Right Down the Line
Chapter 11
Feeling a weight hit my chest I fall backwards stumbling in the cold dirt.
"Who are you?!" I hear a feminine voice shout the sound of a bow drawing filling my ears. Quickly turning on my back I raise my hands in defense.
"P-please don't hurt me! M-m-my plane crashed. I don't know where I am." I stutter out trying to make myself sound as pathetic as possible the sound of the bow being undrawn confirming my success.
"Give me your hands." She demands walking towards me crouching in front of me as I put my arms out in front of me that quickly get tied together
"P-please I mean you no harm I just want to go home!" I shout as I get hoisted on my feet.
"Follow me." She says curtly speed walking away leading me through the forest.
Following the unknown woman through the forest the darkness and mask hiding her face, her dark hair and dark eyes the only form of identity I can see.
Being led for around three miles through the treacherous forest we arrive at the side of the mountain at the mouth of a cave only lit by a torch and a small campfire.
"Wait here I will come back soon. If you leave I WILL find you." She says while shoving me to the ground inside of the cave.
Standing back up I look back at the cave entrance to only stare at the dark forest making me smirk and let out a soft laugh. It's all going to plan now all I have to do is meet Oliver and Slade find the Mirakuru before they do and I'll be golden.
Walking to the crackly fire I struggle to strip out of my pants with my hands tied trying to dry them in front of the fire. Laying down on the cold ground I shut my eyes, the exhaustion from swimming, the plane crash, and all the walking I did catching up to my mind allowing me to drift into a fast sleep.
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Concentrating on the ring on my finger I focus on the burning sensation shooting through my hand while rays of the morning sun peak through the cave entrance. Ignoring the aches of my body, my nights sleep on the ground causing major discomfort even for my exhausted body. Taking a deep breath I clear my mind focusing on the ring. I've never taken this ring off. It was a gift from the system after all so in a way it is my tribute to it and now after almost sixteen long years it finally gives me some sort of sign.
Feeling an odd tingling sensation all over my body I open my eyes once more to see a world filled with darkness, small lights all around me giving brightness as a blue screen pops in front of me.
World download complete and suitable achievements have been achieved. Would the host like to transfer worlds?
[Yes] [No]
Reading the words in front of me I feel a mixture of emotions wash over my body as I finish.
Achievements, in what way have I achieved anything in this damned world? I've barely been able to survive with all the power houses here and the system is saying that "suitable achievements have been achieved"?! It would be smart if I were to just up and leave right now but I refuse to leave as I am now. I was stagnant in my training at the beginning of this life which is why I've been striving so hard for power in the most recent months. It would be a slap in the face to myself if I was to leave now when I'm so close to gaining power.
Tapping no on the blue screen it flashes red twice before gaining its blue color once more with new text.
Achievements will continue to be stacked while the host stays in the world. Host can decide to leave at any time and will receive achieved rewards once he decides to leave.
Finishing reading the blue box dissolves in the darkness as light begins to invade the dark space as I stare back at the familiar space of the cave.
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Hearing the breaking of dead leaves come from outside the cave my gaze drifts away from the dying embers of the fire. Staring up at the cave entrance I quickly stand and get in a defensive position as I glare at the entrance. This island is a mystery to me and I am not going to take any chances in getting eaten by some mindless beast. Although my hands are tied when I first got in touch with Nolan I honed in on my past life's training working to become as skilled as I can with this body and I'm confident that even while my hands are tied I could take down a basic fighter and possibly even a more skilled fighter.
Watching as a woman, an older man, and a young blonde in his twenties walk in the cave it's easy to identify them now with the sunlight as Slade, Shado, and Oliver all looking similar to how they did in the show.
"So this is it, you leave me here all night just to come back with your posse to put me down like a stray sick dog you found on the street?" Glaring daggers at the trio I slowly back up until my back hits the end of the cave as Slade looks at with amusement.
"This is him Shad, the boy who claims he was on the plane?" He questions as Shado gives him a nod. "He's got some fire in him. I like it. Don't worry kid we're not gonna kill ya we just want to ask you some questions and depending on your answer then we'll decide whether or not we'll kill you." He says while walking towards me, smiling.
