One Piece: Sorrow's Cold Embrace (SSW Backstory)

Chapter 9

Saphira's POV

It took us a few minutes to reach granny's place. Charlie groaned in pain at every step he took and we had to change our pace to make sure he was comfortable enough. When we knocked on her door, the old lady, along with a young girl, opened the door for us and rushed us in. They didn't waste time in assisting Charlie.

"Let me help." Winifred, Silver and I was still standing at the door, awkwardly, as we watch everyone rush around the small home to gather supplies. The old lady stopped in her tracks with a bucket of water in her hands, "Dear, you need to lay down and rest. Don't worry, we'll take good care of the boy." I wanted to protest, but she left to help the others. "Hey, follow me." The rude boy from before didn't wait and walked to a ladder that sat in the corner of the room.

I looked up and belatedly realized that this house had two stories. From ouside, it looked like a normal one story home. "I'm not going anywhere with you." I firmly made my statement and made sure he saw how serious I was. Silver copied my expression as she moved to stand closer to me. The boy gave us a glare, but didn't bother asking us again. He just shrugged his shoulders and climbed the ladder up to the second floor.

I surveyed the home with my one good eye. The place is well-taken cared of. Even so, you could still tell they are poor. The furniture looks old and ready to crumble. We were standing where I believed is the kitchen, dinning room and living room in one open area. 'Is this suppose to be open planned?'. There are two other rooms with curtains that acts as their doors. The curtains have stitch patches and was discolored. I look at the wooden chairs at the table that stand in the middle of the small room.

"Let's take a seat." I pulled one of the seats out for Silver and took a seat right next to her. I hold my arms out to take Winifred from her. She shook her head as she cradles Winifred closer to her chest, "You're hurt. It's okay, I'll take care of her." She tried to give me a reasuring smile. I sigh in exhaustion and try to replicate her smile. The pain of my bruises and cut lip makes me flinch, "Thank you."

It felt like we were sitting there for hours when the old lady pushed the curtains back and walk towards us. "He'll be alright. He's resting now." Silver and I deflated like baloons in relief. The old lady's smile turned into a frown, "Didn't I tell you to rest? Why are you still down here?" I returned her frown with a challenge in my eye. "Where exactly do you want me to rest? I see no bed in sight. Besides, how do you expect me to just sleep when my friend's life was in danger."

The old lady sighed as she rubbed her brows with her wrinkled fingers. "I asked Ralph to show you to the upper level where they sleep. That boy... I understand you're worried, but the danger has passed now." She gave me a small smile, she turned to the room she just came from. "If you want to see him, then come along. Just be quiet." My sister and I quickly jumped to our feets and followed her. She pushed the curtain to one side to allow us in.

The room was dark, but the lit lamps outside gave the room a soft yellow glow that helped us see the silhouettes of the bed and the girl from before. We approached the bed and saw Charlie's sleeping form tucked under a blanked. "We gave him some sleeping drugs before we stitched him." The girl, that stood next to the bed, spoke up at our silents. The old lady quickly reasured us when she saw our faces whitening at the girl's words.

"It's all natural ingredients we use." She showed us small glass vials on the nightstand. Each bottle have different kinds of plants in them, some of them looked grind into pouder, others look like they were crushed into sap. "We get these from the forest behind the town." She put everything back before turning to us. "We had to unfortunately stitch up the wound, so we gave him a drug to make him sleep."

I shake my head as I process the information. Things were moving too fast for me and it was making me tired. "Thank you..." It was all I could say as I fight to stay upright. The old lady seemed to have noticed my exhaustion. "It's a few hours before sunrise. You kids must be tired. I'll let Angie lead you to a place you can rest. I'll watch over the boy." Angie nodded her head and came towards us with a hesitant smile. "Follow me, please." She pushed back the curtain as she waited for us.