How We Fall

That day—

That horrid day—

That dreadful day—

For the first time, I had confronted one stronger than I.

The field that lay before me lay drenched in blood.

My men charged into their deaths, but I could not hear their cries, for my ears rang.

I lay defeated in the mud, but the sweet taste of death was not mine to taste.

Then I felt a sword through my chest, yet I lay numb. But here there was pierced through me another sword—this sword that had pierced through me spilled not blood, but the realization of strength greater than that of mine. This was the sword that stung like a thousand swords.

Then it had all gone dark, and I lay in an endless void.

“Is it always this dark here?” Vector asked, gazing blankly at the midnight sky.

“No, not really. Moonless night,” his friend replied.

An awkward silence had enclosed the campfire. The fire’s crackles seemed to be the only thing their ears could catch, along with the crickets’ occasional chirps.

Vector gazed up at the sky.

“You know, I’ve always wondered—what do you think’s up there?” Vector spoke, breaking the silence, pointing a finger at the lone star shining faintly in the still-black sky.

“What, you think I’m some kind of expert?” Storen responded.

“Always so vague, huh?” Vector rolled his eyes.

“You know what?” Vector continued impatiently.

“We should be off now,” he said.

“Don’t you think we should do something called ‘sleeping’ now instead?” Storen sighed.

“No. We’re in the middle of nowhere. If we’re sleeping, we’re sleeping somewhere I’m not free meat!” Vector exclaimed, annoyed.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

“How did I end up here?” he thought.

Vector had felt defeated as he dropped himself onto his bedroll.

“I don’t even care anymore. Let’s see if we live to see tomorrow!” he said, exhausted.

“Finally, a unique response.” Storen said, dropping onto his own bedroll.

The night was swift, and the sun had only begun to wake, but Vector had been awake long before.

As always, Vector thought, Storen was fast asleep—careless as ever.

What does he know about the dangers of the forest?

Well, what does Vector himself know about the dangers of the forest?

By Vector’s standards, it was safe. And perhaps, by Storen’s too.

Safer than a place Vector wouldn’t dare recall.

A wild animal, he thought. What was the difference?

It hunted to eat—so did he.

It feared the unknown—so did he.

It loved those around it and protected them with all its might—and so did he.

It clung to its instinct, no different than fate—and so did he.

But even these animals of the wild had their limits.

It hunted not for power, neither for hatred—but alas, ‘humans’ did.

It loved unconditionally, not for coins—but ‘humans’ did.

It did not build narrow borders among its own and burn one another—but ‘humans’ did.

And it did not build classes among itself, where two of the same blood, of the same mind, and of the same flesh bowed to one who was no different—but ‘humans’ did.

Now, how different were ‘humans’ from the wild animals that roamed the forest?

No. Now, how much better were these ‘monsters’ from the wild animals that roamed this forest?

Vector kn—

Vector was broken out of his thought by an abrupt rustling—he reached out to his knife.

“Roar…” a lazy yawn followed. “Surely, I’m a wild animal, so you’re reaching out for your knife,” Storen said, stretching about.

“Not funny,” Vector sighed, letting go of his knife.

“Keen for a kill, aren’t you?” Storen joked, looking at his knife. Before Vector could reply, he continued in the same exaggerated yawning animation:

“Anyways, quite generous of you to let me sleep in tonight, man!”

“Not on purpose,” Vector replied.

“What’s for breakfast?” Storen looked at Vector with a sly grin on his face.

“Whatever we can steal, I guess,” Vector said, almost disappointed in himself.

“Why are you always so down? You bore,” Storen sighed, shaking his head.

Vector had no response.

“Lighten up, man. This might just be our last meal,” Storen circled around him, his grin unwavering.

“We’re off,” Vector said bluntly.

Vector hated when Storen was like this—his words came out careless, too easily.

“Well, there’s no use dwelling on it,” he thought as he continued walking, watching the trees’ canopy gently twiddling above.

The scent of bread and roasted meat had filled the place.

Vector asked, “You got a plan?” but he heard no reply.

“Storen?” He looked around in the crowd when he saw the careless monkey taking a generous steal. A quick hand.

“This idiot—” Vector clenched his jaw.

“I better get to work too!” Vector thought, rushing through the market with a quick hand, as always.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, fool,” he whispered in Storen’s ear as he pilfered a thing or two.

“Robber!” a man from the street cried.

“Snitch!” Storen screamed at the top of his lungs, running.

“Idiot!” Vector growled, catching up with Storen.

“Quick, over here!” Storen pulled Vector to the side.