"P-please I already told her my plane crashed I'm stranded here. I just want to go home!" I shout as Slade roughly shoves me against the wall turning me around as I feel him begin to rummage through my backpack.
"You see that's what you say but that doesn't explain what these things are." He growls out flipping me back around holding my book and dagger.
"Th-those things are my fathers. He has an exhibit in Hong Kong. I was supposed to bring them to him!" I shout as tears begin to fall from my face.
"This boy doesn't seem like a threat but we shouldn't let him live." Slade says as he pulls out a knife from his belt putting it to my neck making my eyes widen. This wasn't part of the fucking plan if I die now once I come back I'm going to have to kill these bastards which actually might just be easier than trying to make peace with them.
"STOP!" I hear Oliver shout as he rushes over pulling Slade off of me shoving him against the wall as they glare at each other. "What are you doing Slade, you're just going to kill this boy in cold blood for what just because he crashed?!"
"No I am not killing this boy because he crashed. I am killing this boy because we have no positive way to confirm his story!" Slade shouts, shoving Oliver back pointing his blade at me. "For all we know this boy is one of Fyers men that we missed. No one saw him swim up from the water and I refuse to have a potential threat sleep next to us!" Slade says as he goes to come towards me again only to be stopped by Oliver.
"There has to be another way! We have no way to be sure he's done anything wrong. He's just like I was before Yao Fei found me, scared and alone and we're just going to kill him without any reason?!" Oliver's voice is firm and his body is like a wall standing between me and Slade.
"Without reason? I've already given you reason this boy could quite possibly be the end of all and you want to protect him?!" Slade says while pointing his blade at Oliver.
"STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!" Shado shouts stepping between the two shoving Slades blade away. "You both are right, we don't know anything about this boy but we shouldn't kill him! If we did it would make us no better than Fyers." She says while pinching the bridge of her nose.
"That doesn't solve our problem Shado." Slade says glaring at Shado before shooting daggers at me.
"Let me think!" Shado growls before turning around beginning to walk out of the cave. "Follow me." She says curtly as Oliver and Slade share a glance before Slade leaves while Oliver turns to me grabbing my shoulder shoving me forward.
"Follow." Oliver says bluntly as I stumble after Slade and Shado.
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Walking through the dark forest lit by the sunlight it does nothing to lift its dark and creepy aura. We've been walking for maybe twenty minutes with Shado leading the way Slade a pace or two behind her and Oliver and me in the back.
"Thank you." I say while glancing at Oliver as he gives me a curious gaze.
"What for?" He asks before focusing back on the trail.
"You saved me from that brute." I say while nodding in the direction of Slade and Shado Oliver giving me a small smirk.
"It's not a big deal, what's your name anyways? We didn't really get to introductions with everything going on."
"My name is Theo, Theo Walker I'm from Central City." Giving Oliver a grin he doesn't give one back instead focusing on the path in front of us.
"My name is Oliver." He says as we fall back into silence.
Walking another twenty minutes, Shado stops at a large tree, possibly the largest in the forest almost reaching the clouds.
"This will settle our problem." Shado says while taking out a knife slashing the tree. "If you go onto our side of the forest we will kill you." She says while glaring daggers at me before glancing at Slade and Oliver. "Do you two understand?"
"Crystal!" Slade says before turning around walking into the forest. "If I see you on this side of the forest boy no one will stop me from ending you boy!" Slade shouts before his figure gets lost in the trees.
"Good, and you Oliver?" Shado asks as Oliver gives a nod.
"I understand." He says before he as well turns away walking after Slade leaving only me and Shado.
"Good you know the rules now stay on your side." She says while throwing down my book and dagger before walking after Slade and Oliver disappearing into the trees.
"How am I supposed to survive?!" I shout, getting no answer. Hearing only the sound of birds I sigh sitting down on the forest floor putting the knife between my feet having the blade face away from me as I cut the ties on my hand.
This may work out, if they gave me the side of the island with the Mirakuru then I'd be able to get it unbothered and not only that I don't have to put up some false persona for them. I'll be able to be myself.