Halo Halo - Chapter 3 To Heal Or To Kill

It’s been a day since we did the prison break, or should I say, cage break.

We’re following the river now. Ganda said there is a town nearby.

I am spearing some fish for our dinner. While she’s getting some firewood.

I head back to our camp site once I got 6 fishes.

“So, do you know how to make fire? Because I don’t know.” I said. I already gave up trying to make a fire.

“Yes, I can.” She answered.

She draw something on the soil. It is a box with circle inside. Then draw a fire inside the circle. And put a firewood in it. While doing that, she held her right hand on her chest. Her pointer finger is pointing upwards while the other fingers are closed. She then said. “Bolang apoy!”

A fireball erupts in the drawing.

“Wow!” I exclaimed. “that is awesome!”

She smiled and said, “thank you. Unfortunately, that’s the biggest fire I can make.”

“At least you can do it. Haha I can’t even make one.” I said.

We then grilled the fishes. Tonight, the sky is clear. And the stars are smiling back at us while we eat.

It is quite cold without my hoodie, because I gave it to her. She only got a blanket as a dress. She is cute, even though her body is quite thin. she got bluish eyes and a dimple on her right cheeks. but her ears seems like it was cut. Because the top of her ears got scars and a bit flat.

“What happened to your ears?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She answered. I feel like she’s hiding something. I don’t know why.

“Ok, can you tell me about yourself?” I asked again. “how did you end up in those slave traders?”

“Before I answer that. Tell me about yourself.” She asked.

“Hey, that’s unfair. I asked first, didn’t I?” I complained.

“haha you should answer first.” She laughs.

“Ok, fine.” I said. I remember, they said that; if you want to be trusted, trust them first.

I told her that I’m from a different world. That I was sent here to save the people from the demon king. I was busy eating my fish that I didn’t notice her crying. I just heard her cry.

“I’m sorry, I just remembered something.” She said and smiles a bit.

“ok.” I just accepted her words. Then I said “Now it’s your turn to tell your story.”

“Can we talk about it tomorrow? I’m exhausted. I want to rest.” She said.

“oh, that’s unfair. Don’t do that.” I complained.

“I’m sorry, you should take the first watch.” She said.

“ok, fine.”

She lie down near the tree. While I finish the remaining fish.

I woke up very early. It is quite foggy and the sun is just rising. I didn’t see her where she sleep last night. So, I get up and look around.

I saw her taking a bath.

Naked.

I should probably hide. Should I? I mean, I already saw her naked before. She’s really thin, you can see her ribs in that small body.

“John! What are you doing?!” she shouts.

I hide behind a tree. “Sorry!” I shout back, she got me.

Then, a miracle happen. I heard her shout. “come and join me!”

Am I dreaming? My eyes lights up. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

This is not a dream. I feel like I lost my cheeks, my smile ended up on both ears. Haha

I join her.

Naked.

“What is this?” she pointed on my left shoulder.

I looked and saw a tattoo. A tattoo of sleipnir, the eight legged horse. “WTF!”

It looks like, sleipnir stands on his 4 hind legs. Like how they do it in commercials with slow motion of a horse.

“I never had this tattoo before. And I didn’t plan to have one.” I told her.

“It looks good.” She said.

“Now I can’t donate blood.” That got me thinking, can I donate blood here? In this magical world?

“Donate your blood? Why?” she asked.

I told her that I usually donate blood so I can at least help someone in our world. At least even without superpower, I can save someone’s life.

She then ask me, “how can you do that?”

“By technology.” I said, “don’t you have it?”

“I don’t know what is that.” She said.

“that’s ok.” I smiled because I can’t explain how plastics are made for us to store blood.

I look at my tattoo again. That damn horse.

After breakfast, we walk now towards the town.

“What is your power again?” she asked. “you said, you can’t make a fire through magic.”

“Yeah, I can’t.” I answered. “I can heal, that’s my power.”

“Then how can you defeat the demon king?”

Ok. She got a point. How can I defeat him with healing powers?!

“I don’t know. Sleipnir said he will send my power.” I said. With some doubt on my voice.

“Ok.” She look far away. As if thinking deeply.

“Why did you asked?” I ask her.

