Pilgrims
Johannesburg

It seems like I'm still alive wherever I am now but I haven't fully opened my eyes, let alone moved. All I know is that my head is so dizzy and I don't remember why I had so much trouble opening my eyes. I tried to pull the knots of memories that felt far away. The memory flashes back to me a little bit.

I try to sort it out based on time. The last thing I remember doing was screaming loudly to draw attention. I remember that person running straight to my place. While running, I heard he reported to the short man through his handy talk.

I can remember it fully now. As expected, the short one and the other one came and enlivened the pursuit I deliberately did not widen the distance with them so that they could continue to see me. That way, they can all continue to lead me into the forest, away from Fox's running path and the others.

After about an hour of playing around, I thought Fox and the others were far away by now, and I could start to completely escape my pursuers. I'm confident in my running skills and stamina. They'll lose track of me when I speed up my run.

But unfortunately before I could really get away from them, things went out of plan. So happy to run, I don't see any abyss. Not too deep for about ten meters. I jumped already. The result will be different if the surface below the abyss is flat. I can put a damper on his repulsion like Leon taught me.

But this is the ravine in the middle of the forest. There are a lot of rocks from small to large. The surface of the stones was very rough, and I did not exactly choose the landing position.

It was enough to make my legs sprain and my head hit hard on one of the roughest rocks, making blood drip from my forehead.

My misfortune wasn't over by then. Those three people managed to catch up to me just as I was about to leave that place. They were more familiar with the place so as to predict I would fall in the abyss, thus taking a detour and closing my running path from three directions.

Three pairs of eyes looked at me irritatedly. They walked towards me slowly the land vigilantly. Their stamina must have been drained while chasing me, heard from their extremely disordered breathing. I still have a lot of strength left, but with my sprained legs I will not be able to run as fast as usual. They can definitely corner me again.

Not to mention they were all carrying hunting rifles on their backs. I'm sure I won't survive if I act rashly.

I guess the blood on my face started to block my view. Scroll my watch again. There were still twenty-five minutes before I moved.

Twenty-five minutes was more than enough time for the gunmen to finish me off.

I did not move from where I was standing and continued to look for a gap to escape. While they were already so close to me, the distance they each had was only four meters from me. Two of the short guy's subordinates started aiming at me.

I was waiting for that shot. Not because they are tired of waiting. I can't believe the short guy put down his rifle and walked up to me.

“Hold your shots. I want to play with him first. Shoot him if he tries to escape,” his orders.

The two men complied not to shoot, but still aimed at me with an annoyed look.

The short man's gaze met my eyes. Then he spoke to me. “That time I let my guard down, because I thought you were weak. Turns out you have a troublesome skill set. Where's your friend, little girl? Why are you wandering around alone?” he asked Leon.

“Surely you thought I would tell you,” my timpal.

“Basic pesky woman,” umpatnya while trying to punch my head.

I dodged it easily. Apparently his ego made him want to beat me in a fight. Lucky for me. As long as I can survive for twenty minutes, I can survive.

But I'm not that lucky. My hands have started to numb from too much blood loss. I was still strong enough to fend off the short man's attack, but it was not free to counterattack.

If I beat this guy before his time to move, his men would have shot me. I try to hold on as much as I can.

Fortunately, he ran out of energy while chasing me. Attacks weak. But I'm also weakened. Suddenly a sense of dizzy attacked me. The short man noticed it and took advantage of my weakness. He hit my wounded head with his fists, and this time I did not have time to dodge. That's when it all suddenly went dark.

***

I opened my eyes slowly, still not understanding why I was still alive. But, you fool. God still lets me live. Don't waste this opportunity.

My eyes waited for a while to adjust to the bright light, then blinked. I saw an infusion hose and a blood bag hanging over me.

It turns out this is in the hospital. Who took me to the hospital?

“You're aware? Quickly too,” said someone sitting next to me.

I looked at him and scrunched my forehead in wonder. “Who are you?”

“You don't know me, Maya?” he asked back. I lifted my body to sit. “Why should I know you? And where is this?” ask her. Why does he think I know him?

“I think you know me, because there are my handwriting on your backpack,” he replied as he showed me the letter and the two pieces of money.

“So, you're Sin?” I stammered not understanding this situation at all. His face was different from Sin who met me on the planet Magnet.

Thinking hard made my head a little dizzy, but I ignored it and asked him for an explanation. “You understand my situation, right? I'm not that guy.arrgh. It's hard to talk to you, because I don't know you at all. But am I already in South Africa?”

“Yes, precisely in Johannesburg. I quite understand your situation but that doesn't mean I'm happy to help you. You were suddenly in my room, emerging from the empty air in a fainting and bloody state. There was no identification, but I found these writings and recognized them as my writings. I thought you knew me, but it looks like this is our first meeting. I'm a little disappointed,” he said again with a thick British accent.

This is not our first meeting, my inner self. I decided to take a look at the situation before leaking this secret.

“I'm not asking you to help me,” my timpals are upset. This guy's style of speech sucks. “Your name is Sin, right?” my many.

“John,” said lost appetite to talk.

“You live in Johannesburg this?” I felt strange in the way I introduced myself. I don't fully believe it yet. Moreover, he spoke with such a tinge. What if he reports me to the authorities or sells me for research?

“Not exactly like that. I am a British citizen, because of some business I stayed here for a few years,” he replied.

I watched him for a moment. He looks very young. His age might be with me. If he's not acting like a bitch, maybe I can be friends with him.

Our conversation was interrupted by the doctor who examined me. After saying that I would get well soon, the doctor left. The nurse came to bring me my breakfast or what I thought was breakfast because John said it was still early.

After waiting for me to eat my not-so-good breakfast, John spoke to me again. “I'm actually bothered by your sudden arrival. You messed up my schedule,” he said annoyed.

“Then what do you want from me? Indemnity?” just anyone.

“Of course,” the answer is flat.

***