Chapter 2: Chapter 2 – Choice
TOK! Tok! Tok!
Shring! Shring! Shring!
Tok! Tok! Tok!
"Emm... It's noisy... Mel hasn't had enough sleep yet." Melino complained, awakening to the sound of banging metal and clashing stones.
Miers didn't hear Melino's complaint as he was too focused on what he was doing.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
Shring! Shring! Shring!
"Argh! So noisy! What's Miers doing!"
"Oh. Sorry. I'm working on something," Miers replied as his hands tapped on the metal, which was also his weapon.
Melino got up from her bedding with sleepy eyes, curious to see what her brother was up to. She was surprised to see numerous pieces of metal and sharp wood scattered around Miers. Everything was sharpened as if preparing for war.
"Mie...!"
Melino was about to scold him, but her voice got stuck when she saw the signs of wounds and bruises on Miers' hands. He had spent his sleeping time making all these weapons. Maybe he wanted to redeem what happened last night. To redeem his weaknesses and fears. Melino just let Miers be.
"Why? Hungry? There's something under the cloth. Take it. I ate a bit earlier. There's still water in this bottle. I took it from the roof last night."
Melino lazily crawled towards the food Miers pointed out earlier. The meat from last night was still there. It didn't taste as good, but at least it provided the energy their bodies needed to keep moving.
"Miers, are you making traps?" Melino asked while chewing on the rat meat.
"No," Miers answered shortly.
"Then?" Melino asked again, dissatisfied with Miers' answer.
Miers' hands didn't stop tapping on the metal, shaping it into a spear. He heard Melino's question but didn't immediately answer. It wasn't that he didn't want to answer; Miers himself didn't know how to tell Melino about his decision. He feared Melino might not agree with his suggestion later.
"Melino?" Miers called.
Melino stopped tapping. She leaned her body and turned her gaze out the door, sighing heavily. Without looking at Melino's face, Miers answered her sister's question.
"We have to leave this place," Miers replied seriously.
Melino's mouth, which had been chewing food, suddenly stopped, unable to believe what her brother was saying. Impossible. She knew Miers was someone who cared deeply about their safety. She knew Miers always took precautionary measures in any situation. She also knew Miers was very afraid of 'them.' That's why they never left this city.
"Huh? Leave? Why? When?" Numerous questions poured out of Melino's mouth.
"Tomorrow. It's no longer safe here. Mel knows, right? Last night 'they' were close to our area. Sooner or later, they'll find this place. We can't hide here anymore. We must leave quickly. Get out of this area. Get out of Ruinat City. I won't let 'them'..." Miers explained with a hint of anger and frustration.
"Anyway, it's no longer safe here. We have to go." He continued.
Melino remained silent. She could see that her brother had made up his mind, even though it was a very difficult decision.
"Okay. But where to?" Agreeing with Miers' reasoning, Melino had no choice but to follow her brother's intention.
"Miers..."
Miers didn't answer immediately because he himself didn't know where they should go. The entire area seemed unsafe to him. Whether in Ruinat City, Gertu City, or Dampbad City, all were filled with 'their' forces.
"Okay. Let's go to Esperanza City." Without waiting long, Melino provided an answer to her own question.
Miers turned to Melino with a wrinkled face.
"But we don't know what's in Esperanza City. Maybe 'they' are abundant there too. Moreover, we have to go through Dampbad City. It's filthy and full of thieves, kidnappers, cheaters, dishonest people. I'm afraid that later..." Miers explained.
"Hep! Mel knows Miers didn't plan because all this time Miers never thought of leaving Ruinat City. This time Miers must listen to Mel. Like it or not, Mel's decision is that we're going to Esperanza City. Final!" Melino asserted.
Miers remained silent. He didn't know what was on his sister's mind, but he had to agree because that was the only solution available now. They needed to get out of this place as soon as possible.
"Okay. Tomorrow, we'll start our journey to Esperanza City. It may take several days to get there. So tonight, we'll gather enough food and water supplies."
Melino smiled satisfied with her sister's answer.
That night, the two of them went out to check the traps set by Miers. Water was found from a tank located on the top floor of the building where they hid. Tomorrow, Miers and Melino's journey would begin. Were their actions correct?
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THE SUN had not yet risen, but Miers and Melino were ready to start their journey. The weapons crafted by Miers the night before were stored in his sack. Food and water were put into his backpack. Melino only carried her favorite book in her bag.
"Ready?" Miers asked.
Miers' face looked calmer today. He couldn't turn back anymore. He couldn't give in to his decision. He was determined to change his life, her sister's life. Miers wanted to show her sister that he had changed. Become braver.
Melino just smiled and nodded in response to her brother's question.
"Let's go." Miers extended his hand to Melino.
Melino held his hand tightly. Together, they stepped forward, seeking a better world. Towards the sunrise, towards Esperanza City.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone