The scene practice- A Man's life.
The dense forest of tall, dark trees stood straight. The shadows they cast reached the ground. Light couldn't creep through them. The soil was wet, as if it had recently received rain.
Crunch--sticks snapped in the abyss of this forest. A lone man walked like a soldier, marching through the obstacles: heavy breaths and slow steps.
Man, that old geezer actually wants me to climb this big-ass mountain. What the fuck is wrong with him? He thought.
"Sigh, this is hard. I can't even see the sun, but the smell is amazing. There was rain an hour ago." He muttered, gasping for air, and slowed down.
Arkam stopped below a long tree like a Titan. His back supported by the bark, he gulped some water down.
"Phew, that hit the spot." His mind lingered, then he started his march.
'How am I supposed to climb this shit? I just asked him one question... and now this--how am I supposed to find the answer here?'
The air was smooth and calm. Goosebumps rose as broken memories returned to his mind...
...A small cabin in the middle of golden fields. The air is smooth and cold, like a melody.
In the cabin's backyard, there were fences. Many cows, sheep, and chickens strolled the area.
"Oi, Arkam!" A grimy and jagged voice called-
"Yeah!" Arkam replied. He was feeding the cow wheat.
"Come, I need you here." Arkam's eyes twitched.
"Come where? I don't know where the hell you are." He stood up. fed the cow all the wheat straw.
"Oh, okay... I'm at the entrance. Come fast."
Arkam opened the back door to the backyard, going through the kitchen. He saw many things scattered around, as if a tornado had wreaked havoc everywhere. "What the fuck is this mess?"
"Oi, old man, who made this mess?" He inquired. Picking things up as he got closer to the front door.
"Reshe." The voice came from outside the door.
"Then tell her to clean it up, or I'll smack her." He dropped the things on the floor.
"Spank her? What the hell is wrong with you? She is 12," the man shouted.
Arkam opened the door. He squinted his eyes as the golden glare of the dawn blinded him. The golden-wheat field, with the small town's buzz. The birds were chirping, and the bell rang from the church above the hill.
As his vision returned to normal, an old man gasping for air with a lumbering axe in his hand. Many pieces of wood were lying at his feet.
"No, you old fart. I said smacking, not spanking. Get your hearing surgery already!"
"Hey, help me here. This is a young man's work; use those muscles." The man smiled, still gasping for air.
"Yeah, yeah, who told you to do this? I always do it, right?"
He stepped towards the old man. 'Hmph, he didn't even listen to me... Hey, how did you hear me across the backyard and entrance?'
"Yeah, but seeing you happy made me do this." The old man answered.
'Damn, old bastard. Every time he says something like that, he saves himself.' A smile crept across Arkam's face as he took the axe.
"Now, let me do this while you make dinner." And he chopped the woods, thud-thud, the wood piled up fast.
Pop-Arkam cracked his neck. "Phew, that took a while."
"Ay, big bro, Arkam..." A sweet voice called from the back as someone was pushing Arkam. "...Shitttt!" The little girl jumped on him as he fell on his butt.
The girl hugged him. "Wow, you are sweaty."
"Yeah, I was cutting wood before you jumped on me, you idiot." Arkam snapped, pushing her aside; he stood up. Then he dusted his clothes off.
"What the hell is wrong with you? What if the axe in my hand injured you, Reshe?" He inquired; the girl's head was down, and her silence, having no answer, made her quiet.
"It was me; if this were someone else, it would've been bad." Arkam walked past Reshe, picking up the axe he had thrown before Reshe could jump on him.
"Hey-hey, don't shout at her; she is just a kid." The old man heard the ruckus and came out of the kitchen.
"Tsk, it is not okay to go easy every time, old man. Let her feel the consequences of her mistakes."
"I am sorry..." the girl muttered.
"Hmph, okay, but be cautious next time. You're the only one besides this old geezer, okay?"
"Hey..." the man snapped.
"But what about you, big bro? You are also with us, right?" Her eyes were teary.
'No, I am not, even though I want to say that I am with you; it'll be a lie.' The thoughts lingered in his mind.
With a smile. "Yes, I'm with you, but I'm not here forever. I have to go when the holidays are over. Then you are the only one here with him." He patted her back.
Nodding up and down. "Yes, big bro."
His lips curled into a smile. His eyes were at ease.
The old man gestured for Arkam to come close. "You would've dodged her." He whispered in Arkam's ear.
"Yes, but she would've fallen on her face." A small chuckle escaped from the old man's mouth.
_____
End of Act 1.
Scene Writing practice--A man's life 'Act 2'
A man wearing a black padded Alpine Wanderer looks like a black sheep. In the woods, silence devoured, and an abyss hissed like a snake. The man walked through and through; finally, the rays blessed him from the shadows of the forest.