“I am wondering how we can defeat the demon king.” She said with a smile. “I’m going to help you.”

“I’m wondering too. I don’t know how.” I told her.

“Don’t tell anyone about your goal. Specially the elves.” She warned. “Most of them support the demon king.”

“Ok. I’ll be careful.” I assured her. “Thank you.”

She’s right. What if I tell someone that I’m going to defeat the demon king and someone assassinate me for that. Oh, I can’t be like Naruto or Luffy who always declare their goal.

We were walking quietly when we hear a roar. Base on the roar, I think it is far from us. We should be careful.

“What is that?” I asked her quietly. I don’t want that thing to know our location. I look around while crouching. Ganda did the same thing.

“I don’t know.” She whispered. “I don’t want to find out. We should run.”

She then run. I followed her. I realize she run so fast and she’s light on her feet. While me, I feel like I’m a bulldozer. Trampling and destroying every dried leaves and woods on my path. I hope that monster has a weak ears.

I’m quite chubby, standing just 5’6″. Imagine how fast I could run. Haha I don’t think I run fast.

I lost her. She run real fast. I look around. Where did she go? I continue in my direction. I hope she realize that I’m lost.

Then, I heard some rustling of leaves in front of me. I stop for a moment. Nervous that it might be some man-eating monster. I crouch lower, I hope it’s not a monster. I get my coin in my pocket and turn it to a spear.

“come on.” I whispered.

Fortunately, it’s not a man-eating monster. Unfortunately, I think the second one is. The one chasing it.

A small boar emerged from the shrubs. Running so fast that it almost run into me. I moved just in time to the right. It run towards where I came from. I lost sight of the boar instantly.

“Rwawwrrrggh!”

It’s almost as if it’s in front of me. I hide behind a tree. I make myself smaller as best as I can. I almost not breathe because of nervousness and fear.

Then, there is a loud thud. There’s something big that lands where I met the boar.

I didn’t breathe and didn’t move a muscle. I am still holding my spear though.

Then it moved towards where the boar went. It takes me a few seconds to move again. I hope Ganda is ok.

I went towards where the boar and the monster came from. I run crouching.

Then, someone grab me from a pile of leaves under a tree.

“What are you doing?!” Ganda angrily ask me.

I join her in hiding. “I’m looking for you. You’re so fast, you left me behind.”

“I’m sorry.” she said, “I thought you’re just behind me. Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” I told her, “I didn’t saw what kind of monster it is. But it went that way.” I pointed where I came from.

“Let’s go the other way.”

I followed her. We walked faster but didn’t run.

Then, we came in to a cliff.

“Cool!” I said when I saw it. We’re on a top. On my right side is the river, going down to a waterfalls. It is not so high, probably three storey building tall. There is a beautiful rainbow near the falls.

“Where should we go?” I ask her.

“Now we jump.” She answered.

“How about no.” I said. “I can’t swim. And I think this is dangerous.”

“it’s either we scale this cliff, or we jump to the water.”

“How about we go around?” I suggest to her. I started to look around for where we can safely walk down.

“We can’t. There is no other way. If we go right, it will continue to go for a few miles. If we go left, we will enter the Halimaw forest.” She said, “I assure you, this is the best option. You don’t want to be eaten by a monster, did you?”

“No.” I look on both side. Everything is a forest. I guess there’s no other way. “I can’t swim. Can you?”

“Yeah, I can. Don’t worry, I’m going to save you.” Then, she stand on the side of the waterfalls and smile to me. “I’m going first, once I’m on the water, jump. Ok?”

“Ok.” I said. Then she jump. I watch her fall.

She hits the water, then emerge from it a few moments later.

“Jump!’ she shouts.

“I have a bad feeling about this.” I went to the side of the falls. Look around and hope that everything gonna be ok. I jump.

My gut’s right. Something bad happened. Something big eat me on my way down. It snatch me in the air behind me. It sure has a long neck and big mouth. It swallowed me whole.

It’s so dark and smelly here. Did I mention that I hate confined spaces? I don’t know what phobia is it. I don’t have internet here.

“Shit! Stay calm, stay calm.” I said to myself. I think I’m stuck on the neck. Because the muscles is getting tighter and tighter. I feel cold sipping through my muscle and bones.

