Chapter 4: The Untranquil Journey

Tranquility is what you desire, but doesn't mean it gonna happen....

 '' I should be at a safe distance from the camp by now'', I thought. I had been on my legs for the past few hours, running and walking. The sky has turned from the orange sunrise to this clear blue sky, it has been a really clear blue sky, I cannot even see any fluffy clump of clouds. The sun is like a fiery ball in the sky even though it is 92 million miles away from Earth. Since I didn't have a watch or a timepiece, I use the sun as my clock. By placing a stick under the sun, I can judge the time by the shadow cast on the ground.

  I am also using the sun as my compass, I had lost mine to those detestable Scavengers. I should have kept important survival equipments such as compass or map safely before I go out. I don't mind loosing a typical compass that is replaceable, but that compass was very important to me, my Dad got it as a birthday present for me when I was 9. He also told me how to use it to keep us from getting lost. Then, he also mentioned that the same concept can be applied to life too. If you were to follow the right direction and making the right choice you won't regret your decision, and the compass is like your guidance, guiding you. He gave me this in hopes that I could be wise when I grown up. After you chose your decision, there has to be an obstacle waiting for you, like when you play Mario, your goal is to get the princess and Bowser is the obstacle. So my version of Bowser was fear. When I want to achieve something, fear always stands in my way and it always prevents me from achieving my goal. I still able to remember how I am so scared of water that I missed most of my childhood summer time. When my family and friends was swimming and having fun, I sat on the swimming pool chaise and watch them. You might be asking why a guy that is brave and strong living in the wild as an Out-casters should be scared of water. Well, I also wonder why I am such a scaredy-cat then, but through my dad's encouragements, I had overcome that fear since. From that point onward, I can enjoy summer just like an average kid. I learned that everyone eventually will need someone to support you and be with you in your life sometimes, just like my dad. Even though my dad had deceased, he left Hunter to continue what he was doing and even though Hunter cannot say a word that encourages me. Still, when I looked into his eye every time, I know that he will always want to say something, but he can't, he can only express it by barking, patting me with his paws or licking me. While I resume to search for a presuitability resting area. I realized that all the trees here are balded, their leaves fell off as autumn approaches. I rotate my head around looking for a tree that still preserved it's leaves is a frustrating thing. Then, to my amazement, I saw one tree pretty far away that stands out from the others. It still preserved it's leaves. Not like the others which only have their branches and twigs.
'' That's the best one yet buddy'', I said. ''Woof!''

  When arrived under the tree, it is ravishing when we were beneath the tree. The leaves are just stunningly odd, but gorgeous at the same time, it has different colours and layers even! It seems like the leaves closer it is to the stem the more greenish gets, it looks like it was agleam with emeralds when the sun shines on it. As I admire the tree's features from the bottom to the top, when I stumble upon a carving on the stem. The carving seem to be very old and settle, looks like being consumed by the tree bark. Written on it was two letters that I can barely see, an A and C. When I take a closer look at it, I discovered that there is a heart shape around the letters, I also could see a roughly carved plus sign between those mysterious letters. The lines and quality of it seem to be a very bad quality, jagged and uneven. This seems to be representing a relationship. Come to think about it, I had also found one of these in my school yard years ago. Rumour said that the couple committed suicide because of their parents had disagreed over their relationship, I always felt that it is a very selfless act of them. I could feel the chill sent down my spine as a cold breeze of air swept across when I talk about creepy things. My stomach began to rumble and screaming for food again, and that brought me back to reality.

  I dropped my backpack on the ground, it really lightens up my back. I can feel the firm ground beneath and the cooling air under this giant tree when I sat down. I unzipped my backpack and grabbed a few of those canned food from my survival pack. They look pretty new, just like what it would look like buying fresh from the  supermarket shelf, even though it is not fresh food. I zipped open my tool compartment and took out a pocket knife, maybe a can-opener would be much handier. I shouldn't spend much time here enjoying and relaxing while I am behind schedule. I have to get moving or else my ride will move on without me. I wolf down my food and get ready. I got up and get moving. I left something behind there that would never disappear just like those carvings on the tree stem, but this time it is three letters, K, A and Z. I hope that the next person stumble upon this beautiful tree would see it and realized that they, too, can feel the fill of emptiness in their heart. When I left the tree, I felt like there are two presences standing behind me and waving goodbye. I don't want to turn back, but curiosity had the best of me and I turned back to catch a glimpse, I roll my eyes around and couldn't see anyone or anything, maybe it's just my imagination running wild. I quickly get back to moving.

