Survival in my heart. Part one.

"Arlo, get up. Arlo, can you hear me? He's coming."

Zale's voice brought him back to reality, where everyone's life depended on just running. When he opened his eyes, he immediately looked toward the forest and noticed that Kylian was already standing, wiping his mouth.

"How long has it been?"

"Quite a while. He really is a pervert. It was horrible. I hate him. It's horrible. Just awful."

Laughing, Arlo stood up and felt more strength. His heart no longer ached, his breathing became calmer.

"I slept so well."

"And now I'm scarred for life from what I saw."

"At least I'm alive."

"Yeah, but you'll have to keep running. I don't think Bannard will let us go."

Quickly among everyone, Arlo rejoiced and was surprised that no one noticed that he was asleep. Noticing that everyone was already tired and some were ready to stop altogether, but were running with the last of their strength, he looked at those he knew more than anyone else.

Blake was the last to run. He could barely move his legs and it looked like they were about to get tangled up and he would just fall over.

Jasper ran calmly, as if he had been born to run.

The brothers Klaus and Strauss ran slowly, but ran and had a stoic expression on their faces.

And also noticing among them a girl of small stature with curly brown hair, Arlo noticed that she ran with such ease and grace, as if she had no weight, as if she were the wind.

But as for the others, he noticed that many were already barely breathing. Everyone's breathing became so loud that it seemed as if everyone was drowning.

Despite the cold, everyone had sweat on their faces and some could see the veins under their skin at all and how fast they were pulsing.

"Blake, are you okay?" Arlo questioned, running up to him. "Are you okay?"

"My eyes are already going dark in front of me. I can't take it anymore."

"Run. Just run."

"I can't."

"He should have rested," Arlo whispered, looking at Bannard, who had already returned to the center of the field and sat down on a chair.

Joining them, Kylian slowed his run not far from Arlo and as they turned their backs to Bannard, he asked, "Are you okay? Are you feeling better?"

"I'm very grateful to you. You saved me."

"I think everyone was able to get some rest."

"How do you not hate doing that?" Zale asked, still thinking about what he had to see. "I'd rather be in the scariest world than do something like that."

Laughing, Kylian said nothing. His laughter stopped in Arlo's ears for some reason, and he heard it for a long time. Such a kind, naive, and calm laugh from a good man made him believe in the existence of kindness.

"Hurry up! You're just walking there!" Bannard exclaimed, throwing a large rock at Blake, which struck him on the back. Barely falling, Blake still continued running.

"My heart is going to burst. I can't."

"Blake."

"Leader, they're trying to help each other!" the girl who was running ahead of everyone suddenly shouted, managing to point a finger at Arlo and Blake.

"Nobody's helping anybody. Keep running!" Zale shouted, ready to fight for his friend.

"It's against the rules. You can't help."

"Arlo, don't worry about me. I'm all right. They might kill the two of us if they see it's help and compassion."

"What kind of rules are those?"

"Quiet, you there!"

Now thinking of his friend and of Blake, whose breath he could hear behind him, Arlo continued to run forward.

As long as he had strength, he ran as slowly as possible. But he knew it wouldn't last forever. Trying not to think about bad things, he began to look under his feet. But there was nothing on the ground that could be called beautiful. It was just a surface littered with rocks, mud, and puddles. And in one of those puddles, one of the runners fell down.

Hearing the sound of a body falling into the water, Arlo almost stopped to watch.

"Run. Don't look anywhere."

"Someone fell."

"Just run."

"Finally! I thought you were all so perfect. And I'm so bored with perfect ones," Bannard said, getting up from his chair. Clutching the dagger in his hand, he quickly walked over to the guy who couldn't even get to his feet. He raised his hand and without thinking, quickly plunged it right into his heart. Then abruptly pulling out the bloody dagger, Bannard returned to his chair as if nothing had happened.

"He killed him?"

"Keep running."

"Those are the rules," Kylian said, trying not to look at the dead guy who stained the puddle red.

"He just killed him like that?"

"Arlo, that's enough."

"This is unacceptable. It's not normal."

"Arlo, I said stop talking. You're not a hero and never were. Shut up and keep running while you can."

"There's a dead man lying here. Zale, what's wrong with you?"

"I know. But those are the rules. Survive the one who is strong."

Not knowing how to be indignant, Arlo was overwhelmed with such rage and anger that he was ready to plunge that dagger into Bannard. His hatred and fear became so intense that he was ready to do anything.

"Arlo, don't you dare go. Arlo!"

Noticing Arlo's gaze, Bannard looked at him seriously and turned away. Taking this gesture of his as cowardice, Arlo realized once again that there was no need to fear him and that he was the most pathetic man in the whole world.

"It happens every day. You'll soon get used to it," Kylian said, continuing to run with ease and confidence. "Don't think I'm heartless. But what can I do? That's the reality, where you have to survive and be strong."

Unable to find the right words, Arlo couldn't help but think of the guy who was bleeding on the ground, looking before him with his empty eyes.

Before, he had never seen a dead man. But now, when he saw this guy, a totally innocent guy who was loved by his family, he felt so bad that he was ready to cry, scream, fight, and most importantly, survive at all costs.

To die by Bannard's dagger was such an embarrassment to him that he forced his body to obey him. He ran fast. He tried to breathe through his nose, clenching his fists. He tried not to think about his illness. He couldn't just think about it.

Still, he screamed loudly, more like a roaring animal in captivity, he knew that his strength would soon leave him.

But how much he didn't want to die.

"Not today," he whispered, feeling the icy wind pounding into his lungs with its spearhead.

"Dominique, run. Run, run. Dominique!"

When another scream sounded, Arlo again witnessed one of the girls fall to the ground, no longer able to get up.

Reluctantly looking at her, Bannard picked up his bloody dagger and slowly headed toward the girl, who covered her face with both hands, knowing that she was about to be killed.

"Dominique!" the girl who had been running beside him all this time continued to shout her name, exposing herself to death. "Dominique!"

"Keep running!" Bannard shouted, filling his sly gaze with such rage that Arlo could no longer stand it.

The anger became so intense that he could no longer control it. He thought of nothing and the future seemed to disappear, and so did he.

"Arlo! Arlo stop!"

Without hearing anyone, Arlo took swift steps toward Bannard, who had his back to him. He grabbed one of the heavy and large stones that were lying on the ground, and without hesitation he swung his hand and struck Bannard's head.

And next he himself saw the darkness before his eyes, which completely enveloped him like the warm and viscous embrace of death itself.