Sam was making some progress. He was currently next to a road in Burundi. He made it out of Kibira forest. However, with his cover of the forest being no more, he had to try and keep his head down.
He also had to steer clear of the capital of Burundi. Bujumbura. He had to steer clear of a large city like that. Pale Hand may not have as much presence in Burundi, but they have informants willing to sell information for money. And a Japanese-American boy, wrapped in bloody bandages all over his body, wearing a leopard hide, is not so hard to spot.
He can't blend in well in Africa's population. It's a biological fact that people here are more likely to have darker skin than lighter. And while Sam is not pale, having been in the hot sun for years now, he would obviously be seen as an injured white boy.
Sam thrived in secrecy. But he needed to get medical help. This was the paradox he found himself in. That's why he decided to head towards Tanzania.
If Sam is not mistaken, the presence of humanitarians is much larger in Tanzania and is more likely to come to his aid.
If Sam were to go for treatment in Bujumbura, he would likely get arrested by authorities as an illegal foreigner minor and his name and face would be recorded. That wouldn't be good. Sam's greatest weapon is that the world thinks he is dead.
So the best way to travel, in Sam's opinion, would be to follow less populated roads and steer clear of large villages and just remain as unseen as possible.
Currently, if his memory was right, he should be heading on a path towards Tanzania. He knows he passed Bujumbura, meaning he was in the clear for now, but he still had to remain unseen for the most part. The people on the backwater villages wouldn't care too much about him as they have their own struggles to deal with. It's not that they wouldn't help him, it's just that Sam can't trust that they would keep him away from the government.
So he just went around villages and traveled through forests to reach Makamba. According to his geographic knowledge, that is a popular area for Illegal immigrants to cross. The border patrol is much weaker there.
If he can reach Makamba, he can finally find a place to get himself treated. But that was betting on luck. Luck he hasn't had since he began his journey.
Currently, he was at the edge of a forest, right beside a road that he knows goes the direction of Makamba. He saw a sign a while back. If he just follows the road, he can reach there.
But he is not doing hot. His wounds haven't healed. He is tired, especially in the mountainous and scorching area he is in. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to find more water sources, as those are way off track of his destination. He still has some left in his canteen that he made, but he has been rationing it along with his food.
Luckily he is great at identifying poisonous plants and animals, so he hasn't been too hungry, but he ran out of meat from the old king that he smoked and salted to preserve as jerky.
Sam didn't know how much longer he could go, but he had to push himself. He couldn't allow himself to fall here.
So he kept walking, ignoring the pain of his injuries, the sickness from infection and the snake bite, and the hunger and thirst that were tormenting him. He was literally clinging to life. But Sam was the most stubborn person in Africa.
He realized that was who he always was. Even before he lost his memory.
———
RING!
RING!
RING!
RING!
Suddenly Sam and the other 6 kids are brought out of sleep.
They immediately stood up without fuss.
It's been a few months since the first battle. They had many more conflicts with the Somalian pirates. Each day of fighting chipped further at the souls of the boys. Especially when 2 more kids died, leaving only 7 survivors, Sam included.
They successfully completed the mission of defending the cargo when they wiped out the rest of the Somalian Pirates and the government of Djibouti was able to successfully transport the important cargo to a safer place. After getting paid, they were cleared to leave the bunker.
They were immediately transported by plane to another African country. Rwanda.
According to the instructor, there they would have two more tests. After passing these two tests, they would be allowed to join the Pale Hand's child soldier unit.
All the boys thought it was just being dumped from one hell to another.
They have all gotten stronger and smarter. They learned a lot about the world and about themselves. They were now able to go around their lack of quirk and use strategy and intelligence to beat a stronger opponent.
Sam was spending a lot of time, helping the other boys with their studies and their combat training.
Sam wasn't a genius, but he listened and learned what he needed to. And with him supporting the others, they became more effective. Unfortunately, they couldn't stop 2 more of their comrades from dying.
Hearing that 2 more tests remained, they had hope that they wouldn't be thrown into unreasonable situations. Like having to fight off hordes of Somalian pirates.
As soon as they all got up, they stood straight and awaited commands.
"What do you think this is about Sam?"
Right next to Sam was Charles. Over these past months, Sam and Charles bonded the most. Charles was able to overcome the injured hand and was a competent soldier.
