Ein was leading the way down the trail that leads out of the village. A long winding dirt trail where passersby, carriages, and plenty of homeless refugees were walking to and from the village.
Jack watched as a man on a carriage drawn by two horses, one was white with black splotches on its coat and the other was an all brown palomino, was scowling at the refugees as he passed. As he was riding by Ein and himself, he could see the man shoot a curious look at Jack due to his gear, but then turn sour as he deduced they were probably also homeless refugees.
"So is there a lot of poverty and homelessness in this world?" Jack asked curiously as they passed more and more homeless people.
"There is, but a lot more now because of the war, so many displaced and torn apart families. People are losing their sons and daughters to the slaughter," Ein answered.
This brought more questions into Jack's mind. Like who was fighting in this war? How close was it happening? What were they fighting for?
Deep down in Jack, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he missed the war from his world. He missed the action and adrenaline. He missed his military and his brothers. He almost longed for war. Jack knew there was something wrong with his mind. Nobody ever went to war and came back out completely normal, but he didn't think that he would miss it so much.
The beggars always approached Ein asking for money. Jack guessed it was because she looked more approachable of the two. He guessed the beggars also assumed they had a lot of money because of Jack's clothes and gear. The clothes and gear that Jack wore would be considered "exotic". Regardless, Jack would shoo them away. They did not have much money to share, and Jack was all about fairness. If he couldn't give to everyone who asked, then he wouldn't give to anyone that asked.
As they walked down the dirt trail, less and less people could be seen on it. By nightfall, there was no one on the trails aside from Ein and Jack, and some beggars that had nowhere else to go. Jack could see little tarps being hung by the trees just off the trail, and the refugees were turning in for the night.
Jack looked over at Ein, she looked tired, her eyes were red, and her body was drooping. Jack decided it was probably time for them to make camp as well. Jack led Ein off the trail and into the forest a bit. Jack wanted to go a little deeper than most. He did not want to be able to see the main road because if he could see it, then people on it could see them.
Once they made it to a spot that Jack thought would suffice for the night, that is when they got to work setting up camp. Jack went out to make and place some rabbit traps, he had learned how to do this when he was part of the Green Berets. Survival skills were a must. He had to learn how to hunt, clean, and cook food to survive. Ein went to collect some firewood to start a little campfire for themselves and so they could cook whatever food Jack might catch.
After about two hours, Jack returned to camp with six rabbits. He had three rabbits in each hand and he placed them by the fire. Jack sat down and began skinning and cleaning two rabbits.
Ein was watching him intently as he worked. She was enamored by his capabilities, his resourcefulness, and his focus. She was so deeply in love with this man that she couldn't help but move herself closer to him while he worked.
Jack could feel Ein's eyes on him, watching him like a hawk watching their prey. Jack just tried to focus harder and harder on what he was doing. It was an awkward feeling for Jack. He never felt so watched, he felt like a fly in a spider's web.
After Jack had finished cleaning two of the dead rabbits, Ein began to cook them over the fire on sticks. Jack placed the other four rabbits in his bag. 'We can cook and eat these tomorrow for lunch and dinner,' Jack thought to himself.
Another hour went by and the rabbits were ready to eat. Jack pulls out some bread to go with the meat, and hands a loaf over to Ein who takes it graciously. They sit and eat in silence for a while. Ein sitting at Jack's hip, while Jack was trying to ignore her as best he could with her being so close. Jack was not used to being so close with a woman, and as far as Jack knew, no woman had ever been so in love or attached to him. He couldn't tell if he liked the feeling or hated it, maybe both.
Once their bellies were full and their hunger satisfied. Jack and Ein went to sleep under a tarp that Jack hung over a tree. Jack also dug a little trench by where they were sleeping in case it rained. Better to be safe than sorry. Once they were comfortable, Jack lay on his back with his M17 right where he could reach it. And Ein sleeps right against him. Jack was feeling suffocated, but he let it slide because he knew she was his only way to Arinvil. After a while they finally fell into a slumber.
Jack could hear leaves rustling in his dreams, or so he thought it was his dreams. Jack opened his eyes and could hear movement by their campfire. Without moving his head too much, he looked to see two men stalking towards their bags close to where they were sleeping. Jack was watching as they moved closer and closer and closer... Bang!
Jack was sitting up with his M17 in hand and smoke coming out of the barrel. One man stopped in his tracks and didn't move, his ears ringing. The other man fell down hard on the spot and didn't move. The man looked at his partner laying on the floor and saw a pool of blood forming under him. He looked at Jack, too petrified to move any more.
Ein jumped up at the sound and saw Jack sitting up with the gun in his hand, a man on the ground, and another man standing there immobilized. Tears started to well in her eyes as her ears rang and her adrenaline was coming down. She was not used to the sound of that gun that Jack uses so it still frightens her to hear it, let alone wake up to the sound.
"What is happening!?" asked Ein in stark fear.
"Robbers."
"And you killed him!?"
"I've killed for less."
Ein was looking at Jack in fear. She knew he could kill if he needed to, but she didn't know how little he would kill for. The worst those men could have done was take some food or coin, 'It's an inconvenience, yes, but not worth someone's life.' Ein was shaking, she could feel panic welling up inside of her. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were getting wide and blurry. Ein didn't know what was happening to her.
Jack could see Ein in the midst of a panic attack. She wanted to be with him, travel with him, and never leave his side. Well, this is what life with him looks like. Jack stood up, walked over to the man who was still paralyzed with fear, and not moving. Tears were streaming down the man's face, and he was quietly pleading for his life. Jack walked right up to the man till he was at an arm's distance, and Jack looked over to Ein.
"Cover your ears, Ein."
As quickly as she could, Ein threw her hands up to her ears to cover them. Tears streaming down her cheeks heavier than before, she knew what was about to come.
Jack held the weapon up to the man's head, and heard him pleading more loudly for his life and to spare him.
"Please, sir, you have killed my brother already. Please spare me. I promise I won't tell anyone of what you did! I will serve you if you'd like! Please just don't kill me! I have a family!"
"I have no mercy for those who make me their enemy. You will die as you lived.....with nothing."
Bang!
Ein saw the man's body drop to the ground like a sack of potatoes. His body limp on the floor. His blood mixed with the other man's blood in a little puddle.
Jack grabbed each man, dragged them one by one away from the campsite, and left their bodies. When Jack returned to the campsite, he saw Ein sitting up and staring into space. Jack walked up and returned to his place to sleep. He sat down next to Ein and shuffled himself back into a lying position.
"Are you still happy you came with me?"
Ein did not reply, she simply turned over and closed her eyes pretending to sleep.