The Other Side

Chapter 13

Rubbing my fingers through the split bark I look across to the other side of the island that I've yet to even step foot on since the day I got here. I hid myself from the trio when they came here to hunt and take my food because it was easier in the long run for me if they were to believe that I was dead instead of alive. 

Stepping past the border I press the two spears tips against the ground stomping on the wood breaking it. Picking up the two wood spear tips that are now the size of daggers I put them both in my waistband before climbing up the tree. Securing my spot on my branch I ignore my regeneration removing any splinters I got while climbing instead focusing on the tree in front of me. Getting my body into a crouching stance I spring out jumping to the next tree. Jumping tree to tree I make my way across the unfamiliar island trying to find my final destination.

The trio should have motion detectors on the ground floor; I don't remember the spot that they have the sensors or even if they have them up but I know that there are motion sensors near their base. I don't know where their base camp is or where any of the detectors are but I know for a fact that I would rather put in the extra work jumping tree to tree and be able to surprise them then walk right through the alarms and walk into a surprise attack.

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Crouching down on the thick branch I stare out at the open field, my eyes lingering on the large crashed plane with black smoke rising from a fire next to the plane in the middle of the field. The plane is almost perfectly hidden if it wasn't for the smoke and the three individuals sparring in the same field with wood sticks.

Slade, Oliver, and Shado are having a free for all against one another around two to three hundred meters away from me completely oblivious to my watching, no, my studying of their moves, my eyes trying to pick up any types of patterns and reasons for their movements. 

Watching as Oliver gets beat Shado and Slade begin to have a one vs one as I focus my attention on Shado watching her quick attacks. She uses her small and flexible body to get more hits on Slade taking advantage of even the smallest mistake eventually taking him down. 

Sitting down on the branch I stop watching the trio train in favor of watching the setting sun. It took me around half the day to find them and after that I spent my time learning the lay of the land closest to us finding and mapping all the traps and sensors they have around their base to make sure I don't get mistakenly caught.  

This island is large and I got lucky finding them so soon and frankly I refuse to spend another four months trying to find the Mirakuru. It's yet another reason as to why I need to come to this side of the island other than having my fair dose of blood shed for their slight against me. I don't believe that the group knows the exact location of the cave yet, but having three minions to look for the cave for me who know the island would be extremely helpful and would speed up the process immensely. 

It wouldn't be smart for me to attack during the day with them as a group. I have to wait for them to be separated from one another until I make my move. Watching as the trio goes to the plane I wait patiently waiting for my time to begin my move. 

As the sun continues to set the trio make no move to leave the safety of their area only coming out to roast food on the fire before going back in the plane, but I'm not going to take any chances of missing an opportunity. I would just walk up and capture them while they sleep but past the tree line the motion sensor would pick me up and they've already been the cause of one too many of my deaths. 

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As the sun begins to rise I feel a smile begin to come to my face as I watch as Slade, Oliver, and Shadow all begin to emerge from the plane. Walking to the middle of the field they stop and begin to speak before Oliver and Shado walk their separate way towards me bows and quiver on their back while Slade begins to walk the opposite direction with an ax.  

Carefully hiding behind the trunk of the tree I'm confident that the thick branches are hiding my body completely from view from the forest floor as the sounds of Shado and Oliver talking begins to fill my ears becoming more clear by the second.

"I told you before Oliver we have to focus on your stance more. It's the foundation of archery, if it's not perfect then the rest of the teachings may have to be relearned from scratch."   Hearing Shado lecture Oliver I look down and watch Oliver and Shado expertly work their way through the forest; Shado's steps making virtually no noise while Oliver steps on the occasional dead leaf exposing their position. 

"What do you mean? We've been working on my stance for the last five sessions and each time you said it was perfect!" Carefully making my way through the trees ignoring the idle chatter of Oliver and Shado they eventually stop at a small clearing with a large tree with a bullseye carved into it. 

Working my way through the trees I'm careful not to make any noise or to shake the tree too much, eventually making my way to a tree behind the bullseye allowing me to be able to stare directly at Shado and Oliver.

"Alright now lets see it." I hear Shado say as Oliver quickly pulls out his bow taking an arrow out of his quiver he quickly draws the string of the bow releasing an arrow as I hear a thud come from the tree.

"Again." I hear Shado say as another thud comes from the tree.

Again and again Oliver continues to hit the tree as I listen to the thuds until eventually when he releases the string of the bow there is no thud. 

"See your stance still needs work now collect the arrows." Ignoring Shado's laugh I look frantically around the tree finding the arrow a short distance to the right of the tree.

"Fine!" I hear Oliver say with an annoyed sigh as he walks to the tree plucking out the arrows. Waiting in the tree above the arrow I wait until Oliver is directly under my branch bending down to pick up the arrow I jump.

Falling from the tree I line up my foot with his head preparing to smash Oliver's head against the forest floor. As my foot is about to make contact with Oliver's skull he quickly rolls out of the way making my foot smash the ground, the sound of multiple pops coming from my foot and the shooting pain through my leg. Shakily standing on one foot I pull out my two wooden daggers as I stare at Oliver who's still in a crouched position arrow in hand as he stares daggers at me.

