("FWAAAAA!!!!!!!!")
The now usual sound of water in the morning fills the cells as Xavier is hosed down by the watchers!
"Argh!!!"
"HEY QUIT IT!!!"
"AM A GROWN MAN YOU KNOW!!!"
"I CAN DO IT MYSELF"
And as usual Todo acts as the morning rooster of the building.
…Well aside from the cold water being forced down their spines at 4am that is.
"HEY!!!!!"
("...…..")
Sunlight peels into the cells from the bars ahead…
The only source of light in this drab room…
And just as it illuminates the room a thought crosses Xavier's mind.
"It's been awhile since I last saw the sun…"
He thinks to himself watching the light from the corner of his little cell.
"Arrgghh!!!"
Todo moans wringing his shirt
"Seriously I've only been here a month and I still can't get used to it."
He says in frustration…
"..."
"whats there to get used to?"
Xavier mumbles
"Huh?"
Todo exclaims unable to hear him properly.
"just stop caring so much and it won't affect you."
Xavier says softly hugging his knees to his chest and staring out the tiny bars
"Huuuuh…"
Todo exclaims unimpressed
"Easy for you to say."
He say
"At the rate we're going, you're going to grow a beard."
Todo says childishly
"…"
"hmmm..."
Xavier exclaims in thought
"yeah that wouldn't be so bad."
Xavier
"HEY!!!"
"HAHahahaha…"
Todo shouts before the pair share a short laughter.
"Still though…"
Todo begins
"Is it just me or are the watcher's getting soft."
He says smiling
"Must be because your 'claim' date is coming up."
Todo says smirking as Xavier watches on with a thoughtful smile plastered on
"Oh hey c'mon don't be like that."
Todo says
"I really do wish I could help."
He says
"it's alright Todo."
Xavier says
"it's not like it's your fault am here."
He says
"so you have nothing to apologize for."
He says standing up and walking to the bars
(Deep breath)
"That's right…"
Xavier thinks against the cell bars.
"If anything it's my fault..."
He thinks, recalling the past
"…"
"still though I really do hope whoever I get sold to isn't that bad."
Xavier says a sad but hopeful smile painted on
"…"
"Right."
Todo responds blankly
In the weeks that had passed.
Todo and Xavier had grown closer.
One might even say they became brothers
…Well not really.
But hey crazier things have happened!
Aaaanyway.
Among the things Todo had shared about the world was the current predicament Xavier finds himself in right now.
…Gomorrah…
A powerful intercontinental organisation of sorts that dealt in trade.
Of people that is…
Their operations were mostly carried out with the aristocrats of the Tanggal continent due to stricter laws across the other continents.
See the Tanggal continent is the only continent still not unified.
That said.
There exist two sides to Gomorrah.
One, deals with the actual trade of the 'product' to the people of the continent.
Its headed up by Mr—
'Sir' Ellsworth…
And the other ofcourse deals with the ah…
'procurement' of said product…
That side is headed up various people all over the continent
Branch leaders
Like Keith and Jacob in this branch
Methods of procuring said product range from just about anything under the sun
From straight up plucking people from their homes and families.
…Kidnap…
To attacking and burning down whole towns and villages, taking everyone by force.
… Conquer ... (._.)?
And as previously stated the Tanggal continent is the only continent still not unified.
So don't expect anyone coming to your aid if you can't help yourself.
There are times when you have one or two people drifting from the other continents into Tanggal.
Refugees like in the Oasis
These are what one would deem 'luxury goods'.
One being Sir Ellsworth…
Often high value product due to the differences in physical features from Tanggal continent natives
Which as one would imagine just delights the bored little aristocrats doesn't it.
A taste for the rare if you will…
And so?
Well.
A Red eyed, darker than the black hair-haired boy named Xavier Grey.
'Luxury good.'
Despicable or not there are no laws against it.
And in some bizarre cases people have actually had their lives change for the better by being kidnapped.
Odd as it sounds…
Don't believe me?
Well take for instance someone from a poor, weak village or town.