It was amazing to see the clear blue sky. 'Damn, never thought the sun would make me happy.'
He put down his bag. His shoulder sank as the burden was down.
The open green field swayed smoothly in the breeze. Arkam smiled, his gaze directed upward.
A giant mountain loomed, its peak reaching above the clouds. The massive rock pointed towards the heavens. Above the coat of white, the snow glistened.
"The old man said it was 9285 meters above the sea, damn."
"Well, you gave me a 'great' deal of work, old bastard." Scratching his head, he removed the black jacket. "Phew, that was intense. That old man didn't tell me to wear this when it was very cold."
He sighed, walking close to the bag. He searched for something in it, pulling his hand out with a chocolate bar.
'Well, time to eat.' He munched on the chocolate bar.
Birds chirping and leaves rustling made time pass unhurriedly. Grass weaved, the air forced. The long and lonely mountain loomed. The smell of rain and the slight chill in the air caused his tense eyes to loosen.
He put the wrapping of the bar in the bag and sat down. In the peaceful hour, he lay back and closed his eyes.
At the cabin, Arkam sat outside, the chair between the golden fields.
"Big bro, Grandpa is asking you. Come fast." Reshe screamed, but the heavy sounds of air made it fade.
Arkam heard her. "Yeah... coming."
Arkam got up from the chair, strolling toward the cabin. "Ay, old man... Did you call me?" Arkam pulled the door.
He walked to the kitchen. "What happened?" As he looked at the old man.
"Sit down; I wanted to talk about something." Cutting the vegetables.
He pulled the chair out from the dining table and sat down. "Okay, if this is a father-son talk, then I'm not interested." Licking his lips, Arkam gazed at the old man.
The man stared at him as if he wanted something from Arkam.
"What?!" As he didn't know what the old man wanted.
"Ahh, so... Arkam, what do you think you are going to do? Like, are you planning to stay here or something?" The man's gaze drifted toward Reshe, who stood at the entrance of the kitchen--
"Reshe, this time I don't want you to be here; please, can you leave us alone?" The man said.
Resha pouted and left the two of them alone.
Tik-Tok, the clock sang. They were silent, with no voice or answers. They could even hear their heartbeats.
Arkam took a deep breath--"I don't know." Arkam tried to hide his gaze from the man.
Thus, slamming the table with his hands. "You stayed here almost four months. Right? Then how don't you know?"
Arkam's eyes widened. "Hey, calm down. It's not a big deal."
'What is going on? Why is he so mad? Not like his normal self.'
"I had a call from Rond... He asked, "Did Arkam make a choice?" The old man leaned towards the table, his hand on the rough surface.
Arkam nodded, "Hmm, but I have two months, right? And besides, a soldier needs rest."
The old man clutched his jaw. "The war has ended, Arkam. How long are you going to live in it?"
Arkam's shoulder tensed, making a fist. Narrowed his eyes. "I am a soldier; that's who I am."
Sigh, the man rubbed his temple. "I thought you would change in these four months. But I was wrong."
They both sat in silence; time passed, and still nothing.
Reshe, after playing with her friends, came home.
Seeing Arkam and an old man, she stepped onto the stairs.
_________________________
End of Act 2.
Scene Writing Practice--A Man's 'Act 3'
Arkam sitting against the old man--
Tik-Tok-Tik, the time was almost midnight. A small table stood between them.
The kitchen was small and humble. Behind the old man, three steps away, stood a big pot on a burning stove--the fire crackled beneath it.
The old man clutched his jaw. "Sigh, Arkam."
He gazed at the old man. "What?"
"Do you think that you'll get out of the war or the memories of it someday?" The old man's arm was on the table as he stared at Arkam.
"I will--"
"Stop lying!" The man interrupted Arkam.
"You're only pretending, pretending to be like this. You think I don't know who you really are, 'immortal killer.'" The man gazed at Arkam--cough, he coughed a few times.
Arkam's eyes widened, his breath getting heavy. "Ho... how do you know that name?"
"Cough... Rond told me when he dropped you here." His gaze lowered, taking a deep breath. "Arkam. You haven't changed in four months, and only two remain." Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temple.
"...Rond wanted you to 'live,' like a real person; now is the time to think--do you want to live here or go with Rond?" The old man gaped for air.
Finally, Arkam opened his mouth, but he hesitated, closing his mouth, and shut his eyes. "Sigh, this is hard. But I want to say this much, and I'm not going to pretend... here and now."
"Okay, now say what you actually 'want.'" The old man nodded.
Arkam stared at the ceiling. "I don't know what I want; this is a dilemma--if I stay here, I will 'live' with no meaning. But if I go, I'll suffer... I don't know."
The old man's eyes twitched. "...even now you're pretending. Say what you want to say, damn it."
