Home for the Few - The Awakening of the Silenced Ⅰ

IV. I'm Still Here.

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   The sun shone brightly, and the large galleon gently swayed with the mild waves. All around, there was nothing but water—vast, blue, and imposing. The silence was broken by the hundreds of charms hanging from every corner of the ship. Small bells of different shapes, wolf (or dog) teeth, and bird claws hung from the pirates' necks, protecting their home on the open sea. The wood of the masts, hull, and deck was as black as the sails. Surrounding the Olympe de Gouges were finely detailed carvings of women, some hunting or dancing, others seductive or laughing.    The only one who seemed to weep was the figurehead at the front of the ship.

   Despite its dark exterior, designed to be invisible at night, the interior was a world of color and joy. The cabins and storage areas were painted in every shade of green, with different plants hanging from the ceiling or growing in pots on the floor. The scent of wormwood, rue, mugwort, and rosemary filled every corner and clung to the fabrics. In every nook were cushioned surfaces, hand-woven blankets, and even plush toys where purring cats took their endless naps.     Books dominated the space, with colorful stones and crystals in every corner, white candles, and incense that made the ship feel cozy and inviting. Stacked books recited poems, explained spells, and told legends that had shaped the Black Block. Spices, powders, and minerals filled the chests, later to become useful potions or poisons stored in glass cases. Altars were scattered throughout, where they prayed, blessed, and cursed.

   In every room, the walls were painted with beautiful representations of the Forgotten Goddesses, revered by no one except the Black Block: Makra and Durga.

   Ten years had passed since Lilith first set foot on that ship, where she had to unlearn everything she had been taught and start anew. From the beginning, she knew this was how it should have always been—she had no ties, and they let her soar. She felt so free that sometimes she had to remind herself that the world wasn't really like this. During those years, young girls had started disappearing mysteriously, leaving no trace. Of course, the townsfolk blamed the Black Block, but nothing could be further from the truth.

   The Black Block kept a record of every missing girl, with all the information they could gather and their last sighting. Entire books were filled with the names of women no one had seen again, along with their faces drawn in black ink. As Lilith grew older, she was gradually taught the harsh realities of the world and the terrifying fate from which she had been saved. In the kingdom of Serendipia, women were treated as mere decorations or possessions of their husbands or fathers, and they were trained from childhood to meet that expectation—that was their education. Unlike boys, who received real studies and education, women had no voice, no vote, and were married off at thirteen. Those who remained unmarried by thirty became the kingdom's maids or companions. They were forbidden from doing almost anything, and the little they were allowed had to be pre-approved by the man in possession of them at the time.

   They couldn't dream, have fun, make noise, have friendships, or fall in love. Many women had been executed for allegedly being part of the Black Block, when their only crime had been falling in love with another woman. Anyone who opposed the system was executed with the mark of the Black Block on their back.

   Year after year, these women were turned into monsters, the fear of children and the concern of parents. A lie passed down from generation to generation that no one dared to question.

   It was a seemingly perfect world, with an impeccable economy, where the only injustice was the slavery of women—an injustice hidden from the eyes of all.