Chapter 10: Memories
The burly man and Genie exited the cage, leaving the long-necked man behind. As they disappeared from sight, he quickly turned to Vaughn and asked, "I'm sorry, are you alright?"
Vaughn was taken aback by the unexpected concern shown by the long-necked man. Confused, he simply stared at him for a moment. The man then reached out and lightly dusted off Vaughn's ragged clothes.
"I'm doing my best, young lad. Please refrain from causing any trouble," the man said with a hint of apology in his voice.
'System, who is he? Why is he acting this way?' Vaughn questioned silently.
[Well, he is actually a spy who has infiltrated this place.]
'A spy?' Vaughn's curiosity was piqued. The man in front of him had a hidden mission, but what did it have to do with Vaughn?
[And since you both have developed a good relationship, he wants to help you escape.]
"I see," Vaughn murmured, scratching his head as he observed the man. He then spoke aloud, "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on."
The man remained silent, observing Vaughn's determined and emotionless expression. Finally, he spoke, "Sometimes, I can't help but admire your resilience, boy. How do you manage to stay calm most of the time?"
Vaughn was taken aback by the question. What was he supposed to do? Panic? But then he realized what the man was trying to convey.
"Even when they took your loved one away, you stand here almost unfazed," the man continued.
"Huh?" Vaughn's head suddenly began to throb intensely. He clutched his head tightly as memories of the body he inhabited rushed in.
'System! What's happening?' Vaughn exclaimed, but before he could get an answer, he collapsed to the ground in visible pain, surprising both the man and his approaching sister.
"Brother!" she called out in concern.
[You have now completely been integrated into the body. You will now gain the memories of the body.]
As Vaughn absorbed the memories of the body, he delved into the life that the previous owner had lived. He learned that he was born into a poor family that couldn't afford to care for him, leaving him abandoned on the streets. However, a compassionate beggar took him in and became his surrogate mother. Despite their destitute circumstances, she did her best to provide for him, even if it meant begging for their survival.
At times, she contemplated whether it would be kinder to let him go and spare him from the hardships of their life. But her love for the little boy and her belief in his potential compelled her to give him a chance in the world. Together, they would beg for alms, with the majority of the proceeds going towards Vaughn's well-being.
Although his circumstances were difficult, Vaughn found happiness in having such a loving mother figure. However, when he was just ten years old, tragedy struck as he was kidnapped and sold to slave traders. In the cruel world of slavery, the traders forced the slaves to fight one another, and Vaughn exhibited exceptional fighting skills. His ability to quickly learn and imitate combat moves caught the attention of one slave trader who saw potential in him, hoping to profit from his growth until adulthood.
But as Vaughn turned sixteen, he was struck by an incurable disease that gradually ate away at his body. The trader's investment in him seemed to crumble as his value diminished. In anger and frustration, the trader would occasionally lash out and whip Vaughn. Other slaves, initially envious of the special treatment he received, began to turn against him, pelting him with pebbles. Fighting back proved futile, as they would only rise again and continue their torment.
Thankfully, in the midst of his suffering, Vaughn found solace in the care of two girls. One was Moon, a little girl who had lost her memory, whom he lovingly referred to as his sister. The other was Genie, the girl with whom he had fallen in love, providing him with emotional support and companionship in this harsh world of slavery.
*huff huff*
As the rush of memories subsided, Vaughn found himself panting heavily, struggling to catch his breath. His sister held onto his right hand, calling out to him, while the spy gently patted his back.
"Lad!"
"Brother!"
Their voices echoed loudly throughout the room, reaching the ears of their cellmates who had been awake when the burly man had visited.
Moon, despite being sixteen, cried as if she were much younger, tears streaming down her face. Genie, hearing the commotion, rushed out of the neighboring room and called out to Vaughn, her concern evident. She gently held his cheeks, assessing his condition.
Vaughn glanced at Genie, momentarily comforted by her presence. However, he noticed something unusual— many bruishes around her body, especially her face. Having regained his memories, a sense of belonging surged within him, as if he had always inhabited this body. So, the sight and realization of what the bruises meant caused his eyes to lose their spark, turning lifeless.
In the corner of his eye, he saw the burly man twisting his fist, serving as a final blow to Vaughn's already overwhelmed state.
The abusive man, who finds pleasure in tormenting the slaves - that's who he was.
"Tsk, he's just putting on an act. Leave him be, Grren," the burly man, Garry, dismissively called out to the spy. He wore a smirk as he locked eyes with Vaughn, who glared back at him with a burning rage.
Enraged by the defiant stare from a mere slave, Garry's fury intensified. He stormed into the cell, shoving Vaughn's little sister and Genie aside, gripping Vaughn's hair tightly in his fist.
*BAM*
A powerful punch to Vaughn's face sent blood spurting from his nose and left him dazed. The little girl and Genie pleaded for Garry to stop, begging for mercy, but he paid no heed to their pleas. Garry continued his relentless assault, delivering ten brutal punches to Vaughn's body. Despite Vaughn's feeble attempts to defend himself, he was overpowered and soon lost consciousness.
"I think that's enough, Garry. We should leave him be, or he'll end up dead," Grren attempting to restrain Garry's violent onslaught.
"Sigh... Indeed," Garry grumbled, wiping the sweat from his brow. Reluctantly, he stood up, deciding to depart the scene. Before leaving, he glanced back at the battered Vaughn one last time, his eyes filled with disdain, and uttered, "Slave bastard..."