Arkam's eyebrows furrowed. "Okay... then, what even is life? Why even bother if you're going to die?"
A smirk crept across the old man's face. "If you want to know what life is? Or why do we suffer? Then I have a mission for you."
Arkam narrowed his eyes. 'A mission? What... mission? This geezer is going to say something absurd; I know it.'
"Do you know about Karta Mountain... the biggest and the savagest of mountains?" Still grinning.
"Yes, almost 65 km away from here; that's all I know." Arkam's eyes widened. 'There is no way, he's going to say...'
The old man gritted his teeth and squinted. "Climb that mountain, Arkam, to find the answer to your questions."
Chills ran down Arkam's spine. He rubbed his temple and lowered his head onto the table, waiting in that position for a few seconds.
Tik-Tik, the sound of the clock, echoed in the small space.
He stood up. "Even if I do something this insane, how am I supposed to find the 'answers'?"
The old man smirked. "That's on you. You are to follow this last order; after it, you may find answers or not."
Arkam clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. "Sigh... do I have to climb it alone?" He gazed at the floor.
"Were you alone in the war?" The old man stood up and got a glass, filling it with some water.
"Yes." He nodded.
The old man extended the water to Arkam. "Then, here you're also alone."
Arkam's gaze drifted towards the old man.
The old man smirked as he put his hand on his shoulder. "A man's life gets harder when he sees things that he shouldn't have; now it's time to forget those things."
Arkam's cheeks wrinkled into a soft smile. He gave a quiet nod and took the glass from the old man.
He opened his eyes, finding himself in the green fields. "Ooh, right, napped a bit, well, time to go."
Stretching his arms, he stood up. His gaze searched for the bag. Grabbing the bag, he marched towards the savage mountain, Karta.
_____
End of Act 3.
A man's life "Act 4"
Arkam marched through the green fields. A voice came, sharp and commanding. "Stop right there."
Arkam halted--a buzzing sound came, like a bee close to an ear. Two drones, big and carbon-matted. They gleamed in the sky.
"Who are you? And why are you here?" The voice came from the drones, both in sync.
The drones scanned Arkam's face. They searched the entire database, discovering nothing.
"I'm going to ask again, who are you? And why are you in Karta territory?" The drones leveled at Arkam's face, almost three steps away.
"I'm Arkam, and I'm here to climb the mountain." He placed his bag down and raised his hands.
"..." A few seconds pass, no response. "Okay, you can clear." The drones ascend high into the sky, fading after a while.
Arkham rubbed his jaw. 'What a waste of time.' Picking his bag up, he stepped again as the wind followed.
He paused once more in front of a large metallic door, twice his size. 'So, this is the camp. '
"It feels more like a military installation than a mountain outpost." As he stepped closer, he called out, "Is anybody home? Please open the door." But there was no response.
'Sigh, should I break this door or something?' Then he noticed a note.
"Warning: A high-security camp." It read.
The door opened; beyond it was a man in a white military suit, a bluish hat, and black leather boots.
Arkam narrowed his eyes. 'Who is that? A soldier no bigger than that... A commander.'
He stepped closer to Arkam, both face-to-face. "My name is Santer Ber Men, and I'm in charge here."
Arkam stared at him, then smirked, "I don't remember a commander coming for a lowly traveler."
The man chuckled, "Sharp from the tough, huh?" He scanned Arkam with his eyes. "But yeah, I rarely do this... It is interesting to find someone with no information in our database."
"I can be a wanderer, you know." Still smirking.
The man narrowed his eyes. "... Or can be a rebel."
Arkam's eyes twitched. "No, I'm not a rebel, just someone who wants to climb."
"Hmm, how do I know you're not a rebel?" The man's face tensed.
"I'm going to take a permit out of my bag; that will be enough." Arkam placed his bag down, gazing at the commander.
"Yeah, go ahead." He snapped his fingers, and many red dots appeared on Arkam.
'Well, of course, he is a commander; he'll come with safety.' He rummaged through the bag, then pulled out a small, thin, black pad, almost the size of his palm.
He approached the commander and tapped the pad twice. A bluish glow formed a hologram, performing scripted words.
The commander took the pad and started reading. His eyes drifted--the eyes widened--he gazed at Arkam. "Is this true?"
He nodded, "Yeah."
"Then come in, sir." The commander gestured to him, and the red dots vanished one by one.
He smiled, and then both Arkam and the commander got into the facility.
In the facility, Arkam saw soldiers marching with guns. The drones flying in the sky, and the normal people who were in the facility.
"So, why do you want to climb the mountain?" The commander marched with Arkam, staring at him.
"I... Someone asked me to; that's why." Arkam gazed at the mountain, surrounded by clouds.
The commander's eyes widened. "What? You are going to climb the most savage mountain just because someone asked you."
