We See You

Beginning Arc

"Sir, yes sir!" a crowd of voices chanted, before aiming their swords at the training dummies ahead of them. On the count of three, they all began slicing at the straw, doing their best to keep up with their peers. "I gotta tell you man." One of the recruits turned to his peers, lowering his sword, and shaking his head "This training is almost making me want to quit." He grumbled, resting a hand on his forehead to wipe the sweat away. "Quiet Alex, if they hear you say something so stupid, you'll be killed." The other hissed quietly.

"Hey! Scumbag!" A booming voice spoke from behind Alex, he slowly turned around to see a superior officer, decked in a sheer black shirt and tight... too tight-fitting trousers. "Y-yes Sir?" Alex's grimace twisted into a nervous smile. "Why are you not working as hard as your peers? Do you want to die?" The older man leaned down, now face to face with the nervous wreck of a man, narrowing his eyes. "N-no sir! I just needed a break" Alex raised his hands in defence but was cut off by the officer. "A BREAK? A BREAK HERE IN MY TRAINING GROUNDS?" The officer puffed his chest out, retuning to his large stance "Not a chance wimp, go clean my quarters as punishment!"

Alex sank back, nodding and tucking his sword into its sheath and dropping it into a nearby barrel. "You have to be kidding me" he mumbled, rolling his eyes as he made his way inside, through the filthy corridors, and to his Captain's Quarters. Standing at the door, he took one look around, before blowing air into his cheeks and pouting. "I should have just quit..."

Grabbing a bucket and mop, he rested it over his shoulder as he made his way to the kitchen, getting lost in his thoughts as he wondered how he had entered this predicament. One minute he was showing off his sword skills in the village square, next he was training to become a warrior. He stood in front of the tap, his eyes unfocused as he listened to the water dripping into the bucket. Resting a hand, and his head, on the wall, he noticed a hole in the bottom of the bucket. "Are you kidding me?" he said out loud for the second time, before shooting upright as his ears pricked at the sound of scraping.

"P-please help m-me" a hoarse voice said from down the corridor. Alex tilted his head, who could be wanting help? Especially here. "Hey man, I don't think you're in the right place for help..." Alex trailed off as he wandered over, seeing the voice come from behind bars. "M-my child... my child was t-taken..." the voice continued. Alex's eyes scanned the cell, before they landed on the frame of an old man. "I tried defending them but... The Swarm captured me... I swear, I have not done anything wrong..." the old man looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.

"They locked you up... for defending your kid? How long have you been here?" he slowly sat down, crossing his legs on the cold floor, and grabbing one of the bars. "Must've been... 10 years now... Every time I hear a noise, I call for help... I need to save my child..." he shuffled over to the bars "Please... I'm an old man... there's not much I can do alone... but you... you must save them..." Alex pushed his lips together in a frown. "What is their name? What island are they from...? You know what, I'll just let you out" he shrugged simply, standing up and grabbing the key. As he turned the rusted key in the lock, a shiver ran up his spine. He was being watched. "Alex? What are you doing sweetie?" a feminine voice called out, before the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching.

"Cynthia, this man has done nothing wrong, and he's been here 10 years!" Alex spun around, using his arm to shield the man now behind him. "His child was dangerous, he had to be taken care of too" Cynthia explained, crossing her arms over her chest and shaking her head. She raised a hand, shifting the mask covering the lower half of her face upwards. "No, no he didn't" Alex shook his head, turning to the old man "Go, and hurry." He smiled, as the man nodded and scuttled off.

Just as Alex turned back around, something whizzed past his ear; shortly after, he heard a grunt and a thud. The old man was dead. "Cynth..." he raised his head to meet the woman's eyes. Cynthia smirked behind her mask. Raising her hand, she displayed three daggers, one between each finger. She plucked one knife out of her fingers and shook her head "Now now... Alex, you can't expect to get away with letting a prisoner go now, can you?" she giggled, before sighing "Stay still for me now. I'll try to make this a quick death, although I can't assure you it won't be painful" Alex's eyes widened, before he turned and ran down the damp corridor, his shoes clapping against the stone cobbles beneath him. The whole world seemed to move in slow motion as he bolted for the door at the end of the hall; he could hear his heart pounding in his chest, this was either freedom... or death.