After spending three solid minutes with these people I realized that they will do anything to not go into the lion's den and die of hunger. The majority are opposing the brilliant idea of our minority. The minority, which includes me the first one to give the idea, we have the idea only, we are going to plan on the whole strategy and then execute it. In conclusion, this group started dividing into two, this ain’t survival, this is the war of perspectives or should I say the lack of courage of the timid majorities.

Fun fact: The majority are blaming me for the chaos that’s going on inside their head about the choices they have, the choices of dying while trying to survive or dying waiting for no one. In fact, they should be thanking me for shifting their focus on the major problem of the lack of food and water.

If only I had convinced Xavier by punching him to not share the food, then we wouldn’t be arguing over the ways of dying in this echoing cave.

“She shouldn’t be here. She’s breaking the bond we all made”, a Russian woman snapped at me. She’s the one convincing others that I’m being foolish, and maybe I’m being irrational because if I won’t then I'd famish and I’m not willing to do so.

“I’m sorry for being practical”, I scoffed folding my arms.

This was ought to happen, the differences. Now after this light that fell on me of the unworthy kindness Xavier showed to these people, I realized that I was right. The minority group still proves me wrong but it’s fine, this dispute plunged out the practical ones among the sea of humans.

“Don’t you have any respect for elders?”, the same woman hissed at me.

“Respect for what? For existing longer than me or for-”, before I could complete my sentence Zain interrupted me by tapping a little on my shoulder.

I should’ve let my tongue slip and sent those poisonous words to her ear but I stopped involuntarily. Shuddering my shoulder I asked without words for Zain to move his hands away from my shoulder.

“When they all settle on an agreement, then come get me”, I whispered to Zain and tossed my bag on my shoulder. 

Snatching the map from Xavier's grip, I decided to walk into the darkness again. I decided to continue on the same path I walked on when I entered this cave through the timber tunnel. Nothing changed, I still hold the same impression of these people I held onto before knowing them, except for the little shift of gladness I hold for the courage other minorities are willing to show.

“You must think that the world revolves around you but you ain’t special. You ain’t special to be rude to anyone”, a friend or acquaintance or maybe a pet of that Russian woman barked at me, forcing me to be straightforward, and oh I know that my honesty hurts people but I don’t care.

“I do think that my world revolves around me because my world is about my existence, I’m the main character of my story and I know that the population of the world is 7.9 billion which makes me no special still my world revolves around me and I’m sorry for your intellectuality is so low that you mistook my honesty as my rudeness”, I scoffed and turned my back on them before they give me opportunities to give my honest opinions on them.

I ain’t getting in other arguments and I swear that by night my patience will run out urging me to climb up to that timber tunnel and go solo. If Zain follows then it’s fine too, we can survive in our duo, all we need is food to go on and Riyan for the burner.

I took the sharp turn on my left and met the dark side of the cave. Turning on the torch, I took two steps and Silver ran to tug on my arm. Like last time, this time too Silver followed me, sweeping her arm in my arm she kept quiet. Maybe she too wants to run away from the dispute of opinions.

I agree with what Riyan told me that day on the terrace. He told me that I'm not wise, and maybe I’m not wise enough to look from others' perspectives. I understood that my presence in that group will shake the anger up because the majority disagreed with me so I'd to move out because I can’t take a step back so I'd prefer to leave.

“They are scared that’s why they are resisting”, Silver speaks up in a manner of whispering.

I feel that Silver is being ludicrous by taking the side of the majority or maybe she’s trying to explain to me the reason behind their outrageous behavior. Whatever she’s trying to do, I ain’t giving in.

“We spent three minutes arguing. Correction, they spent three minutes trying to prove me wrong. I am not asking them to join us, we go voluntarily but if the volunteers go in the lion's den and steal the sheep then of course we ain’t sharing our portion to those who stayed behind trying to prove us wrong. They must have wits to understand that we won’t be sharing any portion with them after we get the food”, I explain my point.

They aren’t the only ones who went through the struggles of a day equals a yearly survival yesterday, we all are in the same boat. We too did the same like them that’s why we are alive and we too are scared like them but we are slightly brainily than them to understand the priorities. Their priority is living, ours is the same, the slight difference is of the methods, they are being dependent on no one in particular and we are ready to break in anywhere to get the storage of food.

This method or whatever it is that makes us different is the reason this all gets tangled up in a very bad way that I see the proximity of the boat dividing in two halves. One half will sink the other will try to sail on. If sailing won’t work then we will swim but won’t stop till we reach the end.

We sat under the Tyndall effect waiting for Zain to come fetch us when they settle on a mutual decision. This finalized decision would of course break the so-called group apart and it’s meant to happen. People are meant to be separated from time to time according to their requirements.