Arkam smiled. "Yes, that sums it up."
The commander laughed, leaving those around him confused. "You're crazy... Oh, my stomach hurts," adjusting his hat. He fixed his gaze on Arkam. "You really are an odd one. But since you have the noble decree, we can't stop you."
'Good thing Rond gave me that before departure. Noble decree... I didn't know it was so powerful. Well, thank Rond. He nodded, then moved ahead.'
(***)
In the 'B' empire, at the office of Count Rond, reading something from a pad, he then sneezed.
(***)
Arkam stood at a station, and many cars lined up there.
The commander stood next to Arkam. "This is the place; you're not walking to Karta. Take a car to go there."
"Okay, so you'll give me one car, or someone will pilot it." Arkam put his bag down, cracking his neck.
"Well, of course, someone else will be piloting." He smiled.
"Hmm." Arkam nodded. Damn it, I wanted to drive one, but it's good to be traveling with a flying car.
A man strolled towards Arkam, giving the pad to the commander. "Sir, we got permission from the higher-ups."
"Good. Arkam, you'll depart in one hour." The Commander gave the pad to Arkam and then nodded to the soldier next to him. As he walked towards the exit, he looked back at Arkam and smiled.
"Sir, you can rest in the cabin next to the commander's chamber." The soldier picked Arkam's back--but struggled. "What... the hell is this?" He used full force but couldn't pick up.
"Don't worry about it. You may go." Arkam gazed at the cars.
The soldier bowed and exited the large chamber, his footsteps echoing as he walked away.
Arkam checked the pad handed by the commander. "Hmm, this is a..." His eyes widened. "Damn you, Rond, still fucking with me." A smile crept across his face.
'Have a pleasant climb, kid, by Rond.' It read.
--
End of Act 4.
--
A Man's Life 'Act 5'
---
Tak-Tak-Tak, Arkam knocked at a metallic door, standing at the end of a hallway painted white.
"Come in." The voice came, commanding and sharp.
He pushed the door, cracking through. Beyond it, the commander perched on a chair, a table in front of him. Many trophies glinted on the shelf, and many medals hung on the right wall. A bluish hologram behind the commander, who had himself and someone else with him. Light came through the window over the medals.
Arkam entered the chamber. "Did you call me?" he said, standing close to the table.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk about something. You'll leave in 30 minutes, right?" The commander leaned towards the table, the glass surface cold and transparent.
"Yes." He drifted towards the trophies. 'Hmm, what does this man wanna talk about?'
"Good, so we have 30 minutes to talk. Now sit down." He gestured to Arkam to sit.
Arkam pulled the chair tucked under the glass table. Sitting on it, "Soo... What do you want to talk about, sir?"
A smirk formed on the commander's face. "Arkam... Did you fight in the war?"
Squinting his eyes, 'huh? Why ask that? Does he know something?'
"And mind, there are sensors that can tell if you're lying." Still grinning, staring into Arkam's eyes.
Gulp... His eyes widened, and a smirk crept onto his face. 'He knows something, and wants to confirm it.' His eyes got normal, and his breath slowed. "Will you record this conversation?"
Leaning back, the commander chuckled. "No... This is a very secure space--that's why you can't hear sounds from outside."
And how can I trust you? Tap-tap-tap, tapped on the table.
"Well, you have a noble decree..." Smirking. "...No less than Rond Dre Marqus. So, if our talk gets out, you can execute me."
'Hmm, he is right. But still can't trust him.' He stopped tapping the table. "Okay then, I will talk..." Rubbing his jaw. "Yeah, I did fight in the war."
A hologram showed on the table saying, "True."
The smirk vanished, narrowing his eyes, "Good, but sorry to ask, how old are you?"
'What is it? What are you planning, commander?'
"I... I'm almost 16." Looking at the hologram on the table.
"True." It said,
"So, you are 16... Then you were 11 when you fought the war." The commander smiled.
His eyebrows furrowed. Then it clicked: "No No No, he did just..."
"In the war, there were child soldiers- specially trained by 'A' empire to kill immortals..."
Gulp... Arkam's hands got sweaty, and many drops fell from his forehead. His eyes widened, a buzz in his ears. The heartbeat got faster and faster. Then a smirk crept onto his face.
Staring into Arkam's eyes, "One of those known as the Immortal killer. Killing almost 10-15 immortals throughout the war, but he got captured by Rond and Gebriel. Now his data is unknown." Smirking with eyes squinted.
The chuckle escaped from the mouth. 'I have to admit, you got me.'
He stood straight. "So, tell me why you're here, little immortal killer?" Staring outside the window, many soldiers drilled.
Narrowing his eyes, Arkam stood up. "I already told you to climb the mountain."
