In that state of depression and exhaustion, the doctor dragged John deep into the woods for cover to plan their next move.
That night, the doctor decided they needed to rest and recover from the hellish day John had endured. He instructed John to find a suitable place to sleep while he went to retrieve blankets or covers from his house.
"But won't they catch you too?! They're looking for us—did you forget?" John interrupted, concern lacing his voice.
The doctor smirked. "Did I hit your head too hard when I dragged you here or what? The villagers are after you, not me. They think I'm on their side, and for now, that works in our favor."
"Oh… right. Then go already. It's getting colder."
The doctor chuckled, tossing a few small rocks at John. "Shut up and do as I say."
With that, they split up.
John stumbled through the pitch-dark forest, relying on his senses to find a suitable spot. Barely able to see, he tripped on loose rocks and twisted his ankle. But with all the adrenaline from the day's events, he barely registered the pain.
Determined to relax, he followed the faint sound of a river. When he reached the water, he wasted no time. The cool temperature matched his body's warmth, soothing his weary muscles. As soon as he submerged his head, a wave of tranquility washed over him. No screams. No running. No fighting. No hiding. Just peace. For the first time in a long while, his mind was blank.
Then, in the silence, his thoughts drifted to the stories of Sasaki Kojiro and Kong Qiu. He imagined their presence, their strategies, their battles.
That's when he felt it.
Danger.
A cold, sharp sensation crawled up his spine. Instinct kicked in, and he jumped back, his heart pounding.
A figure stood at the water's edge—a strange-looking man with a long katana poised for attack. Before John could react, the swordsman lunged, the blade slicing toward him in a deadly arc.
John tried to close the distance, hoping to block the attack before the katana reached full speed—but he felt nothing. He failed.
He saw the blade cutting through his stomach. The pain never came, but in that instant, he swore he felt his soul being yanked from his body.
Then—darkness.
The doctor sprinted toward the river, panic gripping him. He dove into the water, swimming furiously to reach John's limp body.
Dragging him onto the shore, he grabbed John's legs and shook him violently before slapping him across the face. "WAKE UP!"
John coughed, sputtering water, and then immediately clutched his stomach, patting it frantically as if searching for a wound.
The doctor slapped him again. "Lower your damn voice! You'll get us both killed! What the hell happened?!"
"I'm alive! I'm alive!" John gasped. "Did you see that swordsman? He ran off right after slicing me!"
The doctor furrowed his brows. "What the hell are you talking about? We're alone here. You must've hit your head harder than I thought."
John sat by the fire as the doctor prepared food, still shaken. Eventually, the doctor asked, "Alright. Tell me what you saw."
John hesitated, then took a deep breath. "It's hard to explain… One moment, I felt at peace, and the next, I sensed something—someone—watching me. When I stood up, I saw it manifest. A swordsman. Long hair. A heavier-than-average katana. The way he moved, the silence, the precision—it reminded me of Sasaki Kojiro."
The doctor sighed. "John… are you sure you didn't take a hit to the head?"
"No, doc. This isn't the first time. It happened once before, but I couldn't make out the figure back then. This time, it was clear. It felt real."
"When did this first happen?"
"When I was younger. My mom always told me that my imagination was my weapon. She said it would help me overcome my autism and my problems. I practiced visualizing Sasaki, trying to make him real in my mind. Once, I saw something strange, but I couldn't grasp it. Now, I think it's him."
The doctor laughed suddenly, then threw his leftover food aside and shouted, "THANK YOU! YOU JUST REMINDED ME OF MY KIDS!"
He walked toward the nearest rocks and sat, staring at the water, lost in thought. John decided to give him space and lay down to sleep.
The Next Day
The doctor woke John up early, and they erased any traces of their presence before setting off to find Alina and Lina.
Hours into their trek, John gathered berries along the way. "Hey, doc, these are blueberries, right?"
The doctor burst into laughter. "HAHAHA! Those aren't blueberries. They're poisonous. Eat too many, and your whole body will go numb. Eat even more, and you'll die."
John smirked and pocketed a handful of the deadly fruit.
"I've got an idea," he said. "We can use this to stop the villagers from chasing us."
"Alright, let's hear your genius plan, Mr. Manifestation."
"Very funny. Anyway, they're looking for me, not you. We use that to our advantage. You 'capture' me and take me to the village. That way, you can get close to the leader while I deal with him. If this works, you'll be a hero and might even see your kids again. And best of all, the village will be safe for my mom and sister to return. I know they're still out there, fighting to find me."
The doctor nodded, considering it. "Not bad, John. But how do you plan on handling the leader?"
"That's my part. Just come up with a solid lie so they believe you. Get back to your family."
The doctor sighed. "John… I'd do anything to see them again. If this works, I'll owe you one."
They agreed and made their way toward the village. Along the way, John gathered more of the poisonous berries. Once they reached the outskirts, the doctor turned and, without warning, punched John square in the face.
John retaliated with an even harder punch.
The doctor grabbed his collar and yelled, "I FOUND THE WITCH'S SON! HE'S HERE!"
John's eyes widened as the entire village swarmed toward them.
Thinking fast, the doctor wrapped a rope around John's neck and tightened it just enough to make him black out. The villagers stopped in their tracks, watching as the doctor hoisted John onto his shoulder.
"WHAT?! I CAPTURED HIM! I'M TAKING HIM TO THE LEADER!"
The crowd hesitated before parting to let him through.
As they neared the leader's house, John stirred. The doctor whispered, "Stay still. If you move, they'll attack. I'm sorry I had to choke you, but I needed to sell it."
He slipped a small knife into John's hand before leaving him at the doorstep.
"This is it, John. Until we meet again."
Next Chapter: The Mission