SURVIVAL 28: POINT OF VIEWS PART 4

FIFTH'S / ROCHEDAN JAVINENDO’S POV

Myriana and Karson attacked us earlier. But we went away with it. I’m with my pair and her nth sense is touch. She felt someone’s presence and can also sense that someone was firing a gun at us without the need for close contact of touch. She just needs to touch the ground, tree trunk, or grass to detect an enemy movement or involvement.

I touch the marking on my nape while worrying about my little sister. We have the same markings as the letter R. I hope they’re okay.

Our parents have given us the name Rochedan Javinendo and my twin is Rochevel Javinendo. We have been close since we were kids.

I'm a protective brother because Rochevel is my only sibling. My twin's school and I are different because my school is far from our house, but she can't stand long trips. I'm a varsity athlete at school, so I can't give up my sports career at that school.

Our dearest grandmother died. She has become our second mother because our parents work and live abroad for several years. A year later, we found out that our father had cancer at a critical stage. I witness how loving our parents can be. How my father loves my mother and how my mother loves my father has inspired me to love someone special too.

I liked someone in grade 9. You may call it puppy love, that I may not understand what it was at that young age, but I’m sure that she’s my first love. I loved her truly with pure intentions. We’d been together for almost a year when she betrayed me. I can’t understand where I went wrong. Her answer was because I am too good for her.

I almost lost myself in heartbreak. But when I recovered from my past romantic relationship, my father’s illness got worse. I focused more on my studies and did better as an athlete to get a full scholarship that will help my parents ease the financial burden on our studies.

I want to go experience again to where the house is loud, and every meal is served with a warm hug. And maybe I want to go back when I chose not to pursue my love for her but focused on loving myself first.

AEIZEN'S / SEYAH MIAJE’S POV

Rochedan and I face Third and Rochedan’s twin.

Third and I are the only two who are willing to kill each other.

"I think we should start," Third spoke first.

"'Can we just not do this, p-please?" Fourth pleaded.

I'm eager to kill with my katana.

"Rochevel, brother is just here, okay?" Rochedan told her crying twin. Ah, yes Rochevel is the name of that feeble girl. No wonder I forget easily because their names almost sound the same.

“This battle will be nothing if none of us will attack first,” Third must be initiating an attack.

Rochevel doesn’t deserve to be in battle 10 alive and weeping. But what irritates me the most is when she gets comforted by anyone. She’s a coward and will drag someone to save her out of misery. When it comes to me, if I love someone so much... I want to kill that person.

The missing puzzle pieces are coming together about who I am. I was born and named Seyah Miaje, the youngest. I have three brothers, and a sister who is the eldest. We have parents who don't really care about us.

My parents are always fighting over money. My father, a good-for-nothing househusband, is narrow-minded, self-righteous, lacks empathy, conceited and takes advantage of my mother’s kindness. I must have been the most cursed one to be one of his daughters.

Here’s my naive mother who doesn't want to leave our father. She is a religious maniac who bows to her demon husband. She seeks peace and harmony by letting herself and children be abused for the sake of not letting our religious image down. What can I say, a masochist and a sadist are indeed a perfect match made from hell.

One night while thinking about my depressing life, I looked at my older sister sleeping in our room after our parents quarreled. I pulled out a knife behind me. I thought of stabbing her. I want to end my siblings’ lives because I love them so much to the extent that I want to kill them to finally stop their suffering.

Third tipped and aimed his pistol at Rochedan's head. Fourth shuddered to hold her katana. Tch, what a waste of katana wielded by a wimp.

Rochedan turned away and started an attack. His arrow is supposed to hit Third he managed to avoid it.

"Then this is war." Third fired at us one after another.

I ran and quickly dodged his bullets. Third focused on Rochedan, I ran closer to Rochevel.

"Ahhh!" she screeched. Third heard her shriek so he shot in my direction.

He hit me in my left leg. Lousy rat!

I aimed my katana at Rochevel. She also aimed at hers, so I didn't hit her head. I rushed at her again, but she backed away and protected herself with the weapon. I continued to attack until I hit her on her left shoulder. I continued attacking Rochevel.

"Ugh," I groaned when someone punched my stomach.

It was Rochedan. Ah, yes. He did it to protect his sister. Lousy traitor.

I stood up to kill Rochedan first. Change of plans. Without any doubt, I swayed my katana and stabbed the side of my neck. My stab was so deep that it went through his nape. Rochedan coughs and lies down, a sure death. My neck is bleeding but it’s just a scratch. I need to get out of here.

"Not so fast, Miss Miaje Seyah," I turned around and saw that Third pointed his pistol.

I ran towards Rochevel and I aimed my katana at her.

"Kill me but I’ll kill this girl first. If you want her alive, I'll run away from here with her. I’ll only release her if you stay there." I threatened him. “Raise your hands and throw away your pistol. Turn around and don’t leave your post, not for 2 minutes.” I instructed him which he did.

