A Bamboo Hut

As I was running towards the whirring machine the third boy nagging became intolerable. But for the time being, I ignored my anger and tried to explain to him. 

"There! I found the machine. We don't have to stay in this madness much longer. Just follow me," I said excitedly, patting their shoulders to reassure them.

"I need to get home quickly. Actually, my mother—" Just as I was about to continue, a group of bullet sounds were heard. 

The bullets hit a large tree some distance away, setting it ablaze. Flames spread rapidly and we started panicking. I know that this was unexpected, but I stayed calm and managed to convince them. 

"It looks like the boss has found out about our escape. That's why he sent his men after us. They're heavily armed. We don't have time to stand here talking," I said, grabbing both of them and running toward the machine.

As we ran, Adam pulled out his sword and placed it firmly in my hand. The commotion behind us grew louder. I flung open the machine's door, pushing Raju and the third boy inside. That's when I saw a man lying inside, fast asleep.

Without a second thought, I pulled out my knife and lunged at him, stabbing twice in the stomach. 

"Who are you? Why did you stab me?" the guy roared in pain. 

He was shocked by our sudden entry and just started to panic, His blood curdling scream echoed through the air. The sheer agony paralyzed him before he could even understand what had happened.

"Just shut up and get us out of here, now! or else you wouldn't see the next sunrise. Talking nonsense would only make the situation worse," I roared.

I didn't care how my words affected the others. All I knew was that I had a knife in my hand. The man at the controls, though trembling, pressed a few buttons. A loud hum filled the air above us.

Adam and the third boy remained silent. Meanwhile, the boss's men reached our location and opened fire, their weapons spitting death. 

The man at the controls pushed forward, maneuvering the machine into the air, desperate to avoid any damage. He knew that if the machine was hit, we would all perish. Even in his pain, I could sense his will to survive.

We soared over the sea, leaving that cursed place behind.

"Where are we going now?" the third boy asked.

I did not answer.

"When will we regain our sight? I want to see my mother again. We lived in Northern slum near the sea. I have many beautiful memories over there. As soon as I regained my eyesight the first thing that I wanted to see was my mother," he murmured. 

"He had beautiful memories in a slum. The third boy is definitely a lunatic and will never achieve what I wanted to achieve. If I were in his place, I wouldn't want to return for the simple reason that it doesn't offer me riches," I thought to myself.

Neither me nor Adam felt a need to talk to the third boy. Everyone sat in silence.

Then, without hesitation, I grabbed the third boy and shoved him out of the machine. His scream echoed as he plummeted into the water.

"What happened?" Adam finally asked, his voice wary.

"He slipped and fell into the sea," I replied, not moving from my seat.

"Did you push him?" Adam's tone sharpened. His suspicion irritated me.

"I know you pushed him," he said, his voice shaking. "You don't know how to restore his sight without a doctor's help, do you? I'm starting to doubt you."

And just like that, my first enemy was born.

People who loved me, feared me, or wanted something from me—all of them were my enemies. I needed to keep my distance.

I stepped towards Adam and placed a hand on his shoulder. He shoved me away.

"I don't trust you," he said, pulling out another sword.

I hadn't expected that.

The fight began. He was blind, but he fought fiercely. Even so, I had the advantage. Still, he managed to stab my arm. The machine swayed dangerously as we clashed.

A loud screech filled the cabin as a bird flew in through the open hatch. Distracted, Adam faltered. Seizing the moment, I struck him twice. He collapsed.

"Traitor!" he screamed.

I grabbed him and dragged him toward the machine's door. Looking into his sightless eyes, I whispered, "My name is King."

And then I pushed him into the sea.

Thus, I overcame my first enemy.

The fewer people who know about us, the happier and more peaceful life can be.

As soon as Adam fell into the sea, the machine suddenly tilted.

I rushed to the controls. The operator had already lost consciousness. Before I could react, I felt myself tumbling through the air.

The last thing I remembered was the freezing water crashing against my body.

*****

"Who are you ? How did you end up here?"

A man's voice echoed close to me. I opened my eyes slowly. A rough white cloth was tied over my wounded shoulder. The face leaning over me was calm, with thick whiskers that gave him an air of strange innocence.

He was staring at me intently.

As the pain in my shoulder flared up again, I winced.

"Hey, the boy is awake! Bring him some water!" he called out loudly and went outside.

The pain was unbearable. Darkness pulled me under once more.

I didn't know how long I was unconscious. I didn't know how I got here. I didn't even know how I managed to open my eyes again.

But suddenly, I did.

There was no one in front of me. Had I been dreaming?

Memories flashed before my eyes - escaping in the machine, killing Adam, falling into the water.

I scanned my surroundings for the man with the thick whiskers, but he was nowhere to be found.

Slowly, I sat up. The bed beneath me creaked.

I was in a small bamboo hut. In one corner, an old stove stood. A few steps away, another bed was scattered with small blankets.

A curtain hung over two bamboo sticks divided the space into two sections. Light seeped through the gaps.

Curious, I walked toward the light.

As I stepped outside, the brightness stung my eyes, forcing me to shield them with my hand. Warm air brushed against my face, filling me with a strange energy.

A bamboo fence enclosed the area.

Not far from the fence, a woman was scraping a fish against a large rock. She hadn't noticed me yet.

I walked closer. My shadow fell over her.

She turned, startled, then broke into a smile.

"You're awake?" she asked, her voice warm with relief. I stared at her, wondering who she was.