Smith woke with a start, his breath ragged as the pounding continued. Felix threw the door open, his face pale but determined.
"Get up," he barked. "We need to leave—now!"
Michael rubbed his eyes. "You said we'd leave at sunrise!"
"There's no time!" Felix snapped. "They're already here!"
He led them into the storage room, moving with frantic urgency. With a grunt, he shoved a cart aside, revealing a hidden door that led into a tunnel.
"Go! Don't stop. Don't turn back!"
Smith lingered, but Felix grabbed his wrist, pressing something cold and metallic into his palm.
"The other half," Felix whispered. "Find the rest of the key. If it falls into their hands, it's over—for all of us."
Smith's pulse raced as Felix shoved him through the tunnel.
"Don't let it fall into the wrong hands!" Felix shouted before slamming the door shut.
---
The pounding grew louder until the main entrance burst open. Shadows flooded the room—men covered in beads and paint, their faces streaked with colors, their bodies wrapped in leaves. Rings covered their ears, noses, and lips, and they moved like predators.
The leader stepped forward, his towering frame radiating menace.
"וואו זענען זיי?" he growled.
Meaning: "Strangers in my home without approval!"
Felix straightened. "Karibas."
The leader smirked, then struck Felix with a jagged weapon, sending him sprawling. Blood pooled beneath him as he gasped.
"Hanhi! Hanhi!" The others chanted, hailing their leader.
Felix coughed, his voice barely audible. "Son of a bitch."
Hanhi crouched beside him, his voice low and dangerous. "Where are they?"
Felix met his gaze, defiance flickering in his eyes. "Gone."
Hanhi's smile vanished. With a snarl, he struck Felix again, this time silencing him forever.
"געפֿינען זיי!" Hanhi roared, and the hunt began.
Footsteps running, raspy breathing, low groans, and gasps continue. the team ran as fast as their leg ,could carry them without a destination and still doesn't know ,what was chasing them.
They ran deep into the forest, in such a quiet night they could hear their heart drum and could feel the tiredness within but desire to stop was not an option, so they just hit the road without looking back... little do they know that the forest was engulf with so many traps.
Sandy run with all her might. At this moment her mind is clouded with lots of negative thoughts leading to death. she had watch so many movies and read alot of books fill with terrors. the terror she usually felt when reading or watching movie is nothing compared to this.. this was real after all.
With a clouded mind she fell into a trap. it's a hole covered with palm leaves on the surface while inside was harmful sharp spears pointing up waiting for a victim. clearly this was a trap set up for animals, sadly she fell in.
The cold iron steel piece through her skin with ease. Blood gush out of her mouth, she tried to move but only to discover that the spears not only penetrated into her arm but every part of body and she was stuck. for some seconds she wish she was in a dream.
The pain was so immerse and unbearable that she could feel her exhausted body weak, she never once in life dreamt of dying like this but as they say "death comes like a thief in the night." She said glancing up at the sky once more before Her vision went blank.
In a short while the Strange people caught up with them, this made everything confusing. it was still dark but the moon gave an helping hand reflecting its light across the forest. this help the team to see a bit in such a gigantic forest which seems to have no end.
Gabriel accidentally trip over a rope laid a little bit above the ground, he fell.. standing up quickly he was hit on the head straight by a huge log of wood. this send him flying as he hit another tree with force. he died instantly.
unknown to the team they've lost two members. everyone was fighting for its own life so turning back might be the biggest mistake ever made.
the team climb up to a hill. they didn't care to observe the arena or where exactly they were. they just focus head straight not even glancing at the person next to them.
Michael accidentally missed a step while they were taking a narrow path on the hill. he stumble falling. Michael was quick enough to get a hold of a rock at the edge of the hill.
He called out for help. henry came across the dying Michael. Michael on seeing henry had hope "please henry help me." His voice was cranky, dried and low
Henry just stood frozen looking at michael contemplating on what to do. he turn back terrified. the kariba's are close by. michael stretch his hand towards henry. henry made a step closer to michael as if trying to help him. he stopped on his track.
"I'm sorry michael, but i can't. am really sorry.". With an heavy heart he ran off....
"Please don't go" Michael cried on top of his lungs. he didn't have the mind of surviving the moment he trip but also at his last minute; he wasn't expecting to be let down like that
Few second went by quickly, the sound of heavy footsteps passing by quickly could be heard. Michael lower his head so they won't notice him. raising his head up he saw a young teenage boy with a gloomy expression.
"Please help me, help me, am begging you please..."
The kid gave him an awkward look titling his head sideways at this strange man in front of him. He brought out a knife, spinning it in the sight of michael.