That’s right, Mister Third. Save yourself and let me handle this girl away from you because she only slows you down.

Rochevel and I both walked in a secluded part of the forest threatening her with my katana to walk forward. She’s crying.

“Hahaha!” I laughed, a sinister laugh. What a superb feeling this is!

I looked at Rochevel. “Go! Make a run from your nightmare! ‘Cuz this will be the last time you’ll breathe,” I shouted at her.

She hesitated to run and trembled. I pushed her. She ran so fast while weeping.

I might have made myself a fool of letting her lose. This will be the last and only time because I’ll kill you soon, Rochevel. I can’t have all the fun in one day.

SECOND'S / HEAVIEN'S POV

My nth sense is taste. I stick my tongue out as if I’m licking the air. When bitter, it will be big trouble. When sweet, it is safe. And there are many other flavors. I used to think that I should have sight as my nth sense because of archery. So maybe that's for the two partners to work together.

"Oh, look what we have here." It was a girl’s voice.

"It's Sectwen and Ninezen," First confirmed.

They are approaching us. There’s a wrapped cloth on Nadine's right shoulder. I stuck out my tongue for a moment and tasted the air... b-bitter indeed.

"By the way, didn't you do this to me?” Nadine is referring to her injured right shoulder. So that’s the casualty I’ve caused her. “The rest is from a far distance so it's probably you, Heavien. The weapon can't be lent, so it's you." I still feel guilty.

"We're looking for a competitor and we have found you." I saw that Trake is holding a sword, the same as First’s.

Trake and First have already advanced their respective weapons. First warned to be ready for this fight.

Nervously, I prepared the bow and arrow that is now focused on Nadine’s neck, and I plan to penetrate it that and also hit her nape—our target area.

"Attack!" Nadine proclaimed.

Nadine threw a grenade, and it exploded in front of me. She ran several meters from me. I coughed and my eyes were itchy. Good thing, it was a mild explosion. It seems that she has a variety of grenades, ranging from mild to fatal. I can feel the pain in my left leg that had been bruised by the grenade. I took a deep breath first when someone took my right arm and supported me... Trake?

"Cy, are you okay? Your forehead is bleeding!" Trake said.

First grabbed Trake's collar. "You thinking of ditching and harming her? Don't you even dare.” He glared at him.

"I'm fine. Go on with Trake. I’ll handle Nadine”

"But-”

"You have nothing to worry about, First." then I forced a smile at him.

I ran so that he would not stop me. I just noticed while they were fighting, both were exchanging deep stares. They seem to be communicating with their eyes alone. I had the courage to run even though my leg was still aching and I looked for Nadine where I last saw her.

I aimed an arrow at her.

She went near me. "Hyaaa!” she screamed.

I was shocked when she kicked the bow I was holding. I let go of the bow and arrow to touch my sore right arm. I received a kick to the stomach and a punch to the face while laying down.

"Yah!" I preceded her by punching. I used techniques I remember when my brother taught me basic self-defense.

"Do you really think you’ll win this because of your boyfriend?”

“Huh?” I was confused.

“Even if First is there for you, this game shall only have one winner. So, you still think that he’d save you ‘till the end?”

My eyes widened.

"Ah!" I screamed when she pulled my hair.

We continue to fight using only our physical bodies. We refrained from using our weapons and settle it down with a woman-to-woman fight.

"Heavien!" I heard someone called out my name. I looked around and saw Myriana on the right!

She's lying down and she's holding out her hands to me. Her forehead and arm are bleeding! I licked my bleeding lips and accidentally tasted a mixture of bitterness and sweetness. I was about to run closer to her when I felt a sharp object touch the bottom of my nape.

Nadine was behind me on her knees holding my arrow down. She twitched because of the electric shock. She must have forgotten that it is forbidden to touch or use other people's weapons. I felt there was some liquid dripping, it was blood. I removed the arrow an inch deep buried in my flesh. She stabbed me already when the arrow electrocuted her.

I suddenly remembered Myriana's. I was about to step when I saw that Seyah was behind her while lying on the ground. She lifted her glowing katana.

“Nooo!" I shouted at Seyah.

Nadine didn’t let me go running to her. I got on my knees and shed tears one after another. I was just stunned as I watched Seyah leave after she killed my now lifeless friend.

I coughed while Nadine was choking me. I picked up my arrows and aimed at her nape. She tightened her grip on me. I can kick her, so her hands will be loosed, but something is hindering me.

I saw someone running closer behind Nadine. He aimed his sword at her nape and struck. I could clearly see Nadine's wide-open eyes in shock. The gruesome pain she felt when he cut her neck must have been distressing. Her blood splattered on my cheek. Her body is lying on my chest.

I looked at whoever killed Nadine. He still holds the sword with blood dripping from the tip of its sharp and glowing blade. He stared at me without any reaction. Animals and monsters kill each other. I caught him red-handed, he's one of them.