"Who are you?" Oliver growls while whistling as Shado quickly comes into view, arrow drawn pointed at me.

Giving a broad smile to Oliver and Shado I put a small amount of pressure on my broken foot resting it behind me raising the two daggers in front of me.

"Come on now Oliver it has only been four months don't say you've forgotten me already." My voice sounds rough and uncomfortable to the ears like nails dragging on a chalkboard. Putting more weight on my foot the pain is mostly gone, the majority of the bones in my bones having already been healed. 

"Th-Theo?" Oliver questions his face changing into one of shock as I feel my grin grow even broader.

"The one and only." Throwing a dagger at Shadow I rush at Oliver feeling an arrow brush past my face. Taking advantage of his surprise throwing a fierce punch at his face. Feeling a satisfying crunch as my knuckles collide with his face I send Oliver stumbling back. Without hesitating I lunge forward trying to stab him in the stomach with a swift jab of my dagger only for it to be easily slapped away by Oliver with an effective move possibly saving his life.

Oliver lunges forward tackling me to the forest floor, my dagger flying through the air as my head smashed against the forest floor bits of light blinding my vision. Wrestling on the dirt floor we fight one another each of us trying to come out on top, neither of us giving an inch each getting in hits whenever possible. 

Staring up at Oliver his nose is bleeding, the blood trickling down his face as he straddles my sides, his weight pinning me down. As Oliver raises his fist he begins to wail on my face.

Oliver's fists are more like hammer's coming down on my bloodied and bruised face than fists. The smell of blood invades my broken nose as I feel my regeneration correct it breaking it back in place while it slowly gets rid of all my facial swelling and fractures. 

"Is that it?" I question looking up at a tired Oliver who's huffing and puffing as Shado walks up behind him the wooden dagger in her left shoulder as she rests a hand on his shoulder.

"That's enough Oliver." Her voice is calm and soothing and gets Oliver to stand up getting off of me. Only now I've been able to truly get a proper look at Shado with no distractions, no alternate motives, just me and her and she is beautiful. Shado's long black hair is pulled up in a ponytail and her bow is still in her left hand even though I doubt she could use it now.

"I told you he was still alive but you and Slade didn't believe me." As Oliver turns around facing Shado my view of her disappears and my focus goes back to reality. Oliver had his chance to put me down and he wasted it. Now it is my turn, reaching into my inventory I pull out my weapon of choice the tactical yo-yo. Gripping it in the palm of my hand I roll over all the pain in my face is mostly gone with only a slight sting remaining.

My movement doesn't go unnoticed by Oliver as he quickly takes the bow off of Shado drawing an arrow but before he's able to release it I flick my wrist the yo-yo shooting out wrapping around the bow forcing it to the ground the arrow getting shot in the dirt.

Pulling the bow to me I catch it in the air untangling the wire from it staring down Shado and Oliver each of them getting in a defensive stance.

"Let's dance." Sprinting at Oliver I fling my yo-yo at Shado hitting her in the face with the body of the yo-yo. Dodging a right hook from Oliver I grab the sleeve of his shirt and punch him in the face with my freehand, sending the yo-yo back to my inventory as Oliver's body gets tangled, his arms getting crossed when he tries to punch with his left hand.

Punching him again I'm forced to duck as Oliver's spins his body trying to hit me with his elbow. Grabbing the golden dagger I stab Oliver in the leg going right through the femoral artery. Shoving Oliver away as he screams in pain I grab the yo-yo from my inventory. Going to turn my attention to Shado I feel a painful stab from behind making me release a groan of pain. Whipping around I fling around watching Shado drop to the ground dodging the yo-yo before it was even released. 

"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Seeing Oliver out of the corner of my eye I shoot him a small smile before focusing back on Shado. "I severed your femoral artery if you remove that blade you'll bleed out in minutes." Watching Shado's face pale I can't control my small smile morph into a full blown grin while I reach behind my back grabbing the arrow ripping it out with a painful grunt. 

"What will you do now?" I question while watching Shado's pale face filled with worry turn to one of determination as her knuckles turn white around the arrow she's holding in her good arm. 

As she launches off the ground it's easy to dodge her lunge attack and as she begins a ruthless assault of follow up attacks I focus on dodging constantly stepping back finding it quite easy not having to worry about a second arrow only worrying about the one arrow and whatever random kick she'd throw in here and there.  

As Shado lunges forward trying to stab me I lean back watching the arm go right past me before sending a fierce side kick hitting right against her ribs feeling one of them crack. As Shado keels over I grab her by the neck lifting her light body in the air staring at her face watching as it slowly changes color as I close her windpipe.

"NO!" I hear Oliver shout as I turn to see him weakly stand using a tree to support himself, his face pale as I see blood slowly stain his pants.  "Please you don't have to do this, we can help you. We have a base just please you don't have to kill her." Giving a smile to Oliver I look back at Shado, her face turning red, her hand clawing at mine. Releasing the pressure off my hand Shado gasps for breath. 

He's right they can help me but I was never going to kill Shado. I just wanted to see her face. I just wanted to see what her face will look like when she knows she will die on this cursed island. 

Dropping Shado to the forest floor she collapses to the ground coughing holding her neck. 

"You're right, you can help me. Let's get to questioning shall we?"