Searching For Andromeda - Chapter 109 Escape With Me Miko

“Shh,” Popo whispered. “He might hear us”

“Who might hear you?”

Everyone turned to that familiar voice. And as if time froze, all of the children, including Ulysses who had just inserted the key to the fifth cell’s aperture, stopped.

“I said WHO might hear YOU?”

Miko felt as if time stopped. The slight noises died down into complete silence as the children turned to the source of that voice. That certain voice which was a tad playful and deadly, a tone that was used by the only person they knew all their life. It sent shivers to Miko’s spine and completely froze her into the spot. The warmth the child she was carrying was the only thing that was pulling her back to the reality that THIS wasn’t any reverie.

Fernando was here.

And he wasn’t in any sleeping trouserhe was wearing what he uses in his everyday transactions. Fernando was wearing gold and silver, pearls, and precious stones lavished on clothes. Massive belts of gold were also worn and his clothes consisted of breeches, stockings, shoes, the coat, the surcoat, and the head-dress. And he had dressed more elegantly tonight as well from the added materials, on the body, a shirt; on the shoulders, a mantle; and on the head, a hat. Fernando also had his legs wearing long stockings or hose. The stockings were of the same color and material as the breeches and were kept up by the lower part of the breeches being pulled over them. His shoes were generally made pointed, like that of a clown. But Fernando loved to dress lavishly to look different than the others.

And when he dressed lavishly, it meant there was SOMEONE who was willing to buy a lot of children slaves.

“Who might hear you, hm? Popo?” Fernando asked, sauntering towards Popo who had frozen on the spot. Miko’s eyes drifted to Popo’s trembling shoulders as Fernando approached her. No one, at that point in time, was moving. They were all conditioned by Fernando’s tortures and harsh punishments.

In their system engraved fear. And that fear was the fear of this man who had stripped their freedom and their rights as a human. They were lower than animals, who still had the freedom to roam the wild. They were worse than poor people, who still had the ability to choose.

They were slaves, the lowest of all beings.

“What are you children doing this late at night, huh?” Fernando murmured, drawing his whip that was strapped against his belt. “Didn’t I tell you, children, that at this point in time, no one was allowed to be awake?”

**

Ulysses was the eldest among all these children. He was already a teenagerfifteen; he was three years older than Popo, who was twelve. He was the one who was on the priority list of Fernando.

Years ago, when he was just ten years of age

“Ooh, Lady Damian! My beautiful patroness!” Fernando beamed, stopping his whipping at the poor child. Ulysses slowly raised his gaze, looking at the woman who had arrived. She was outside the cell, but her beauty was indeed radiant. She wore an elegant gown, and jeweled rings; several in her fingers. She was eyeing the slaves one by one, and then her eyes met that of Ulysses.

“Oho,” Lady Damian covered her lips, and then her servants who were behind her nodded to each other as they took several steps back.

The slave merchant, Fernando, sauntered his way towards Lady Damian, who had entered the cell. Lady Damian stared at the bleeding Ulysses, whose back was filled with cuts from Fernando’s whip.

“Oh, OHHH my beautiful patroness! I prepared many boys for you on the other cell. Let me escort”

Before Fernando could even continue his sentence, Lady Damian’s gloved hand slapped him on the cheek. Ulysses blinked as Fernando was taken aback by the noble lady. Fernando’s body was larger than the lady, but he looked powerless than the lady herself.

“You pig,” Lady Damian spouted. “How dare you do this to a precious good?”

Fernando blinked; his hand was still on his cheek red with the lady’s slap.

“L-lady Damian I this is NOT a precious good”

The lady, who didn’t seem satisfied with Fernando’s answers, slapped his other cheek. Fernando looked taken aback againsomething that the child Ulysses never saw in his life as a slave.

“P-patroness”

Lady Damian’s beautiful face crumpled in a way that even frightened Ulysses.

“Those precious goods you referred DID NOT look beautiful enough. I do not want lousy boys with no charm, Fernando. I do not think those boys can pleasure, or even take the pain with their low-looking bodies!”

“Bu-b-but Lady D-Damian I-I bought those slaves with a high price in the hope to satisfy the description y-you gave me”

“No, they are too far from what I’ve expected to buy. Your quality is dwindling, Fernando!”

Fernando looked apprehensive and was anxious as he stares at Lady Damian who had removed both of her gloves.

“Now they’re dirty because of your filth.” Lady Damian sighed.