"Haha, yeah... Do you know I didn't arrest you?"
"Because you just can't. I have the noble decree, but most importantly, you aren't enough to contain me." He looked outside, and the birds were drifting through the sky, as they chirped.
He chuckled, then pointed both index fingers like guns. "Bingo, right answer."
He smiled, "Well, I should go, it's almost time."
"Wait, I will come with you at your departure, but before that..." The commander smiled.
"...Arkam, whatever the burden you're carrying. Remember, you were a puppet of another human--it's not your fault. I was taught to kill, and you were made to kill."
Arkam chuckled in a teasing manner; "Well, that's great coming from a cog in a big, corrupted machine..."
"Hey, that's not nice, you know." They laughed at the remark.
"...but well, I would like to be a cog rather than a puppet." He smiled, but his eyes frowned.
The commander stared at him. "We should get going, you know..." As he stepped closer to Arkam, he put his hand on Arkam's shoulder. "We'll be late."
Arkam's eyes widened, and then he looked at him. Nodding.
---
End of Act 5.
--
Scene practice--A man's life, Act 6
Arkam stood on a concrete floor; to his right was the commander. The sky opened up like calm before a storm.
The air rattled as Arkam covered his eyes. A matte black car descended from the sky, like a crow gliding through the air. It hovered about two inches above the ground.
Arkam, with his bag, got into the car. "Well, commander, until we meet again." Arkam nodded to the commander.
"Yes, when you come, tell me about the tales and the journey you had." The commander smiled and waved his hand.
The pilot looked back at Arkam. "Should we go, sir?" Arkam nodded.
"Yes."
The car ascended into the sky, where a bird cried. Boom, it cut through the sky, flying towards the Savage Mountain Karta.
Arkam rubbed his jaw. 'Here I come, Karta.'
Drifting through the sky above a dense forest, rivers, and cliffs, it moved forward.
Arkam rummaged in his bag, pulling out a black jacket and boots. "How much time does it take to arrive at the mountain?"
The pilot looked ahead. "Twenty to thirty minutes, sir," he said, operating the vehicle.
"Huh? Thirty minutes, but the mountain looks closer than that." Arkam furrowed his brow, scratching his head as he munched on a chocolate bar.
"Oh, that's a phenomenon where a mountain appears closer than it actually is." The pilot smiled. "Are you a mountaineer?"
"...No, I'm not a mountaineer," Arkam replied with a smile.
The pilot slowed the car, stopping in midair.
"What? You're not a mountaineer?" His eyes widened, clearly surprised by Arkam's response.
"Yes... is that a problem?" he asked, stretching his neck.
"Yes! You're heading into the most savage lands on the planet..." His eyes widened further. Panting, he added, "...with little climbing experience."
Arkam squinted at him with a smile. "Did you fight in the war?"
"No, I did not, but that's not relevant here," the pilot said, frowning.
His jaw clenched, and he made a fist. "I have, and that place is more savage than a big dumb rock. Now start moving." Arkam calmed himself, taking deep breaths.
"Well, you're going to die." The car resumed its journey, slicing through the sky.
As the terrain changed, a thick mist blanketed the area, and plant life thinned out.
"Hey, are we there?" Arkam asked, looking out the window, annoyed by the distant landscape.
The pilot's eyes twitched as he looked outside. "No, ten more minutes..." he said, shifting gears as the vehicle maintained its pace. "...Or five minutes."
Arkam smirked. 'Damn this guy.'
The car stopped. Birds flew past overhead. "Hey, this is the place."
When Arkam looked down, he saw a massive wall of jagged rocks and a thin forest at the bottom. Arkam narrowed his eyes. 'Hmm, I guess the time has finally come.'
The car descended to the base of the wall.
Arkam got out and grabbed his bag. "This is where climbers start; there will be trails, but the farther up you go, the fewer trails there will be... be careful," he warned, nodding at Arkam.
Arkam smirked and nodded back. "This guy's not that bad."
The wind howled as it whipped through the air, quieting the journey back. Arkam moved closer to the wall, which loomed like a challenge, almost glaring down at him.
Arkam smirked, noticing a sign he had missed.
Warning: the death wall--don't climb it; there's no piton to hang onto...
"...no one ever climbed it, the death wall. That motherfucker left me here, the worst place to start with." His muscles tensed with killing intent as he rubbed his temple. "Sigh, the old man said to start here, but that little piece of shit left me."
He set down his bag and pulled out a chalk bag, dusting some on his hand and clapping to remove excess chalk. Approaching the wall of rock, he extended his arm to a jagged section.
His grip was firm, too tight for air to pass through. Then, stepping onto another stone, he pulled himself upward. He grabbed it with his other hand. He climbed the wall of death.
Was this going to be his death or his rebirth?
End of Act 6.
