Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 235

you a chance to be free forever .” He could have killed her if he wished, if Sakura and Max hadn’t chosen
that time to suddenly burst into the room. But in the moment of panic, Nick thrust his knife into Alara’s
gut.
Sakura screamed. Nothing seemed important now because her friend, Alara, was already half-dead.
She screamed at the bandits, “YOU IDIOTS!” She found a rock and threw it at the shorter bandit’s head.
He passed out cold. “YOU TOO!” She charged at the remaining bandit. “NO!” he yelled, before ducking
out the way. “I won’t let you take her until one of you tells me the location of the ship!” He pointed at
them with his knife. “I can kill Alara, you know. I can kill you all!” He looked like a maniac. “NOW!” He
snarled. “Never!” yelled Max. “Well, say goodbye then.” He threw his knife at Alara. Alara screamed.
“GET OUT OF HERE! GO! LEAVE ME HERE! PROMISE!” Alara was sobbing; tears streaked down
her face. The knife had impaled her gut, and blood was gushing out. Alara smiled one more time.
“Goodbye.” Sakura sobbed, but then she yelled, “DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?!” She charged at
Nick with a sharp rock. She stabbed him in the stomach, and said in his ear, “You’ll be going to the place
where criminals die and receive eternal punishment. It’s complimentary.” The bandit bit the dust. Max
looked at her with wide eyes. “You...you killed two people!” Sakura glanced over her shoulder, looking at
the knocked out bandit. “Nah. Not exactly. But for Alara.” Max’s eyes were red. “Yeah. For Alara.” And
together they walked out of the cave.
Weeks later, the expedition of the Ming Treasure Voyages were over. Max and Sakura came home
with many stories to tell. But they both never forgot the cave, where Alara died, and their promise. On the
last day of the voyage, Max and Sakura took Alara’s things and tossed them into the ocean. They
remembered their promise, told stories about Alara, and laughed during the sunset. They looked at the
sinking possessions of Alara. “Promise.”