(CHAPTER 23: THE ILLAGERS)

"Argh-" Jack let out a groan as he took off the towel in his eyes. His body aches, every strand of his muscle felt like string, barely holding his body together. He sit up from the bed as he look around. They are currently at a log cabin, with beds put in a row as villagers rush in and out to treat the people on the bed. He saw Norman sitting on one of the bed as one of the medic villagers treated his head, wrapping it with bandages as well as applying some soothing lotion made with green herbs to avoid infection. He seemed kinda chill as he look around, the moment their eyes meet, Jack wave his hand ever so slightly, Norman waved back. He look around and saw Sam lying at his left, his leg is fractured and he was unconscious, but other than that, he seems fine. And beside Sam, was that boy, the one man army that wiped out the perfect trio. "Lay down boy." An old man suddenly appears beside him and spoke. Before he could speak a word, he have already push him back to the bed as he began touching and pressing his body. "Hey stop poking." Jack protested, but he immediately shut his mouth up the moment he press down one of the joint at his elbow.

He felt a soothing sense, as if he has oiled up one of his rusty bolt. "Poking?" The old man chuckled. "If I didn't "poke", your arm would've come lose within weeks." This time he didn't argue as he stay still for the treatment. "Why did you save me." Jack asked. The people, almost everyone in the medic stop moving as they look at Jack, the busy atmosphere stop dead. "You know that I am a illager right? We do no good, but wh-" Jack ask again, but his throat chocked before he could even finish his words, as if something was stuck. The time he continue speaking, his tone change once more, this time he was crying. "Why, why…." He put his arm around his face and mumbled. The people around him stares and smiled, at least there is still some good within these men, they didn't make a mistake saving them.

"Hero is awake!" Suddenly someone shouted, the people immediately rush towards the bed. Jack wipe away his tears as he and Norman limp towards the bed. The people look at Hero, he was straining to stand up but fail as he tumble to the ground. But he didn't gave up as he proceed to climb on the floor desperately. "Whoa, young man." The old man stepped out as he pulled Hero by his arm. "Where are you going, You need time to recover your wounds."

"Brine." He gasped as he spat out those words with utter force. "I need to see her. I need to see her."

"Where is she." The old man ask. "In the witch's hut at the west swamp, now let go!" He struggle to let go of the old man's weak grasp but instead he fell flat to the floor. He began to breathe heavily as he started to spit out blood. His heart is still fragile from the last battle, he can't do too much hard work, even walking would be fatal for him. He let out another dry cough as the villagers lift him up and put him back to bed. He is way too weak, the swamp is nearly a day away from the village, there is no way he could make it there alive, and none of the villagers dare to enter.

"Hey you." The old man turn around as he pointed towards Jack and Norman. "You two. You know the swamp and the witch right?" "We know it of co-" Before he could finish, the old man interrupts. "Then head to there and bring the girl." "Why?" Both of them ask together. "Because he needed the girl." The old man reply as he grind out some herbs and pour it into is mouth.

"He tried to kill us" Norman protested, he still remember the event last night, when they almost fell in the hands of the devil. "And I save you." The old man said sternly "You owe me that. Now go get the girl and we will treat your friend there." The duo look at Sam, he needed their help to survive. "Okay fine, but remember we are both injured, we cant get there that quick."

"How long?" The old man ask, he is now stabbing needles into Hero's body joint to remove the additional pressure towards the heart.

"Two day tops. The swamp is a nasty place even to us." Norman added, he was true though. The shabby and mushy surrounding of the swamp makes it a monster heaven.

"You have the horse in front of the village, my horse." The old man answer as he stood up from the bed and approaches the duo. "But if you don't bring the girl back, I should warn you that I am fluent is six million ways to killing someone in a gruesome way." He took out his surgery knife as he put it at Sam's throat. "Especially these people, unmovable but breathable people." He added.

"Okay, okay!" Jake and Norman both shouted. "We will do it! Chill! Put the knife down!"