--
A Man's Life 'Act 7'
Arkam clung to the jagged rocks.
'Sigh, another try.' He extended his left arm, grabbing a rough rock. Clutching his jaw. 'How... How many times have I tried to climb this dumb wall? And yet falling again and again.' Tightening his grip, looked at the top. Bending his knees, supported himself on jagged terrain.
He jumped, extending his right hand to a pivot hole. Yet, falling.
As he fell, like fruit from a tree. He got closer to the rocky wall, grabbing with his left hand, and slowed the fall.
'Huff Huff, close call!' his nails bloodied by the force, smirking, he started climbing.
'Focus. Focus--'
'--You killed us, you demon.' A rough and zombie-like voice came from the back of his head.
Arkam's eyes widened, his grip loosened. His heart was beating faster than ever.
Clutching his jaw, Arkam turned his head.
A big ball of meat, its surface bathed in mucus-like liquid. Many heads, arms, and legs came screaming, "You killed us, demon. You should... Die."
The grotesque hump of meat was connected by a long artery-like wire, connecting to Arkam's back.
'Damn you, why now?' His breath heavy, his heart pumping. He climbs, extending his hand. Closing his eyes, many ways on the wall opened up like stars making a constellation.
Opening his eyes, forward, the dense wind howling, the wall looming. He jumped again from the same position, catching the pivot hole, and secured his grip.
Pulling up, he saw the last hole, and a grin formed. 'Finally, now I can climb the mount--'
'-You killed me, you monster.' the jagged yet childlike voice. A bony arm with torn skin clutched Arkam's neck, pulling upward. The boy, his cranium visible and a hole in his forehead, one eye out of the socket, hung. A grin crossed the boys, "Stop now. Fall from here, stop tormenting us. Kill yourself."
Arkam gritted his teeth, "What the fuck? Hallucinations, but I'm not even at the bottom of the mountain. How can this be?"
Arkam's grip loosened. 'The weight is too much...' his eyes rolled back.
A voice echoed in his mind, "Climb the mountain, Arkam. To find the answer."
He clutched his jaw, pulling up. His grip was tight; even air couldn't go through.
"Like hell, I will give up. I didn't survive the war to die here." Looking at the top, pushed towards the last rock.
The sun was bright. The wind was light. And the grip was tight, locking his arm in place. Pulling himself up. Using everything he had, 'just one more push...' he reached the top of the death wall.
The boy. The ball of meat is degrading in thin air.
The boy grinned, "We will come again."
He stooped at the edge, the bag on his back. Collapsing to his knees, putting the bag aside, he lay down.
Huff Huff Huff, the breath heavy, legs shaking, the throat dry as a desert. But he grinned, a wide grin. Sight blurred, falling into a slumber.
____
End of Act 7.
___
A man's life 'Act 8'
In the white coat of the snow, the wind howled as snowflakes came from above. The clouds blanket the sky. A tempest awaits.
The time slowed as Arkam pushed through the ice in a black jacket. A trail of steps behind him.
'Huff, huff, gulp. It took 20 days to climb this high, and yet this motherfucking snow is not leaving behind...' his steps, the crisp sound of snow came as he took another step towards Karta.
'...It's cold enough to freeze blood inside. Damn, when will the snowfall end?'
The goosebumps stood straight and hard. The harsh surroundings burdened him more with every step. His stomach growled as he stepped. Then he collapsed on his knees.
The fuck? Why can't I move? Am I that tired? His sight blurred, and he blacked out.
A boy on a battlefield, guns shot from everywhere. The blood and rotten flesh stung; a fog covered the area as he saw a young man in front of him, almost ten steps away.
Arkam in the suit, that dark blue like the sky above. A reddish scarf around the neck. The suit's texture was leather-like, and on his right leg was a handgun strapped.
"Where is my mother?" The boy asked, his eyes tearing up. He stood up, stepping towards. "Can you help me?"
Arkam was blank; he had dark circles under his eyes, rough lips, messy hair, and a rifle in his hand.
Bang--Arkam hit the boy in the head, his jaw clenched.
The boy on the ground was lifeless, an innocent smile on his face. He clutched a piece of cloth, maybe of his mother's.
Ahhhh--Huff Huff. He was out of the slumber; snow covered him. 'A nightmare?' He stood up while dusting the snow off. The blue sky cleared. 'The sky is open now. How long have I been sleeping?' He marched again to the top as he narrowed his eyes.
'This kind of hallucinations and nightmares are becoming too frequent now, I'm closer to the top...' He put the bag down as he perched on the snow. '...The old man told me the mountain will test me and will strip everything away.' He removed the goggles; his eyes widened.
The clouds were beneath him, yet the top loomed like they were looking at him. He closed his eyes as the cold winds passed. The air was heavy, cold, and harsh, yet he found himself grinning. The silence made his heart light.
