Day 48: That was a disaster! Of all the things that could happen, a shootout in a bar wasn't on my list! I need to be more careful, I can't die now!
Note to self: Despite Manah's insistence, I must avoid engaging androids in hand-to-hand combat as much as possible.
I wondered if at some point the android equivalent of the police would come after me with a list of my crimes, and with that, I imagined a series of possibilities. Me being arrested and given the death penalty, or being locked up for the rest of my life, or having my identity as a human discovered and being dissected by curious androids who want to know how a human works. There's also the possibility that Ector survived and is now seeking revenge, or one of his gang members. I must have created a power vacuum that now needs to be filled, and what better way to secure your position as leader than by killing the one who killed the previous boss? The Kingdom of Night truly is a lawless land.
Day 49: All I see are dark jungles, insects, and animal eyes gleaming in the starry night under a full moon. Sometimes I imagine a giant jaguar leaping from the vegetation, dragging me screaming into the darkness, or a bird the size of a car silently snatching me away. Being alone makes us think the worst. No androids joined me, probably still afraid. What once brought me peace now left me bored and lonely; I missed telling stories and answering their questions. So I decided to do something I'd never done before: draw, and to my disappointment, the drawings came out horrible. Landscapes, objects, people I knew, my old life, a world from the distant past, Novi… Nothing a little practice can't fix; this is just the beginning, but I'm sure I'll improve.
Day 50: Space doesn't allow me to do anything too complicated, but I decided to practice my magic to avoid killing myself in the future. I'm using fantasy and RPGs logic, considering that most of what I can do is elemental. Today, I trained with ice and lightning.
Note to self: Avoid casting fireballs indoors.
The ice was the easiest part, as it was solid to touch. Dark marks appeared on my skin along with the cold mist, and with a wave of my hand, a jet of ice left the back of the truck, hitting a tree trunk, freezing it. I followed the same process, but this time shooting ice spikes, piercing a rock.
Hm… I wonder if I can apply science to my magic, as I've been using practice, instinct, and visualization to do what I do. Instead of creating ice and then using fire to make water, can I melt the ice into water on my own? That's something to think about later.
Another thing I decided to try was creating ice weapons. Just like before, I visualized what I wanted to achieve the desired result. Spears, knives, axes, hammers, brass knuckles, and more, and for defense, I created a kind of ice armor over my skin and an ice shield on my arm.
Note to self: Try creating an ice barrier when the chance arises.
Lightning, however, proved more complicated to mold; after all, how can I transform pure energy into something solid to hold? I can conduct it through my knife and other conductive materials, fire it from my hands, but when I tried to make a sword, the thing nearly exploded in my hand.
Finally, I tried to do the same thing I did when I noticed Ector in the bar's wine cellar, but I didn't know where to begin. I held a bullet in my hand and threw it upward, catching it again without success. I repeated the process, trying to feel something different with each throw, until it happened. The color faded from the world and time slowed down. I spotted the bullet spinning slowly in the air, but instead of waiting for it to fall, I moved my hand to grab it.
Again, it felt like my muscles would tear and bones would break with the effort, but everything returned to normal as soon as my hand closed around the object.
I continued throwing the bullet until I could no longer bear the pressure placed on my body, and in the end, I developed a theory.
Basically, I was pushing my mind and senses beyond their limits, and my body needed to keep up. The human mind imposes limits on our bodies so that we don't break our bones or tear our muscles when we move, and I nearly did this every time I moved during my heightened senses time.
Note to self: Give this ability a cool name.
Day 51: We stopped to rest and stretch our legs. One of Lara's men said she wants to talk to me… I hope this doesn't end with more bodies on the ground.
-XXXXXX-
The trucks were arranged in a circle within a clearing, a defensive formation against gangs, with a few scattered fires to ward off animals.
I jumped out of the back of the truck, this time without bothering to hide my weapons.
I assembled my rifle and shotgun, reloaded them, and placed them in their holsters on my back. My pockets and bandoliers were full of ammunition, and my knives were in their sheaths, ready to be drawn in an emergency.