This was because Sam wouldn't abandon him. Seeing Charles progress, the other kids asked for Sam's help. Not willing to abandon others, he decided to have sparring sessions together and they would all be determined to get stronger together.
Despite the camaraderie, they didn't tell each other names. After seeing the other boys die so easily, they knew better than to get attached. They knew who Sam and Charles were, but they kept to themselves.
Despite that, they grew closer and were able to rely on each other. That's why they all looked determined to get through this trial.
"It's probably to next trial."
"Right again, Suzuki."
Instead of a loudspeaker, the door opened and the instructor came into the room.
The kids all stood at attention. Ready to listen.
The instructor didn't praise or acknowledge their obedience. It was to be expected that they complied at this point.
"Today, you 7 are going to do the next trial. I think you will enjoy this one."
The other boys looked at the instructor with a mild hope that it means it will be easier, but Sam knows good and well what the truth is.
'Don't trust this guy…'
Sam looked at Charles, and saw he had the same idea. Charles was supposed to die in the first test. He heard them betting on him falling to his death on the side of the cliff. He knew they weren't merciful.
"Follow me."
No speeches or motivation. Just an order. And they knew better than to contest it.
———
They were all outside now. They looked around, waiting for instruction. When the instructor stopped walking, so did they.
"For this test, you will be separated. All of you will have to use your own strength to survive. Those who don't survive, don't."
They all gulped.
6 more men in balaclava showed up next the instructor all of a sudden.
"Each of you will follow one of us. We will take you to your test site. All your tests will be identical. So don't think it was unfair."
"Suzuki, you're with me. The rest of you, go with who calls you."
""Yes, Sir!""
They all said in sync.
The instructor walked away and Sam followed behind him.
As they walked, he started talking.
"You've been a really cheeky brat, you know?"
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, sir?"
He clicked his tongue.
"Don't play dumb, boy. I know what you are doing. Why you saved that deadweight and why you keep assisting the other brats."
Sam wasn't shocked. He knew they weren't merciful watching.
"I didn't hear of any rule saying I couldn't, sir."
The instructor turned around and looked Sam square in the eye.
Sam was a bit shaken, seeing the lifeless orbs he calls eyes see right into his soul.
He wanted to look away, but he wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
After a moment of staring, the instructor turned around and kept walking. Sam followed.
They remained silent the rest of the way.
———
"We are here."
Sam was shocked. He followed the instructor into the woods surrounding the main base, here in Rwanda.
And what he sees, is nothing short of terrifying.
"S-sir, what is the meaning of this?"
Sam could feel that he smirked behind that balaclava. A smug one. He couldn't see it, but his eyes told him enough.
Before Sam, was a large cage. In that cage… was a hyena.
"This buddy right here, cost a pretty penny from some poachers. The other 6 are also pretty expensive, but hey, this will be interesting. And the boss always has a method to his madness."
Sam backed up.
"You run away, I kill you."
Before he could turn around, he felt the glare of the instructor.
To make it even worse, he saw a camera on the ceiling of the cage. Not just one, but many. Each from different angles.
"You will enter this cage, and one of you will leave this cage. Either you, are the hyena."
That was all Sam needed to hear.
'These guys… are evil given form.'
Sam was greatly worried about the others. Despite the others drawing a line, Sam still grew to care about them. As for Charles, Sam considered him a dear friend. He was most worried about him.
'Please… Charles… Survive.'
The instructor opens the cage and gestures Sam to enter.
"These hyenas have been starving for a few days. They are ready to eat the first thing that comes into their sights. There is a divider in there keeping it from rushing you before getting fully inside the cage. I will remove the divider and you two will begin. Are you ready."
Before Sam could ask a question, the instructor answered for him.
"None? Then let us begin."
Sam could feel the enjoyment in his torment.
He gritted his teeth. In both rage and fear.
'Focus, Sam! They aren't giving me a weapon, but they are not going to interfere!'
He was pushed into the cage by the instructor.
Sam looks across from him and the Hyena is salivating. It's in a position to pounce on him in just a blink.
"Alright. 3-"
BZZZZ
Suddenly the divider opens up.
'I would never trust you, instructor.'
The moment the hyena dived towards him Sam quickly dived to the side. It bit nothing but the air.
Sam couldn't even concentrate on the instructor at the moment because he had to worry about this starving beast. But he was sure he was disappointed I didn't fall for his little scheme.
The hyena turns around and jumps at Sam again.
'It's predictable. It's too hungry to make rational decisions.'
