Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Dizziness hit me when I tried to open my eyes. I rub my forehead hoping to ease but I guess it is not working. It is getting worse though. Now, I felt that I am getting sick- wanting to throw away everything that I ate last night. I pushed open the door, my hand crawling through its leather finish as I look for something to hold on to. Grabbing the handle, I supported myself to climb down, but I didn't expect my body to feel too heavy and I didn't secure my grip on the handle firmly resulting in me to fell down shoulder first to the ground.
I groaned as I suppressed myself by not shouting in pain. Grounding my teeth, I forced myself to gather myself. The dizziness was still there and I need to unload everything to make myself feel a little more bit comfortable. I kneeled down and let every nasty thing flow out from my mouth. To make everything short, I was totally wasted.
The smell was unbearable but it is fine. I feel much better now compared from before. I made myself settled at the side of the pickup truck while waiting for the dizziness to subside.
I really can't believe what I just did last night. I let myself drowned on the effects of alcohol? Huh. I let out a deep breath. If my employee saw me like this? They will probably die in shock.
In my company where I was working, I literally band the use of alcoholic beverages. Not because of the reason that it can make you drunk but because I just don't like it.
For some reason, I cannot really find the reason why people take alcohol. They all know that it can make them wasted and at the same time loss control. But still, they like it. To forget their problems? Nah! I didn't believe that and I don't believe it can help when you are stress either. And when the effects are gone? You are still facing the same problem. Probably some additional one too because you are stupid enough.
But last night? I probably let myself loss besides it is my twenty-third birthday though. Sometimes, it is not bad to make something you don't like. But still, I hate alcohol and I hate it more than this time. After everything, I've been through this morning? I might even band alcohol from the entire building.
Upon looking around, I noticed something which I didn't notice before. Golden rays of sunlight peeking through the thick foliage hitting the forest bed. I raised my brow, something is odd, I thought But I can't find what it was. I pushed myself standing, leaned slightly to my EV-looking around. Everything was fine and normal. There is nothing wrong with this place. It was just the woods, full of trees covering the entire sky by its branches and leaves while dead leaves everywhere.
I was confused, everything was normal and yet I felt something was not right. Odd to say the least. Feeling not content, I look around for the second time. But I didn't get the irregularities.
"What the... It is just a forest and I feel unsettled. hmm" I lamented. Then realization came down upon me, I spun around like I cannot help myself. Heart beating fast "That's it!" I exclaimed as I found what is wrong with all of this "I am in the forest. But how?" I asked myself.
I scratched my chin as I tried to recall what happened last night. After work, I went to a club to celebrate my birthday. I was wasted though but still, I can drive, right? If not, I will just set the autopilot of EV and it will bring me home.
"That's right!" My eyes brightened as I found the reason why I am here inside the forest.
"This damn autopilot, I thought it functioned 100% reliable, well, guess what, it brought me to where!" Because of frustration, I kick the side tier expecting the car to get hurt. But expectations versus reality were biased though, instead of the car to be hurt it's me who was.
I suppress myself not shout, my foot still aching because of what I just did. Putting my hands on my hips, stand straight at the of the car. "Happy now? First, you brought me in the middle of nowhere and second you hurt me! Does it make you feel good? Huh! When we arrive home, I will sell you for real, so start praying right now!"
Frustrated, I send myself to the driver seat. What hell, I argued with the car? "Childish" I commented to myself.
I shook my head, take a deep breath and relax to put everything in order. After that, I pulled the door to close it. Taping the huge screen on the dashboard, but it won't come to life.
I was confused. Maybe it was totally drained." But that was impossible!" I thought. No EV will drain itself until it stops. EVs today were programmed not to run when the battery capacity hit a certain point. Well, that's what the company who sold it to me said. But for one year, things never happened to me. Yes, there were instances that get myself in trouble when I didn't charge, that's why I installed solar panels at the roof. Despite that, I still get my car drained. Regardless, it won't shut down, just like what happened right now.
I bend down reaching out the manual boot up under the steering wheel. Pushing the button, the screen lit up and next showing the animation of the company that built it. I was happy but not surprise though, it was expected. EV like this should have spear power to look for charging points.
After the booting was done, I immediately navigate to the maps to look for the nearest charging point. Solar panels on the roof were useless for now due to the thick foliage black the sun, but still, it is helping to power up the system. It was indicated in the small icon at the right side top corner.