Enough with being the kind stranger; I want everyone to see that it's a bad idea to mess with me. I won't be caught off guard this time; if something comes, I'll be ready.
All eyes focused on me as soon as my feet touched the ground. I couldn't help but sigh with relief as I stretched; my legs were killing me, or maybe boredom.
I didn't know whether to laugh or feel uncomfortable with the apprehension of the androids present. If I returned their gaze, they averted their eyes, and if I tried to help with the tasks, they politely declined, failing to hide their nervousness.
Well, too late to improve my reputation. Now, where is Lara?
I spotted the android near her truck, discussing with her team around a folding table.
The discussion stopped briefly as I approached. I took the opportunity to glance at the contents on the table: maps and other papers covered in black and red scribbles, things like plotted routes and highlighted text.
Hm… Something happened. Trouble, as always, and now they want something from me.
"So, what do you want to talk to me about?"
The group exchanged a hesitant glance, an unspoken message, before Lara began the conversation.
"You know, I'm not one to ask about the pasts of the people I transport. You paid for the ticket and never caused us any trouble, but I wish I'd been told I was transporting a damned Caster Model."
I remembered Ector's words, that there were supposedly androids that could do what I do.
Let's see if I can learn more.
"I'm sorry about that, but I didn't think it was important. An android's model is a sensitive subject, and besides, others tend to react negatively after they find out what I can do."
I put on my best guilty voice and face, and the androids around me had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Sorry, but everyone here has heard stories of a Caster's destructive power, and it's hard to feel safe around one. Let's just say your model doesn't have a good reputation."
"I hope that's not a problem."
Perhaps I should have phrased my words better, as each of them slowly moved towards their guns.
"No, as long as you don't give us a reason."
"The same goes for you."
I cast a fireball in the palm of my hand and then closed it, extinguishing it.
With the message given, everyone stepped away from their weapons and we returned to the conversation.
"I don't know how such an old model as yours continues to function after production ceased, but aside from your slowness and other details, you seem like a capable fighter, so I'd like to employ your help."
I knew it!
"What exactly happened?"
"We received radio transmissions from other caravans, and if they're correct, several gangs have engaged in open warfare, and unfortunately, we'll have to pass through some disputed territory if we want to reach our destination. I'd like your help if the worst comes to the worst. I'm willing to pay for it."
I clicked my tongue in frustration, crossing my arms as I stared at the moon in deep thought.
"It's not like I have much of a choice. Hired or not, I'll have to defend myself if we're attacked, but I admit that money will motivate me more."
I offered an amused smile, which Lara and her group returned with a light chuckle.
"Now you're speaking my language, so for starters…"
-XXXXXX-
Day 52: Hello, my name is Alan, serial number 759284750284739. I am approximately five hundred years old and a CASTER model, one of the last manufactured before production ceased. This is all I remember after being damaged beyond repair during an accident, severely damaging my memories and motor skills. I am now traveling the Kingdom of the Night, trying to discover who I am.
Please don't ask if I need repairs. I've visited repair androids before, and they explained that I would need to undergo a factory reset if I wanted to return to normal. I'd rather not lose what little I have left, so I hope you understand my choice.
This will be my backstory. It's simple, but it explains my lack of dexterity and knowledge.
Day 53: Funny thing, apparently, whatever government the androids have is responsible for the gang unrest. It seems those in power got tired of having half the world outside their control and finally decided to do something about it—in this case, zero tolerance for gangs. Surrender or die, basically.
However, we don't have any information about their opinion of the general population. Is everyone armed? Yes. Is everyone in a gang? No, some are just living their lives.
Hmm... Maybe they'll do something similar to a gun license, or maybe they'll leave the people alone as long as they don't cause trouble.
In any case, there will be tension between both sides. No one wants to submit after centuries of living independently.
This worries me: will I reach my goal before the government gets in my way? What if they ask me for some kind of document? What if they discover I'm not in their databases?
I can only pray that everything works out and I get there as quickly as possible, but luck has it. Been leaving me lately.
-XXXXXX-
BANG!
I cowered behind the truck as a bullet ricocheted off its frame.
