hiding

Hey does this rag smell like chloroform?

After a few hours of scouting the island on foot with Marco, the two had split up in hopes of finding more information. They hadn't discovered much. There were many Marines on the island, that much they already knew. It did appear that they had high taxes on all of the goods the vendors sold. They saw many high-ranking Marines approaching vendors and shop owners to collects fees from them, something they learned was done once every evening. The fact that Marines could take whatever fit their fancy from any store they wanted without paying, did not escape their notice.

The shop owners never even protested, instead keeping their heads down and avoided eye contact. Alexia kept quiet as she witnessed a shop being destroyed by Marines. The shop keeper didn't have enough money when they came to collect their fees. She watched wide eyed as they trashed the store violently in front of the owner and his crying children. The Marines were harsh, barking fowl statements towards the family.

She now found herself walking down an empty alley. Alexia paused as she heard crying coming from an abandoned building near her. Opening the door carefully, she attempted to creep inside without making noise. She cringed as a board underneath her feet creaked, causing the crying to stop instantly.

"Hello?" Alexia called out lightly, "Is there somebody in here?"

"Don't... don't come any closer! I have a gun. I'll shoot I swear!" Alexia heard a weak voice call out from the other side of the wall. Alexia could tell from the tremoring in the voice, there was very little chance of the person actually wielding a weapon.

Alexia slowly approached the doorway of the far wall and peered around the corner. She found a woman on the ground with her knees pulled to her chest. Despite the poor lighting in the room, she could tell the woman was young, probably around her own age. She was covered in dirt and looked in desperate need of a shower. Alexia frowned as she glared at the electric collar around the woman's neck. It was one that the Tenryubito often used for slaves. As suspected, the woman wielded no weapon. She was extremely thin and malnourished. Her eyes fearful and nervous.

"My name is Alexia," Alexia crouched down near her, holding her hands up as a sign of peace, "What is your name?"

"Are you with the Marines?" The woman hissed.

"Hell no, again, what is your name?" Alexia scoffed.

"Misu. My name is Misu."

"What happened to you Misu? Why are you wearing one of those god-awful collars?"

"Like you don't know." Misu hissed again, "Your going to turn me in now that you've found me."

"Turn you in? To the Marines? Slavery is disgusting. If you want to run free, run free. I won't dare stop you from escaping that shit. What I'm interested in, is this island and Mr. Cornhastings and the Marines who control this island."

"Why do you want to know about Cornhastings?" Misu asked wearily.

"He offered my captain a proposition. Wants us to take back control of the island of offer it protection against the Marines. At least that's what he says. I'm trying to find out if he's being honest or if we're walking into a trap."

"That man is the devil. He's the one who put me in this collar. Most of the towns people are actually being held prisoner in his mansion. He gives the Marines a large lump of money, so they don't investigate his mansion, but he has a whole operation underground. He forces us to mine for him, day and night. We basically built a whole factory for him. It would only figure he is trying to get rid of the Marines. They are horrible to the island, but they are the only thing keeping Cornhastings from enslaving every single one of us. If one of us escapes and is found, we are supposed to be handed over to him. He hosts private executions in his mansion when this happens. Makes it into a big party and forces some of us prisoners to watch." Misu's eyes were filled with disgust.

"If he's paying the Marines off to avoid his mansion, why does he want them gone completely?"

"Because technically enslaving people and slave trade is illegal. Unless you're a Celestial Dragon, the Marines are supposed to take those in the slave business into custody. Because of this, he has only managed to enslave half of the islanders. With the Marines gone, he can do as he pleases with everyone."

"Half of the islanders are enslaved? Wouldn't the World Government have noticed such a population decrease in such a short time?" Alexia was surprised.

"They did, that's why there are more Marines on the island. Although they never actually looked into it." Misu spat, "My little brother is still trapped underneath his mansion. I want to leave the island, but I won't go without him."

"We need to find my commander. He can take us to our captain so we can explain everything to him. Knowing my captain, we'll do what we can to help your island. He doesn't take too kindly to someone attempting to swindle him on a deal, especially when it results in the harm to others." Alexia stood up, reaching her hand out to the woman to help her up.

"Well we can't have that, can we darling." Alexia felt chills down her spine as she heard a raspy masculine voice behind her, a cloth being forced on her nose and mouth. The last thing she saw before she lost consciousness was Misu sobbing in fear.