Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 145

The Dreadful Life Korean International School, Lai, Alpha - 14 People thought of me as a disgusting little dwarf. Everyone on the ship teased me as I swept the deck multiple times a day. I was smaller than average people and half the weight of an average man. Not only was I the one who would scrub the deck, but also the one who did everything not related to fighting. Nobody could understand the pain I went through. A whole fleet was sent by the Emperor to give away gold and fine precious items. I mean why would you not keep it to yourself and share it the villagers and the poor people like me. Then no one would die of starvation and it could rebuild our economy. But instead, give it to other places? What a laugh! We went around the world and some scenes were astonishing! The landscape in other places was different than home. Large amounts of water falling off cliffs. People back at home said waterfalls they were. It was supposedly the most beautiful scenery in the world. What fortune I had to see all this, they said. But to me, even looking at this would never get me happy or excited I have been on this ship for at least 2 years now since they put “Wanted people to join the army” posters all around the village. I immediately applied for the job and they accepted me without putting me to the test. “That was strange.” I thought. Everyone said that it was really hard to get in and you’ll have a luxurious life there. But As a young man at the age of almost 20, I have already experienced many things normal people with a normal life would not have. The experience of life and death has changed me a lot. Seeing blood is common for me and it doesn't freak me out as it used to. People say watching your loved ones die is the worst thing that can happen to you and it is true. I watched my wife and children die in front of me and the feeling back then 5 years ago was dreadful and the pain...unbearable. But not every day was as lucky as the day we saw the waterfall. We have received many messages that unwanted pirates could come to us any minute whilst the sky was dark and everyone was unprepared and it said to rush back as soon as possible. I didn't mind dying, but at that moment, all I thought of was my loved ones. My wife and children waiting for me and the feeling I had was so uncomfortable. The atmosphere today was gloomy and the pirate spirit was down, unlike other days, the pirates would be chugging down their beer and having fun. But today, everyone knew what was going to happen and no one was in the mood. Today is the last day. I see the backs of the pirates, slaughtering each other. I run as fast as I could with my hands on my head screaming and it felt like my lungs were about to burst. I feel the blood rushing through my brain as more red slimy liquid squirts on my hands. I hear my name angrily called out multiple times but too scared to reply, I rush in the toilet locking myself in. I came out when my name was not called out anymore. I knew it was over.