The To-do List

Prologue

Their hearts pounded as they continued to run deeper into the dead forest. Brown dry vines barricaded their path, their poisonous thorns scratched their expensive clothes, making them bleed and burn. However, they paid no attention to this.

The silence was chilling. The sounds of bubbling water from lakes, chirping birds, buzzing insects and croaking frogs couldn't be heard at all. 

Miles swallowed, he looked into the black depths further and felt that going forward might be as dangerous as going back. Is this a classic case of the devil and the deep blue sea?

Some people go through a qualitative change when they face death. Miles came to an abrupt halt. 

He could not hear the noise from the men chasing them. Perhaps, they had lost them. Should he fake a path for the men? He looked at his cousin with determination in his eyes, "Go on, I will stall them."

Levi stopped and he appraised him "Are you crazy? What can you do to them? Throw a water ball?" His tone was a bit sharp.

Miles furrowed his brows. "I have broken through to the sixth stage of Dao Imbibition. My practice of the Vital water strike has reached the second level. I can do more than throw a water ball." He explained honestly in a low voice.

Seeing the taciturn expression that reminded him of his brother as he broke the news that can drive people to envy, Levi bit his lips slightly. 

He listened closely but the entire surrounding was silent. Had those human traffickers gone? 

He picked up his phone and dialled his brother's and cousin's numbers respectively. It did not go through again.

Miles saw what he was thinking and reminded him, "There is no signal in the dead forest."

"I know." Levi snapped, suddenly realizing that his voice was louder than it should be, he looked around his surroundings in panic. 

He had chosen to adventure in the Dead Forest because he had heard so much about it. Everyone in school was so scared of it, he wanted to boast that he had visited it.

He shut his eyes and refused to cry. He felt so tired and hungry. Why had he been so stubborn? Why did he have to drag Miles into this? 

If the traffickers don't get him, Cousin Kelan was going to kill him. No, his brother is going to deal with him first. A shiver of chill ran down his spine and the tears he was holding back escaped in two rolls.

Miles watched Levi in tears and felt uncomfortable. He lifted his hand and four cigar-shaped missiles made of water appeared in front of him. 

He said in what he felt was a comforting manner. "I can create more than water balls. I can create four water missiles. if I try very hard, I can create five."

Levi watched the missiles for a while and started laughing. Miles smiled in relief, he wanted to say six but that would be lying. 

Cousin Lyle said that good boys don't lie but then good boys don't also run away from home. The one comforting his crying cousin soon burst out in tears.

The two ten-year-old boys hugged themselves behind a large tree. They rested and continued to dial their older brothers phone numbers profusely.

*************

Lyle stabbed the sword into the last man's vital point and cut through it. There was no extra movement. It was clean and neat!

A large dark line appeared on his throat and blood gushed out, spilling all over. The man clutched his throat as despair and regret filled his eyes. He wanted to speak but his severed trachea did not let him say a single word. More blood flowed out before he collapsed, joining the remaining four traffickers on the ground.