Proceeding to the maps, I felt irritated after navigating to it. On the screen, it showed " No network found". I clenched my fist, taking a deep breath to relax.
By the way how much is left to my battery? I was curious but I'm not expecting to have more than 2% left. I closed every window on the screen and it brought me the main dash. Confused-shock at the same time. "Looks like my worry last time is wasted," I said. On the screen, it should the animation of my EV truck, while below is the distance it can travel with its current battery capacity.
"1,235 miles with 20% percent battery left." With this, I can hit the road the entire day.
After checking the car, I am ready to hit the road so that I could get home and have a good sleep. But that unsettling feeling came back. It feels like there was watching me from the distance. Because of that, I floored the gas or the pedal because it is not an internal engine, the EV truck spun as it went through the thick woods. I never looked back through, afraid to see something scary.
Driving for about a mile, that unsettling feeling finally gone. I breathe a big relief, I brought down the speed from 60kl to 30kl. I love my truck and I don't want to break it. During this time, I finally find time to check my phone. At the center there was a compartment, I pulled it open and there was my phone. I tap the screen" Dead?" confused when the screen didn't wake up. But that's impossible, the compartment was a wireless charger. Everything I put in there, as long as it has wireless charging compatibility, it will eventually charge it.
But...huh! I pushed the phone matters to the back of my head. Right now it is not a big deal, the most important thing is to get home.
An hour has passed, and I still didn't found any road to follow. Now I am starting to feel that I'm lost. I hit the brake and the truck came to a stop. I grabbed my phone, powering up and navigate to the contacts. Looking through the list, I can't find the right person to call with. I can't because I have no friends, but because... kinda I have a conflict with then last month. And I don't want to call them, I want them to call me first. Besides they are the reason why we have this kind of conflict. Without no one to call, I decided to call my secretary.
But there was no signal! I was infuriated to the point where I about to smash my phone the steering wheel. Thankfully I am able to stop myself, I needed this phone specifically right now I am lost.
Hitting the pedal, the pickup truck move again. The landscape changes as the time flown away. Trees are also getting smaller and smaller. I think I am heading for the right way, I guess.
The sun rose to its highest, finally, I found a clearing with a village on the right side. Joy came overflooding me. Before driving towards the village, I stop. I fished out the biscuits from my bag and started eating. Last time I didn't have the right time because whenever I stop, that unsettling feeling will suddenly appear Because of that I continued driving despite the fact that I felt really hungry. Right now, there was a village out there, it should be safe here.
Finishing that last cut, I slowly drove the car toward the village. It was bot far though, 500 meters away without hindrance took me a short moment.
At the entrance, there was an arch holding the name of the village. "Northern Border Slope" I read.
The entrance is not that big, my EV truck barely managed to fit with it. I slowly but carefully drive through, I was afraid that the paint will get scratched.
I thought, the entrance I just went to is the main one, but that is not the case. Not far away is a very tall wall build from rocks and other stuff which I didn't recognize. It resembles the wall used in the Mediaeval period. At the top of the wall, there were people standing wearing on rags while holding the bow and arrow which I feared the most because it was pointing at me.
"Stop!!!" Someone from the people standing at the wall shouted, will I never move an inch either. I'm still afraid of those bows and arrows.
"State your purpose!!"Again, someone shouted but this time it is not the same. I was a deep voice with hoarse.
What should I do? I asked myself, conflicts and internal struggle came to me. If I made the wrong move, I'm dead for sure. For a minute I didn't reply because I am still afraid. What if they will fire those arrows if said wrong.
Looking above, more people came but they different. Wearing on a uniform like leather armor, the joined the previous guards.
Backing up and took the road to the wilderness or here where the first village I saw. I don't want in the wilderness either, that unsettling feeling was creeping me out. Additionally, I don't know this place, what if there were bandits there. Or here, where I think I have the chance to negotiate. If they need money, I have money. I will give it to them as long as they let me go home.
I gathered the courage I have and shakingly stepping out of the car. Heart pounded, sweat rushing, while feeling on my stomach, I was nervous to the brink of peeing my pants.
The guards above the wall, tensed when I got out. They draw their bow while the gate at the front which I didn't notice before opened slightly. Revealing a middle-aged man, "State your purpose" he was the one shouted again.
"Mr.. going home!" My voice quivered as I said those words.
The middle-aged man paused for a moment. Seemingly thinking for something. Then something my head very hard resulting in vision to blackout.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone