Inhuman - Book 1 Page 13

  I walked out toward the middle of the property and used my father’s watch to point myself in the right direction.

  I need to get far away from here – I started running as hard as I could – and I’ll keep running until I can’t breathe anymore.

  Day 51

  I was struggling up some rather rough terrain, nearing the point of convincing myself that the compass was off and that I’d been going the wrong way. It wasn’t exactly a steep incline, but the fatigue partnered with not being able to use both of my arms made the loose dirt and rocks extremely challenging.

  Just as the crest came into view, the ground under my right foot collapsed. When I reached out to a large rock nearby, it came loose and sent me falling backward. I rolled a few times, severely hurting my shoulder, and then hit a stray tree about six feet down from where I lost my footing.

  I didn’t know what part of my body to start grabbing at first. “Are you fucking kidding me!”

  I stayed on my back awhile, waiting for the pain to subside. And once I did move again I found that, fortunately, I hadn’t built up much momentum to add a broken rib or two to my list of injuries.

  “Almost there” I said as I got to my feet, very much feeling the weight of the duffle bag.

  For every five feet I gained, I’d slip at little and lose a foot. It took me far longer than I’d like to admit before I made it to the top of the large “hill”.

  Then I saw it – an ocean of trees that begged me to question reality (something I’d been doing a lot lately).

  In the distance I could see lakes, rivers and the faded image of an immense snowcapped mountain reaching significantly higher than the others randomly coming up from in between the trees. The only sign of civilization was a dirt road a few miles to the left that had almost disappeared due to lack of use.

  It would have been quite the experience if not for instantly relating it to my family. So instead of looking over it in awe, I turned away before sitting down.

  I should have brought them here weeks ago.

  I don’t deserve to enjoy it…

  According to the map, the nearest town was a two or three day walk directly west. I just needed some time to heal and collect food for the trip. The back of my mind was still obsessed with finding out what was going on. I had to go – otherwise it would never stop eating away at me. And I had several things eating away at me. I needed to get rid of at least one if at all possible.

  I checked my father’s watch – 6:14pm. The sun was already starting to set.

  It was a long way down and I desperately needed to rest. In my opinion, technically I’d made it, so I felt good enough knowing that I was just half a day away.

  I’d also started to notice awhile back that I was seeing substantially more wildlife. The forest was changing. I wasn’t sure if it was anything more than my imagination, but I could feel the pulsating energy of the life all around me. I didn’t want to leave.

  It’s a good place to die…

  The temperature was quickly dropping and bringing harsh winds with it. Briefly, I was foolish enough to think I didn’t need to worry about the size of my fire – that I could be as warm as I wanted.

  No.

  There’s got to be a very, very good chance that other people are here hunting… or just escaping.

  I have to be even more careful for now.

  Yet again, I was faced with another task that greatly strained my arm, but I pushed past the pain and used the rifle to dig a very shallow pit approximately three feet in diameter. The idea being that the flames would be low and spread out instead of reaching several feet into the air.

  It didn’t have the desired effect.

  After feeding it just a little more and making another pile nearby so I could wake up in the night and easily keep it going, I collapsed onto my back. The sharp pain in my shoulder nearly took my breath away, along with reminding me that I’d been shot (because apparently I’d forgotten even though it was burning from preparing a fire).

  I was so out of it. But not to the extent where I was able to soon recognize my false sense of accomplishment and cast it away.

  I got my family killed.

  I still have no fucking idea what was going on… And I don’t even know what I’d do if I find answers.

  I’m about to start living in a god damn forest...

  I laughed – I’m only slightly less fucked and confused than the day I left.

  Day 52

  Just as I predicted, almost half a day passed before I made my way down to the forest. If I had to describe it, the only word that came to mind was vast. If it weren’t for the dirt road nearby it would have been the very definition of the word “wilderness”. It made me feel lost – regardless of the map in my pocket and the compass on my wrist.

  I had no intention of picking a spot more than a few hours in, and certainly didn’t plan on wandering more than a few hours away from camp once I’d made it. The farther I traveled in, the more likely it would be that I’d run into more dangerous wildlife. The wolves were sure to be active again. There were mountain lions and bears. And as I’d come to learn, a lot can happen in a very short amount of time.

  I had one more “meal” left, and I didn’t intend on having to worry about food until the next day. That’s why I hadn’t stopped walking since I woke up.

  Since I was making great time, I dropped my bag when I came across a decent tree to sit up against. My stomach was growling louder than usual, so I took out my last portion of dried meat and picked out about a little less than half of it, then put the rest away for later.

  As I struggled to choke down an especially dry and rubbery chunk, it made me wish I had taken a few eggs from Auron’s chicken coop. For a moment, I could swear I tasted the egg and piece of bacon he gave me that morning.

  …

  Even though my body was begging for more time, I only allowed myself to rest for another twenty minutes or so. I still wanted to walk a few hours in, just in case anyone came down that old dirt road heading west. It was well on the way to being overgrown, but I could definitely tell it was used every now and then.

