Chapter 12: Adolescence (part 1)

Heian lay face down on the dirt, blood seeping from his wounds. Despite the immense pain, he couldn't help but chuckle, for he hadn't experienced the sensation ever since he lost sight of reality.

He had lived far too long without experiencing any consequences for his misdeeds. Now, it was all coming to a head.

~ Ten years earlier ~

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

Heian held his breath as he huddled within the branches of an oak tree. Defeating his best friend in manhunt had been a fruitless endeavor up to that point. No matter where he hid, Jian always managed to snuff him out.

'Today's finally the day,' he thought to himself smugly. He caught glimpses of her between the dozens of trees that stood between him and the path. Every so often, she repeated the beckoning call until she was out of sight.

The sun was on its way down by the time he heard shuffling footsteps coming from the opposite direction. Heian narrowed his eyes as they drew close. Sure enough, it wasn't Jian, but rather an elderly woman carrying a bushel.

'Just a little longer,' he told himself. His confidence had long since melted into dread over the hunger gnawing away at him.

Night eventually fell, yet there was still no sign of Jian. In a fit of frustration, he cried out.

"Where are you, ya damn monkey?" The surrounding mountains carried his echo far and wide.

"Right here, ya big dummy," a familiar voice retorted. Heian felt something soft and spongy slap the side of his face. He jolted his arms out in an attempt to catch it. Instead, it fell, breaking apart on the branches before splattering on the ground.

Grief-stricken, he looked up at the perpetrator. Sitting on the branch of a neighboring tree was a gleeful Jian, whose eyes appeared to glow a bright blue in the moonlight.

"Well, there goes your steamed bun," she chuckled. "And I got you the meatiest one too."

"How long have you been there?" huffed Heian, clenching his stomach as the hunger deepened. "I really could've used that food a lot sooner."

"Since sundown, give or take. I'm surprised you didn't hear my loud chewing from this close. I purposely did that just to get your attention."

The adolescent boy could only sigh. Once again, he had been outmatched.

"Anything on your mind?" she asked.

"Yeah, well...sort of, I guess." Heian paused, pondering how to put the mess within his mind into words. "First off, how is it that you're always able to find me? I've gone so far as to hide in a stranger's wheat storage, and yet you still manage."

Jian let out a giggle. "Oh boy, and you were beaten black and blue when your old man found out."

"Ugh. Don't remind me of that. It's all because you tattled on me." He rolled his eyes.

"And let's not forget how you had to do chores for the owner for six—"

"Okay, okay, we're getting off topic here," he cut in. "My question still has yet to be answered."

"Fine," she said as she pulled out another bun from the fold in her shirt. "But this fella is calling my name. Gotta have priorities, y'know?"

The snack caught Heian's attention. He wouldn't take his eyes off of it, even as Jian bit into it. With her mouth full, she uttered, "You want some?"

"Yes please."

Jian tore the remainder of the bun in half before chucking it at the famished boy, who swallowed it promptly. The pair shared a smiling glance before climbing down. Jian landed seamlessly on her two feet, while Heian plopped flat on his back.

"Yet another reason why I can always find you." Jian's lack of sympathy was crystal clear, to which he groaned. The two of them walked back toward the village, chatting about their own accounts of the long day.

As they neared the final outpost, Ronhua — the guardsman in training — stopped them.

"It'd be best not to go up there right now, you two. Village head's orders," he advised. His older brother Xiao sat on the dirt near the entryway of the guard house. He gave Heian a solemn nod.

"Why? My little brother's waiting for me."

"So?" Ronhua grunted in annoyance. Though he never cared to admit it, he always held animosity toward Heian.

"Apologies for his behavior," Jian interjected, stepping between the two. She turned to face the guard with pitiful eyes. "But how long is this gonna go on for? We have nowhere else to stay for the night."

The man's frown rose up into a crooked grin. "You're always welcome to stay here, Jian."

"That's so sweet of you," she said, beaming. "And what about Heian?"

"Well, I—I mean we—" Ronhua stuttered. A single drop of sweat dripped from his forehead. "We only have room for one more. That one being you, since you asked."

Jian smirked, grabbing Heian's hand as she swiftly turned away. "No worries then! I won't leave my friend out to fend for himself. There's no way he'll manage without me."

"You sure?" the lonely teen called out. He received no answer.

The two descended the slopes until they reached the first outpost, where not a soul stood watch. The house made from clay had long since fallen apart, leaving only a shallow foundation.

