Waking up in a dungeon seemed something unimaginable to most modern day people. But it was just like any other jailed cell. Save a toilet, lighting and a bed. There was only two things worthy noting. Cold floors and countless bacteria in the air from human excrements and blood.
When she woke up in her haze, she saw a figure just outside the thick iron bars.
"It's me. Xiao Bai. Big sister. Hang in there. Look what I brought." The small figure cried.
The blurry figure slowly revealed a small boy crying. His soft clean black hair, slightly pale skin, pink lips and rosy cheeks made her want to protect this six year old.
His small hands threw a pouch of items by her side. She mustered her strength to reach for the slightly open bag. Inside was the small first aid kit she and he made in secret and hid on a birds nest perched on a tree just next door of the orphanage.
There was antibacterial cream, alcohol wipes, a bottle of heavy alcohol, bandages, and two packets of sesame snaps.
"Big Sister. I need to go now. The couple that came here five months ago came back. They said that they reconsidered and wanted to adopt me. I'll ask them to take you away from this place as well. You have to hang in there."
"No. Need. Just. Leave." She called gather all her strength to speak, but her voice sounded like a quiet whisper.
"I won't!" Xiao Bai grievously called.
"Listen. To. Big. Sister. I. Will. Find. You. When. I. Leave. So. Go." She ordered.
Xiao Bai looked at her mess of a figure and couldn't help but worry.
"They. Can't. Kill. Me. Go. Now. Or. Don't. Call. Me. Big. Sister." She angrily spoke.
Xiao Bai wiped his tears away and turned. Running out of the basement.
'Any place is better than here Xiao Bai.' She thought before resisting her pain to pick the items from her bag.
'I don't need to worry about Xiao Bai anymore.' She thought as she crawled to the iron bars and used it as her support to sit up.
The motion made her almost faint. But she endured this pain many times before. And could only endure it once more, but she truly regretted to not tying up her hair at the very least today. She mustered her arm to lift up and swept the hair at the base of her neck all the way to her front. The feeling of hair that was stuck into her open skin drag across her back, made her lose the strength in her body. After a couple of heavy breaths, she stuffed the thickly padded emptied pouch into her mouth and grit her teeth as she endured a pain more frightening than the whipping. This was how she removed her buttoned up dress that bug into her inflamed wounds. After that she moved her hands quickly. She could feel her eyesight darkening. Opening the bottle of travel sized vodka. She poured it on as best as she could. The pain was so unbearable that she fainted on the spot.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the back of an adult walking away. Thinking that it was a dream, her eyes closed once more.
By the time she woke up she felt much better. She discovered that her body was bandaged, clothes were back on and she didn't break into a fever then die.
'That man. Saved me?' She hesitatingly thought.
After all she was only an ordinary eight year old who had learned that adults were the most dangerous creatures on earth. In her eyes, even the most ferocious tiger was better than a smiling nun.
'It doesn't matter. Since I am alive. I will get through this. I don't having anything to lose now. I need to find a way to escape.' Her eyes glimmered at the thought.
In a place where one could not even differentiate night or day. An eight year old child began to plan her great escape.