Sam was all of a sudden brought back to the cave. And so was the pain.
"Ahhhh!"
He grabbed his abdomen, feeling the worst pain for there.
He was on his hands and knees now, trying to move a bit, but the pain was so ungodly that he could hardly register his surroundings.
He even put the memory he just recovered into the back of his mind. Sweat was falling from
His pale skin like rain drops and he was seriously feeling like death was approaching.
"Isn't this enough?"
He looked to his side and saw her again. This time she was looking at Sam as if he was a pitiful little child.
"It's okay Samuel."
"She's right Sammy… Mommy misses you."
Sam's eyes widened. He looked to his other side and saw the women from his memories. The woman who came and got him when he was at the park, watching all the other kids play. His mom.
"Mom…"
"It breaks mommy's heart to see you suffering. It's okay baby. Just come with me. Daddy is waiting."
"She is right Samuel. Come with us."
Sam looked to both his sides and saw the only two people that he could recall ever loving him. Both of them, pleading for him to let go. To submit.
'Should I just stop this? Even if I go back what point is there?'
He was tempted. So tempted to go with them.
But almost as if his mind was forcing him to stay strong, another memory was thrusted into his mind.
———
"Alright… congratulations on making it this far. You 11 are going to be learning everything you need to know. From martial arts, to survival techniques. From weapons, to mathematics. Everything will be drilled into those brains of yours."
Sam was currently in a large room. It had 10 beds in it.
"This will be your quarters. You will behave and will always be ready when the alarm sounds. This bunker, is right next to an active war zone. You will be fighting many times to defend this place. No questions."
The boys looked at each other and shivered. This was too intense. They just survived a ruthless and satanic test to climb a giant cliff side. And now they were forced to be defenders of some random bunker?
Sam raised his hand.
"Sir, where are we?"
The man narrowed his eyes at them. He was wearing a balaclava so his identity wasn't shown, and his name wasn't revealed. They could only see his lifeless eyes that showed not a hint of empathy for the 11 young boys. That was enough for them to know they couldn't care less if they died.
"That is unnecessary information. All you need to know is that when the alarm sounds, you get moving. Until then, you will be trained. I will drill in everything. Anything that will benefit you and make you good soldiers. Any dissent will be met with termination. No negotiation."
Sam was horrified about the uncaring demeanor. He never thought someone could be so vile.
"Training begins tomorrow. Rest."
He then goes to leave the room, but Sam once again calls him.
"Excuse me sir, what about the beds? There are only ten."
He stops and turns around.
"Then I guess one of you sleeps on the floor."
He leaves without even glancing once more.
The kids begin looking at all the beds and quickly run to grab a bed.
In a flash, all the beds were occupied and only one person was standing.
It was the Irish boy. He was given an anti-venom for his hand, but it wasn't that effective. He was currently pale and clammy. He looked and saw no bed available for him.
Sam also saw this. He thought they wanted to make them into cold and calculating killers. This was the first way to get them cold and ruthless. Singling out the weak link. Sam gritted his teeth.
"Hey, how about you take my bed."
The other boys looked at Sam like he was an idiot, but once again, the Irish boy was shocked.
He walked over to Sam's bed and looked at it. Then he looked back at Sam.
"You don't need to fuss with me. You already saved my life. The least I can do is let you keep the bed."
Sam wasn't buying it. He could tell the kid was on the verge of collapsing. He got out of bed and pushed the kid onto it.
The kid landed on the bad and looked up at Sam with shock.
The Irish boy was unable to understand why this boy was being so kind.
"Why? Why do you keep going out of your way to help me?"
Sam just smirked.
"These people, the ones who made us climb a cliff side, they don't care about us. They want us to suffer. They want us to become just like them. Cold and ruthless. I just… I don't want to give them the satisfaction. That's all."
The other boys looked at Sam with admiration and respect.
The Irish boy looked at Sam with teary eyes.
"What's your name?"
"Sam."
"Sam… I'm Charles. Thank you."
Sam smiled.
"No problem."
Just like that, Sam gained respect of the other boys. Not with his strength, but with his mental strength. They all felt resolved to get through this as well. Sam inspired them, even if they were just listening to them talk.
———
Just as he comes back from that memory. He still finds himself surrounded by Zola and his mother. Both of them opening their arms to him. Welcoming him into their warm embrace.
"Mom, Zola. I want to go with you."
They perk up, happy hearing that.
"But… I can't."
That happiness evidently disappears into confusion.
"Surrendering, would be the easy thing to do… and choosing the easy path, is something I never do."
Those memories. Of him helping Charlie on the side of the cliff and giving him his bed. Both were situations where he could have taken the easy path, and just abandoned him. But that wasn't how Sam did things. He needed to see that again. As now he is certain.
"I've still got work to do. Zola. You told me to live. I wanted to die with you, but that would be the easy way out, and insult to your struggles all the way up to your death! And mom. I don't remember much about you, but I do know you told me that I would find friends who I would cherish one day. I won't let you become a liar because I chose the easy path!"
Sam vocalized his resolve clearly. He wasn't giving up this day. In fact, he was ready to keep struggling. Just as Zola did.
Zola and his mom gave him resigned smiles, and the next time Sam blinks his eyes, they are gone.
Seeing that they are gone, he returns to his suffering. His resolve was renewed and not going anywhere. He was going to go home.
———
After choosing the path of suffering, Sam had to continue enduring the pain. He was vomiting, burning up, and his ankle was almost entirely black. He was certain a large chunk of flesh there would need to be removed.
Despite the agony, he felt that he stayed long enough in the cave. He was dehydrated and he was hungry. Even though he might just throw it up again, he needs to keep trying to survive.
Sam is hesitant about going back to his travels as he still endures the agony and side effects of the gaboon bite. But he needed to overcome this wall. Plus, he had a plan.
A reason why the area he was in was so empty, was because animals lived in fear of the old king. Soon, when they realize the old king is gone, they will return to this area. But in the mean time, as they think the old king is still alive, Sam will make use of the fur, and fashion it into a disguise. The vibrant colors of the leopard would ward off most adversaries. He does that, he should be able to move about uninterrupted.
Right now the greatest threat to his life, is his own body. He has to keep enduring the suffering as his body fights the venom and he still needs to be careful of the hallucinations. He keeps seeing things weirdly and feels like he just took acid. But he keeps his mind grounded and will stay level headed as much as he could.
Fortunately, he hasn't seen the hallucinations of Zola or his mom again. It seemed to him that his mind gave in to his stubbornness. But that is to be expected. Sam is the most stubborn guy in Africa.
After getting the cloak set and getting his leaf bag ready, Sam was ready to move.
"Alright… to… Burundi."