Zjjan Master 44 sp04 02 07, JSA's Cruelty I

Day is approaching the twilight, and inside this Deep Forest; the shadows from trees are intensifying.

Insects, crickets, their screaking is sharpening.

Flapping of wings as the owl emerges above the pinnacle of trees; and behind is the darkening sky that overshadowing the tired orange sunset.

Cracking from dried leaves and branches, and rustling from bushes as the footsteps are rushing from two people running.

Voice echoes— "Faster, Divs, faster!" —from a person welding an axe.

Behind, being behind, the tired person musters himself to breathe and erects his back to gather strength for his legs to run.

Whooshing of an arrow, with the speed hisses...

"Argh!" —as it hits the ankle of the tired person—

"Divs shit!"

—as the tired person falls; mouth retains argh. Eyes close. With both hands, he holds to his lower leg, as one fault— one move, one touch —will cringe his body with pain.

"Ugh, huh, huh, George, run. Leave me here."

A female voice from behind the axe wielder— "He won't go anywhere peasant!" —dressed in black, Maritis, the leader of Jelfyr Shadow Army, has emerged. She smiles. "The two of you will pleasure us with entertainment."

A quick zoom of wind as three men dress in black appear; a fat-rockiest, a thin tall nerdy, and a bald muscular.

The man struggles to resist the pain; shivering as he speaks, "It's all ended here George, I'm happy as the rest of our band."

The axe wielder tightens his grip on his axe. Anger circulates through his veins, and the axe, he has, revolves on his one hand. Wildly, he swings the axe as he attacks Maritis— "Grrr! Die knave!" —his voice echoes throughout the forest, and birds fly away...

...alerting Jaino, who's nearby. Curiosity is all over himself about the sound that he has only heard once.

A sound of chuckle, echoes, and follows by a voice— "Both contestants introduce yourself." —from a thin tall nerdy man, adjacent to the center, away to those men, each restrained by man in black. "It's nice if you have some friendly conversation. Maybe, our mistress change her mind if you could impress her."

"Oh, I could be the most happiest woman ever if someone can impress me," Maritis has jested.

"Tch, even if hell drags me down; I'll never kneel to anyone!" George has stated.

The wounded man, narrows his eyes as the tears river from his eyes. "Please, give freedom to George."

"Divs—"

But this scene, won't escape to the eyes of Jaino, who's spying a distance where he can hear the conversation. Slowly sneaking to find another path, his body begins producing sweat as a cruel death whirlpools to his curiosity; thinking, Moron, you all die after you are deceived. That's why I denied their proposal as their strategist. I've got to go. I don't want to be dead.

Maritis, out of the rest, notices the very low noises of cracking leaves. Her eyes are now scanning beyond the dark of the shadow across the trees. She whispers, "My men," as her companion listen, "enjoy yourselves, and go back to the hideout after the business. Don't act unnecessarily without my accordance, okay?" She smiles eerily, whereas her companions shake head.

She disappears; and onto another place, she appears, hunkering; lying her chin above her wrists, and she's enjoying watching Jaino, who's crawling onto the dried rough ground; a rainwater passage. "Hey, may I know what are you doing?" She has asked. —Recognizing, that the owner of the voice is, his body trembles and his mind, popping with repeated word, death— "Hello, answer me, didn't you hear me?"

His will surrenders. His eyes shutter. Recollecting everything as the surroundings stops,

Father, I hope we could meet easily.

Mother, thanks for everything. I'm happy to be born as your son. Having a strong mother like you, who's always encouraged me; I'm blessed.

Kilie, why are you so tempting? I will treasure you forever.

If only I could wander to another part of the world, while you're chasing me, I'll be the happiest person ever.

Sad, you are curse. Sucks, we're born differently.

Well, I will be going first.

Love you all. I hope you'll miss me.

Bye.

...

...

...

...

...huh?

His eyes open, and he gazes to Maritis—

She's still smiling, enjoying. "I've asked you, why won't you answer me?"

—his eyes are wide open. Heart beats are pumping on his ears. His will is shaken, his stricken. The fear is intimidating. He just grasps her wrist—

"What are you doing?"

—Jaino draws her, as the woman is helpless—

She wonders, Why?

—restraining her from moving—

Maritis blushes

—covering her mouth with his palm, yet his body still vibrating by the fright; he whispers, "Sshh, don't speak. Remain silent, we'll dead if they found out."

"Ha—" Maritis thinks, What the hell!

The fat-rockiest black guy eagerly stares at those two bandits, welding a knife yet hesitating to kill each other. "I wonder what's picking interest with the loser bitch."

The bald muscular black guy, setting in the ground, twists the knife, and it revolves above his palm; he has then grabbed it. "Maybe, she found some toy."

A man voice, cheer, echoes— "Come on! Fight! This is the only way to spare one of you. Come on!" —from the thin-tall nerdy black guy.

Divs whines, "George, please, do it. Kill me, for your freedom—"

"Divs..."

"—thank you for everything man. The warm welcome when you'd accepted me in the brotherhood. I'm happy to have met you; I have fun."

"Divs, don't despair. We can still do something."

Enjoying the show, the thin-tall nerdy black guy cheers again. "Come on, you'r—"

Silent overwhelms everyone—

"No!" A cry by George echoes throughout the forest as it disturbs the crows and other animals nearby.

—whereas Divs groans in pain. His neck rivers with blood as the knife falls from his hand. Everything goes slowly as his eyes blurry, starring at his friend George, as his vision falls curvingly down, as his body bashes on the dried leaves in the ground—no soul...

On the other side, Jaino is enduring the pain, stinging on his mind, as he has heard the cry. Run, moving away while holding Maritis wrist as they've ran.

George, staring at his friend who's now lying on the ground, he kneels both knees; his vision blurs. Noticing something is heavy and protruding on his stomach. He examines, to only see a blade, bulging with blood flowing from his cloth; now his mouth produces the same. Touching his lips with hand as the blood is painting his fingers; his vision turns black as he falls in front.

The bald muscular black man sheathes his half blood-bath blade. "Well done."

"Oh, that wasn't bad," has commented by the thin tall nerdy guy. Then the three of them disappears.

"Fww," Jaino has sighed. Wiping the sweat thickening on his forehead— "That was crazy. You scared me there, woman. I thought we've been found out."

Sting of pain to her chest; from behind, Maritis kicks Jaino's lower leg—Jaino loses balance and kneels in the ground —and she lays her knife to his throat. "Hello, my dear. Did I impressed you with my pretentious innocence?"

Jaino, remain cool, remain cool, he has thought, closing his eyes—

"It was nice playing with you. Bye, peasant."

—Jaino thinks, Farewell everyone.

For them, who are loyal servant

Yet those, for friends, are bias

Ever, selfish is the most ugly

Chapter end