  Also, the deeper I traveled in, the better chance I had of running into deer, or even something like a boar. I just had to keep reminding myself that there were a lot of things that could kill me as well – silent hunters – if I didn’t pay attention, by the time I figured out something was following me it could be too late.

  And it wasn’t long at all before I began hearing wolves howling to one another from across the forest. I thought to myself – Bigger fire tonight.

  The farther I went, the more obvious it became that I had made the right decision. After just an hour, I’d already seen dozens of really fat rabbits, much larger birds and countless squirrels – if it came down to it. As far as I was concerned, it would only be a matter of time before I spotted something truly worth shooting.

  I glanced at my father’s watch – 1:26pm.

  I planned to keep going for close to another hour, then prepare a fire pit and start chopping down some thin trees so I could build some type of shelter – until I remembered that I couldn’t swing an axe…

  Being injured in such a situation was one of the worst things that could happen. I had to take on a new mindset – I have to think like it’s the fucking civil war.

  Infection could easily lead to a slow, agonizing death, and I’d be completely powerless to stop it.

  I need to start off by keeping it clean.

  The very thought of it made my entire body tense with worry, so I came to a stop and put all my things down. I took off my jacket and rolled up my sleeve – it wasn’t enough so I just took my shirt off. Auron took the trouble to put a thin bandage around it, but it wasn’t really doing anything. The hole looked irritated, though I couldn’t spot any obvious signs of an infection.

  I searched through my bag and found a few old shirts that must have already been inside when I grabbed it. They seemed reasonably clean so I poured s
ome water over the wound and did my best to wipe around it and slightly inside of it. It was painful, though not to the point where it suggested an infection was setting in. Once I was satisfied, I reached around to the back and did the same to the exit wound.

  It was still cold during the day, so my shirt being off and the little bit on water on my skin gave me a chill. Every time the wind picked up my entire body would uncontrollably shake for a few seconds, and activating my muscles in such a way only exacerbated the pain. For that reason, I quickly reapplied the bandage, put my clothes back on and got going so I could warm up.

  A chill could be a hard thing to get rid of.

  Surprisingly, my knee was bothering me more than the holes in my shoulder. Although it also began to scare me, because my wounds were going to heal and that would probably get worse as continued using the shit of my knee on a daily basis.

  Hopefully, I won’t end up spending days wandering around the forest until I finally spot something worth shooting.

  I was already low on bullets and I fired at least five – maybe even six or seven shots that day with Auron and his son. I was tempted to shoot a rabbit on many occasions, but I just kept reminding myself that I really need to kill something that would last a lot longer.

  Twenty-something isn’t shit. I can’t waste bullets – even if you have to go hungry all day tomorrow. I have to hold off for a deer.

  I wasn’t monumentally concerned because even if it did take all day to kill something like a deer, once I did, I’d be able to rest for weeks. And I’d already spotted a large lake in the distance, so I knew that wouldn’t have to worry about water either. But what was extremely frustrating – after dedicating a good amount of time to thinking of a way to fish I was still drawing a blank…

  As I walked, every fifteen minutes or so I brought up my rifle and used the scope to scan the distance for deer and the lake. I wanted to set up “camp” close by, but not too close.

  The forest was beautiful and constantly offered a feast for the ears, whether it was the wind, the rustling of the trees or the countless different species of birds. And the leaves of the magnificently, deep green trees still held on to the remnants of snow that was gradually melting during the warming days. I couldn’t see the mountains anymore, but it was still an extraordinary place to be.

  Almost every bit of nature I saw along the way became part of a life changing example of what the world was like when man hadn’t had a chance to ruin it…

  They should be here.

  Or I should be with them.

  Not here alone.

  After another twenty minutes or so, I could see the lake about a quarter mile away through the scope, so I stopped and let my bag crash to the ground. It was also a water source for all of the predators in the area, and I knew very well that bears frequented lakes and rivers.

  I’d already made so many terrible decisions. I had to be more serious about stopping and making myself think carefully about everything. For whatever reason, I still held on to the will to survive.

  It can’t be because I really believe finding answers will make me feel better… or that I’ll actually fucking find any answers.

  Is it just part of being human?

  Day 53

  I woke up starving – as usual.

  What I really wanted was a cup of coffee… I’ll trade one day of hunger for one cup of coffee, right here, right now. Two days for a bottle of… anything.

  When I found that my side was hurting even more, I let out an over exaggerated groan and forced myself to do some stretches. “Had to fall down a fucking hill didn’t you?”

  I lazily stumbled about five yards, leaned up against a tree and pulled down my zipper. I was still feeling a bit too groggy to just stand there. Some of it ended up on my pants, but I simply didn’t give a shit.

  I originally planned to head out as early as possible. I glanced down at my watch – 7:04am.

  Another ten minutes won’t hurt.

