CHAPTER 5 : The Old Lady's Warmth

I was lifted in the air like a young boy and thrown back on the mud. I tasted dirt in my mouth. I spat.

"Boy, you got nothing on us!" A giant felon shouted at me, and I felt like I swallowed his horrible tang. "Who is this boy? Tell me your name!"

My eyes found where the pink-haired thief was supposed to be, yet found it empty.

That girl, she left me!

"Tell me what your name is!"

My lips couldn't form a word; my tongue must have jittered so bad that I forgot how to speak.

The felon roared with laughter, echoed by his fellow felony followers. "Can't make himself speak from fear! You scared little boy?"

No one dared to bruise my dignity, not even my father could burst the bubble of the overwhelming size of my ego.

I made so many disasters in my life, but never had to go through pain.

"There you go, have a good night's sleep in there, little boy."

Thrown inside the muddy pit, I groaned and flicked my hands, kicking the wall in annoyance.

I shouldn't have trusted her. Now where is she?

My bracelet is gone, what my family left me is gone. Now I'm here, held captive by these gross people, and for what? To be killed?

Fuck!

Soon, the night sky is being stained by the light of the sun. The loud jeers and roars of these murderers have died down, replaced by their loud snores.

The stench of beer, vomit, and the unbearable smell of their nature have clung to me. I need to bathe myself; I'm starting to feel disgusted with my own body.

What am I going to do now?

Lowering my head, I can feel my dizziness eating me. The pain on my bruised back and the bleeding of my lungs.

My hope is slowly being dissolved every second that passed, until...

"What's up?" A familiar feminine voice caught my attention.

When I looked up, I immediately saw the familiar odd thief beaming at me, jingling the keys she's got in her hand.

"Ready to be relieved of your sentence?" She asked while choosing the right key.

"You left me," I confronted her, standing by the door, waiting to be freed.

"No, I didn't. I'm still here, am I?" She chuckled, being patient from opening the door. "If I left you, I would've been in Median, in my place, drinking lemonade and eating pies."

"You don't have the money to do that."

"Who said I need money or a bracelet? I can steal whatever I want. I have magic hands, remember?" She proudly told me and had a heavy sigh when she got the cell open. "Your highness." She bowed and gestured her hand for me to leave the pit.

"And what about these people?" I asked, looking back at the countless pit where a lot of scavengers are being held. "We can't just leave them here."

"Never thought you would say," she judged before pulling me to the pit and the next and the next. Shushing every prisoner before letting them run.

"Mister, thank you." One of the young ones came to me, looking at me with those eyes of innocence and fear before scurrying away.

"We got them all out, still got enough strength to run?" She asked me, my eyes followed where she's staring at.

"Yeah," I replied, feeling my throat closing as I look at the felon wearing an eyepatch waking up, yawning, and clutching his shotgun.

"Good. Let's go!"

Ten steps ahead and into the desert, the sound of agunshot filled the air.

"Keep running!"

My feet are tired, but I have enough courage to keep moving forward. Fast.

From behind us, I could hear the roaring bikes of the felons. But not far ahead of us, were the blowing horns of an old train taking the rocky rails where everyone we freed is headed.

"Where's that headed?"

"Straight to the Sickle Town near Median!" She shouted her answer and screamed when bullets began raining at us.

"Shit!" I saw everyone has made it to the train, just a few more steps.

"We're almost there!" She shouted.

Looking back, I saw the rage coming from the felons. They have their weapons pointed at our direction.

"Come on!" Managed to grip the railings of the train, she secured herself up and held out her hand to me. "Reach!"

Extending my hand, I exclaimed when the ricocheting bullet hit the train.

"Reach!"

Heaving my breath, my hand grabbed hers, and I jumped to the train. Bullets began making holes by the wooden door as I pushed it close.

My happiness built inside me; we really escaped! I'm still alive!

"Damn, that was intense!" I yelled, laughing as I held my knees, leaning forward, and catching my breath.

The sound of the roaring bikes has faded, a sign that they couldn't follow through.

"Hey, we made it." I approached her, but instead of happiness glowing on her face, she was quiet and unable to talk to me. "What's wrong?" I asked.

Gasping, I reached to her when she suddenly fell onto her knees.

"What the f-- hey, hey!"

Blood stained her clothes. She's hit badly.

"Oh my... uh-- you're-- you're gonna be okay. You're going to be fine, let me just, uh--" I looked around and found a cloth hanging by the sling and used it, putting pressure on her wound. "Shit!"

"Man," she grunted, pain registered on her face as she tried moving. "Maybe I should make a concrete plan, next time, yeah?"

Color started to fall from her skin. The natural redness of her skin starting to become paper white.

"Before I forgot," she uttered, lifting her hand in the air, she showed me what she had for me. "Told you, I have magic hands," she chuckled, ended up wincing from the pain of her wound.

My bracelet!

I wore it and tried to tend her wound. My panic is rushing all over my body.

When I was younger, my mother died before my eyes when she fought for her life. Just a few days earlier, I watched how my father took his last breath. I don't want to see anyone die in front of me anymore, in my arms.

"Poppy," she uttered.