Glancing around, I spotted Lara, her crew, and the other passengers taking cover behind vehicles or buildings, opening fire on our enemies across the street.
What was supposed to be a stop at a settlement to refuel ended in a miniature war.
Three different gangs whose names I hadn't bothered to learn had stormed the town, guns blazing, and the locals weren't happy.
Did they really think they'd take the town without a fight? Well, they couldn't have been more wrong!
I threw a fireball over my cover, closing the distance and landing in an arc behind a parked car.
The fiery explosion forced the hidden gangsters in red to flee with burning bodies. I seized the moment to take them down with my shotgun.
Suddenly, the screeching of tires assaulted my ears, and a pickup truck with a machine gun mounted on the back turned onto the street, the blue clothing of its passengers indicating they belonged to a rival gang.
"Holy shit!"
I dropped to the ground before the gun even went off, hearing the sounds like thunder tearing holes in the street.
I heard the truck's tires burst amid the crack of shattered metal. Dirt and smoke covered my face, and I could barely see what was happening behind my sunglasses.
The screams of all the factions involved in the shootout were a familiar sound, insults and gunshots amid the sounds of death, but I couldn't stand still.
With my eyes narrowed, I crawled under the truck, watching as the madman in the pickup fired at a wide angle.
However, his gunfire ceased when something fell at his feet, and the explosion that followed convinced me it was a homemade bomb.
I didn't miss this opportunity and left my hiding place, running to Lara and the rest of the group, who were already halfway to climbing into the remaining trucks.
We didn't exchange words. I climbed into the back of the vehicle at the end of the caravan, and looking back, I saw where the bomb had come from: the settlement's inhabitants in the windows of the buildings, bombarding the gangsters below.
I nearly fell to the ground with the sudden increase in speed, and as I advanced through the streets, I saw the scale of the conflict.
Roads littered with wrecked cars, buildings in flames, screams, explosions, and gunfire echoing around me, and bodies slowly piling up.
It was during our escape that we encountered the third gang, these ones using the color yellow as their identification.
Their cars and motorcycles chased us, but never caught up.
I pointed both hands at the ground, freezing the road in a layer of ice, causing them to skid and crash as we escaped.
With that done, I sat, breathing heavily, listening to the cheers and victorious shouts of the androids I was traveling with.
As the city faded into the distance, I couldn't help but wonder what its fate would be when it was all over. Would anyone still be alive, or would this place become just another set of ruins?
-XXXXXX-
The next day—or night, judging by where we are—we found several wrecked vehicles in the middle of nowhere, and as we approach, we searched it for anything useful.
Unfortunately, we didn't found much. Whoever killed these guys made sure to take everything of value for themselves, or to ensure no one else would use it.
I trailed my fingers along the holes in the bodywork of a car, noting the mangled android in the driver's seat.
His clothing was similar to the other scattered bodies, and the mechanical skull symbol on his chest indicated he was a gangster. But who did this to him?
The damage was too severe to be inflicted by personal weapons like pistols, hunting rifles, and shotguns.
I remembered the machine gun in the previous town, but I believe it would have taken more to destroy a convoy.
I think we found the aftermath of a confrontation between government forces and a gang.
I pray their fingers aren't itching to pull the triggers; I don't know if I'd survive this confrontation if I was mistaken for a gangster.
-XXXXXX-
I held my breath, keeping my rifle steady as I aimed at the gigantic animal advancing toward me.
BANG!
The shot hit its back, staining its brown fur red. The animal gained and staggered in its run, but kept advancing.
I lowered my gun and waited, throwing myself to the side at the right moment, avoiding its fangs as it leaped toward me.
Its massive body collided with the side of a truck, denting the metal with a crack, nearly overturning the vehicle, but the impact left it disoriented.
It looked like a monstrous version of a wild dog, two meters tall and two meters long, with a muscular body built for speed, and a ruffled brown coat and brown eyes.
I didn't let the opportunity pass and fired a small fireball in its direction. The animal retreated in time, baring its knife-sharp fangs on the other side of the fire separating us.