“You are not going to hear the end of thi—” Vector paused as he saw a few guards walk by.

“Are they looking for us?” Vector asked.

“What do you think they are looking for? Candy?” Storen replied.

“Let’s get out of here while we can,” Vector said, looking sternly at Storen.

“You know, I think they aren’t actually on us,” Storen said, peeking around the wall.

“What makes you think so? Because as far as I know, you are almost always wrong,” Vector groaned, scratching his head.

“Well, a little bit of spice in life isn’t bad, you know?” Storen looked at Vector, trying to convince him.

“Because I hear a jolly carnival out there!” Storen exclaimed.

Just then, Vector had heard distant laughter with drums getting louder by the moment.

The chatter of the crowd had far overshadowed the market.

“You sound like a nursery book right now, you should know that” Vector said as he massaged his forehead.

“I am going to regret this,” Vector thought as he trailed behind Storen.

“There it is!” Storen said.

The carnival felt lively—much livelier than their daily life. The lanterns swayed in the warm evening breeze, the crowd cheered and laughed about, the clowns, the fire blowers, and little children giggled at their painted faces.

“You know, Storen, maybe you should join them someday,” Vector said.

“Why’s that?” Storen asked.

“Oh, maybe not, because you’re quite a clown as you are!” Vector replied with a soft grin on his face.

“Is that grumpy ol’ Vector joking around? You’re not funny like me, you should know that” Storen scoffed, cracking a wide grin, looking at the flame blowers and the clowns.

But then from behind, something unexpected happened.

“Is that them?” one guard said to the other.

“Yes, I think so,” the other guard replied.

“You think we should go?” Storen asked playfully.

“Sure! Why not?” Vector replied, running for it.

The drumbeats had almost begun to match their footsteps.

“Thief!” the guards shouted.

A few in the crowd joined in the chase.

“It was that snitch, wasn’t it!?” Storen grumbled, pushing aside those in his way.

“Huh? No way, of course not!” Vector shouted, almost chasing Storen instead of escaping himself.

“Now run faster, you idiot!” Vector said, outpacing him, but there was no reply.

“Storen?” Vector screeched.

“Missed me?” Storen replied, hopping about on one foot, clenching his leg.

“Curse whoever threw that there!” he said.

The footsteps of the guards had begun to fade.

It was a long run—it transitioned from the bustling carnival to the now-clearing market, and now to the quiet forest. And that was when they looked around—it was night already.

“I think we were running in vain. They probably lost chase back in the market!” Storen exclaimed.

Vector burst into laughter.

“I’m glad you had fun, Vector,” Storen said, genuinely.

“Fun? I’m going to beat you up!” Vector replied.

“I’m tired. I think we should go down for the night,” Storen said.

“I never thought you’d say that in your life!” Vector exclaimed, surprised.

“Just don’t go brooding again tomorrow,” Storen said with a hint of concern.

“I’ll think about it.” Vector’s signature growl had almost faded into a soft whisper as he dropped himself on his bedroll.

It was the next morning.

This time it wasn’t Vector who was long awake- it was Storen.

“Hey, you’re up!” Storen exclaimed deliberately.

“You’re acting off today.” Vector replied with a raised brow.

“Well- Food ain’t waiting in the market, is it?!” He exclaimed again, in the same deliberate act.

“You know what, you’re right, we should go.” Vector said, playing along, knowing it’s just another one of Storen’s annoying jokes.

And then they were in the market.

By now Vector began to feel something off, in front of him, there was no idiot, there was no one who just lived for the day, Storen- or was he just a shadow of him?

“You know Vector.” Storen said, wiping his grin off his face.

“We can’t live like this” he continued, fidgeting about.

“You can’-” Storen was interrupted.

“Why?” Vector asked, without thinking once.

“I’ve a contract” Storen continued in that dull animation,

“It won’t be long, but you can’t come.” He continued, looking up at the skies, its clouds tainted in a sinister grey.

“Isn’t that a good thing? You’ve gotten an income, but why can’t I come?” Vector continued, deliberately, he knew this wasn’t an act.

They weren’t walking anymore, still in the end of the town.

The heavy clouds couldn’t hold no more, and it came down.

“This is farewell.” Storen said, the raindrops dripping down his face.

“Farewell for now, let’s meet again here.” Storen continued.

“And we won’t be stealing for food then” he said walking into the rain mist.

Vector watched the shadowy silhouette fade into the dull town horizon.

By then Vector had reversed the two steps he'd taken

(Thanks for reading this far! more to come :) )