First Life and Death

Mira: Broth..!

Si Woo: Shu~stay quiet Mira, we are under ambushed. Seem like even if we took countermeasures, we couldn't really escape their hands.

"Shit, the bullet penetrates my right shoulder, I can't move my right hand anymore. To prevent blood lost, I need to prevent blood lost, if not I might lose my strength, focus. The enemies are still within the parameter, but if they are a lot, both Mia and I are long dead, or they want us alive? What is their objective? I heard two shots, one hit my shoulders, Mira doesn't get hit and that mean one miss or took the James out? Shxt, I am helpless, I can't figure out what to do? Think, think, what should be the most possible move that they will do?"

"Wait, are the enemy even they? They could both take down Mira and James, if I am their objective. I am pretty sure that no one but me and father knows about Mira. In that case, the assassin might be few in number, max amount is 2 people. Because Mira is a girl and young, so they might consider her not much of a threat, so they take out both men first, me and James."

"From my wound feelings, I was shot from the behind, to the shoulder, 2 no 1.2 inch from the neck. That means the assassin is on the tree branches?"

Fxxk, for safe to assume, I will consider James as dead. Cool head, Si Woo. Calm down.... Just like training, you are lazy and good at using brain. Think.

Mira: "Brother what should we do now?"(shaky low lone)

Si Woo: "Don't move right now, the assassins is on top of the tree. On the branches. Mira, believe in big brother, don't move a muscle."

"Because of the wounds and adrenaline rushing in, I am sensitive to the environment more than ever, but not for long, my wound keeps rushing out blood, in a few secs or min at most, I might start to feel dizzy. Think, Think"

"For the assassin to stay on the tree, I would choose, a big tree trunk, there are not a lot of them in our perimeter. It is not long-distance snipe, if it is, my right would have been burst to pieces right now. That means he is close right now. Because of the sun, and shade would burst his position, he probably might choose tree with a lot of branches or a taller tree. And also because of the shot sound, the birds won't be staying near the shoot. Animals in forest are sensitive to unnatural noises. I have to look for the tree, big enough to support a person, a lot of branches or a taller one. A silent tree, where sounds of birds aren't coming from. Wait, ants, they usually go in a straight line, a gunshot might disturb them by causing vibration. Shxt, the back of the place, we are standing before getting shot, and there are only two or three possible trees that assassin might be hiding."

"Fxxk, let risk my life on it."

"Whoosh" Si Woo throw a stone to the opposite direction but there is no reaction from the assassin as if the assassin wasn't here in the first place, everything is quiet except for the birds' noise."

(flashback) "James: In fact, there are more people who are more proficient in breathing technique than I am, we called them "Ranger" and even elite ones, "Ghost", you can considered, each and every one of them are trained to not easily give in to their emotions making them extremely unpredictable and extremely dangerous. You might probably have to face with "Sniper" in the future as well, I presume that you already know what sniper is, right?" But their breathing technique is also similar to that of ghost and ranger, but a little low ranked. They can erase their tracks, adapt their environment very well to the extent that it is safe to presume that they are master of blending in to their surrounding and make themselves undetectable to normal human's being. They won't even flinch even if a bullet passes right beside their ears, well maybe some rare elite, they take it to the extreme that even the bullet penetrates their arm or leg, as long as it somewhere not life-threatening, they remain still. I don't wish you to confront one of those monsters, they aren't human anymore, nothing but well-trained killing machines. Even if you are unlucky enough to counter one of those. Well best of luck, because you aren't like to come out alive anyway. I can only tell you to try one of this approach to escape, even if you are wise enough or the other party is immature enough, this may be even help you to turn the table in your favor".

"Present Time"

"I don't have much time on me right now and I can't drag this any longer with the wound on my shoulder as well. At least, I have to make time for Mira to escape. But all I have a short dagger that James gives me in time of emergency. I need something to damage or at least distract the assassin. Wait, is that....".

(flashback)

"Remember when you have to confront with those specially trained individuals, no normal method won't be able to work, you can try any method you want but none of that won't be work against them as they are trained to show no emotion or whatsoever things that might effects the mission. So, you have to trick, "By tricking means what?", "tricking him that you are dead." No, a normal special trained sniper is able to stay their focus on their target or possible target area for at least minimum of 3 to 4 days, while intaking a minimum possible water and food while without sleeping. For elite, it extends to one week. No, staying hidden is not an option here. More or less, you have to move around and if you move sooner or later, you will be a dead corpse. So, here is what you do, the only chance you will be able to hope for is that you have to trick him, you are somehow able to escape, or you have located his location and at the same times, have something to nullify him in action, in case, you have a gun or rifle. In short, you have to make him think that you have something to cause threat to him. Only then, he will react. For someone whose mission target is important than his own life, they easily fall into the trick that way and that's your ticket to go home is one piece. Well easier said than done, it has only 5% rate of success, so good luck."

