Chapter 2 “The Twin”

“Y-You’re kidding, right?” I stepped away from the crates as I realized the content of the crates. My first thought is to get her out of the cramped crate. I then proceeded pull the girl into the open. It was a slow and difficult task as I’m afraid of injuring her.

After a few moments, I managed to get her completely out of the crate. Her clothes were too thin that I was able to see right on to her skin. N-No, it’s not because I want to see it, okay! I then took off my overcoat and then put it on the ground. After placing her on top of the overcoat, I closed the overcoat so that she is covered completely by it. Besides, I was too sweaty to wear it after that difficult task.

Suddenly, I remembered that there is another crate. Remembering that, I ran toward it almost immediately. “H-Hang in there!” I shouted with a faint hope that I’m not too late.

Just as the previous one, crack started to appear on the sides. The only difference is that the crack is still too small for me to insert my hand. I couldn’t bash it open even if I wanted too. Not that I’m not strong enough. Well, that is one of the reasons. But the main reason is that I might injure the content, which I’m afraid, would be another person.

Racking my brain for the fastest and safest way, my sight landed on a piece of wood that is sticking from the broken wagon. It seems to be a part of the railing. The size is small enough to fit into the small opening.

“Got to try!” I ran toward the wreckage and then grabbed the object. It is stuck because of a metal fitting embedded on it. It won’t budge at all. I cursed under my breath, but refused to stop trying. I yanked it several times while kicking it until the part where the fitting holds onto broke in half, releasing the wood. “W-Woah!!!” Due to using too much force, I fell backward while still holding he piece of wood. Not minding the pain, a small smile crept onto my face as I successfully gain the tool I needed.

With the wood in hand, I walked onto the unopened crate. Slowly positioning the wood onto the small opening, I carefully use the wood as a lever. If I put too much force onto it, I risked breaking the wood and making the task almost impossible. If I put too little, then I might never open the crate and risking whoever inside it dying.

“S-Slowly now…Got it!” I shouted as a creaking sound came together with the sight of the side of the crate being forced open. With the hard part done, I opened the crate completely. Just as I expected, another person is inside the crate. I pull the person out of the crate slowly and lifted her carefully. I then laid that person next to the girl.

I opened the overcoat and then moved the girl slightly on the right side of the coat. I then placed the other one next to her. Although it was not big enough, I still managed to cover them slightly after putting them a bit closer. I then close the overcoat again, as best as I could.

“Please don’t die…please don’t die…” I muttered that several times as I look at the two. I felt slightly relieved as each of their chest showed movement. But I’m still worried. I need to make fire. Although it is still quite bright, the night is approaching fast. If by night I don’t have any fire, it might spell the end for all of us. The cold out here is unbearable even if I wear my overcoat.

I could go to the nearby settlement to get some help. But I don’t want to leave them alone to search for help. It is the same as killing them.

I reached onto my pocket and pulled out my trusty knife. I examined it slightly and found it still fine and usable. The next thing I do is pulled out my necklace that I always kept hidden under my shirt. The centerpiece is just a simple circular metal with a small stone in the middle. It looked simple since its main use is not for accessory, but to make fire. They are a piece of fire steel and a round flint. This is my only hope at the moment.

“F-F-Finally!” With sweaty forehead, I felt relieved as I looked at the burning pile of wood in front of me. Since this trip is an unplanned one, I am very ill prepared and it took me much longer than usual to prepare a camp fire. To make matter worse, the only thing I found to eat was a handful of berry from a nearby bush that I placed inside of my hat and a squirrel which I found near the place I collected some branch and twig. I skinned it and roast the meat after skewering it with a branch just like that. It’s much better than nothing, I guess. I hope those two will wake up soon.

I touched the girl’s skin slightly and felt the heat from the fire had taken effect. Although still shallow, her breathing is quite normal. Or as normal as I know. I’m no doctor. But at least she looked fine. I hope.

My sight then moved onto the next person. Actually, is this person a girl or a boy? He…she…Uhm…let’s say that I think that this person is a boy, okay? With that short hair and also, I’m sorry, body that somehow lacked any curve, I find it much easier to see him as a boy than as a girl. But I might be wrong, so let’s not say it out loud in case I’m wrong. That will be disastrous. Trust me, I know. Not that I’ve experienced it, but I’ve seen the poor sod that had experienced it. I…don’t want to talk about it.

The boy is also in the same pitiful condition as the girl. His body cold and his face pale. Unlike the girl, his clothes are a bit thicker, but still seemed to be not enough. It still failed to cover his thin and somewhat malnourished looking limbs. The only thing that still looks fine is his hair. His hair, although a bit unkempt, still retained its pristine look.

Now that you mention it, his hair and the girl’s hair looked somewhat similar. They have the same cherry red color that looked somewhat in contrast with their slightly tanned skin. In fact, after I look at them for quite some time, they have identical face. Are they twins? Maybe that is the case. Since their hair style is different, it will be much easier to differentiate later on.

I looked to the sky and I could see that it has darkened quite a bit. A sigh came out of my mouth as I realized that. I was supposed to have a nice relaxing time after that crazy job I had with that antique merchant. And I was supposed to buy a slave to help me with my work. Not ‘working’ for someone as a delivery guy.

“…D-Delivery…Ugh!” I felt my stomach cramped and queasiness struck as I recalled what his order was. He asked…no, ordered me to dump these crates to a lake near Metze. So…I was asked to…k-k-kill these two!?

“N-No…No…Urgh!!” I ran toward a nearby tree and poured the content of my stomach onto the ground near it. I vomited at the thought of me killing someone. I…almost becomes a murderer. I…almost…kill these two. “Urrrghh!!” Once again I emptied the content of my stomach, which at that point is already empty. The only thing that came out was my stomach acid which made my whole mouth felt utterly disgusting.