"What?"

"My name," she moaned from pain. "Poppy."

"'That's a pretty fucked up name considering we're living in a world full of digital'," I quoted, making her smile.

"I never really liked it."

Trying to stop the bleeding, I pressed her wound, putting more pressure. But I know that it wouldn't help much. She needs help; she needs a doctor!

"The world is running out of flowers, yeah?" She uttered, her voice weak. Her head leaning on my shoulder.

"No, it still has a lot and won't lose one."

She exhaled softly, losing her consciousness.

"Hey," I tried to wake her up. But she's losing a lot of blood. "Poppy."

Is she gone? Is she dead?

Checking her pulse, it's weak. She's still alive, but she needs help.

"My mother is a keeper of medicines," a child spoke, catching my eyes. "We can help you." When I looked at her, four kids stood by her, one of them was the one who thanked me when we freed her.

There's still hope.

The train passed by Sickle Road, and that was where the kids led us both. I carried Poppy in my arms, hurriedly taking steps to their place they call home and found a shack that was eaten by both heat and cold.

"Mum, we need your help!" One of the kids entered the house, and an old lady sat by the chair, taking herbs each leaves with her shaky wrinkled hands.

The old lady must have known how her kids missed or took, her eyes tell her longing, her embrace with them was tight.

"Mum, they're the ones who helped us free from the felons." The little girl pulled me inside the house.

The old lady immediately cleared the table and helped me settle Poppy on it.

"She's barely holding," she stated as she checked her pulse. "Tara, take that pail of water and drench the clean towel."

"But, Mum, we won't have anything to drink for the whole day!" One of the kids uttered. "Mum?"

"Can you save her?" I asked, desperate to hear that she's going to be fine.

The old lady shook her head. "No, she lost a lot of blood. I only have my herbs. The sanatorium at the other block could help us, but it costs more than fifty-thousand coins. We don't have that kind of money, mister."

"Can you take me there?"

I don't know what's in my head, all I feel is that my lifeline is up to Poppy. If I fail her, I would've failed myself.

The sanatorium held many people inside. Sickness, starvation, and malnutrition. Even the apparatus are lacking. But I trust the old lady.

I was told to wait by the door where I watched nurses bring Poppy inside to be attended. Worry rushed through me, but restlessness had gotten on me first.

"She will be fine," the old lady encouraged me, placing her hand on my shoulder, not minding how dirty I am, how smelly I am from mud that stuck on my clothes. She offered me a motherly smile.

"I hope so," I said, keeping my head low, not wanting to be recognized.

"The doctor spoke to me while you were taking a nap, they said that the bullet didn't hit any organs. They just needed to pull it out and use a laser to fix it."

"Why are you helping me?"

"You helped my daughters first," she replied with a smile. "A good man deserves good karma."

Am I a good man? I doubt that. I made a lot of things that needed regrets, I've done things that needed forgiveness, and I thought wrong of them. A lot of reasons why I should question how they easily give me a hand.

"The sanatorium doesn't accept confinement here, they will have to discharge her as soon as possible because we don't have enough tools to attend every patient here," she explained.

I peeped at the reception and found a nurse talking to a Levy. As much as I need to get out of here fast, I can't.

"I know your situation, son. I am not a person who likes to pry, but I can see an innocent man when I see one." The old lady stood in front of me, using her body to hide me. "Let me help you once more."

The old lady offered herself as an instrument so we could settle the bill. I gave her the money, and she left the reception with the receipt and a few things to help fix Poppy's wound.

She even offered a space in her shack for the both of us, even at their state, she gave me a plate of food and a glass of water.

I clearly heard the kid that they won't have enough food for the next day and that the rations were halted till next week, but the old lady only hushed her and promised that she will try to find a way to give her a piece of biscuits.

My heart was moved.

There was no spot of the stories I have heard from my father of who these people really are. From what I had believed, this is far the opposite.

Noon came, Poppy was still asleep.

"I fetched salt water from the well, you can use it to clean up. And here, these are some of my late husband's clothes. I hope they fit." The old lady handed me a bucket and a pair of clothes.

The water isn't clear, but it could help reduce the smell I have on myself.

Looking at the cracked mirror inside the restroom, I saw myself, but not the person I always see every morning. Right now, I see a man worthless in this place. I see a man who can't fight for himself, let alone find justice. Who am I kidding?

I felt a little bit of freedom when the cold water hit my skin. My clothes that were dirtied and ripped were replaced by a pair of old plaid shirt and dark pants.

On my left wrist, the numbers stated the same amount even after paying for whatever Poppy needed. It's far from what my father feared. For the numbers of his wealth to be reduced until he was left with nothing.

Ever since I held money, I always spent half buying illegal drugs. Since my mother gave me what she had, I kept her money still and spent just my own. And now my father's endless richness gave me the weight of the burden.

Releasing my breath, I left the restroom and found Poppy sitting on the edge of the bed and checking her lower abdomen.

Looking away, I cleared my throat.

"You're up." Deciding to break the silence, I took the chair where I was sitting and placed my used clothes in a basket the old lady gave me.

"What happened?"

