Chapter 03

Opening his eye in the morning, he immediately sits up knife at the ready. He didn’t realise he had fallen asleep. Looking around he finds that he is alone. The fire died a long time ago. The women already gone. Putting his knife back in his belt he moves to his backpack only to find that some things are missing.

[Equipment updated]

[10 half ration pack]

[4 litres of water]

[Pistol]

[Knife]

[Pistol Ammunition – 12 shots]

Sighing at his lost equipment he drinks some water and eats some food.

[9.5 half ration pack]

[3.75 litres of water]

Looking at his surroundings one last time he searches for anything that might be of use, but nothing is there. Moving to the fire pit he fills it in, throwing dirt, leaves and plants all around. Making it look like no one was there. It’s a rush job though, no one is looking for him and so he thinks that it does not have to be perfect. Taking only five minutes to do it, to the untrained eye, and those that are not looking for people, it would look like only animals were passing by.

Throwing on his backpack, he notices that his pack and clothes has changed colour to match his surroundings.

*New uniform?*

[Unknown. No new data. Based on past data. Yes]

*I see, so it could possibly be old*

[Yes]

Checking his map he begins walking in the southern direction. But not directly south, more like south south east.

*ETA to first dot*

[1 day]

*one day* he thinks to himself as he moves through the forests. *it’s not that bad* he thinks as truthfully it wasn’t. A single day hike is really nothing compared to a day in the field.

Hours pass by and nothing really eventful happens. Moving up and down hills, climbing over and under obstacles, there isn’t much aside from moving from point A to point B. He realises though that there are still no creatures about. Something very weird and thus moves cautiously.

[Night Vision activated]

Before he knows it, the day is over and he spots the possible location from a hill top. Fire flies high in the air. A celebration he wonders? And so moves closer. But still choosing to be cautious he moves silently and is thus is horribly slow in moving.

[NOT HUMAN]

[THIEF]

His A.I states as he gets closer. Looking around spots the same woman thanks to the notification and moves silently towards her, as she is in a great spot to see the town? Village? Base? Upon reaching her, she still has not noticed him, she is laying down with has a type of binoculars out. Choosing not to speak he approaches her carefully and taps her on the shoulder.

“gargh” he shouts out as silently as he can.

Dropping to his knee, he finds that there is a knife in his left chest, puncturing his left lung but just missing his heart. Coughing out blood he holds the hand and knife in place.

“Oh, it’s you” the woman states as she turns around to see who she stabbed.

[Concentrated healing commencing]

“Ye..ah” he gasps “I..tss…me”

“Stop sneaking up on people if you have no intention to kill them” she states flatly and pushes him down on his back.

[Foreign object unable to be removed]

Still holding the hand that stabbed him and knife in his chest. He pulls it out. Letting blood splat in the woman’s face.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” she whispers hysterically “ARE YOU STUPID!” she states trying to stop the blood flow.

Minutes pass, and he moves in pain, keeping as silent as possible.

[Not enough vitamins, Lungs has been healed. Close wound. Stitches required]

“Stitches” he coughs blood out onto the woman “required”

“I don’t have the equipment”

“Then burn me” he states as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Burn you?”

“Screw it” he grabs a piece of ripped clothing from her (the ones that she no longer needs that were used last night) and covers his bleeding. He has no need to worry about infection. His body removes all types of foreign poisons. Also means he can’t get drunk, or numb his pain from any type of drugs.

“Do you have a match?”

She doesn’t reply and hands a lighter.

“Even better”

Grabbing a thick branch, he removes takes one pistol ammunition and breaks it apart on the branch.

Lighting it on fire.

*BANG*

A huge sound is heard. The branch is half gone, but the remaining is on fire. He brings it forward to his chest. Gritting his teeth he burns himself. Turning to look at the woman, he sees her moving away.

“Come on, you made too much noise” she states waiting for him to follow.

[NOT HUMAN]

[THIEF]

[Personal Note Idiot Added]

Following her he eats some food and neither of them speak.

[5 half ration packs]

[1 litre of water]

Moving far away enough she stops.

“Sit there” she points to a log, in which he does. Touching his chest he realises that it still hurts and can’t move his left arm perfectly without running the possibility of opening the wound.

Twirling one of her knives she asks “Why are you following me?”

“I’m not”

“Then what are you doing?”

Knowing that he would die if he were to fight her this time he chooses not to lie.

“I was heading to the base.”

“I see” she replies throwing him her binoculars “you were too late.”

Catching it in his right hand he looks at her with a question mark on his face.

“Don’t you want to see?”

“Yeah, sorry” he replies still not quite clear as to why he was handed the binoculars.

Looking through them he realises that she took pictures of the carnage and a video. Playing the video he sees smoke rising from buildings, dead bodies everyone. Both young and old. The few living were running away with whatever they had. Being chased down by some kind of motorcycles. Ultimately being killed and beheaded.

“Why didn’t you help them” he asks her. “Are they not your allies?”

“What do you expect me to do? When I got there they were already under attack.”

Nodding he doesn’t say anything back.

“I’m headed to another base. We could go there as a pair. Safer that why and I won’t be stabbing you by mistake again.”

“Yeah, that would be better.”

Taking out a ration pack, she begins to eat.

“Can I have my rope back?”

“No”

Agitated at the reply he takes it and does nothing in retaliation.

[NOT HUMAN]

[THIEF]

[IDIOT]

[Personal note Bitch added]

“What unit are you from?” she asks putting her knife away.

Staying silent for a while he wonders whether he would still be in his unit. Choosing that it’s better to say it instead of pretending to be in another would be safer if more questions were asked he replies.

“I’m from Zulu”

And she brings her knife back out.