"Please do not do that, please.. please please " He beg on no stop as he saw the knife getting closer to him
In an haste the kid stab him in the eyes.. Michael screamed in pain. he let go off his hand. the kid watch him fall down until he finally reach the ground smashing his head against a rock. Indeed, he won't survive it.
Satisfied with this the little kid ran away....
The team split up. smith, emilia, nora and chris went one way and the rest went on a different track.
"Over there" he pointed over to a tree he spotted. the tree has a huge shade which can accomodate all of them. 'its good place to hide' smith thought.
They all run towards the tree, but unfortunately nora couldn't as a Clip trap with double sharp spikes caught a hold of her leg. she fell down groaning in pain. the rest didn't notice on time that Nora was behind.
Smith was the first to climb, next was chris. when it was Emilia turn to climb she turn back only to see Nora trapped, she broke into tears. she took a step forward making a move to help nora but just then she heard her name being called. it was chris.
She turn to chris terrified with her face covered with tears, she turn back looking at Nora who was crying her eyes out. she took a bold move running to Nora as she tried to open the clipped trap.
The men were astound with this act. Even Nora was.
Nora and emilia are friends from childhood, they grew up together like sisters to the extent of even going for the same course and working under the same company. they live all their lives for each other. they've got into countless of trouble and Nora has been the one responsible for it all these years so seeing emilia take action she felt an overwhelming joy in her heart.
"What are you doing? she ask with a solemn voice, her eyes red from the continuous flow of tears.
"Getting you out" The words escaped from emilia lips as she tried holding the clip trap on both ends and tried to open it but the more she try the more it tightened and with a great pain.
Nora look back she could see the kariba's getting close. she hold emilia wrist.
"You have to leave ..please" she begged bitterly
" No..no I can't lose you, I'll think of something quick" her breath quickened, her hands were no longer stable as fear has swallowed her up. Seeing her method wasn't working. she decided to change plans. ' it's a clip trap, perhaps it's not attach to anything. ' Emilia could hear her inner voice saying.
She place Nora both hands on her shoulder and carry her carefully but then as if a nemesis against her, the trap was stick together with a chain which was dung underground.
Their was no hope but she can't bring herself to accept that.
the kariba's was close, Nora knew there was no chance of escaping she call out to emilia.
" I need you to leave..." Nora said, accepting her fate already, she swallowed hard trying to hold herself from loosing it in front of Emilia
"No i won't listen to you not this time..."
"You never listen," She said as she bit her lip and nodded slowly the thought of dying is nothing compared to the thought of leaving Emilia, her heart felt grip with so much pain.
"So please just this once" Nora smiled bitterly as she for the last time stroke Emilia hair gently.
" I'm sorr..., I'm so useless" She cried bitterly, without holding back.
Nora hold her hands together bringing them close to her heart. seeing how gloomy nora face has becOme, Emilia expression darkened...
" You've saved me already, you're not useless, things didn't work out fine. All cool." She sniffed and took a deep breathe in. "The thought that matter Lia, I'm proud of you" Emilia shook her head ferociously not ready to accept the fate of losing Nora yet.
" i love you...."
" if you really do then please go..." she cried pushing emilia away, but emilia still stubborn tried to make a move to Nora only to feel a muscular arm around her. it was Smith.
Smith gave an apologetic look at Nora, he saw her lips muttering some words "please take care of her" Smith nodded. he use his hand to cover Emilia mouth preventing her from crying out loud.
Emilia felt her entire world crumble as the person she treasure in the world is about to be snatch away by death.
The strange people got to where Nora was lying helplessly, she could feel her heart pondering in her chest like it was about to explode. from the tree Emilia could feel the terror, Nora's feeling.
"Why?...." She has a lot to say but these words were the least that broke through her the gateway of her mouth she look at the man in front of her, he doesn't even feel remorse and judging from he's not a merciful person.
Even with the dead stares roaming on her, She looked at him without backing off. Hanhi walk close to her, closing the gap between them. he use his finger to brush her hair but she forcefully hit his hand away.
Hanhi smile finding the situation amusing. he suddenly burst into laughter. the rest strange people laugh along.
"You're daring" he spit. This time irritation made a way on his face.
" Did I disappoint your expectations?" She pull her face closer, for her mouth beside his ear "I can't be less, You're nothing..."
SMACK!
A hard slap landed on her cheek. she sniff and look at him with great hatred burning through her eyes. han grabbed her by her chin, pinning her against the ground..he drew his face closer to her ears..
"Any last words ?"
She chuckled, with a grin, "See you in hell Matte" pulled out a knife and stab her on the chest...she gasps.
emilia lost control of herself on seeing this, the branch she was standing on made a creaking sound. she Falls.