Chapter 3: The Sell-out

"Uh, what happened?" Colt found himself in an unknown place. His vision was blurry, and he felt like he had slept for a long duration. His vision got cleared after a while. He found himself in a hut when he looked around. "Where am I?"

Suddenly, he remembered his brother was after him. "I have to leave." He tried to get up but could not because of excruciating pain that stung his body. He discovered he was covered in bandages. "Ah! What happened to me?"

"Ah, I can see you are finally awake." He saw someone entered the hut. It was a middle-aged man covered in rags. The man found him struggling to get up. "Don't try to move. You were badly injured. You must rest to fully heal."

"Where am I? How long have I been here?" Colt asked.

"You are in my lone hut in the woods of Madmen. I found you at the river bank three days ago. You have been unconscious since then," the man answered.

"So, you saved my life," Colt muttered with a sad face and looked at the man. "Thank you."

"I had to. By the way, may I ask you your name?"

"I am Colt."

"Colt?" The man thought he had heard this name somewhere. "Are you by chance… Ah, you can't be. What am I even thinking? Hahaha…" he laughed awkwardly.

"You are right," said Colt.

"Huh?" The man seemed puzzled.

"I am the youngest prince of Madmen, Colt, son of Joker."

"Wha… Whaaatt!?" the man was shocked. "How can this be? My prince, how come you…"

"That's a long story. But thank you for helping me. I need to leave or you will be in trouble."

"But you can't walk in your condition. You have to stay and rest," the man urged when Colt tried to get up but failed to.

"Ah." Colt winced. "When would I be able to leave?"

"I will have to take you to a doctor. I can not heal you fully by myself."

Colt took a pause and asked, "Have you come across a wounded, bald old man?"

"I am afraid I have not, my prince," said the man. "Is he one of your acquaintances?"

Colt nodded. "I wonder if he is alright, or even alive." He noticed the man's bothered face. As if he wanted to say something, but something stopped him. "Is there something you want to say?"

"Ah, yes, pardon me, my prince," the man said, awkwardly rubbing his head. "I have heard rumors that King Joker has passed away and Prince Hammer has taken charge."

"It is true," Colt said.

"So, is it true that he is after you and Prince Rozerd?"

"Yes."

"Oh, my God. Then what would you do now?"

"I do not know." Colt clenched his fist. He was angry at his powerlessness. He looked at the man. "You must not tell about me to anyone. I will leave once I heal."

"You can be sure about that." The man suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I forgot to tell you my name. I am Sango, a daily wage worker."

"Nice to meet you, Sango," Colt said.

"Likewise, my prince." Sango bowed and walked out of the hut. "Please rest until I bring something to eat."

Colt stared at the roof, thinking how to defeat his brother who had wronged him and the state. He wondered if there was a way other than killing him.

He could see it was getting dark outside, and there was no source of light anywhere. There were mosquitoes as well. He wondered how that man lived in such a place. Suddenly, he heard some noises coming from outside.

"Are you sure he is here?"

"Yes, I am sure." It was Sango's voice, but someone was with him. "He is the one. He confirmed it himself." There were men in strange ninja-like black costumes.

There was something wrong. Colt could sense it. He somehow jumped to the floor and tried to get to the corner of the room.

"Oye, you go and check inside," the man with Sango ordered someone. Another man entered the hut to look inside, but found no one on the bed. He had a fire torch in his hand. He moved it around to look for Colt. Suddenly, he discovered a silhouette in the dark, but before he could say something, it jumped at him.

"Aaah!!" Sango and others heard a scream coming from inside.

"Oye, what happened?" The men with Sango took out their swords. "Get inside at once!" They all hurried inside, only to find their man dead. He was missing his sword, which meant he was killed by it. They suddenly found a hole in the wall. "Hey, there is a hole. He must have escaped from here."

"Find him!" their leader ordered them. They all hurried and outside and ran towards the jungle where Colt must have escaped.

Colt could not believe Sango had sold him. He was finding difficulty getting away. He could hear the noises of his pursuers.

"He must have gone that way! Let us find him!"

"Ah!" The pain in his body was stopping him, but he could not stop or it would be over.

His pursuers entered the jungle. "Search everywhere you can! Find him!"

They all scattered and began searching for him. "Wherever you are, Colt! I will find you! Do you hear this!? You can hide, but you can not escape!" Their leader announced.

One of them heard some noise in the bushes. He went to check, but before he could react, he was pulled in. Legends say he was never pulled out… One was pulled behind a tree. Only his flesh and bones remained…

Their leader noticed his men's decreased numbers. He found it fishy. "Colt! Come out! You can not escape! I have already told you!"

Colt could hear every word of him clearly while hiding behind a tree. "If only I was in the best condition…" he muttered. He was waiting for a chance to get at their leader, but little did he know…

"Ah!" Someone sneaked upon him and hit his head. He dropped to the ground and passed out.

"Heh, got you." It was Sango. He called the other men. "Hey, I have found him."

Those men grinned at each other when they saw the unconscious Colt. "I will make sure to get you a handsome bunch of gold," said the leader to Sango.

"I am sure you will, haha," responded Sango with a grin.