He Who Strikes First: REBELLION | Original Version

Chapter IV

He covered his head, as quickly as Shang raised the wood, ready to strike at any moment. Quite a crowd had gathered, after all they were in the gathering place. Nobody even bothered to step in, and stop Shang- as they were all too scared to even dare challenge him. They all knew what happened, to many people had been killed for them to do anything. Byung Ho looked at the crowd from under his arm. He could see the horror imprinted onto their faces. At least all of the tribe was there, from where Byung Ho could see. After all, he was pinned to the ground so how he would be able to tell how many people there were was almost near impossible. Shang looked at the young boy, and growled. "This will teach you to mind your own business!!" He shouted, as he swung the big piece of wood above his head. Byung Ho screeched in pain as it collided with his stomach. A large gasp from the rest of the pack, and Byung Ho knew it was over. Another hit, but this time to the thigh. Why was Shang hitting him in different places? "Why are you torturing me before you kill me?!" Byung Ho yelled. "It won't make you any better if you do!!" As Byung Ho finished his yelling, he squealed in pain, as another hit collided with his body; this time on the shoulder. Maybe, Shang was just bad at aiming where he hit people? This was the conclusion Byung Ho came to, as this time- the stick finally hit his head. But not the top, as Byung Ho would hope as he was wishing to be dead already. Tears of pain started to form in his eyes, but Byung Ho blinked them away. He didn't want Shang to know he was weak. He wasn't. And today wasn't the day he was going to die. Byung Ho quickly lifted his leg. "Now aim for his face..." A voice said. He didn't know who, or if Shang heard- so he flung both his legs into Shang's face. As he did so, Shang was pushed backwards. Shang put his hand to his head, and slowly lifted it off. A big red mass of blood dripped from between his fingers. "You- Y-You little... brat!!" He angrily yelled, dropping the wood. That kid... use the same trick that his brother Cheol did... three years ago, in the battle of leadership. He screamed angrily. "I'll let you live, kid." He said, walking over to Byung Ho. Byung Ho was terrified. Absolutely terrified. "Everybody back to work!!" He barked at the crowd that was standing there. They didn't move, "Are you all deaf?! Get to work!!" He screamed louder, making everyone depart from the gathering place.

Byung Ho lay down in the cave, as a short woman put water on his bruises and cuts. "Wow, you were lucky, Byung Ho." She exclaimed, putting a flax bandage around his left arm. "He didn't let Jun off with a warning, did he? But then again, Jun didn't fight back." She continued. "Maybe he see's potential in you." She wrapped another flax bandage around his arm. Byung Ho coughed. "Well, I hope not." He mumbled. The woman was surprised. "At least, if Shang see's potential in you he won't kill you right away!" Her words sunk into Byung Ho's mind. What if he did? Could Byung Ho live with the fact that Shang possibly cared, or saw potential in him? Why did he stop, after Byung Ho kicked him? "I don't know, I- Ouch!!" He screeched as she put water on the cut on his stomach. "Sorry." She apologized. "This is the last one, so be patient." She smiled. "At the pain will be all gone." Byung Ho wished he could believe her. He sighed. "Thank you." He forcefully said. He hadn't ever thanked anyone, although he wished he had. He always wanted to thank people, but when he wanted to- they would leave, or pass away. He smiled, and looked at the woman. "I'm sorry, I don't actually know your name..?" He said, trying to change the subject from himself to her. She blushed a little. "My name is Boa." She replied, moving a lock of hair from her face, obviously thinking different thoughts to Byung Ho. He nodded, and turned his head to the ceiling. "Ah, that is a nice name..." He complimented. "Thank you, Boa, for helping me with my wounds." He looked at her again. She wasn't that bad looking either, she had long dusty blonde hair, and dark brown pretty eyes. She almost looked like a fairy, or a goddess. "H-How old are you?" He asked, curiously. She flicked a somewhat mad expression. "My, how rude, Byung Ho!" She exclaimed. He was confused. "You never ask a lady her age!!" She walked over to the wood bench, with a huff- shuffling across the floor. He chuckled. "Really?" He asked. She turned, looking at him with a smile. "Of course!! But if you are so curious, I'll tell you." She said, picking up another bowl of water. He smiled. "Then, what is your age, Boa?" He asked again, with a cheeky smile. She looked at him as she put water on the bruise on his head. "I am fourteen..." She smiled. "What about you?" She looked at the bruise closely. "I am fifteen." He replied. "Hey, um," He started, she frowned. "Yes?" She asked. "what part of the cave sections do you live in?" He asked, he got more curious about Boa, the more he found out the more he liked her. Her smile came back. It was a pretty smile, actually. He was quite fond of her honesty. Reminded him of when Cheol would tell him about himself. "I live in Section B," She replied, moving another lock of hair from her face. Her eyes were more visible. He looked at her eyes. They weren't just brown like he first presumed. They were golden brown. It was rare to have such golden brown eyes in this tribe, most people had green, normal brown or hazel eyes. The desert tribe far North had pure golden eyes. "Y-Your eyes..." He stuttered. There was nothing to say of the unusual eye color. "...they're golden!!" He exclaimed. She smiled more. "Ha, yeah... my father was from the Desert Tribe, far North, you see... so..." Byung Ho's eyes widened with amusement. A half forest half desert tribe girl? He was in awe of her. "Wow, I never thought about it... You inherited his eyes, huh?" He said, sitting up slightly. "Yes, yes I did."