"Very well." The old man say as he smiled. "Now go!"

With that the duo rushes out of the cabin without even turning back. They didn't know whether the old man was just joking or not, but they didn't dare to take the chances. Together they found the horse that was tied in front of the entrance of the village and rush straight into the swamp without hesitation.

The old man didn't lie, the horse is indeed a great breed and save them a lot of time. Though the trip was unpleasant as still, it was faster. At least it was better than walking on foot, Jake thought, and the moment he keep his eyes peered for a hut, the moment he saw it close by. "There!" He shouted as he pointed towards the direction where the hut was. The horse seems to get the sign as it galloped towards the hut with flying speed, and soon they have arrived.

They kicked open the door as they enter the hut. "Hey!" The witch stood up as he stare at Jake and Norman. "There are two ladies here! At least knock!" "Good to see you again Rose." Norman greeted simply as his eyes scanned the hut for the second lady other than her. Jake let out an awkward smile, back then it was always Norman doing the deal with the witches, it was said that he learnt his spell from witches, but no one knows for sure. One thing is sure, though, is that he has never this woman in his entire life.

"Who is that guy." Rose questioned.

"Jake. And there she is!" Norman has spotted her as he pointed towards Brine who was hiding behind Rose.

"Get the girl Jake!" Norman ordered.

"Me?!" Jack stammered "W-why me?"

"Cause you ate twice the size and workout thrice a day for a reason." Norman rolled his eyes.

"Why did you want the girl." Rose guard Brine with her arms, alerted.

"A dude who beat us with till the inch of our life demanded." Norman replied. "Now hand me the girl!"

"Well, a dude also ask me to take good care of the girl." Rose snapped "So back off my hut!"

"Sam's life depends on it!" Norman started to get impatient, the sun is about to set, if not he act fast, they would be stuck here for the night.

"And I seem to like the girl and I ain't gonna fork her off to some illagers!" Rose hissed "And I know no Sam!"

"Then I shall do this the hard way." Norman said. "Jack, get the girl, it's now or never!"

Jack walk towards Rose as he effortlessly shove off the witch and with another hand, he grabbed Brine by the collar with his hand, dragging her onto the horse. "What is happening?!" She seems to be in panic as she screams, but no one listened. "Secure the girl!" Norman jumped onto the horseback. "On it." Jack answered as he strap some ropes around her. "Who are you guys? Where are you guys taking me?" She scream again, this time on the verge of crying, and she was ignored, again.

"Lets go Jack! Sun's setting!" "I am on!" Jack climb onto the horseback as he gave a hearty slap on the horse's rear. The horse stood up with its front feet, almost causing them to lose balance. It let out a screech as if it is a battle cry, before zooming into the swamp and towards the village.

The moment they arrive back at the village, it was already night. The good thing is they made it out alive, the bad thing is the ride almost took their life. Norman and Jack stumble down to the ground as they wobbled their way into the Medic. "You, you shouldn't do that Jack." Norman accused powerlessly, the ride was like hopping into a tornado, or maybe a thousand time worse. "Shouldn't slap that horse in the ass." Jack mutter to himself as he carry Brine off from the horseback and on his shoulder before heading towards the medic together with Norman.

"Where are we?" Brine asked, she seems weak, can't blame her either.

"At the village, the desert village, what is this place call again Norman?" Jack questioned.

"Kebeta, a dying town, miracle it is able to hold past the past two decade." Norman replied.

"You've been here before right?"

"No."

"No?" Norman seems surprised "Ain't you with the dude? What is his name again?"

"Hero." Jack added. "I've heard people calling him Hero."

"Ah yes, Hero the hero." Norman say sarcastically, he remember last night when he whoop their butt one at a time. "He is your friend right? Maybe boyfriend or something? He seems to care a lot about you."

"Hero?"

"Yes, Hero. He is kinda tall, muscular, not so good looking, have a nice beard-"

"Who is Hero?"