There are a million ways an individual can die and out of all those millions, I’m most against the one which is known as murder, like come on, I entered into this world without any warnings, without any labor, my mom pushed me and the doctor pulled me and boom there I was a newborn to add a number to the 7.9 Billion of the world. My point is, I want to die a peaceful death where I would be aware that okay, I’m old, death is any day now.

There was this quote I read in a movie called Don’t look up, the last movie I watched before flying here, so the quote, the funny quote goes like, When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car, it’s funny but low-key I find it amusing and authentic. If we are to read only the first line till in his sleep, then it’s genuine and if we are to read the next line then it’s funny but amusing. Death is sorrow but it’s the truth, the bitter truth, and going away peacefully without pain, without realizing that it’s happening is all I’m asking for.

“The map?”, Silver asks bringing me back from my downpour of thoughts.

Unfolding the map that I was holding tightly in my hand, I set it down on the ground. Silver assisted me by picking up pebbles and setting them on the corners so that they could serve their purpose as a paperweight. When we were done setting the A4 size on the ground, we realized that it ain’t any ordinary map, it includes the hidden areas too. I could make out from the map that the pond slash river we were at before here, it leads its way to the Atlantic through the underground passage, and that underground passage is somewhat artificially made because this tunnel leads to the subsurface way to the facility.

I was amused by 1. How the Thai guy got his hands on this map. 2. How could this small A4 size map be this much clear for me to see even the narrow tunnel clearly. 3. The number of secret passages we’ve to enter the facility and the hotel. 4. The Panther rock that I was too much fascinated with is an installation for security.

The odds of us breaking in the facility and returning alive with the food are not in our favor. If there are these many passages to enter through the facility then there must be humanoid guards and surveillance. This facility thing could be discussed later with the minority group, for now, I need a copy of this map.

I could sense the war breaking out among this group soon and I do not intend on going out of this timber cave without this map. Now that I got to see this blueprint of the island, I can’t help but start to memorize it for it’s not my property to own and if the Thai guy leaves us then the map will leave us too so I need to do something to keep this map with me, if not the paper them memorization will do.

“I have got a drawing book”, Silver notifies, understanding the need for this blueprint.

“Great, we can draw this then”, I say to myself, feeling relaxed that my brain cells won’t be destroyed in trying to memorize this map.

“I can draw good”, Silver says proudly taking out her art book.

I doubt it but on the other hand, I can’t even draw my hand properly. I can do the outlines and label the areas, that will work, I can do that if not draw the exact blueprint.

Silver took out her book and other necessary stationery to draw. She opened the first page of her art book to show me her stunning sketches. I was awed with the sketches I was witnessing, the sketches made by this 9-year-old. She can definitely draw better than me. Everyone bestows various talents to themselves by the magic of practicing, I didn’t add the mud of art skills in my bowl.

“Will you do this?”, I asked her pointing at the map and she nodded enthusiastically.

Supporting her knees and elbows on the ground, she bent down and studied the map. After she understood her assignment, she sharpen her pencil and started drawing lines in her book.

I’ve found three useful people till now who could serve the purpose of a good companion in this survival, first one is me, I’m me so I’m very useful, the second one is Zain, he can shoot and light up the mood and the third one is Silver, she’s the official map girl from now on, fuck that prick now, he can take his map.

Silver kept on dragging lines on the paper and I kept quiet making sure to not disturb her. She added every little detail from flowing water to the narrow passage of tunnels. 15% of the blueprint was done till now and it seems like a Xerox of the original one. One thing I learned today is that drawing is boring as it requires a lot of time. It’s been nearly ten minutes till now and Silver is not even halfway through.

Opening my bag, I took out two rifles. One with the tranquilizer and the other with the real bullets. I think ahead of time and my subconscious suggested that prior safety won’t hurt. Silver diverted her focus from the paper to me. “It’s harmless. Tranquilizers”, I explain to her shocked eyes. Silver went back to her work.

Footsteps could be heard approaching us which distracted Silver once again. I guess Zain is here to inform the settlement. When the echoing of the footsteps started quieting I turned around to find Kelly approaching us.

From the way she was looking at me, I could guess that war has begun. “Things are going out of control”, she informs. Her voice shows the urge, the urge for someone to go out there and do something. I guess she wants me to go out there and do something about the situation.

“So?”, I ask with a blank face.

“Nothing”, she says in a lower tone of disappointment and sits beside me.

I ain’t going back there to hear those judgmental things from those ladies. Those women subliminally keep on affecting my whole self and I realized it now. I don’t know what they do or say but it just gets me. It’s better for me to keep quiet because if I start speaking then I’ll end the war for once and all.

Kelly understood that I was not interested in the talk about anything so she started conversing with Silver. Silver enlightens Kelly on the topic of the need for a map that’s being fulfilled by Silver herself.