   I had quickened my pace to recover my lost ground for the last few hours. I look at the sun every so often to confirm that I am heading the right direction and also keep me updated on how much time left. Hunter seems to be keeping pace as he should be after refilling his energy with some dog food back there. Meanwhile the terrain is transforming from the lush greenish trees and grass to a rocky type as I am gaining altitude. Trees have been replaced by rocks and boulders. I walked on for a few minutes before I saw a cliff edge. ''That must be it!'', I whispered to myself. I have to get closer to confirm is it the right place. As I got closer to the edge, I lay down on the ground and began to crawl forward. I took a peek over the edge and could see the train tracks below me. It looks pretty old and rusty, but trust me, it is still usable. I scouted the area and spotted a train carriage that is cloaked behind a few large trees. That's looks like a derailed train. The train seems to be a similar train I am waiting for to hitch a ride on; a freight train. The industrial freight train not just only for transporting cargo and goods but also Indigents. Indigents usually travel to another town either by their Mayor's order or the commercial department from the capital. A normal cargo train is not heavily protected, fortified or guarded by the Deus. Just an old school train, but BETTER. An old freight train can only get to an average speed of 40-45 kilometres per hour, but this new technological advancement means that the train can get to an average speed of 75-80 kilometre per hour with its new electric locomotive. Not just faster, but also can have more car, which means more freight is being transported in a single journey.

  I rolled my eyes and glanced up at the sky and saw an unwanted sight. Clouds began to form in the upper atmosphere and I could see a few patches of clouds. I still have time to take it easy in preparation. Even though I have spare time, I always like to get ready before time as sometimes an unexpected situation might surfaced. I dropped my bag-pack on the ground and swiftly unzipped my bag. I got my equipments out, I tied the end of a rope tightly to the eye of a piton and secured it. I got my non-fancy hammer out to hammer the piston into the rock. By non-fancy, I mean just a wooden stick with a block of metal found in a destroyed car I came across. While I am fastening my rope, and concentrating to get ready for the drop out. I heard a fade  mysterious noise from a distance away. I open my ears bigger to try to hear what it is, as it reproduce the noise again, this time much clearer to me that it is a train air horn. I was struck dumb, '' How could it be so early?'', I wondered. I stretch my head over the cliff, at the corner of my eye, I saw the train coming. I felt out of words, I gather back my senses and began to continue with the plan. I pick up my hammer and began to hammer the piton into the edge of the cliff to secure it. I pulled it a few times to re-check if it is holding up. Since I have no belay, therefore I used a carabiner to descend myself downward. At the edge of the cliff, I turned my head and saw the train approaching closer and closer, I felt like I am a bundle of nerves. As the train, gotten closer, I got ready and as eager as a beaver to descend down. I stand on the edge of the cliff, waiting for the right time. I am hard at concentrating, when I see that the train had slowed down for the corner, I seized that chance. When the train slows down, it had given me more time to descend safely, I loosen my hand to allow the rope to slide through. While descending downwards, I can feel the wind hitting me and start to swing me around, I nearly got slammed into the rocky cliff a few times, while the wind is causing difficulties, the train is getting closer. ''I have to descend faster!'', I told myself. I loosen my hand more to enable the rope to slide through my hand and allowing me to descend quicker.

  I turned my head downward and saw the train passes right beneath me with speed. Its motion causes a stir in the air and had swung me around back and forth. I was close to the roof of the train, but still too high for me to drop down. There is 4 meters between me and the roof of the train, I have to get lower before I drop myself down. I was descending again, my eyes and head were busy looking around, as I glanced to the left, the unexpected situation came true. I could see the tail of the train, it must have increased its speed after the corner. I have to quicken myself before times run out.

  I continue descending. Then out of the blue, I could feel a sense of lightness like anti-gravity. I felt like I was flying like Superman, but that day dream soon turned into a disaster. I soon realized that I was falling, my first reaction is to grab the rope. It is too late, I tighten my hand, but I couldn't feel the rope was there anymore, I looked up and saw it fly past my face. ''This is it'', I thought. I calmed myself down, then from the corner of my memory, I remember my training camp experienced.

  I gather my senses, and began to remember what was taught in my training camp. I utilized that experience and began to apply to my situation. The coach had told me in training to never land my back first. I rotate my head and estimated the distance between me and the surface of the train. 4 metres should be an accurate distance, I knew the action to take. I began to twist and turn allowing the motion of my body to turn me over head first. I then stretch both my hand out ready to absorb the impact. I hit the roof of the train with a great force, I used my hand to cushion my impact and also push forward, I converted most of the impact force to forward motion and roll forward. I crouch and stay immediately so that I wouldn't get pushed back and roll over by the strong wind blowing at me. I turn my head and saw Hunter still standing there, on the cliff, I was dumbfounded. I supposed to hug him and descend down, but I had forgotten while I was in the mist of confusion. I have to find a way to get him down fast at all cost. I turned my head back and saw another unwanted sight, my mouth was ajar. I could see the end of the cliff, it is at least 400-500m away. This is such a nuisance and it is partially on my fault. I began to feel like this journey was more tricky and difficult than I thought. I have to find a way to get Hunter down or else he will be left on the cliff, seeing me left him. But, there is only one way down for him, if he missed it, he was gone and if he committed a mistake, it might be his last. In the middle of this crucial decision, I saw something magical but an impressive sight in front of me,
''He was in....the.... AIR!!!'', I screamed

Author's Note

This chapter was out late. (apologize) Please take some time to give me your opinion on how should I make my writing better. Tips or even correction would help!