He opened his eyes, and again he drifted to the top. Each step is closer to the answers. Putting his goggles back on.
'Almost there, just push through.' Some steps away, Arkam's legs were tired, and his eyes squinted. Taking each step felt like a new challenge, but his legs gave up, and he collapsed into the cold snow.
Arkam clutched his jaw. "Why now, damn it? Fuck!"
He extended his arm, dragging himself through the snow. 'I'm going to find the answer now.' Moving towards the top, he dragged himself there.
Pant, pant, a smile on his face as he saw the dawn from the top--Arkam's eyes widened.
A dark silhouette stood in front of him as he was on the snow.
They turned around; it was Arkam, but bloodied and dirty. His sclera was black as night, and the pupils were dark as a moon. He got closer to Arkam, pathetic. "Who even are you? Lying there on the snow, and being on a mountaintop. You have lost your way. He scowled, his jaw clenched.
Arkam stared at the dark 'him'. "Heh, I was like that? Fuck." He used his hand to push himself and sat on the snow. "You know, I thought I'd always be like this. Like you..." He breathes heavily, then looks at the sun rising. "...but I changed. Wait... Is life about change? Or is it about finding goals and then enjoying the journey?"
"Or it can be to follow orders and just live." The other 'him' stared at Arkam, with no emotions, just a blank face.
A chuckle escaped from Arkam's mouth. "Heheh, oh my stomach... Ouch, oh man, you need some character development." Ah stood up, the snow falling from the jacket.
He put the bag down, a grin on his face. Looking at 'him.' "You should also climb a mountain; you'll find the answers, too."
A smirk crept on the other 'him'. "I will never." As he lay in the dust, flying in the vast blue sky.
"You'll, one day you'll." He smiled as he lay down in the snow. "I will rest here for now.'
'A man's life is not about then or next; it's about now.' As he closed his eyes, the cold didn't feel that harsh, as the sun's rays warmed him.
'A journey that some will succeed at, but some will not.' He saw many corpses as he climbed the mountain, buried under the snow.
After many days, he found himself in the commander's chamber.
Sitting alone in the room.
The door creaked open as the commander entered the room. "Did I make you wait?"
Arkam shook his head. "Don't worry, your duty is first."
"Oh okay..." The commander smiled. "So, how was it, the Karta? Fun or rebirth."
Arkam chuckled. "Hehe, sigh--exhausting."
The commander laughed. "Right, good to hear even a superhuman like you found it exhausting." He leaned towards the table as they chartered.
After the meeting, Arkam waited for the car as the commander stood beside him. The car is down, hovering a few inches above the ground.
"This is it, commander." As Arkam got into the car.
"Yeah, until we meet again, soldier." Nodding to Arkam.
Arkam chuckled, 'Son of a bitch.'
The car ascended into the sky; moving ahead, it went.
So, you climbed the Karta, huh? The pilot said, looking forward.
Huh? Who the fuck are you? As Arkam furrowed.
The pilot snapped. "You don't remember me? I was the one who got you to Karta."
Arkam's eyes twitched. "Yeah... I remember you; you were the one who left me on the death wall."
"Sorry... for that." The pilot chuckled, stretching the back of his head.
"Yeah, yeah, now drive." As he looked outside the window, he smirked.
Arkam got out of the car as it got up and drifted in the sky.
He looked around him as he smiled.
The golden field danced with the wind. The buzz of the town. The chime of the bell in the church. The sound of the air, like a melody. The rays of the sun, like warmth in the cold, blessed him.
Taking a deep breath. "Home sweet home." He shouted. As he saw the cabin in front of him. He drifted towards it, tugging his bag on his back.
____
End of Act 8.
____
A Man's Life 'Act 9'
Tak Tak Tak, Arkam knocked on the door of the small cabin. "Is he even home?" he shouted, but there was no response.
"The fuck? Where is the old man or Rashe?' he looked around, but no one was there.
"Arkam?" a voice called, jagged and rough. The old man stood beside Arkam, eyes wide. Holding a bag of vegetables with his left hand, while Rashe held the right.
"Yo, how are you? Missed me," he grinned as he dropped his bag.
"Big bro Arkam..." Rashe ran toward him, jumping on him and holding tight. "...I missed you," she cried like a child.
The old man stepped closer. "So, you came back," he said, smirking.
"Yeah, you say it like you wanted me to die there." Pushing Rashe aside, he stood up, dusting his clothes.
"You fool, why would I want you dead?" he opened the door of the cabin.
"Because you sent me to that fucking mountain," he entered the cabin; the fragrance of old wood filled the air.
The old man put the bag on the kitchen table. "Yeah, yeah, did you eat something?"
