FOES AND WOES

CHAPTER VIII: THE LAST PUSH

The grasslands were usually quite but the lightning was ruining the last-push-vibe. Upon climbing up to the plateau, I saw Rowan Morven standing in the grass. I wasn't able to see any of his features but a black silhouette of his body. He was holding something in his hand.

We walked towards him. He raised his hand and we realised he was holding a baseball bat. Jake seeing this, ran towards him and punched him in his guts. Rowan didn't move. He hit Jake hard in the head with his baseball bat. Jake moaned in pain falling down to the ground. I took my bag off and removed the knife my mother had given me.
I slowly walked towards him, rain drops flying in my direction. I took my knife and... my head shook. I felt like the nerves in my head were cut of from my sense of sensing. The hit I received by Rowan Morven was however not powerful enough to make me fall. I stood and stabbed him in the thigh. His leg started to bleed. I took the knife out of his thigh and he groaned.

Another blow and I fell down. My head was spinning. Rowan was laughing. I felt myself loose consciousness but something kept me going. I tried to stand up and another hit was blown to my head. Another head spin. One would not survive after this. Definitely not. Jake was laying a little further. His eyes were close and I felt his blood flowing down to my head. However, more blood came. This was mine.

I now had no strength to stand up. I knew no one that could help me. I, however, still went through a list of all the people I can ask for help.
First one was the person lying in front of me. Jake. He had been struck hard in the head. He had taken out all the power out of Rowan so he has already helped me. I cannot ask him for help.

Second one was Lilly. She must be standing down in the rain. She was a betrayer for helping Rowan achieve his goals. I don't blame her but her choice of Herbert due to which she did that work. But nevertheless, she has already helped Rowan so I cannot ask her for help.
Mrs. Derving was number three. She must be sleeping at the Dervings' house. She must be thinking we are in that old hut in the plateau. We have already lied to her. Moreover, she gave us food which I don't know where it is. She has already helped us by giving us food. I cannot ask her for help.

Mr. Derving is number four. He is currently out of town trying to sort out this coal smuggling problem. He is unaware of the involvement of diamonds in it. He has already helped us by letting us walk in the grasslands. This is the reason why I cannot ask him for help.
My mother is number five. She has been the biggest helper I believe but she must be at her home thinking that his son is making a documentary. Well, she has already helped me by sending me here so no way I am asking her for help.
Herbert, Bruweire and Rowan are number six. Well, they are the creators of this problem so they have already helped me reach this far into the fight so I can not ask them for help.

Bruno is number seven...... he is probably dead in the fire at the ship. I believe that he is the biggest helper now after my mother. He sacrificed himself so that I can know the truth about Lilly. Moreover, he helped me untie the ropes when I was stuck in the caves. I can NOT ask him for help.

Apex is number eight... wait. What has he done till now? That piece of cake has done nothing. He was supposed to protect me and I don't even know where he is. He is definitely the right guy to ask for help.

I gathered all my energy and instead of using Apex, I went with my epic plan of distracting my opponent by calling him his original name.

"HELP ME YOU PIECE OF CAKE!" I yelled.

Rowan was amazed and felt I was joking so he said that it is the last joke I ever made.

"It indeed is my last joke..." I said, "but for you!"

Apex, the predator (just joking) came sprinting towards Rowan and bit him hard where he was stabbed. I slowly stood up as Rowan dropped his baseball bet. With the knife in my hands, and wet with Jake's and my own blood, I walked towards Rowan. He was busy trying to throw away that piece of cake down the plateau. He was nearing the end of the plateau where he frantically tried to make the dog fall down.

I walked towards him holding the knife.
I stabbed him in the leg where he was no longer able to stand. I left the knife as it is in his body as he lose control and fell down the plateau. I fell down and grabbed Apex by his neck. When I looked down, I saw Rowan Morven, his body pierced by the spear Jake and I had planted on day three of my holidays. The letters I wrote on the paper that hung on the spear - "Birds fall when they are high" were shining bright red.

The drops of my blood ran down the rocks of the plateau side, one or two falling onto Rowan Morven. I stood up and walked towards the ground where Jake lay. There I fell down on him, Apex falling on me. I groaned loud an the owls flew away from the few trees that grew in the grasslands.

All I could here was a police car in the distant. I could see where this was going. A man who had planned to rob the villagers, must haven't realised that they were being outplayed. Upon realisation, they cut the man's head themselves. The police doesn't have power in a world where the people kill their enemies themselves. For such people, their protectors are their enemies.

I had realised that this place was not only rich in resources and diverse in landforms but it also had unity in its own people. The rain was still hard but it felt soft on my head. My eyes had closed but my mind had not.

The villagers didn't leave the Morven family such that they may be able to earn some money. The Hungry Bees' was burnt down by them. It was still day 6 at this moment.

We had not crossed midnight but we were near it. I felt it. I opened one of my eyes. I could see a boy walk up to me. He bent down and spoke "I felt you. Why don't you visit me in that abandoned hut?"