I am a 14-year-old nameless girl. I once aspired to be one of the sailors who bring glory to the motherland. Make my abusive father happy, and my siblings to be fed with good food. I want to hear the people praising me and my family instead of gossiping about us. And so, once I've heard about the incoming expeditions to the island that I'm still not sure what the name of, I came with my only friend on the said expedition while being disappointed that he was not coming on the same ship.
I thought a promising future would come. But of course, life had always been cruel for a nameless peasant, like me. Even if I came under the tutelage of a teacher which my father proudly calls his friend and he worked hard along with my... mother tending to the fields to support my study, I had no future of being a scholar or a sailor. I had education but no brain to support it, I desired to be a sailor but had no physique nor courage to back it up. Looks are worthless unless I wanted to sell the last dignity that I still possess. Even If I worked my back to the bone, I still won't be able to save up money since my father would splurge it all away for pleasure.
In other words, I am a worthless person who has no future. Although that is true, I still believe that one day, I would bring happiness to our once cheerful family.
The day of the expedition came, and I held onto a locket that my mother said was a picture of our family. I wanted to bring my siblings along with me as I am afraid that the monster, no, our father will be filled with evil and do bad things to us.
"Hey! Stop looking at that thing and start cleaning the floor!"
A man with gigantic arms threw the locket I was holding onto the ship's deck. Infuriated, I glared at him, only for him to slap me, punch and kick me while I was helpless. This man was the lackey of the person to offer "kindness" to our family and that we should be "grateful" to him. Yes, I hate him but unlike how I hate the person who orders him. But even if I hated them, it wouldn't change a thing. There would never be any hope for someone like me. While he seemed to be enjoying hitting me, there was another guy who stopped him.
"Hey, stop that, you wouldn't want to damage your future slave a lot now, would you?"
The man with gigantic arms only smirked and seemingly agreed with the other man. I was saved, but not for long. When I soon return home, I overheard the other guys that our father would be selling me to the market. Although I have no evidence to prove this wrong, the other news that I heard from them is what made me feel even more anxious.
"Did you know that one of this brat's siblings would be sold off to the nobles and one of them to 'That Person'?"
"That's messed up. Their father took a turn for the worst when their mother went for a richer husband and died huh?"
Right at that moment, I trembled and wanted to slit off their throats. But I only discarded the thought with the realization it would only bring more misfortune for me, who knows? Maybe the news that they were talking about wasn't true. I only did that to reassure myself since I wouldn't have any pieces of evidence to prove that what they were saying is true or they are just bluffing. But the anxiety that I felt when I remembered what kind of a person our father was now, was constantly rising. Just as I was thinking about that, the men of the ship had begun to make a fuss.
"We're nearly there! Remember, we have to keep an amicable relationship with their tribe, only when they let their guard down as they are just a bunch of ignorant Indios, will we be attacking."
I heard the man shout from the crow nest, it seems like he has authority on this ship, although it doesn't matter since he was one of the people who tried to corrupt me at night, they were all unsuccessful since the priest on board said not to make a fuss on the ship and all the people who fail to do so will be receiving punishments back at our kingdom. I wanted to feel reassured by what he said, but I can't get myself to do so as I heard him later on that he has also taken an interest in me and the people who will get a move on me first as he doesn't want to interact with an already-soiled girl.
Anyways, now that they are about to do most likely unspeakable acts against a human being, All I can do so is to pray to God, if he ever so exists. Pray that the tribe would be safe. Wishful thinking I know, but I can't help but feel sorry for what they are about to experience.
After a few days, the crew eventually came back to the ship all while bringing a few women whose eyes look filled with hopelessness, treasures and a bunch of jewelry, and even the head of what seemed like the tribe's chief. I guess my prayer didn't reach God. After all, what would a prayer coming from a peasant be of value to him? Even my mother who seemed like a fanatic wasn't saved by him. Plus, she was killed by one of the servants of that so-called God, and what happened? When we tried to bring justice to her death, it seemed like everyone became a deaf person and just went on with their day, ignoring us.
The crew celebrated with the spoils they have acquired from the unknown island. The ship was filled with joy and cheer and music, and maybe I'm the only one who was not like the rest. And just as I thought that my life was bad, I met a kid who I feel sorry for since I also heard that the remaining returning crew had killed off all the remaining people while pointing at the campfire that they have made.
...
The events that transpired last night made Agbayani fall asleep.
Waking up the next morning, Agbayani heard the faint waves of the sea and the loud celebrations outside the barrels he resides on. He went to take a peek and saw the foreigners holding up cups while laughing and playing music. Although this infuriates Agbayani, he has now realized that his anger only brings further despair, without even being able to kill one of the foreigners. And so, he watched until the celebration ended. Agbayani heard the rumble that came from his stomach and he saw that the people that were celebrating earlier were gone. He went out of the barrel he was in and struggled to get out of there. He succeeded but he accidentally tumbled and the barrel rolled over.
"Oh no!"
Agbayani mentally screamed as he realized what would happen if the foreigners heard the sound. And just as he thought, a few foreigners seemed to have heard as they were getting outside looking confused while looking like they were trying to look for something. This made Agbayani fear and try to hide between the barrels once more. He failed to do so and he then felt that a hand had caught him. This brought Agbayani more fear since he knows what will happen next. He will now end up like the children back in their tribe. Slaughtered and fed to birds and animals or hanged up for display. He bit the hand, and it let go when Agbayani looked at the owner of the hand, he saw a girl who seemed pitiful, filled with wounds, bruises, and several marks of abuse. The girl looked sad while looking at Agbayani, and she took a piece of bread from the table and hurriedly seemed to talk to the foreigners who came out. They grumbled at her while all she did was give a bow and be respectful to them. Then she went back to where Agbayani was, tore the bread in half, and offered it to Agbayani. At first, the girl talked to Agbayani
"Here, eat this bread, I'm also hungry so I will be eating with you."
She said. Agbayani did not understand what the girl in front of him said and all he did was express his hostility to the girl and didn't come out of the barrels. The girl sighed and tried to gesture to Agbayani that it was food and she began to eat as well. Agbayani saw this and his stomach rumbled once more. Because of his hunger, Agbayani reached out for the bread and ate it, and nodded at the girl that looked like one of the foreigners but more like an outsider inside their boat. After they both ate, the girl seemed to glance at Agbayani looked outside and Agbayani once more, and she gritted her teeth, only to think of something and she calmed down once again.