Sam was able to understand that much. But that won't help much. He had a starving beast in front of him. The moment it bites him, what it bites is as good as forfeit.
Sam watched the hyena closely. Watching every single muscle with the most concentration.
He didn't know how he would win, but he needed to think outside the box.
It charged once again, drool falling from its giant maw, ready to chomp on the little boy it assumed to be easy prey.
Sam dodged again. But the Hyena used its brain, seeing its hunger was driving it mad and was not being careful. Now it was being careful. Sam saw this, but too late. It bit the air but as Sam dodged its paw slashed at his leg, hitting it.
"Gah!"
He jumped back.
The hyena licked up the blood on the ground from cut.
Sam took a glimpse down and saw it was a deep cut.
Then Sam saw something interesting.
'It's staring intently at the bleeding wound. It's starving. The smell of blood… I got it!'
Sam had an idea. He kicked his leg, still far away from the hyena, making his blood hit its face. Now it had blood on its snout.
'Yes! How about that?!?'
Sam saw the hyena pawing at its head. It was shaking and shivering.
The scent of blood, so close to its sensitive nose, was driving it mad.
"You want some more?!? Come and get it!"
Sam rubbed the wound and got blood on his hand and started flinging it at the hyena. The more it smelled blood, the more of a frenzy it would fall into.
That's right. Sam wants it to become drunk on Sam's blood. Sam is teasing it with his blood and its starving mind can't handle the temptation. It's a pure psychological attack on an enemies vulnerability.
Sam kept flinging his blood at the Hyena and it kept getting more frantic. Its senses, which were great, were now focused on the stench of blood.
All Sam had to do was keep dodging and find an opening. He looked behind him, and saw the bars of the cage.
'Bingo!'
He stood behind it. Then he flung more blood at the hyena.
It charged at Sam, completely uncontrollable.
It went to chomp on Sam's neck.
Sam moved right before it could chomp on him, and it bit a bar in the cage. Despite its incredible bite force, against steel, those teeth were as good as broken.
"Awooo!"
Not only did its teeth break, but it broke its jaw.
It was whimpering in pain. But the bloodlust was still making it go at Sam. Now that it was in agony and it was high on blood, it was absolutely insane.
It hopped at Sam, again, but Sam was ready this time. Its bite was wrong and missed him Sam saw that his bite wouldn't be as precise and took advantage of that. The moment its jaw closed, it whimpered in pain as it hurt a lot. That whimper was a moment Sam had been waiting for. Sam ran up to it and hugged its neck after hopping on its back.
He squeezed with all his strength.
The coughing and whimpering hyena became even more frantic, but the pain, combined with the madness and the tiring chase for Sam, it was not as vicious as it could have been.
But that isn't saying much. Sam was still being hurled around by the struggling Hyena.
It did a roll onto its back, sandwiching Sam.
"Oof!"
The entire weight of the hyena was crushing him.
He couldn't ease up. He had to keep his grip on it. And he did. With all his strength he kept squeezing. It started clawing at the air with both sets of paws. He held and held for dear life. Until finally… it stopped.
The hyena stopped moving.
Sam pushed the hyena off of him. He was in pain. That fall onto its back, sandwiching him, might have broken his rib.
He looked at the dead hyena. And thought about the others.
"…please. Save them."
Sam prayed to any god. Hoping his comrades would miraculously survive.
But did god ever listen to Sam?
Never.
———
Sam woke up with a start.
"Another memory… Another fucked up game… they really wanted to make us suffer…"
Sam grabbed his head. Feeling his head hurt from the new memory.
"These missing memories… this isn't simple amnesia… this feels… forced…"
Sam had an idea, and based on what he had seen of the fingers of the Pale Hand, he was certain they would do something sinister like memory erasure on him.
He was in a forest right beside the road. He needed to rest again, too tired and hurt to walk for a long time. His walking time was getting shorter though. He was afraid if he didn't get medical attention in a couple days, he would be a dead man.
"I need to get moving."
He got up, slowly.
Ate some berries.
And drank a few sips of water from his canteen.
He looked under his bandage.
"…infected."
He was not doing good.
He hurried up and started moving after putting out the fire he made.
As he walked, he thought of the memory again.
'The hyena… it was savage… but the instructors were the worst savages of them all… they aren't even human… I can't go back!'
His resolve was even firmer. He would never go back to savage monsters like them.