I pulled the lever on my rifle, readying the next round without taking my eyes off the dog, and the beast did the same, watching me with animalistic fury.
However, this wasn't the only one attacking the caravan; I could hear barking, gunshots, and screams from androids nearby.
Ahead of the caravan, a second dog appeared, slightly smaller than the first, bloodied, and with an android's arm in its mouth.
I threw a second fireball at the ground, keeping the fire going, preventing it from approaching.
I still didn't understand why they were attacking us. Perhaps we were in their territory, but our numbers and warning shots should have kept them away.
That didn't happen; they charged like mad, ignoring the wounds we'd inflicted; even my fire didn't make them run.
Suddenly, I got my answer when six puppies ran out of the vegetation and stopped beside their larger counterparts, barking at me and the androids approaching from behind.
My eyes widened, and I didn't need more to understand what was happening.
"STOP, DON'T SHOOT!"
I yelled at the androids, but this only agitated the animals.
"LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THOSE THINGS! THEY'RE GOING TO KILL YOU!"
One of the androids replied.
"I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!"
I fired a shot upward while screaming at the top of my lungs, forcing the dogs to retreat. I continued the process with fireballs, pushing them toward the vegetation where I maintained a flaming wall.
"START THE TRUCKS AND LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"
The androids wasted no time, and soon the roar of engines filled the jungle.
I looked at the dogs one last time, feeling guilty, before running to the truck the animal had hit, climbing onto the back and leaving them behind.
I watched their bright eyes disappear into the darkness, sighing with relief. The further north we went, the bigger the animals got; they weren't this big in the city where I lived.
-XXXXXX-
Day 60: Radio broadcasts report that the advance of government forces continues slowly but steadily. However, some caravans have spread rumors that various gangs are putting aside their differences and uniting to fight their new enemies. Considering that the Kingdom of Night is comprised of the Western Hemisphere and that all the continents within it are supposedly in the same situation, I believe we'll have miniature armies forming soon.
How long until a civil war breaks out? How long until the gangs become too big to defeat? How long until both sides of the conflict demand that those not involved join the fight?
My only relief is that we're reaching our destination.
Day 63: We officially entered the state of Amazonas and approached the furthest point a land vehicle could reach. I suppose I'll travel by boat if Manah wants me to go deeper into the Amazon rainforest.
Day 65: We reached a settlement, the ruins of a city whose name has been forgotten for centuries. According to Lara, I could pay for a boat trip here if I wanted to go deeper into the forest.
Well, I guess it's time to go.
-XXXXXX-
I can't say much happened during the last few days of the caravan's journey. In the end, only Lara, her crew, and a handful of passengers, including myself, remained.
I received a reasonable payment for my services, despite not having accomplished much, but at least I managed to maintain a good reputation among the androids and avoid further questions.
In the end, I said goodbye to those I'd traveled with for so long, and as much as I wanted to accept, I declined Lara's request to join her caravan service group.
A steady job, despite the risks, good pay, and the company I'd grown accustomed to after a year alone.
This would bring stability to my life, the perfect time to reintegrate into this new society, but all my efforts would be in vain.
Without speeches, just smiles, waves, handshakes, and the hope that someday we would meet again, I entered the settlement, leaving the caravan behind as I considered what to do next.
"Here we are, one step away from the end point." The little blonde girl skipped happily beside me after suddenly appearing.
"Sure, sure, but where exactly is that end point? Are we going to turn over the entire forest?"
"No, nothing like that. I can sense what we're looking for now that we're close. You just need to keep heading north and leave the details to me."
"If you insist."
The settlement was unremarkable, full of tents and refurbished buildings converted into homes and businesses, except that it was built on the bank of a river.
There was a small port there, and after asking a few passersby, I found some androids who worked in transportation and were willing to take me.
After asking a few questions, I discovered that there were countless villages scattered throughout the forest, which made me relieved; after all, I wouldn't have to survive completely alone in such a dangerous place.
Later, a little before the agreed time, I met the android who would take me and other passengers, a male android with tan skin, messy brown hair, and black eyes.