I looked at her, still feeling the place where she was hit. Confusion is written on her face as she looked around at an unfamiliar place.

"Where are we?"

"If you don't remember, you were shot while we were trying to catch the old train. You lost a lot of blood, so..." I left my words trailed off, and cleared my throat. I'm not in the mood for a heartfelt conversation, so I cut it off and stood up. "You were a bad weed, that's why you survived," I said instead before leaving the room.

Outside, I found the kids helping the old lady place the herbs in the right jars, labeling it, and stacking them in old rotten shelves.

"It fits you well," the old lady beamed at me as she saw me in her husband's clothes. "The gossips about the delayed rations weren't true, two of my daughters have left to take a few. Let's wait for them and eat some."

"I think that the rations were just enough for your family," I said, wanting to refuse her offer. "Poppy and I can leave as soon as she's ready."

The beam left her face as soon as she heard me. "Oh, dear, you don't have to worry about us. Your friend isn't still fit for travel. Why not join us for a while? Besides, we can try salvaging some of our old portion from the cabinets."

"We can share the food," the little girl said, the one who had been so kind to me.

The food we shared, it doesn't even get to the least liked food I have in 400. They settle for mean meals. One that protein can be counted, it was all processed and unhealthy. It's no wonder why people here in Omission were malnourished.

A couple hours pass noon, I found myself thinking about nothing and letting a temporary peace sip in my chest. I know that this challenge I'm being tested won't be finished, not until I find whoever's behind my father's death, and the people who wants me dead.

"The mother told me that you spent a lot of money to save me." Poppy suddenly appeared from behind me while I was staring at the kids playing sticks that they formed as humans. "I didn't know you would do that for me."

Glancing at her, I shrugged. "I couldn't get out of here if I lose you."

"That's the sweetest thing you ever said to me," she chuckled, joining me sitting by the table. "Thank you."

My eyebrows arched, hearing such unusual word for me to hear.

"That kind of money was expensive. I never thought that anyone would spend much just to save a useless girl like me," she said, getting sentimental.

Failing to decline her gratitude, I stayed quiet. Whatever's up ahead, the plan is blank. All that was in my head since this morning was her life.

Ever since I was younger, I never talked to anyone for so long that my tongue dries and forgot how to speak. But she made my whole day and night listening to the music of her voice and speaking what's in my heart.

I guess... she deserves the life she was given.

"I feel better now, do you think that we will be able to find Jurgen before sundown?" She asked, pulling me out from getting lost in thoughts.

"Rest until morning, we still got enough time," I said, but still unsure of the things that I have to do.

"I don't have the right to keep you from your freedom. I'm your map remember? And this adventure, I only wanted it because I thought we were in the same situation. I think not."

"Did you hit your head?" I asked, turning at her.

She held her head and answered negatively. "Why?"

"You're suddenly talking like my therapist, why don't you get inside the room and sleep?"

Chuckling, she nudged my side by her shoulder before standing up. "You are so cold. But fine, if that's what 'your highness' wants, I'd be on my way." Bowing before me, she pivoted heading straight to the room that was given to us.

The night delved deep quickly, the whole place of the Sickle Town was decorated by the sound of peace. But that peace was aggravated by the barking of dogs outside.

Got woken up, I grunted and was about to turn the lights on when a hand stopped me.

"Poppy?"

"There are Levies knocking on every house," she whispered to me. "Someone must have seen us here."

The door opened, revealing the old lady. "They are close."

"We have to go," Poppy uttered silently.

The old lady handed me a coat and even helped me wear it. "Take the back door, use the narrow road. I hope you find the place you both are looking for."

"Thank you." Poppy hugged the old lady.

"I never got your name." I turned to her, following Poppy with my eyes as she left the room and headed to the back.

"My son, there is no time." She smiled at me and patted my cheek lightly. "I trust you will find the justice that you seek. Go."

Giving her a lingering stare, I nodded. Uncertain of what might happen to her, but I know I will never forget her and her family's kindness that she gave and I didn't deserve every inch of it.

Another chase had gone by, another night to hide our tracks, another time to be restless.

I may leave this place right now, but I will always look back at that old shack.

"We got away," Poppy announced as we get to the hill, leading to the open road of Median. "Look, the Median." She pointed at the lights a little further from where we are.

"How far is that?"

"About five or six miles?" She answered. "We'll get there, and I promise you, I will welcome you once we reach my house."

I panted, looking back from where we came from and found no tail. "You have a house?" I asked as if it wasn't believable.

"Surprised?" She laughed before leading the way. "Keep walking, or you'll get shot. And if you get shot, I won't be able to bring you to a sanatorium. I'd rob you instead," she mused.

She looked over her shoulder before quickening her pace.

I stood there watching her lead the way while I still chased for my breath. That girl is really something.

"You owe me for saving you!"

"Nope, you owe me first, five times already. What you did was just one, so let's give it a math and you only owe me four times by now."

Shaking my head, I started following her.

Once we get to Median, she's already home, and by then, I'd be meeting my godfather there. We'll be separating our ways, and maybe, to never see each other again.

I'd be home. Why do I suddenly feel sullen? That was what I always wanted.