Survival

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX (edited)

Jack stared at the young boy standing before him. Collin died when he was twelve and he would be sixteen right now, thought Jack. He studied the young man before him. The boy was muscled and looked healthy even though there was a big lack of food in this country. He had dark hair and blue eyes -handsome. Sixteen.

“I said 'why’d you throw my knapsack?” The boy repeated.

Jack blinked.

“I...I...you...I mean who are you?” Jack stammered trying to keep his voice steady and stern.

“I should be asking you. What are you doing throwing peoples’ knapsacks around? It won't do you any good. I could turn you into the authorities. But I’m not a coward. I don't rat out on strangers throwing knapsacks”.

A playful grin appeared on the young face. Jack looked relieved and laughed.

“So that was your knapsack. I guess I just....I don't know. This hunger kind of made me slip, as you can see.”

“Yes, I saw. I'm Mike. Who are you?”

Jack's mind raced. Mike? No last name? No ID? He's not Collin? What if he's with The Gramblers? A spy, perhaps? Or is he an agent like Jack sent to protect his own country? For security Jack decided to lie.

“Nice to meet you. I am John and you’re not....Collin?”

Mike smiled.

“You saw the ID inside. Oh and is the notebook still in there?”

Out of sudden Mike seemed concerned over the notebook. So he must be the owner. But why so secretive with all those code numbers? Jack frowned.

“Yes, I saw the ID. I have a close friend named Collin. How come you have that Collin’s ID? Are you pretending to be Mike? Are you stealing ID's? Do you work for the authorities?”

Mike's smile vanished.

“Whoa there with the questions! I’m no thief or liar. It’s a long story about me and Collin. He was a friend of mine.”

“Was?” Jack asked still unconvinced about this Mike guy.

“Yes,” said Mike slowly, looking in the distance.

“It all started when I was on a business trip for Mr. Grougis. I was only a teenage boy that started training there but believe it or not, I was a spy against them. And so on the mission one of his men lit an old cottage on fire. The group started fading away and I pretended I forgot my bullets so I ran back to the cottage to make sure no one was killed or at least survived that fire. I saw a boy laying there, choking in the ash. He looked about twelve, a little younger than me. I placed him in a bag I found for security and carried him further out into the woods to another abandoned cottage. From then I would come to him in between my sessions at the headquarters and I would give him medication. After a few months he recovered. We became good friends.”

Jack’s eyes were full with fury. He attacked Mike, his hands around his throat against a tree.

“What do you mean friends? He had a family, you know!! Did you know that his own father thought he was dead?!! Gone forever?! Answer me, boy!! What happened to Collin? Where is my son?”

“Let....me ....finish,” said Mike out of breath. Jack let him go.

“So Collin was your son? He didn't remember much. He had a serious head concussion. He just remembered a man, about your description except with less hair and no mustache growing. Collin said his name was Jack. I know you lied.”

“And? What happened next?”

“I knew he was one on my side so I kept him well hidden. I even made him an ID. The one you found but he didn't remember his last name so I put my own. He was my so-called cousin. Great cover up story, right? I helped him search for you. But we never succeeded. One day we were walking and saw a small rundown building at the edge of the woods, on fire. We ran and tried saving those inside. Collin was trapped inside. Nobody could have saved him. The building wall collapsed and...”

“What?” Jack’s voice cracked.

“We found his body afterwards,” finished Mike quietly.

Jack gulped back a sob. He moaned. He should have known it was impossible for Collin to be alive. Jack couldn't hold it. He began crying like a small child.