HellBreakers (ARCHIVE VERSION)

Chapter 9

Modus and Barlon have been walking for what felt like days, surviving off what little water they can find. By now it seems as if they've made no progress in finding a way out of this field.

“We've gotten nowhere…” Modus says weakly.

“Surely we've gotten somewhere…right? There's no way we haven't gotten at least somewhere with how long we've been walking…” Barlon adds.

“It feels like no scenery has changed at allllll…!” Modus notes.

“That’s impossible…” Barlon says. “There's no way we've gotten nowhe- wait…”

“What?” Modus asks.

“I've seen that tree before…multiple times…” Barlon replies, pointing to a random tree.

“You're kidding me…” Modus says.

“Yea, I am.” Barlon replies. “Never seen that tree in my life.”

“You're a real ass…” Modus says a bit harshly.

“What?” Barlon replies. “I can't make a joke every now and then?”

“Now's not the time, if you haven't noticed!” Modus barks at him. “We've been walking for days! I'm getting sick of this goddamn field!”

“Jeez, man…chill.” Barlon replies. “Fine, I'll be quiet.”

“Thank you.” Modus says.

They continue walking for another good while before Modus reminds Barlon of something.

“Hey.” Modus calls for Barlon. “How’s that…thing…on your arm doing?”

“Hm?” Barlon replies, looking back down at the boil on his arm, which seems to have not changed at all. “Oh…I completely forgot it was here.”

Modus looks at him weird, tilting his head.

“Like…it doesn’t hurt or anything?” He asks him.

“No, it doesn’t even feel like it’s here at all.” Barlon replies.

“Does…that not concern you?” Modus asks him.

“Why would it concern me?” Barlon asks back.

“I mean…this…thing that’s on you has caused no trouble and is practically not even there…” Modus replies. “What if it’s something that needs some sort of certain nutrition, like a parasite. Maybe it hasn’t done anything wrong because you haven’t had any proper food yet, which is what it needs to like…grow or something?”

“Just….just shut up.” Barlon tells him. “The second we get proper food I'm feasting.”

“Hey man.” Modus looks away and raises his arm. “Just trying to look out for you.”

They continue walking through the field. The more and longer they walk the closer they seem to nothing. Absolutely nothing. Still nothing for God knows how long.