Coming out of the door, I meet the guy on the counter and another person; the mark on their wrists explains it; they are of Letlicia's high rank as well. "Sorry, I worried you. Did you leave a message by chance?" I asked as we followed the guy leading us outside. He nodded. "Did he say something?" I asked again, and he nodded and said, "Return home now." He looked at me unfeelingly, a man with few words. I had never met him before. He was probably a new recruit, a high-ranking new recruit, which was impressive. "Do you think he is angry?" I asked again, and he kept quiet. We exited the cat tavern and walked through the lively street. People at night are really lively: drinking knights that finish subjugation, ladies that make a living by pleasure, and transactions in the back alleys…Transactions in the back alley! I realized what I just saw, so I turned and ran up to them.
"You! What are you doing!?" I yelled, the person ran away fast, and I chased him with the Letlicia, 'ugh, I'm cringing so bad.' This is why I don't like to go back and relive my past lives; the cringy 'main character' always shows up. Always wants to be the attraction, doesn't think there's a gray scale in black and white for human nature, seeking death voluntarily, I just can't stop now that I'm here, I thought to myself, 'I'm so stupid.' What do we do when we chase them, put them behind bars, and a few days later they're free? Just talk to them like a saint. 'Like hell, would that work!?' I snorted at what I thought of. The Letlicia ran fast, catching the person first. I got left behind, so I stopped there and let Letlicia just drag the person here. I didn't notice I wasn't alone when a white napkin showed up behind me, sealing my nose. I didn't breathe. I fought back, but they were too muscular and tall. As I lost air, I gave in and breathed, then blacked out.
"Bang!" I woke up as soon as I heard it. I looked around at children and women. I grunted. My hands were tied behind my back. I heard, "Boss, I found a beauty. We could sell her at a high price." I could hear the people outside the one door with no window room, 'a cellar'. I tried to stand up to get near the door; people were shivering nervously, and I felt uneasy. I stood up and walked near the door; my legs were unstable for a long period of uncontrollable position. When I got near the door, it swung open. A brute person showed up looking down on me and saying, "It looks like the money shot has woken up." He smiled, and I got goosebumps. His looks make me want to vomit. I look at him unwaveringly.
He looked at me dismayed, raised his hand, and slapped my face hard. I was stunned. He took my shoulders and pushed me back down. The people around me were horrified. He was pleased that I stopped resisting. "That's right, a commodity needs to be obedient," he mocked. He stood up and left, closed the door, and locked it. The people around me look at me worriedly, but they choose to stay silent. I didn't hear this; I was preoccupied by my thoughts. I have been noticing this bit by bit: the cold and heat just feel nothing; the wind and water keep me feeling relaxed whenever they're around, but a strong impact is just painless. 'Why can't I feel anything?' It might be related to me not being a human, as Chris said to me.
This is so troublesome, I'm near the door i hear nothing 'they left' i look up and people around me a sleep in uncomfortable positions others are curled up some are pilled up to each other the smell is nauseating but I'm kinda used makes thankful for my 13th life force me to suck it up, then i saw a little little brat at one side of the corner fidgeting and I heard scratching sounds, i thought this brat is not used to being here so i looked away, i look for a sharp object or a edge, the cellar have unfinished walls i saw a a wood frame secured by nails i stood up again went up to it carefully I don't trust that we are not being watched, i got to the wood leaned my back on the beam and lined the rope with the wooden frames start scraping the sound of scratching... It got me thinking of that child.
I proceed on scraping; I stop from time to time to rest, but I proceed again. I put more force into the rope. As time passed, the rope loosened. I tried to move my arms in front of me; they ached. I slowly lifted to stretch and relax. I went up to one of the ladies and nudged them to remove their ropes, and I asked them to help me remove the others binds. They all agreed. I walked up to the brat that was fidgeting and saw his ropes already loose, but not all the way; the scraping is amateur all over the place. Instead of one single slit, I untied it and looked at the child's malnourished and tanned skin. The child looked at me. I saw determined eyes. This is the second time I've seen this kind of gaze—a bottomless dissatisfaction with their own fate. I held that child's hands tight, and along with the rope burn, his eyes started to gain clarity. The child flinched and looked at me. Anger and unshed tears welled up in his eyes. I smirked and said, "Sorry, I did that on purpose." The child taken a back dumbfounded, I walked away.
We finished removing the binds from the people inside the room. I told them my plan, and they all hesitated. I spoke words to them that would change their minds. I told them that nothing will change if they don't work hard for it. I gave them examples of people who broke the rules and got to live whatever they wanted; I inspired them to fight and be free from the fear they felt in this room; I would take responsibility and take care of everyone in this room if mishaps occurred; and I proposed to them that I would be the last one going out of this room and be the first one leading if the people upfront found it dangerous. I made them follow my advice; they just had to escape and live the life they wanted when they got out. They all cheered and agreed. I saw that child looking at me in awe. I smiled at him and said "You can be anything you want if you persevere".