"What a damn creep," muttered Heian. "I don't know how you can be so nonchalant about it."

"His brother keeps him in check, so I'm not worried. He would've intervened had I said yes to his blatant offer."

"Well, whatever. Still doesn't change the fact that we have nowhere to sleep for the night."

"Sleep?" she chuckled. "I was hoping we could climb back up the mountain and catch a glimpse of the action!"

"Wha—" he stuttered. "Why would we do that? And why did we come all the way back down here?"

"I've just gotta see! Plus, Ronhua can't possibly spot us sneaking into the forest from there." Without waiting for his answer, she stepped into the mess of twisted branches and shrubs. Heian reluctantly followed. He winced as tooth-like thorns nicked his forearms.

'That girl is always one step ahead of me,' he thought, far too exhausted to make a fuss.

The two of them continued their ascent. The wind picked up noticeably by the time they neared the summit. It changed direction every so often, bringing with it the faint sound of voices.

"They're probably at the top, near your family's home," Jian speculated.

Heian turned to her with a confused look. "Who's they?"

"Was it not obvious?" she snapped. "Think about it. Why were we barred from entering the village all those years ago?"

The boy pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think I ever knew," he admitted, to which Jian rolled her eyes.

"Visitors. And not the good kind."

Heian and Jian continued in silence for the remainder of the trek. Upon reaching the summit, the pair snuck behind nearby huts, all of which appeared vacant. Through the windows howled whispered voices.

"This is your last chance," an unfamiliar one whispered.

"Last chance? What does he mean?" Heian looked to Jian, who only shrugged. She peeked out from behind the hut. Barely within view were five or six individuals wearing strange clothing. They surrounded the elders, swords drawn.

The gray bearded elder — Jian's father — was crouched on his knees. He clasped his hands together and raised them up in the direction of one man while bowing his head.

"What's father doing?" she whispered. "He never begs for forgiveness. Just who are these people?"

Jian prepared to lunge out into the open, only to be held back by Heian. "Are you crazy? You'll get caught!" he said flusteredly.

"Yes, but—" She turned to peek at the scene unfolding once more. "These men are clearly a threat!"

"Just wait! Us jumping in may only make the situation worse!"

Before Jian could retort, a cry rang out from the direction where the men stood. She spun back around. What she saw next made her gasp in horror. Tears immediately began to flow down her cheeks. Speechless, Heian pulled her away and waddled into her place.

His eyes widened once he saw the aftermath of what Jian had witnessed. Curled up, writhing in pain, was her father. Both of his severed hands lay on the ground as the blood from the stumps washed his white clothing a bright shade of red. The fellow elders looked on in terror.

The man holding the bloodied sword raised it up once again, prepared to deliver the final slash.

Heian spun back. "Nevermind! We've got to go in now—"

Jian was nowhere to be seen. The boy looked around frantically, hoping she would have an impromptu plan. "Jian? Jian? Where are you?"

"Who's there?" boomed another voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a few of the men staring straight at the hut behind which he was hiding.

'Shit, I was too loud!'

The executioner stopped mid swing and motioned to one of the others. The man nodded, then turned and ran toward Heian faster than he could process the situation.

'Shit, shit, he's gonna find me!'

Heian knew it was too late. He curled up, head burrowed between his knees. The sound of the man's steps came closer and closer, when suddenly, an object flying through the air whooshed past him. He glanced up in surprise, just in time to hear the subordinate cry out in agony.

Another object flew past. Heian saw it clearly this time. It was round, and emitted a dark, smoke-like substance, yet it moved faster than anyone could throw such a large object. He watched in amazement as it struck the executioner, causing him to burst into an amalgam of black and violet flames.

The man cried out for a few seconds before dropping to the ground. Now everyone — his subordinates included — had a look of sheer terror on their faces.

"What was that!?" one trembling in fear screamed.

"Let's get out of here!" another howled.

Together, the remaining men fled in all directions while the elders retreated into the shelter of the hut, Jian's father in tow.

Yet, even as the men began to disappear into the greenery, more of the strange black objects came through, pursuing them like a hawk diving in for its prey.

Their bellowing screams echoed throughout. Then silence. Heian turned toward the direction from which the projectiles came. His frantic question from earlier had finally been answered.

Standing atop a boulder, arm extended out with the palm emitting the same black smoke, was Jian herself.