237 Fulfillmen (1/2)

[Modern Day]

As if I had just endured a long nightmare, I slowly regained conscious. Opening my eyes, my vision was still extremely blurry, and in my mind, my consciousness was only slowly returning. Yet, my train of thought was still extremely hazy, almost as if I was still in a dream of some sort that has blended with reality, a dream that I will be unable to wake up from.

Slowly, the world returned to my senses. Gradually, I regained my perception of the world, seeing the world once again and hearing. The sound was at first a faint tremor, as distant as the nightmare that I had just experienced. Gradually, the sound increased in volume. It was the same cries that I heard in that nightmare.

Looking over at the source of the sound, I saw Muria being pinned down on the ground as her clothes were being ripped off. Slowly, I recalled what had occurred prior to my loss of consciousness.

How long was I unconscious for?

I slowly tried to force myself up but failed due to the great pain I experienced at my head. As I grimaced in pain, Muria continued to resist, trying to fight back desperately. As if influenced by her desperate struggle, I too planted both hands onto the ground, using the strength of my arms to aid in the process of rising to my feet. I clenched my teeth as my arms and legs trembled from fatigue and weakness, yet I persevered.

Seventy three years ago...I wasn't able to keep that promise. But... I won't fail you this time.

Beads of sweat clung onto my forehead as I slowly raised myself off from the ground, little by little. I gasped for air as my vision became blurry once again. The ring of darkness started to close in on my sight once again as I felt light-headed. With the great stress and emotional and physical toll that this action was putting me through, I really wanted to give up and just succumb. I want to just collapse right here, right now, onto the dusty wooden floor that is covered with my spots of my blood with wooden splinters and screws from the rifle and other debris scattered about. I'll go unconscious anyways, and if I don't, then I probably won't even feel much from how numb my body is now feeling.

Fight through it, I told myself. This...this is nothing compared to what she has to go through...

I steadied myself on my legs and then slowly allowed my upper body to rise, standing at my full height. My legs still trembled somewhat, but I forced myself to endure it. Slowly, I took a step towards the Warden, wobbling while clenching my teeth as I breathed deeply, trying to ignore the pain and force my weak body to support itself. Then, I took another step, stumbling forward and only able to maintain balance out of sheer willpower. Then another step, and another step, and another.

I leaned forward slightly, reaching down to the ground and grabbing the broken-off blade of the bayonet from the ruined rifle. The blade was dull and coated with some of the Warden's blood from earlier, but this was the best that I have. In fact, this is the only weapon that I have. There's nothing else here for me to fight with.

With the rusty bayonet blade in my right hand in a reverse grip, I continued to stumble forward, almost losing my balance several times and falling over onto the ground. But...I was able to persevere. I forced myself to continue on, forcing myself to ignore the pain, the fatigue, the desire to just...pass out.

As I neared the Warden's hunched over back, I squeezed the last bit of energy and power out from my body, forcing my legs to let out a burst of speed as I sprinted towards the Warden and jumped on his back. Like the way I had done so seventy years ago, I hooked my left arm around the Warden's neck, pulling back hard as I forced the muscles in my arm to tense up.

My actions forced the Warden's upper body to lean backwards, which startled the monster as he let out a loud roar. With his powerful right arm, he grabbed towards his neck but missed as he panicked. He continued to scratch at his throat, occasionally pressing hard against my arm and causing immense pain and possibly breaking the bone, but I continued to cling on.