Resilient Retreat (3)

VANE

Action music recommended

My broken ribs were prodding my lungs, limiting my ability to breathe, while blood seeped from my torn veins onto the ground.

Standing upright was excruciating; my legs were out of commission, and using the sword as support, I limped under the dim sky, avoiding animals.

These people just won't give me a break, huh? I thought as the 4 assailants had just climbed the ledge.

"Haa—haha, fuck this world," I muttered amidst a lump in my throat, and stiffly moved to a large root I can sit on.

Carefully sitting down, I removed the torn ration bags from my shoulder and steadied my sword between my legs.

I tore the leather bag using the sword into a large strip, making holes at the end.

I made a makeshift sling with another bag for my right arm and draped it over my neck.

"Haa—phew! You have to do this, Vane," I told myself; body trembling.

After a pep talk, I strengthened my resolve, unbuttoned my shirt, and circled the large strip around my back, above the knife.

With shoelaces fastening the holes, I prepared for the inevitable, 'Once again, you have to do it Vane, come on, you have to!'

"Again, on the count of—GO!—ARGHAAAA!" I screamed while removing the knife, and tightened the leather strip over the knife wound.

"KUARGH—F-FUCK!" every second was agonising and tears coagulated in my eyes when I tightened the strip with my shoelace.

"HAA—HAA—HAA—HAA," I inhaled sharply, as I finished patching up the knife wound, and closed my eyes for a while.

Part recovered, I looked at the map, 'Shit, how are they so fast!?' they were at the battle site now.

Finally getting up, I wiped the blood on the outside of my jacket, while moving to hide, but where?

Where should I go—where, dammit! I scowled, every hiding spot was taken by animals, leaving only bushes and trees.

Awakened individuals had heightened senses, and such crude spots wouldn't cut it. System, I called out, and time slowed.

Scrutinising the map, 'There's no other choice, huh?' I thought, irritated, and began to move as time resumed.

"DID YOU SEARCH THE BUSHES?" a distant shout resounded, "Great," I muttered in annoyance and limped as fast as I could.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! Stop this body!" I groaned as the cramps grew too painful, causing me to stop.

My tibia creaked with each step, while my body cramped from losing blood, but I resolved with a grimace.

"Please body, please!" my blocked nose muffled the words, and my eyes were on the verge of tearing.

It hurt to breathe as if my lungs were cramping, and even worse if I breathed too much, my lungs were scraped by my ribs.

Pulling my abdomen in, to get past the cramp, I trudged forward and dragged a large branch I thought would be useful.

"BOSS, I HEARD SOMETHING!" a distant shout resounded.

"FINALLY! FUCK THESE BASTARDS" I vented, "IT HURTS, DAMMIT!" I bellowed, the river's sound muffling it, instilling confidence.

"FUCK THIS WORLD, I'LL KILL YOU, WHOEVER SENT ME HERE, GO FUCK YOURSELF, FUCK, FUCK, FU—CK… URGH!" I squirmed as I let out my irritation.

"HE'S HERE, GO, GO, GO!" they were chasing me, but I scoffed, pulling the branch and jumped into the river, holding it.

"GAAAAAHHHHH!" I screamed the water scraped my wounds, and the fast current dug into my ribs, drawing blood.

"HE IS IN THE RIVER, FOLLOW HIM!"

"DON'T JUMP YOU IDIOTS! YOU WILL DIE!"

"G-GO FU-FUCK Y-YOURSELVES, HAHAHA!" I laughed maniacally, despite the pain and the surging disgust at my crude behaviour.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? RUN ALONG THE SHORE!" a bald man ordered the young squad.

Barely floating thanks to the branch, I threw myself and my sword on it and swayed the water with my legs when an obstacle came.

My legs were completely cramped now, and the water drew out even more of my blood, causing my skin to pale.

Sediment and dirt from the river accumulated in my wounds, exacerbating them, and leaving me writhing in agony.

The assailants ran alongside me in the shore, but met many obstacles, halting their proceed, and I didn't see them for a while.

SPLASH SPLASH

Water splashed heavily. "Why, why, WHY!?" I questioned, realizing it was a waterfall. How did I not hear it earlier?

Now's not the time! I affirmed, as the end of the waterfall was in sight, and I tried to get to the shore, but the current was too strong.

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!" I screamed, searching for anything to help. 'System!' I summoned, slowing time to think without the pain.

Think, think, THINK! I told myself, and navigated my brain at lightspeed, coming across many things, except for a solution.

It felt as though a brick had been placed in my head, curbing thoughts, but I bore through it and paused for a moment to collect myself.

Looking at the surroundings, I spotted a rock ahead to my left, several meters away, while being close to the shore.

As time resumed, I kicked my legs despite the cramps—swimming towards the rock, I extended my sword as I neared the end.

SPLASH SPLASH

One chance, I reminded myself, and inhaled deeply despite the pain, "HUP!" I thrust my sword into the rock and pulled it.

"GU-GAHHHH!" I screamed, the water current was pulling me away, and the clotting wounds in my left arm opened as I exerted.

"COME ON!" I screamed, pulling myself towards the rock, with all my power, "URGH—GAAAAHHH!" I passed the current and got to the rock.

"COUGH COUGH URGH!" the water current hit my back, pressing me into the rock and hurting my lungs.

From here, the shore was an arm's length away, and after a brief pause, I planted my sword into the shore, pulling myself.

"GASP Yes—!" I weakly rejoiced, and laid down, gasping for air, "HAA—HAA—HAA—HAA."

My body was running on endorphins and adrenaline, numbing all pain as I succumbed to exhaustion.