  Fuck I want a cup of coffee…

  As the winds randomly dropped and surged, it sounded like the trees were communicating with each other – as if they were all connected. And at times, the rustling of the countless leaves also reminded me of small waves lightly rolling in on a beach.

  It was nice to close my eyes and listen next to the warmth of the dying fire.

  …

  I was confident that there wasn’t a soul for at least twenty miles, so I decided to risk leaving everything behind other than my Walther, the rifle, a knife and a half-full jug of water (that I fastened to one of my belt loops using a piece of a t-shirt). Not only was walking with all of it noisy, but it wasn’t exactly helpful to the condition of my shoulder or my knee, and I expected it to take all day since I’d already been out here for quite a while without seeing any large game.

  I transported myself back in time, recalling what my father had taught me about hunting when I was a teenager. The first thing that came to mind was checking the lake – wildlife will always gather by the water’s edge to drink. In my mind it seemed to be a good gamble, and I also very much appreciated the fact that it could spare me from another day or two of walking.

  Hearing the wolves so frequently since I’d arrived had me somewhat on edge. They normally didn’t bother messing with humans but, regardless of that fact, I stopped every few minutes and scanned the woods behind me – at the same time looking for anything worth shooting. The time of year made predators a little more desperate.

  At least I haven’t heard any gunshots yet.

  I finally counted my bullets before I left. After having to fight off those men with Auron, I only had twenty-five rounds left – fifteen being for the Walther.

  I guess I shot more times than I remembered.

  Shit. It’s not going to be easy hunting with a pistol when it eventually comes down to it…

  Once I made it to the lake I searched the bank. I didn’t see a single thing. Even the water was completely still. Fishing came to mind again, but I had yet to come up with anything realistic at the moment. Not with what I had.

  I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bait and tackle shop in that little town.

  Probably be a waste, but I might have to risk checking it out.

  As I looked back over the days I spent hunting with my father, I remembered another important thing he taught me – patience. “Sometimes if you just wait in the right spot, something will come to you.”

  I took his advice and sat in between two large bushes near the water’s edge. I was well hidden and could perfectly see the entire bank in both directions. If anything came by to drink – I’d spot it. On a side note, it would also give me the opportunity to hear anything that may have been tracking me. So I just sat quietly and enjoyed the feeling of the pressure being off my legs and feet.

  When I first took a seat, I assumed that I had a painfully monotonous day ahead of me, but watching the sun move across the sky and the sudden breaking of the water’s surface by fish proved to be quite enjoyable and, most importantly, distracting (to a point).

  So much had happened. There hadn’t been many moments that I didn’t spend guilt-ridden, worried and afraid. The feeling of being at peace was becoming unfamiliar, so it was nice to find something that could help me hang on to it.

  And it lasted longer than I ever would have thought, though observing the sudden rise in activity in the water and not being able to take advantage of it became irritating, along with reminding me of why I was having to worry about it.

  If I could just come up with a way to fish I could save my bullets… And it would be a lot easier than roaming through the forest looking for deer – a lot easier.

  I used every available part of my brain to try and come up with something, but I still couldn’t even come close to a relevant idea. I had my shoe laces and I had enough materials to add a little more length. I just had nothing to use as a hook. If not for genuinely needing the duffle bag, I might have tried to fashion it into a net – m
aybe even use the strap to make a cast net of sorts.

  I’d probably just waste hours making a piece of shit thing that doesn’t work…

  My back was growing uncomfortable from sitting for so long so I adjusted myself. As I did, my sleeve got caught on a large thorn and ripped a little… After a few moments, it hit me – I can cut off a section of this thorny branch and tie my shoelace to it. I just have to find something to bait it with.

  Fuck, what if something happens to the lace? I need it…

  I know. I know. I can split the other lace in half and use it for both shoes.

  I searched around and noticed a patch of moist soil near the water’s edge that barely had any grass growing. I walked over and started digging around with my foot, then leaned down and used my hands to get a little deeper. Eventually, I found a tiny earthworm.

  Armed with the knowledge that I could catch bait right on the bank, I headed back to my bag. Only using one shoelace wouldn’t get me very far. I needed at least a few more feet and I knew I had to have something I could use to do it.

  It was right at that certain time of day when the fish were particularly active. And I knew from experience that it wouldn’t happen again until early the next day, so I sprinted the whole way…

  As soon as made it back the cloth strap on the K98 caught my eye… I really don’t need that… I removed it and used the knife to score it in half – giving myself close to six feet of more line.

  After the long burst of running, all I was capable of was a slow jog. There was no way I could have done it again, especially not while my knee was bothering me so much... I’ll probably be sorry I did it tomorrow.

  Once reaching the bank, I dropped down next to the patch of dirt where I’d found the worm and began removing my shoelaces. I cut one in half and used the two pieces to re-lace the top half of each shoe. Then I attached the two pieces of the strap to together and laid it out on the ground.

  Not quite as long as I pictured, but it’ll have to do.