“W-Water…” I ran toward the nearby river and scoop out some water to rinse my mouth. I also splash some of it on my face. As I looked at my reflection, I saw my terrible expression. My eyes were red. Snots ran from my nose and tears from my eyes. My brown hair disheveled. I looked very terrible indeed. It was a look that suits a terrible person that almost robs someone of their life.

“O-Oh no…Uarrgghhh!!” I vomited again. Just like before, nothing came out. Only sour tasting liquid. But I could do nothing as my stomach cramped up and forcing me to let out anything that is still present in my stomach. I scoop another handful of water to rinse and also to drink some of it. Although slightly refreshed, the guilt of almost killing those two remained in the back of my heart.

“Those two…Oh no!” As I remembered them, I ran back toward them in fear of any danger that might come to them.

Just as I was close enough, I felt relieved that the two were still sleeping and nothing happened. But then a small movement could be seen near the boy’s head. I made my eyes squint to see it better since there was not enough light at the moment. I let out a gasp as I recognized that shape. It’s a snake! I don’t know whether it is poisonous or not. But, still, it is dangerous. And to make matter worse, it kept slithering onto the direction of the boy.

“S-Stop!!” I shouted in hope that it will startle the snake. And thankfully, it did! The snake stopped momentarily.

“Chance!!” As I was only a few steps away from him, I leaped with my hand already gripping my knife.

I landed next to the boy with my knife aimed at the snake. Tch! I missed! The snake managed to dodge in the last minute and let my knife stabbed onto the soft ground. Sneaky creature, it is. But I’m not giving up just yet! I pulled it in one swift motion and then stabbed the snake that hissed at me. “Gotcha!” It hit the area near its head. It opened its mouth but I don’t give it any second to react since I lifted my feet and then stepped on its head, making a disgusting crunching sound. Danger avoided.

“Eh?” I then noticed a slight rustling from near me. I looked at the source and found it came from the girl. Is she waking up? Good, good! I felt a smile appeared on my face as the feeling of relieve came into my mind. I then stepped next to her and looked at her.

“H-Hey, are you okay?” I know that is a dumb question, but I had to ask.

“…Uuu…” After letting out a quiet groan, her eyes snapped open and a pair of hazel colored eyes stared at me. My first impression is that they are very pretty. I could feel my heart beats a bit harder as those pair of beautiful eyes looked at me. Combined with her lustrous hair, she really is very pretty. I guarantee that most man will have their breath taken away after looking at her.

“Please rest easy, there’s no one that–GUWWWAAAHHH!!!” All of a sudden a sharp pain hit my chest and I was thrown backward. My body rolled over the ground and landed roughly a few steps away from my previous location. “…Ow, ow, ow! W-What happened?”

“YOU BASTARDDD!!!!”

“E-Eh?” A loud scream erupted near me. I looked toward the source and I faced an enraged girl. Her beautiful hazel colored eyes has turned to a reddish golden. Instead of beautiful, I felt danger and fear from looking at them. “W-W-Wait a minu–“

“DAMN YOU!!!”

“GUAARRGGHHH!!!” She jumped straight at me and landed her feet at my stomach. The pain was so much that I instinctively curled up my body with my hand covering the place where it hurts. How can such slender legs carry so much force? It is so absurd!

“Y-YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID, BASTARD!!”

“W-What did I–“ I couldn’t finish my sentence as my eyes stared at the object at her hand. I then moved my hand and noticed that I no longer holding my knife. “N-No…please…” I saw a slight glint of murderous intent from her. That made me tried to get away but the pain held me back. All I can do is crawled back.

“DIE!”

“N-No! H-Have mercy!” I could only plead to her as she walked closer and closer to me. But her eyes showed not an ounce of mercy for me. It seems that whatever I say to her will not change my fate.

“DIE!!” She then jumped toward me and then stabbed me right on the shoulder.

“AAARRGGGHHHH!!!” The searing hot pain made me scream in agony. I have been injured quite some time in the past as my job is anything but safe. But this is the first time I had someone stabbed me. “S-Stop…” I tried to stop her hand but the effect of the previous blows had me lose too much energy. To made matter worse, I still felt tired after my previous forced trip.

“DIE! DIE! DIE!”

“GUARGH! S-Stop, pl–ARGGHHH!!” After pulling the bloodied knife from my wound without mercy, she pushed it again onto my other shoulder. Another pain attacked me while the previous one is still fresh in my mind.

“DIE!!!”

“N-No-AAARRGGH!” She then jabbed my chest, giving me yet another impressive amount of pain. After that point, I couldn’t feel any more pain. As I tasted iron in my mouth, my whole body felt cold and my vision darkened. I could see the girl showed no sign of stopping anytime soon. She kept stabbing me over and over again.

Ah…I couldn’t feel my hand. I also couldn’t hear too well. Maybe I lost too much blood. Strange. How can I be this calm? Maybe…I feel that this is my punishment? For trying to kill them?...Yeah…I deserve this, right?

As I looked at that girl in front of me that still keep stabbing me, I felt that she earned the right to do that to me. Even if I didn’t hurt them…I still tried to kill them. Oh…it’s really getting dark now..Hahaha…To be killed by my own knife. Pathetic.

Oh yes…I hope I can say one more thing to my executioner. Really now…isn’t this supposed to be the first thing I have to say?…I’m so…stu…pid…

“…P…le…a…se…for…gi…ve…m…e…”

Author Note:

Please give me comment and opinion for this story, or even critique so that I can improve my writing. Do tell me if you find something strange or wrong with the chapter. Thank you for reading!