Barely able to scrap together enough for a meal a day.
Getting dragged out of the disease infested cesspool they came from.
And being sold off to good old clean air, evergreen, City of Sakura to tend to the lawns of some rich old lady.
Who, mind you not only provides him with a standard three meals a day for the first time in his pitiful life…
But also grants what 'she' deems a 'light' payment for his work.
That's more Ods (money) than he's ever seen in his life in case you hadn't guessed it!!!
Utopia ain't it?
Well, there are two sides to every story.
Point being?
Well Xavier was keeping his hopes up that he'd be sold off to someone with a kinder heart
Blessing in disguise like our imaginary nice old lady.
Or at least Todo was trying to get his hopes up about it
But the same way the man might be treated kindly by Miss Imaginary nice old lady.
Is the same way say after experiencing the overwhelming joy that comes with having a couple coins to your name, our kidnapped friend dallies just a little too long on a shopping spree.
And upon his return is whipped ferociously to death by the rich old lady's aides for his tardiness.
Replaced with another expendable lawn boy the very same day.
Two sides to every story
"…"
"Hey kid--"
(CLANK!!!!!")
Todo begins to speak but is cut off by the sound of the door swinging open.
"Arrghhh, what do these jackasses want now?"
"…"
-silence-
"…"
("Tat!")
("Tat!")
("Tat!")
Silence fills the room as only the sound of boots walking across the floor is audible.
That is…
Until they come to a halt.
A halt at the head of one Xavier's cell.
"…"
Xavier faces turns cold as he looks up at the person affront his cell.
"h-Hello Xavier."
The man says hesitantly…
"…"
"keith."
Xavier says coldly
"I just wanted to--"
"what are you doing here?"
Before he can much as complete his sentence Keith is cut off by Xavier, making him clench his fists in anxiety.
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Xavier I'm--"
"if you have nothing to say you can leave…"
Xavier says coldly interrupting Keith once more.
"…"
"or would you like to hit me too."
"like your two friends."
He says coldly staring a shook Keith dead in the eye
"hmmm…."
"Hey old man I think the little man's made himself clear."
Todo cuts in, blankly shouting from his cell as he gestures to the door.
"I'd probably leave if I were you?"
He says
"…"
"yeah?..."
"or what??..."
Keith mumbles to himself he facing the ground fists clenched in embarrassment.
"hmmmmm…."
"What was that?"
"Couldn't hear you over all this silence."
Todo says excessively loud mocking Keith
"Yo-you..."
"leave."
Keith begins before being cut off by Xavier again!
"…."
"Mr Kennt… was it?"
Keith says softly post a momentary pause to calm himself.
"Yup that's definitely what they call me."
Todo responds cheekily
"Who do you think you--"
"Though I guess around here am known as the kid's dashing older brother." (Todo)
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"As I was saying…"
Keith says trying to calm himself once more.
"OH! Please go on." (Todo)
"Mr Kennt I think it'd be in your best interests to--"
"OUUUAAAAHHHH but Mr Kennt's my father's name isn't it." (Todo)
"Mr Kennt, It would be best if you…"
"HEY! HEY!! Hey now does that mean people think am that old??" (Todo)
"Mr Kennt i…"
"Hey kid do I really look that old now?" (Todo)
-Xavier shrugs-
"Would you please…"
"Ouuuaaaaahhh and here I was masquerading as a man in his prime." (Todo!!!!!)
"AAAAAAH WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT THE FU--"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
("!!!")
The building shakes as an explosion rings through the building
Sand and wind pouring into the jail room from the tiny bars!!!!!
"ARRGGHHH!!!!!"
Keith shields his face as the sand floods in.
(coughing) "Wh-what the…"
"hmmm… seems like my rescue party has arrived."
Keith begins to say before Todo cuts in
(coughing) "Re-rescue party?"
Keith shouts at Todo who just shrugs
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
("AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!")
Screams can be heard from the next floor as the building continues to shake in loud thuds and mini explosions!!!!
"WHAT!!!"
Keith thinks in confusion
"…."
