[ LEVEL 2 ]
[ HUNT OR BE HUNTED ]
[ SURVIVE 24 HOURS TO CLEAR THE LEVEL. ]
[ REWARD WILL BE GIVEN AFTER CLEARING THE LEVEL. ]
They found themselves deep in a forest full of trees and darkness.
"What is this place?" Ross asked.
"Oh… my head is spinning after seeing that…" Mio said, some amusement in her voice.
"I guess it's not easy. It's pure survival now. We can't survive without a plan. We have to think of something," Aarav said, some confidence in his voice.
Ross stepped forward.
"I think it's the same as those movies I saw…" Ross stopped, thinking with closed eyes.
"Yeah… that's correct. You're a big help, thanks Mr. Ross," Aarav said.
"But I didn't say anything…" Ross said.
"That doesn't matter. First we have to find some resources and make weapons," Aarav said as he grinned.
"Ok, let's do it," Ross said, agreeing.
"I'm not going to do anything. You better do it yourself," Mio said.
"Ah… uh…" Aarav didn't say anything, just furrowed his brows.
"Okay, Mr. Ross, let's find a river first. There must be one."
"Okay fine," Ross nodded his head.
"Let's explore this forest from inside," Aarav said and started walking away.
They started to walk deeper into the dark forest.
Mio started,
"How long will it take? I can't walk more than this…"
"But we just started. Wait a little more," Aarav said with a faint smile.
"You don't have any patience," Ross said.
Mio yelled in anger,
"So what! What do you expect from me? We all know someone killed everybody on Earth! He just wants to toy with us, watch everyone die suffering in his stupid game.
I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. I just wish this was a dream somehow and it would end… but I know it's real. We're like characters in someone's story, but not even worthy to be characters. Like anyone cares about us."
Aarav's eyes softened as he spoke in a soft voice.
"You know… I can't scream like you… because I know crying does nothing. I know how you feel. You're not the only one who lost everything… that's why we're here too."
He sighed.
"You're thinking now… if I died already, I wouldn't have to see this.
But you know what makes us different? We're among the few people who survived. I know we're still not free, but at least we can try one last time before dying…"
He saw Mio stopped mid-way. She was crying.
"I'm sorry… I think I shouldn't have said so much. I apologize again," Aarav frowned. "I feel like the main character for a moment, dumping everything at once. You don't have to take it seriously."
"It's okay… it's my fault too. I shouldn't badmouth either," Mio said, wiping her tears.
"You're making me emotional too," Ross said with a faint smile.
"So… let's begin again!" Mio said with an enthusiastic smile.
"Yeah… let's go," Aarav said, a faint smile on his face.
They finally found a river in the middle of the forest. They went closer.
"Oh look Aarav! We found it!" Ross said.
"I can't believe it. We actually found a river in the middle of the forest," Aarav replied.
"My throat is so dry. I can't endure more…" Mio said, her face pale.
They went near the river.
"It's real… I'm not dreaming," Mio said, touching the water with her bare hands.
"Mr. Ross, can you collect some wood? It might help to make weapons," Aarav said.
"Yeah sure, enjoy your time," Ross replied.
"Thanks. It'll be a big help."
"Yeah no problem," Ross walked off to look around the trees.
Aarav started taking off his clothes. His body was lean, perfect for an athletic type.
He jumped in the river.
SPLASH!
"Hey! What are you doing?! Don't you have any shame?!" Mio said, looking away quickly.
"What shame? I'm already so messy. How can I take a bath if I'm worried about you?" Aarav said and splashed water at Mio to tease her.
"Hey! What's your problem?!" Mio said, glancing back.
Aarav pointed at her, posing.
"Just kidding! Go to another spot if you want. I won't peek," he chuckled.
"I don't need your advice. Just don't come near me," Mio said, blushing a little.
"Yeah… I won't," Aarav said with a small smile.
Ross came back with some wood.
"Hey! Mr. Ross, that was fast! Hurry up! Join me — let's have fun together!"
"Wait! I'm coming too," Ross said, walking over. He removed his clothes and did a long dive.
SPLASHHH!
"Ah! It's so good! I feel better now," Ross said.
"Yeah, it would be more better if there were fish in this river too…" Aarav said.
"Why remind me about food? I'm barely controlling my hunger right now."
"Yeah… same. I'm hungry too. I wonder how long we'll have to wait."
"So… where's that girl?" Ross asked.
"Oh, Mio? She's over there. Far now, you can't see her clearly."
"Oh? She went that far?"
"Mr. Ross… understand, she's a girl. Why would she join us?!" Aarav whispered.
"Oh… is that so? I didn't notice."
They both came out of the water.
"I think that's enough," Aarav said, putting his clothes back on. "I wonder how long I'll wear these. I need new clothes…" he muttered.
Ross was sharpening wood sticks with his teeth.
"Mr. Ross… what are you doing?"
"Can't you see? Look, I sharpened this enough to hunt wild animals."
'Seriously, he made it sharper with his teeth…' Aarav thought.
"Let me see," he picked up the stick. It wasn't too sharp, but enough to kill something. "Not bad. Better to have something like this."
Then —
They heard a roar of a wild animal. A bear suddenly came out from the forest, walking closer with each step.
Aarav and Ross looked at each other and gave an evil smile. They had no fear of the bear — the bear started to fear them instead, seeing their smiles.
The next moment, they were cooking bear meat over flames.
Mio came back just then.
"When did you hunt that?!"
"Don't ask questions. Just eat," Ross said.
"Seeing that makes me hungrier…" Mio said, grabbing some meat and starting to eat.
"Hey Mr. Ross… is this safe to eat?" Aarav asked.
"If you don't want it, it's okay. I'll eat it all," Ross said, chewing the meat.
"I'll eat it!" Aarav said, staring at the meat strangely before taking a bite. "It's amazing… finally, real food."
"If you don't like it, don't eat," Mio chuckled.
"Shut up! I'm eating because I don't wanna die of hunger," Aarav said.
"Hehe…" she laughed.
"Hey! What's funny? Do you think I'm a fool…?"
...
"Hey! I said stop laughing!"
They were having their best time together, but they didn't know something far worse was waiting for them.
***