I tried reaching my pocket. But I can’t, the space is so tight. My hands is stuck on my side. Is there where I’m going to die? I hope I can talk to Sleipnir. Why didn’t he give me better powers? Healing power is useless in this world.

“Don’t give up!” I said to myself. “Heroes never give up.”

Just like one of my favorite hero said. Never give up, believe it!

I start trashing. Trying to move as possible as I can. I started to smell blood. Shit, am I being digested? Did I loose my hand? My feet? I move faster before I suffocate.

I hope I can survive in one piece. I feel like there’s more and more blood and other juicy stuff around me.

“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” I said out loud. Even though, I’m sure I’m the only one who hear it.

Then I moved my right hand. I clawed the monster’s muscle in front of my chest. It’s working. After a few seconds of agonizing pain. The monster spit me out.

“Ow!” while I flew out. I ended up in a grassy area. I look back. It is a fucking anaconda.

Our eyes met. For a few seconds, we don’t move. Then as if with a silent agreement, the anaconda turn away. I just stood my ground, not moving. It’s either I’m so nervous or exhausted. Or maybe both.

“Damn it’s so long.” Once it slither away, I sit back. Thinking what I should do next. The falls is behind me. I think I should wash this messy and smelly stuff. Than I remember Ganda, where is she? Did she hide?

I went at the base of the falls and wash. I wash from head to toe. I didn’t put away my clothes while washing. I’m kinda alert right now because of what happen, Ganda mention that this part is near the Halimaw forest. So, maybe those monster came there. I’m almost done when I heard Ganda’s voice from behind.

“How did you survive?” Ganda suddenly ask.

“Where did you come from?” I replied.

“I hide obviously. That’s an elder Sawa.” She answered.

“You are very good at hiding.” I said.

“Thank you.” She said.

“Why are your right arm gray?” she ask me.

I look at my right arm. It is gray. From my finger tips to my shoulder. Then, it occurred to me that it might be a venom.

“Fuck! Does it have a venom?” I ask. I look her in the eye. I’m sure she heard the panic in my voice.

“I. I don’t know.” She said. “no one survive being eaten by a Sawa.”

“Ok, thanks for the warning.” I said. It didn’t sound good obviously.

I grab a fish from the water, with my bare hand. I use my right hand so I can check if it is still working good. So far, it didn’t hurt. Besides, I feel like I deserve to eat the best food I can get before I die.

“Can you grill this?” I told her. I’m so frustrated of what is happening to me. I always meet monsters. Now, this possible venom. “I wanna eat before I die.”

I toss her 5 fish. All of it was caught by my right hand.

“You’re frustrated.” She said. “it shows on the fish you caught.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“there’s a hand mark on each fish you caught. You grip it to the death.” She commented.

“No, I just grab it and toss it to you.” It got my attention, I don’t remember killing those fish by my grip. I went to her and take a look. It sure have my hand mark. You can see it clearly because of blood. Not my blood, but the fish’s blood.

“Can I have a look of your arm? The gray color of your arm is fading.” She said. Then she held my hand, as soon as she held it. She instantly drop my hand.

“What happen?”

She then open her hand. And showed me a bloody hand. “it stings, your hand.” She said.

It lights up a light bulb in my head.

If my theory is correct. Then, no one can stand a chance against me.

“show me your hand again.” I ask her.

“No. I don’t want to.” She said.

“Trust me.” I smile now. A very happy smile. I touch her bloody hand with my left hands. A warm feeling pass through it. My hand turns gold. While on my right hand, gray color is fading. Until it is gone. “Now it is healed.”

She looks her hand. “What happen? Your right arm is normal again.”

I remember the time I’m inside the Sawa, I remember wanting to kill it. I remember the fish I caught, I remember being frustrated because of what is happening to me. Then I held Ganda’s hand with my right hand. I release my right hand’s power.

“Aw! Stop!” she complained.

“I now know my power.” I told her, I held her hand again. Releasing my healing powers until the golden color is in my shoulder. “From my left hand, the power of cell regeneration. And on my right hand, the power of cell degeneration.”

It is very cool power. A power to heal for my left or kill for my right.

“Now the demon king will die.”