Minutes later, we set off in a medium-sized motorboat, chatting to pass the time.
The trees on both banks of the murky river formed a green and brown wall around us, filled with the sounds of animals and the hum of the boat's engine.
It was a pleasant atmosphere; we exchanged stories, laughs, and jokes, and every time someone asked something more intimate about me, I responded with the story I'd made up.
However, I narrowed my eyes and frowned when I saw something in the water chasing the boat, ruining the mood.
"Hey, do giant animals often attack androids here?"
"It's not uncommon to be attacked by the animals, but you'll be fine as long as you don't leave the villages alone or invade their territories." The android navigating the boat responded like a teacher lecturing a student.
"So what's that?"
I pointed to the thing in the water, and everyone lost their smiles as they turned their heads. Mouths dropped open and eyes widened as the largest and first alligator I'd ever seen, a beast the size of a bus, swam behind us at a terrifying speed.
Its armored green head alone dwarfed the boat by a large margin, and the small amount of its scaly back that showed indicated there was more.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!"
The boatman snatched the words right out of my mouth, and I nearly fell into the water as the boat reached its top speed.
Some grabbed oars, and others used their hands to add speed, pushing the water as hard as they could.
Soon, a cacophony of screams and curses filled the air, but our attempt to escape seemed to enrage the alligator, as it swam vigorously, to the point where we could hear its hissing and breathing.
BANG!
A shot from my rifle ricocheted off its shell, and I hurled a fireball at it.
BOOM!
"What the hell was that?!" One of the androids screamed, but I ignored him, focusing on our pursuer.
It didn't work; its armored, scorched form pierced the resulting cloud of vapor. I decided to use ice this time, freezing it along with the river.
CRASH!
Only for its giant body to crush the icy wall I'd placed in its path. Changing tactics again, I fired a bolt of lightning at it, and the gigantic animal roared in pain.
A smile crept across my face as he thrashed in the water, disappearing into the growing distance between us.
Minutes passed with the sounds of our escape the only ones echoing through the air. The tension seemed to ease, replaced by nervous laughter.
I was about to sit back down and celebrate, but my stomach sank and my still heart nearly leaped from my chest when a jet of water broke the surface of the river, threatening to drown us both.
If I didn't die from that, then the sight that appeared before me nearly made me faint: a colossal mouth revealing rows of teeth almost as long as my body.
"OVER THERE!"
One of the androids pointed ahead, and a pang of hope flared in my chest. There was a small pier just ahead, with a person fishing on the edge.
We tried to get his attention, shouting and waving our arms, but he didn't notice us.
As we got close enough, we realized he was wearing headphones, and only when we were a few meters away did he notice us.
I fired lightning at the alligator again, keeping it at bay, but it did little to stop it completely.
Simultaneously, the android on the pier scrambled to get up and pack his things as we yelled at him to get out of the way.
CRASH!
Eventually, the boat crashed into the shore next to the pier, and we threw ourselves off it, sliding across the muddy ground and using each other to stay upright.
When we were finally a step away from the tree line, we heard the sound of wood being torn apart, and looking back, we saw the alligator devouring the boat and pier in one bite.
"MY BOAT!" The boatman clutched his head in despair. I, however, paled, remaining frozen like a statue.
When the shock wore off, I reunited with the androids, hearing the wonderful news that no one had died, including the fisherman.
After exchanging a few words, the fisherman offered to take us to his village, which wasn't far from here.
We walked along a dirt road and after a few minutes, we saw large wooden and metal walls separating the settlement from the surrounding forest, with a deforested area surrounding it.
As soon as we passed through the entrance gate, all the passengers, myself included, gave the boatman some extra money so he could return home and buy a new boat.
We went our separate ways after that, so I continued through the streets of the settlement, preparing to meet its inhabitants and points of interest.
"We're close, very close. We'll get what we want soon." Manah appeared beside me, sitting on a old crate.
Despite her words, I couldn't share her joy.
I had a bad feeling. After everything I'd done, I wondered if it had been a good idea to accept the pact, and as much as I wanted to refuse, I already knew the answer.
END OF CHAPTER