Till the time Silver was finished with the blueprint, I almost dozed off. For it was quiet because Silver asked Kelly to keep mum so that she could focus on her work and Kelly must have felt this peaceful silence heavy or thick that she left. It was quiet for me to get my remaining sleep but I didn’t, I kept my eyes wide open because I had no intention of getting stabbed by one of the majority.

I checked on the blueprint that took almost half an hour and it was exactly the copy of the original. I wanted to praise Silver for her good work so I showed her thumbs up while checking on the map.

“I made another copy too”, she informs with a smile and asks me to turn the page.

When I turned the page, I realized that this nine-year kid is more intelligent than the majority. She kept the carbon paper in between to make another copy of the map. “Good thinking”, I praise her for her intelligence showing an okay sign. I tore off the original drawing copy and left the carbon copy to her.

Silver kept her drawing book carefully in her bag because she got the hint of what precious thing she is going to carry on from now on. She smiled widely at me and I didn’t know what to do so I half laughed at her which might seem like an awkward smile because Silver got confused. Mentally face-palming myself for doing that laughing thing, I stood up.

“Are we returning?”, she asks.

My guts are telling me to return now since it’s been half an hour and still no sign of Zain approaching towards us. “I guess so”, I say holding out my hand for Silver to take it. At first, she got confused at my sudden action but soon she took my hand and smiled widely at me.

This girl, I can tolerate her. She ain’t annoying or anything besides she’s helpful and she reminds me of myself so I plan on taking her with me, if Kelly refuses to take Silver along with her, then I’ll. If Kelly refuses to join us then I guess I’ll leave it to Silver to decide the sides.

Arriving at the last sharp turn of the cave, I started hearing the difference of perspectives. “And why is it always the respectful people like you who talk behind the quietest person? Maybe because you are envious of something we post-teenagers have, something like courage?”, Zain's voice filled my ears. For whatever reason he must have said this to the majority, I felt proud of him, he finally started talking like me.

We were just three steps away from taking the turn and facing the so-called group when I heard a gunshot. I swear that my heart was beating faster than its usual pace and I was scared to face whatever I was going to face after the turn but I'd to because Zain was on the other side of the timber wall. I sprinted my way to the turn and asked Silver to stay behind the wall and not take the turn. In those three steps, I forgot everything about survival and the only thing that was on my mind was Zain's safety, in this brief moment, all it mattered to me was for Zain to be alive.

I took the fourth step and my eyes first saw the vision of the Russian woman holding someone’s kid hostage. She had a rifle pointed at the kid's head and the kid was crying. Ignoring this amusing scene, I scanned the room and felt relief to find Zain getting panicked. He was getting panicked means he’s wound free and he didn’t get shot, that’s all I wanted.

“Get back or I'll shoot him”, she threatens.

To her left, I saw her friend or whatever she was and she was shocked too, not expecting sudden action from the coward I guess. “Don’t shoot, please. Leave him, please”, the man whom we shot with tranquilizer pleaded. He woke up to beg for his kid’s life. His wife was doing the same.

“Are those killers here?”, Silver whisper asks me from the back. “No, you can come out if you want to”, I ask her. It’s okay for her to come out in the light of the truth that this kind of thing happens during survival. Worst case scenario: Humans eat humans, cannibalism.

“I listeened to your sheets for a long timee. Now you will do what I want you to do. Leavee every edeblee theeng you have here in my bag and I will let thees keed go”, she screams in frustration which brings out her accent.

She’s being the selfish but wrong kind of selfish, she’s shaking up others’ bubble to live peacefully in her bubble. I ain’t supporting this kind of selfishness. She’s planning to leave the cave and the group after looting the food from others. I guess that she’s leaving because they settled on the settlement which was in the favor of the minority.

“Stop being stupid and leave him”, I ask her in a relaxed way because I knew that she ain’t got guts to actually shoot the kid.

I think I might have triggered her ego that she glared at me with her eyes wide open that for a second I thought that her eyeballs might fall out. “I'll shoot you first”, she screams pointing the rifle at me. Now when I look at the rifle, I realize that that’s the rifle that I gave to Xavier to use for his safety. I looked to my left and made a disgusting face at Xavier, “Really? You couldn’t even hold onto one thing?”, I say in a disappointed tone. I knew that Xavier was stupid but I didn’t know that he was this stupid.

Scanning the room, no one was taking out the food from their bags except for the kid's parents so she shot up in the air to nothing in particular and screamed, “I’ll shoot. Geeve mee the food, now”, she started losing her patience and I started losing my consciousness. She’s starting to get loud and get on my nerves.

Holding up my rifle I aimed for her head and before giving her any chance to react, I shoot the tranquilizer dart straight into her head. This all happened in a split second that I forgot how slow that Russian woman was in her movements of pointing her gun at me that before she could even straighten her arm, I shot her unconscious. “First rule of shooting, never hesitate”, I teach her unconscious self the rules she never knew before she held onto the rifle.

****