PREAMBUL; And Now... You're Dead. Again.

Strenj Hooman

"You know, I always wanted school to be destroyed, but that's not what I meant!" Vasyl brushed aside a branch, "and what does that words mean?"

He pointed to the sky which still had the strange sentence written on it. Eidlan translated, "Alone in the labyrinth, lost with crowds — that's the point. I'm not sure whether it is a right translation or not."

"The labyrinth depicts the world, crowds describe death," Alesh explained.

"It's that a threat? If we're still didn't want to join that nasty group, we will die?"

Alesh nodded, then grinned, "Imagine got killed by the Scietids and died... Guess we never know how it feels, right?"

Her friends laugh, but each of them hope they didn't have to feel that way again. The horror of the memories still hanging. Sometimes Eidlan woke up in the middle of the night, hold his jacket tightly, suddenly bent his knee as if he still gonna caught by fire. He got scared whenever he saw a fire or go out in the day, he even bring extra jacket every time he go to school.

The twins are the same. Casya's minds got erased, she's not remembered any single things about what was happened, but some nights, Vasyl could wake up and text her just to say some random things. He also often go to his brother's room quietly, check on him and make sure he's alright.

Don't ask about Grier. He has lots of nightmare where he ended up died or saw his friends and brother died one by one. The worst dream is when he dreamed about Vasyl who finally joined Has and tried to kill him, also said that he's actually useless and troublesome. Another nightmare that still hanging on Grier's mind is when Vasyl got hurt by lots of Jlanxs, and there's nothing he could do but stare. That's also make he remembered about what happened when they were five. Grier even pray hard whenever Vasyl took a bath (that's mean he have to opened his gloves right). That's might sounds funny but.... Those things just... Really scary.

The only girl on this party also feel the same. She lacked some sleep, could stay awake for five days straight just to starred at her mirror and wondering what she really are. Her friends might be survive from whatever they've got, but everyone already become a witnesses about her death. Not to mention that stranger who was torturing her, and what Has did when she 'died'.

Alesh might killed me if I ever tell you this, but I think she deserves (and should) let things out. She feel guilty because she leaves her friends first, she also feel guilty because she might never be able to complete her promise to Lareu. Furthermore, she never can't get away that bloody feeling in her chest, that bitterness from her bloods, and that burning feeling from her veins. She tried not to feel it, but she's scared.

But The Latus still continued their journey. It's started with an uninhabited island which again they had to occupy, especially when all students and teachers were finally stood up, stumbled out, then looke0d at them with a questioning look.

Alesh and Eidlan paused for evening MWD, then resumed walking. Alesh walked with a slight limp. She was sure she had healed all her wounds, but the thigh that Selon was stabbed still felt a little aching.

KSRAK!

"Hey! Who's that?" Alesh's eyes staring at a large tree. She walked closer, "come out, we're not gonna hurt you."

"Alesh..." Vasyl whispered, "I don't think it's an animal?"

"I know," Alesh walked toward the tree, "hello?"

"You use my sword," someone said behind a tree, "also my axe, spear, gun, and dagger... You... HOW DARE YOU...!"

Someone behind the tree run towards Alesh, pointed his dagger right at her neck. Alesh reflexively retreated while raising her sword to touch the person's neck, glares at her opponent. That person has coarse black hair, shorter than Eidlan and Grier, but taller than Alesh and Vasyl. Olive undertone skin, but so pale that it looks like he's white. His slightly muscular appearance meant that his skin had been browned by the sun a long time ago. He looks pretty decent, his eyes are one or two shade lighter than Eidlan's, bulging, yet his look represented fear, doubt, and a little apathy. His shoulder carried a medium-sized bag that look heavy, another bag on his waist, pants with many handmade pockets, while his hand gripped the dagger which was aimed at Alesh.