much he could, and couldn't think of anything but the pain for now.
He could not stand the pain, and broke into a sweat, he looked at the others who seemed busy with the villagers and looks extremely happy. his eyes wandered heavily and half closed around, waiting for someone to notice him, his vision became more blurry.
"Get out of here..." he heard someone whisper, " Who! ?" he tried to call out but it came out as a low whisper coming from his throat due to his indescribable pain.
" Don't trust their smiles..." The voice said again. sweat drops fell from Joey's forehead as his body suddenly fell to the snowy ground with a heavy thud sound on snow, unconscious. embraced by the cold snow. the last thing he saw, was someone running toward him screaming his name.
End of chapter 11.