Here we are, strung upside down and my partner, Rayne, just attempted to convince our captors to release us. Rayne has brought almost nothing but trouble when he speaks. For the last couple of months, every word he's blurted began a fight we couldn't win. I bet he got us into this situation. "Celebs?" The scrawny one asks. "Yeah! Total celebs! Just look at us!" The scrawny man checks us. "Nothing grand about either of you." Rayne makes a nervous face. "Well, you see, we're dressed in our casual clothes. You can't always look fly, can you?" The scruffy man butts in, "You boys aren't anything special. Now, I recommend you both keep your mouths shut." There we go. Rayne couldn't get us out of this situation, meaning, we had to dig ourselves out. We're surrounded by at least thirty men, and we're strung upside down. What a hopeful situation we've been left in. Suddenly, everything goes dark.
I wake up surrounded by soil and grime. they buried us alive? This is absurd. How the hell are we intended to escape? I claw at the soil, with every scratch, my nail beds become infused with the soil. My fingers begin to dry as if I just came out of a bath. I claw, claw, claw. Nothing. Soil only falls onto my face. What did I do? Why was I chased for something that had nothing to do with me? Why, why, why! I didn't do anything. I shouldn't be here. Rayne and I should not be here. What if I scoop a hole and begin digging out that way? I assume we're each buried six feet to avoid anyone finding us through smell. I press the back of my hands together like I'm attempting to pry open a door. Let's get out of here. I push my hands apart to pull the soil away. C'mon, I can do this. I continue prying at the soil ahead of me and finally find enough room to wiggle into it. C'mon! I'm yelling for help now, praying someone hears me.
No one hears me.
Part 2
Nobody can hear my screams for help. I scream louder and louder. I yell until my throat gives. Nothing. My breathing has become heavy now. I feel the intense weight of the earth above me as I move within my grave. I will not die here. I continue scootching my way up. At this point I am almost in a fully erect position. In no world will I die from being buried.
There it is. My head fully protruding from the ground. I feel the soothing air breeze past my hand. Oh, sweet relief. I've made it. One more big push and I'm out of this hell. argh! I'm out! I look around as soon as I get out and shout for Rayne but hear no response. Rayne! Where are you? I yelled out again. I ran over to where he was hanging. Rayne! I'll help you, don't worry! I claw at the ground trying to remove as much soil as possible. Do not be dead right now. Do not be dead, please, please, please. Rayne! I'm gonna need you to help me dig you out. Please. Nothing but the sound of soil being scooped and hitting the earth for what feels like hours. It feels like there's no progress, what the hell! Rayne! Help me! As I dig into the ground I feel him. His hand. It's cold. Damnit. Am I too late? Get out, Rayne. You got this; I know it's not too late for you! His hand catches mine as I dig. Rayne! I pull as hard as I can. C'mon! We can get out of this together! Raynes head pops out of the ground. "Rayne, there you are." His hair is grimy and filled with dirt. "Thank you." As he crawls out, I can see more of his body. It's dirty, as if water was poured on him before he was dropped in. "You look like shit." He's sat on the ground staring at me now. "I look like shit? Have you seen yourself yet? It looks like you were tossed around." He holds out his hand waiting for me to help pull him up. My hand extends to him to pull him up. "This evening has been far too eventful."
"Rayne, we're just getting started here, you know that?" My partner looks around. "You see all that we already went through?" I walked up to Rayne. "I need to know something." Rayne looks at me, "what?" There's a moment of silence before I say anything. "Did this begin because of you?" He doesn't attempt to move or even make a sound. Rayne just stands there. Through the silence his answer is louder than my screams. "I don't know how it began, Rayne. This better not happen again. Whatever issues you cause, I want them cleared before any of this happens again." We stand there together. Rayne is beside me staring the opposite way. "If," I pause. "If it comes to this again, let me know. We both need to solve whatever issues come."
Part 3
In town all I see are flyers for an event in the 'Magic continent.' A "continent" I've never heard of. I'm interested though. The flyer claims it to be the biggest tournament to date. I call for Rayne. Last time I saw him he was in a store. The Hogu continent isn't as interesting as this 'Magic Continent' sounds. Rayne walks out of the store he was in. "yeah?" He responds to my call. "You see this flyer?" He reads it over. "What are you thinking?" I ask. "It sounds nice but is it actually a real place?" I take a step back. "I think we need to do a little research on this continent." Rayne steps back with me. "We're just gonna ask around?" I started walking away. "That's exactly what I was thinking." Rayne walks up so someone walking down the sidewalk, "Excuse me, do you know anything about the Magic Continent?" The woman looks at Rayne. "The Magic Continent? hmmm..." She stands there thinking about the question. "I think my father mentioned it before; how he emigrated here from the Continent." Rayne lets out an "Oh?" He looks towards me then back to her, "Well, my friend here would like to know more about the continent. If you and your father are willing to share some info about it with us." The woman looks over to Rayne was looking. "I don't know, he doesn't seem to have enjoyed his time there." I begin walking up to them, "Would we still be able to speak to him?" The woman stands there for a moment. "Come with me, I guess. I don't know how he'll react to two strangers asking him about his old life so be prepared."
We arrive at where Jae's father lives. It's a small shack in the outer part of town. "This is where you father lives?" I ask. "It's nothing special but it's also the house I grew up in, so don't say anything 'else we've got issues, yeah?"
The three of us arrive at the shack and Jae knocks. "He's not gonna shoot us or anything right?" Jae after a moment with no response at the door she knocks again. "Hopefully not. Father! You in there? It's me, Jae. I brought a couple people over that are looking for you." She knocks again. "Taking his time I see." Rayne comments. "It seems so. I have a key so it's no big deal." She unlocks the door. "Father! Where are you?" Jae places the keys on a counter beside the door and walks into a room on the right. "Sit anywhere, I'll be back out with him." We sit down on a worn couch. "You sure we're not gonna die?" Rayne asks. "I'm hoping not." Rae leaves the room she entered earlier. "I don't know where he is." She sits down across us in a single person chair. "If you're willing to wait he'll probably be here in a couple hours." Rayne and I look at each other. He nods. "we're willing to wait." I finally found a response. "Hey, what's your name by the way?" I leave her in silence for a moment. "You haven't given me your name. It's okay if you're not comfortable with that -" I cut her off. "Lemur." The door opens and slams shut. "Who the hell is on my couch?" Jae stands up immediately. "Father, this is Rayne and Lemur." The man walks forward. "I want you both out of my house, now. I don't care if either of you are her friends, find a new place to hang out." I stand up, "respectfully, we're not friends, but we have questions. Questions that only you can answer." The man stands there with a face of worry.