"Present Time"

Assassin: Shxt, that guy is hard to kill, I missed the shot on his neck. Well, mission is to bring back him dead or alive, while being dead makes things easier for me, bring him back alive means more money for me, right? Firing two shots subsequently is my utmost limit for me, I managed to shoot down the bigger guy next to him in one shot, but strange, I don't have much info about him either except for the fact that he came to visit this area few months ago. I don't have information about who he is, from where or what he is? He is completely like a ghost. Wait, you are joking with me, right. No Ghost will come to a remote area like this, not to say, this country is very strict on the weapon law, even the police officers are only allowed to carry round gun which can only shoot about 7 to 8 rounds at most.

Suddenly, a loud scream appeared from the target place.

Assassin: "WTF"

Because of the loud noise, all birds flew from the branches, making a lot of noise and a lot chaos.

Assassin: "Shxt, the birds blind my vision, I can't confirm my target's movement with vision or hearing either.

That moment gives Si Woo, a fraction of sec to show up and confirm the assassin position without being shot in the head.

Si Woo: "Let's risk my life on it, Mira is already escaped. I told her to escape as soon as I make a move. The assassin's target is only me so his first priority is me, between me and Mia, he will make sure to get me. Let's hope that gives Mia, a chance to escape. Well, she was only included in this mess because of me, if not because of me, Mira, will be a happy girl like anyone else. "

Si Woo throw the sharpened bamboo using all arm strength he has. It gazed the assassin eyes, just by inch and slashed on cheek, the assassin reacted instantly hence making a movement.

Assassin: "Shit, this kid. Better bring him dead".

"Bang" "Bong"

Both assassin and Si Woo, fell to the ground. The large amount of blood gushed from Si Woo's neck, just like a fountain. Si Woo's lost consciousness as soon as his head hit the ground.

Si Woo: "Shit, I miss the shot, well at least, I hope Mira has escaped. Never thought that I would be killed as soon as I step out of my father shadow. How strong my father be if he had been protecting all this the whole time. Ha ha, how funny.... and warm...(shut eyes)"

Suddenly a faint light glow from the Si Woo's necklace, the last gift of his mother.

(flashback) "(Si Woo's Mother's Voice)(gently) "Si Woo, listen up well. When mommy isn't around you, this will protect you, Ok. My sweetie. Your father hasn't been around us because he is protecting us from horrible people. You can't afford to hate your father, ok? Pinky Promise?"

A faint voice(enchanting) comes out from the crystal necklace on Si Woo's neck. "Every life is suffering, every suffering leads to death and every death lead to life(monks' voice)"

Mira: "Brother, you can't die yet. Brother! Brother!"

"Sound of foot steps" from the bushes.

Si Woo: "Where am I? (look down) (shock) I am standing on the water?... What? Am I in a white room? I can't see the end no matter where I look. Am I dead? I remember I got shot in the neck, I think. Even if I am lucky to not get shot in the head or neck, I am pretty sure, I will die of bleeding out too much. What am I? (walking)

(present time)

(faint voice) (every life is suffering, every suffering leads to death and every death is meaningful cuz each of them lead to another life.(monks' voice). As the necklace slowly glow with a faint light, a golden light appeared and absorbed by Si Woo's body.

Mira: Who is it?(shocked) Mira screams as she hold the broken piece of bamboo in her hands, she is young and she has the determination to do anything to protect her brother.

"Whooh, it is me, James. Mira." "Thanks to that boy over there, I managed to shot down the assassin."

James replied while holding the wound on his neck. Turns out when the assassin shot at the neck of James, James reflex is enough to dodge the one shot death, from the impossible to dodge bullet. Although his neck is bleeding out too much, he managed to stay dead and managed to take out the hiding assassin with the help of Si Woo.

James: Let's get out of here. Our position is exposed. We only encounter one assassin because they don't have enough manpower. Let's move out before we are surrounded. Mira, do you have any injury? No? good. Then, you have to carry our bags, leaves everything unnecessary only guns, rations and ammunition. Quickly.

James quickly performed first aid on Si Woo, "Huu, I managed to stop bleeding but whether he alive or not, I am not sure. We are another 39 min away from our gather point. Mira, have to pack the things I told you."

Mira: "Yes"

James: "Good."

James brings out the seem like alcohol bottle from his left pocket, he takes a slip and pour the little on his wound on the neck. Then he pour the rest on the rest of the bags, and light it on fire.

Mira: "What did you burn them?"

James: "We can't afford to slow down, move quickly. The bags contained, your personal belongings and other documents like your ID and national pass ID, I burn them to cover other meaningless trouble. Come on, because of smoke, we have to move hurry"

Mira: (silence) as she noticed the whiten and pale lip of James.