388 8.16 A Jolly Good Shot, Boss... T. (1/2)

”Sam... Wake up. Its Max...!” a familiar voice rang out in the darkness and I slowly opened up my eyes, straining to see the familiar figure that had gone missing for so many chapters. Whether it's a welcoming or a disappointing event, I won't be able to know since Max would only appear during a life-threatening situation.

”Hey Max, I'm beginning to forget all about you already. How has it been for this few months?” I asked as a figure materialised in front of me, wearing his casual Hawaiian printed shirt, a fedora, brown pants and a cigar in his mouth.

”It been a lot of ups and down, Sam. You had managed to gain another 100 novels pickup since the last mention of 542 many chapters back. The figure now remains between 640 to 650. Sometimes people would pick this novel up and then the next they would drop it if it is not too their liking. Heh, you can never satisfy everyone, mate.”

”Not to worry about this novel at all Max. Maybe it is time to put the pen down for some time. You know, sometimes writing is just an expression of yourself, the writer being the MC and all. Heh... I would definitely be surprised about where my next leap would be.”

”Talking about Leap, your life now is on a few strands of thread left in the form of Robin Hood, my friend. Its a few more events to follow before your so-called demise which leads to your next leap.”

”Haiss... It is going to be a pretty sad ending eh? Alright, Max... Get on with the show, then.” I said as I surrender the following events to my fate.

......

It had been 3 days and 2 nights that I kept on losing and regaining my consciousness in the Elder's thatched house. Matilda and Jean Lethal were attending to the Elder and my needs while Stef had organised a prayer of hope with the rest of the New Vagabond Army.

”My body is broken, I can feel it. Weak, crushed and beyond repair. Surely this is the end, surely there's no coming back from this. No, it can't be, it mustn't be.

How long has it been? Minutes? Hours? Who knows. I'm dying.” I thought to myself as I regained my consciousness. Matilda was beside me as she tried to spoon-fed me with the gruel that was prepared by her granny.

”No! No, I cannot die, not today. Not ever. I must survive, surely there must be a way. How did this happen to me, what have I done wrong? I can't...” I thought to myself again as I slowly sipped the gruel that was fed by Matilda, at the same time tears jerked at the corner of my left eyes and streaked down.

Little did I knew that the poison has spread to my heart and lungs and it made every breath laborious. My chest felt as if an elephant was sitting on it and every breath was too heavy and painful to inhale. Matilda who was spoon-feeding me was crying all the time and was whispering, ”Come on silly boy. Eat up and get on your feet. I want to hear your laugh and see your smile once more. Don't leave me be, Robin...”

”It'll be over soon, I can feel it. My end is coming and there's nothing I can do. Fine. I'm too exhausted anyway. I just wish I could've done things differently. But none of that matters now, it'll be over soon. At last.” thoughts raced in my mind as I slowly opened up my eyes and I reached out my right hand and grasped Matilda's hand.