King had been walking through the sand for hours, the relentless sun beating down on his back.
His legs gave out. He collapsed to the ground, his skin burning, his vision swimming.
He began to crawl, dragging himself forward inch by inch.
"Gotta… find them…" he muttered, his voice dry and cracked.
Eventually, everything went black.
He awoke in a panic.
He was inside a hut, lying on a thin mattress. Cold, damp towels rested on his forehead and arms. A soft hand gently pressed another to his skin.
A beautiful girl sat beside him.
"Shhh… lay back down. You're not ready to move yet," she said soothingly.
His vision sharpened. Confused, he tried to sit up.
"Who are you…? I didn't see you in the stone room. What happened to the mountain?"
She smiled gently, shaking her head as she eased him back down.
"The heat must still be getting to you."
He stared at her, breath ragged. Something felt off. Too real.
This isn't a simulation. This isn't the game.
"Th-they like this… people just make life… and throw it away," he mumbled, his voice tightening with anger.
He tried to sit up again—but something about her… she affected him. His arms trembled. His will faltered.
He fell back onto the mattress.
A few hours later, he woke again to the scent of clean water and linen.
She knelt beside him with a cup.
"Here. Drink this.
Suddenly, five men and women burst through the tent door, brandishing knives and axes.
"Hey, girly, you have to pay…" one man said.
The girl quickly closed the curtains on King.
The man looked at her with slight annoyance and anger.
"What was that? You hiding someone back here? The more people, the more money it costs."
He kicked her to the ground.
King had enough. He got out of bed, palm to the man's face, pushing him to the floor and knocking him out.
"I'm not letting anyone or anything take and forsake life."
King cracked his knuckles with a pissed-off look on his face.
The other men and women grabbed their knives and rushed at him.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
King started using all the training Val gave him to fight back.
"Who the hell am I? I'm the guy who's about to beat your ass. Looks like all that training paid off."
He knelt down, extending his hand to help her back up.
"I'm guessing we should run."
She nodded. They ran out of the tent.
King looked at her.
"Why did you help me anyway?"
A small smile grew on her face.
"My dad was a doctor. When someone's in danger, it doesn't matter if it's a man, dog, woman, friend, or foe—you always try your best to help."
King smiled.
"What's your name, by the way?"
She smiled.
"It's Shelra."
"So, Shelra, wanna join me and help me find my friends? Because, as you can see, I get into a lot of trouble. I'm probably gonna need a doctor," he said with a big grin.
Something shifted in Shelra. She wanted to follow him. She didn't know the reason, but it just felt right to her.
"Fine. But why? I'm a licensed doctor. You're gonna be up to your knees in medical bills.
He gave a thumbs up,
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
Far away, Sandhill August sat surrounded by knocked-out debt collectors.
"Man, those guys are annoying," he said.
"Now it's off to find King and Val."
He slid down the sandhill and started walking.