Chapter 11: Chapter 11

The man was surprised to see Elijah, so he ran away. Elijah did not know why the man ran. He chased him even the road is slippery because of the moss. He lost sight of him so it was difficult for him to find the man. When he heard a crack, he went to the part where he heard the sound.

He saw the old man sitting in the mud while rubbing his left foot. He tried to approach but the man backed away.

"What do you need and why are you following me?" The old man asked while wearing his scarred face.

"I have no intention to hurt you. I just wanted to ask something. Why did you run after you saw me?"

The old man did not answer. Elijah tried to approach him again. This time — the old man didn't try to run away. Elijah didn't know if it was because he's now calm or because he could no longer walk.

Elijah went in front of him and offered his hand, so the man could stand away from the mud. He was surprised when the man accepted his hand.

"Can you tell me which part of here, you live?" Elijah asked as he assists him, the man might fall because of his sore foot.

He pointed out the densest part of the forest where dark and tall grasses can see. They have already started walking. After they passed through the wild grass, Elijah saw the dilapidated hut.

He was saddened by what he saw and looked at the old man, "Why do you live in this kind of place?"

The state of the hut is uneven. The leaf roof is slowly falling off. The wall was also dilapidated and he has no proper bed.

The old man sat in the wooden chair. He stared intently at Elijah, Elijah squat in front of him and looked closely at the old man's face.

"You look like someone I know," Elijah said and wondering who the old man looks like.

The old man was not surprised. He touched his face with a trembling hand. Elijah wondered what he was doing. The old man's eyes were red as if he would cry at any moment.

"Forgive me. If I have not been able to save and protect you," He burst into tears and the water in his eyes was flowing continuously.

"Forgive me for the times when I should have held your hand but I was not by your side," The old man continued to caress Elijah's cheek and even his hair.

Elijah took the old man's hands away and stared at him intently. As he looked at the part of his face one by one, he was surprised to notice that he looked like Grayson.

"Grayson," he mumbled.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he just cried and cried.

Elijah made the old man calm down and asked, "What happened? Can you tell me?"

The old man shakes his head repeatedly.

Elijah sighed and still speaks to him, "If you don't tell me what happened, I can't help you. Can you tell me your name too?"

He still doesn’t answer. Elijah let him be silent until he's ready. Ten minutes after, he speaks willingly.

"Leave while there is still a time. I came here to change what was destined to happen," The old man quickly pulled Elijah's hand as his eyes are begging, "Tell Grayson, don't let what I experienced happen here."

Suspicion was already in Elijah's mind when he heard the old man mention the name, Grayson.

"How did you know Grayson? Who are you? Aren’t you the one Daniel mentioned about someone who believes in time travel? I'm confused. Explain to me what's going on," Elijah asked one concern after another while not knowing what to expect next.

"That doesn't matter anymore," Elijah was about to be pushed by the man but he stopped his hands.

"I'm begging you. Tell me or even just give me a hint."

The old man averted his face and mumbled, "You won't believe what I'm going to say either, you'll laugh at me—like people always do."

"I won't."

A long silence existed before the old man began to narrate.

"A few years ago Awakmu invaded Pinyin. Pinyin was a quiet and prosperous town back then. Awakmu is a group of conquerors. It is led by Cedie Alacon."

Elijah just listened quietly as he processed what the man was saying. Although many questions were playing in his mind, he tried not to cut into the old man's story.

"Heavy rain accompanied by loud and continuous thunder. The sun was done peeking out and darkness covered the sky. Only drops of enormous rain could be heard. They took advantage of the deep night and the rest of the people. I could still hear the footsteps of horses and chariots that they were carrying. His disciples were wearing iron armour and holding swords, katana and cutlass," Every utterance of the words felt the bitterness in the old man's voice. He tried to avoid sobbing but shortly he cried out again as if in grief.

"They entered the houses one by one and killed them. Some women were raped by them, while others were tortured first. My two eyes saw how those people suffered. And how their homes were burned as they were dragged away," he whined.

"It's not your fault," Elijah consoled.

From the puffy eyes, he shook, "If it weren't for me they wouldn't have died. The person I love wouldn't have died..."

"Why you? It is not your fault that Awakmu wants to take over their land," Elijah insisted.

"I hope it's that easy to make myself believe that I'm not at fault. But no, my conscience hunt me every day and night."

"What do you mean?"

"They didn’t come from just where. They are a conqueror who came from the past and only travelled to get to the future. They came here to look for me and you."

"Me?"

"I am from the future. I know the reason you came here. You’re from the past but you’re not sure of your background, am I right?"

Elijah was surprised at first but now that the man said that he is from the future and discovered the reason for Elijah's coming here to Pinyin— he is even more curious.

"Who are you?" Elijah asked.

"I am Grayson Ramey of future."