"Nah, and I don't want to..." he perched on the chair beside the table.
"Why? Aren't you hungry for some real, warm food?" The rays came into the cabin, brightening it up.
Arkam pulled all the vegetables from the bag. "No, I want to sleep. Just sleep."
"Yeah, so go upstairs. Sleep there." He turned around, looking at Arkam with a smirk on his face.
Arkam's head was on the table as he slept soundly, even drooling on it.
"Should I wake him?" Rashe asked. He picked up the vegetables from the table.
"No, let him sleep. And you'll help me with dinner."
"Oh... man." Rashe started cutting vegetables, pouting.
After dinner, Arkam and the old man sat in the kitchen, the table between them.
Tik Tik echoed in the room. "So, did you find the answers?" the old man stared at Arkam.
"Yes, somehow," Arkam said, smirking while staring at the table.
The old man smiled, a weight lifted from his heart. "And did you make the choice?"
His gaze drifted to the old man. "Yes." "Good, Rond will be here in 3 days. Sleep, eat, or do nothing--just enjoy yourself," he nodded to Arkam.
Smiling, Arkam nodded back.
The time passed like wind in a stormy night, yet this was the love of his life.
Arkam was outside the cabin, cutting wood under the bright sun. No shirt, veins bulging as he sweated.
The wind howled as he turned back. Above, a white car shone, descending to the ground and hovering a few inches above it.
The door opened, and a man in a white overcoat, trousers, and shirt appeared. His white, clean boots gleamed. His hair was silver, slicked back, with a clean-shaven face.
"Hey, old man. Rond is here," he shouted, resting the axe on his shoulder.
The old man came out, seeing Rond standing far away, talking to Arkam. "It's been a while, Arkam. How are you?" Rond said, extending his arm for a shake.
"I'm good," Arkam replied, looking at the hand. "My hands are sweaty and dirty, sorry."
"Oh... It's okay." His gaze drifted to the old man. "I should meet them; you come quickly, Arkam."
Rond walked toward the old man. "Well, how are you? Sire Banter Dime."
He shook the old man's hand, grinning. "Good, you tell me, how have you been, Count Rond Dre Marqus?" The old man smiled as they went into the cabin.
Rashe approached Arkam. "Bro, we should also go." Arkam smiled and patted her head.
'This is it; today is the day.' In the cabin, Rond sat in a chair while the old man made tea. Arkam, now wearing a black T-shirt, sat across from Rond.
"So, how was your climb?" Rond asked while sipping tea.
"Great, and your work, all good," Arkam said, sipping the warm soup.
"Yeah... all good," Rond smirked. The old man came into the room and sat down.
"Arkam, whatever choice you make, I'll go." Rond stared at Arkam.
Arkam nodded. "I know," he said, staring at the floor. "Then choose: come with me or stay here." The wind howled as the old man and Rond covered their eyes.
"I will choose..." Arkam gazed at the old man, "...to go with you, Rond." Rond, an old man, smiled, looking at Arkam.
"We'll go tomorrow, okay?" Rond left them alone.
"You knew I would choose Rond, didn't you?" Arkam asked as he sipped his soup, staring at the old man.
"Yes, I did," the old man said with a smile and closed his eyes. "Hmm, then farewell, old man..." Arkam stood and bowed to the old man, "...and thank you for everything."
The man's eyes widened, then he became teary, turning his back on Arkam's gaze. "Hmm."
"Hey, are you crying?" Arkam asked, trying to see his face. "No, you fool," he said, still trying to hide it.
Arkam went upstairs, and Rashe sat on the bed in a fetal position. The window above the bed let in the light. To the left was a desk with many books, and to the right was another bed with a bag on it.
Arkam approached Rashe. "Hey, don't cry like that; I'm not leaving forever. I'll come." He sat beside her and tried to peek through her hands.
"But... Sniff, I know you'll come. It's just that I will miss you," she said, heavy-hearted, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Hmm, you can call me anytime, okay?" he said with a smile as he left the room, looking back and nodding.
Arkam was packing the bag into the car. He shook hands with the old man. "You see, old--Sire Banter Dime."
"Hmm, bye for now, kid," he said with a smile as the wind passed by.
Arkam in the car, "Reshe isn't coming to say bye, huh?"
Soaring in the air, he looked at the window on the second floor; his eyes widened.
Reshe waved her hands while smiling.
Arkam smirked, waving back.
The car moved, piercing through the sky.
Looking back at the cabin, I said, 'I'll miss this place.' A heavy heart.
"Arkam, as you choose me, I have to tell you something..." Rond said while driving the car.
"Hmmm." Arkam rummaged through the bag.
"...You are my son when we get to the Empire 'B.'" Rond stared at Arkam.
Arkam scowled, "What the fuck?!"
---
The End. A man's life.
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