"Y-YOU!!!"
"Just what do you have planned!!!!"
Keith shouts pulling out a gun aiming at Todo
"Whoa there young man."
Todo says immediately cautious as Xavier springs to his feet alert
"Oh so now am young?"
Keith responds
"keith…"
"SHUT UP!!!"
Xavier tries to cut in but is cut off by keith
"You already made your choice you stay right there.""
Keith shouts waving the gun at Xavier
"Hey! Hey!!"
Todo signals to Keith
"WHAT!!!!"
"Keep it here okay. The kid has nothing to do with this."
Todo says waving his hands frantically as the screams and explosions continue!!!
"Tsk."
"Yeah whatever."
Keith responds aiming back at Todo
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The explosions continue!!
"I should probably head up."
Keith thinks to himself looking at the ceiling.
"Heading up?"
Todo asks
"Yeah so stay put and don't do anything funny."
Keith responds
"How could we?"
"We've been trapped here for months."
Todo says
"Pretty sure if we could have left we would have by now."
"Not exactly a five star stay in here."
He says cheekily
"Yeah whatever…"
Keith says starting for the door.
"…"
"Kid you okay?"
Todo asks Xavier who nods in response
"Good."
He responds
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Hmmmm…."
"…"
"Now that I think about it I wouldn't go up if i were you."
Todo says to Keith as he approaches the door
"Yeah?"
Keith responds mockingly
"Yeah."
Todo responds seriously
"And why is that?"
Keith asks tired of Todo
"Well."
"Because whoever it is that's causing those explosions up there… is probably headed here."
He says
"And what makes you think that."
Keith asks
"This is essentially holding place for the 'product' is it not?"
Todo says
"…"
"Yeah so whats your point?"
Keith asks
"Well then that means the most valuable things in this building are currently in this room."
Todo says
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Hm…"
Keith exclaims in thought
"Well whatever the case those are my men up there."
"So you just stay here and I'll--"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(CLANK!!!! CLANK!!!!!! CLANK!!!!!!!!!)
The door is forced off its hinges and falls still to the ground!!!!
"W-WHAT THE…"
Keith shouts in shock shielding his face
(coughs) "Told you…"
Todo says doing the same
"SHUT UP!!!!"
Keith shouts at Todo just as two men are suddenly thrown into the room!!!!
"aaahh!!!!"
"arrrghhh!!!"
The men exclaim in pain at Keith's feet.
"What the… what the hell is going on?!"
Keith tenses at their bloody display
"Sh-SHOW YOURSELF!!!"
Keith shouts aiming the gun at the door shrouded in dust
"…"
"That was the plan…."
("???")
A warm brash voice responds from the foggy door as Xavier's ears perk up
"This voice…"
Xavier thinks…
"Otherwise it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."
(Lights cigar!!!!)
"Mr Winds."
The voice continues
"He…He knows who I am?"
Keith thinks anxiously
"wh-Who…"
"Uncle Jerry???"
("!!!")
Xavier says abruptly!!!!
Cutting Keith off!!
"Uncle Jerry??" (Keith)
"Jerry??" (Todo)
The pair think in confusion after Xavier's call!!!
"…."
-silence-
"…"
"Hm, seems my trip here wasn't all for nothing…"
The voice say hint of relief in it as steps start to echo the room!!!!
("TAT!!")
("TATT!!!")
("TATTT!!!!")
And as the dust clears from the room a tall man with slicked back fading blonde hair and deep blue eyes is revealed!!!!
"Hm."
(smokes)
"It's been a long time..."
The voice says!!!
"Xavier…"
Jeremy RESPONDS!!!!
Blood splattered across his clothes but still a welcome miracle of a sight!!!!!
"Uncle… Jerry…."
Xavier says emotionless
-plop-
A single tear falls from Xavier's eye…
"huh?"
Xavier touches its trail confused….
"It's time to go back home."
Jeremy says
"Xavi…"
He says warmly to a shook Xavier who stands in disbelief!!!!!
"…"
"…"
-To Be Continued-