Ulysses watched as her creased bows gradually softened as she tentatively knelt down.

“What’s your name, Boy?”

“U-Ulysses” Ulysses answered through his parched throat. His chapped lips bled as he spoke.

“I will buy you when you’re older and ready to serve me.” Lady Damian exclaimed, caressing Ulysses’ grimy cheek.

“Did you hear that, you Pig?” Lady Damian now stood up and sauntered her way towards Fernando who was still anxious, yet he seemed to be relieved.

The lady left afterward and walked away. And as her silhouette disappeared, Fernando kicked the cell.

“Dumb bitch!” Fernando angrily spat. “Do you know how much trouble I went through just to get those pretty boy slaves for you, huh? And then you just dismiss my hard work? If it weren’t from your dead husband’s money, you wouldn’t be able to get these many slaves in the first place anyway!”

Ulysses stared at Fernando, and then flinched as he angrily turned towards him.

“Consider yourself lucky, boy. There’s no more whipping for you.”

**

Ulysses gritted his teeth. For five years he dedicated himself to plan for the children’s escape. For five years he was given fewer punishments, and for five years he was allowed to strategize.

Those five years of effort shouldn’t be wasted now!

Ulysses grabbed a rock that was lying on the sides of the pillars, and then in the blink of an eye, he charged towards Fernando, and then with a full force he slammed the rock to Fernando’s head.

“We’re free we will be free. I won’t let these kids end up here”

“Oi, Fernando. What’s taking you so long”

Coming inside the prison chambers were five adult men.

Buyers.

That time, Ulysses thought freedom was closer.

But nowhat was closer was bloodshed.

Bloodshed and death.

**

Jaxon clenched his jaw as he pulled yet several levers. He was feeling the same emotion he had felt THAT daythe day Ulysses used his makeshift key with a plan to escape Fernando’s den with the other kids. The adrenaline, the rush, and the feeling of uncertainty washed over Jaxon as he maneuvered the controls.

He sat by the chair as he stared at the magical holograms projecting over him. Screens showed the several levels of the shipfrom its deck to the compartments, cabins, passageway, and the flaring Ephraim. Jaxon’s eye pinned to that dungeon conquerorTHAT dungeon conqueror who imposed such a strange power.

Never had Jaxon heard of a human combusting to flames. It wasn’t physically possible. Vessel users were said to retrieve weapons that inhabit power within them. And those legendary weapons give their masters enough power to establish their own country. Even if that’s how great these tomes of knowledge were, Jaxon never in his life saw someone have a vessel that makes them burst aflame.

“You want me to capture that dungeon conqueror alive with his vessel? I don’t get it. We can just kill him and force the deity to choose another master, right?”

“Well, those high above said something about his vessel being a special case. They do not think that his tome of knowledge can be taken with him dying.”

“I really don’t get it, Ria.”

“What did I say, Jaxon Sparrows? You ought to obey even with the orders you do not understand.”

Jaxon paused for a moment.

“Yes, I understand.” He then saluted as he held his clenched fist closer to his chest.

“Absolute obedience.”

Reallythey should have told him that the dungeon conqueror could self-combust! Even that information would help. Now the ship is on fire because of him. Jaxon wanted to curse.

“Shut up!” He yelled to the wailing children.

Ria designing the ship was a mockery. He had set the hidden controls exactly near the prison cell. It was a move that was risky, but Jaxon couldn’t question the organization. He had vowed to do one thing in exchange for where he is right now.

Absolute obedience.

Jaxon pulled several levers again, and then pushed the buttons in a pattern only he understood.

The code for the ship to self-destruct.

Jaxon gritted his teeth. He still has someone to drag towards him. And where was she at this dire situation?!

“J-jax?”

Jaxon blinked, turning to the source of the voice. Standing outside the compartment was Miko, who was looking confused as she examines Jaxon and the secret control room.

“Miko!” Jaxon gleefully exclaimed. Now there isn’t a problem anymore!

“J-jax, what’s going on? The alarm system”

“The ship’s gonna go down in a few minutes.” Jaxon said, sitting on the other side of the control room as he leaves a seat for Miko. “This compartment will be protected with my water barrier as it detaches from the ship. Come now, we don’t have much time.”

“J-jax the ship’s going to go down?”

“It’s going to SINK and SELF-DESTRUCT, Miko!” Jaxon exclaimed impatiently. “Now sit here. I don’t have much time to explain, because you will have to escape with me!”

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