Searching For Andromeda - Chapter 110 Run Away

The feelings in this chapter can be maximized by listening to Pandora Journey FORGOTTEN ODES which can be found on Youtube.

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Jaxon was a child that was close to the big brother of Fernando’s lair, Ulysses. Uly took care of them like he was their father, along with their older sister Popo who took the role of a mother. Those two children, who were just several years older than they areyet young, nonetheless, forced themselves out of childhood and acted like adults.

Jaxon and Ulysses were the ones who were making the duplicate key. Time to time Jaxon used the wire and bent it as Jaxon gnawed on the piece of metal. Jaxon felt no revolt whatsoever. They were doing this for survivalbesides, they were all filthy children that were stripped of their freedom.

There was no way Jaxonor any other kids in the merchant’s denknew how to feel to be picky. Eating a decent meal was considered heaven to them, and that rarely came. Usually, they ate scraps and jerky, moldy bread, and grimy waters. Gnawing on a chunk of metal meant nothing.

For a time that was longer than Jaxon could count with his fingers, the makeshift key was completed finally. Ulysses strategized with them on what to do, and when to do it. They studied Fernando’s patterns; what time he ate, slept, patrolled, and tortured. For several months they had planned their escape and those nights they had endured would be coming to an end now.

It was a dream that was close to reality, but Jaxon had faith.

And faith will create truth.

“What do you guys want to do when we escape? Or where? Or to who?” It was Ulysses’ question when the merchant would finish his patrols to them and wouldn’t come back after tomorrow. The children would peer closer to the iron bars and talk with each otherand in that certain infernal place, they found peace.

Jaxon and Miko, the girl he was fond of and was the one who was the closest to his age, sat beside each other as they listened to Ulysses.

This was their usual set upthis. Ulysses, telling stories, asking them questions, and Popo holding the smaller children in her arms.

“I want to swim in the sea!” It was Aiden.

“Me too! I want to talk to fishes!”

“I want to be a trader!”

“Me, me, a sailor!”

“I want to visit Mommy’s grave,”

“Clothes!”

“Food!!!”

“Me too, me too, Uly!”

“Is that so?” Ulysses chuckled. “What about you, Jax? What do you want to do when you get out of here?” He asked, turning to Jaxon who has had a small smile in his face as he stared what was beyond the iron barsthe slave children like him that were all at ease. This ease was momentary, but in Jaxon’s memories, it would stay forever.

“I want to live,” Jaxon answered, without taking his eyes off the children. “I want to live, grow up, and be someone important so that no one can take my freedom again.”

**

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

Jaxon stared at the blood spreading across the cobbled floor. The scarlet-colored liquid that he had often seen as Fernando beat them up. That viscous red liquid that their body spewed out from their wounds from Fernando’s whip.

But this time, it wasn’t theirs. It was Fernando’s, who was lying against the cold floor with his head bleeding. His head, which was dark and burgundy with his own blood, made everyone stop to their tracks. Ulysses, whose barefoot was at the edge of the slave merchant’s body, emitted rasped, jagged breaths as he stared at the man whose head he had slammed with a pointed rock.

“I-is he dead?” It was Popo who took the courage to ask this. With her trembling legs, wanton from the shock and fear, ambled her way towards Ulysses who was immobilized to his spot as he held the bloodied rock.

“U-uly” Popo reached Ulysses’ side, whose eyes were contracting.

“I-I killed him.”

Popo’s eyes widened as she sees Ulysses easing his way forward. He then knelt down, and then, he raised his hand that was holding the sharp rock mid-air.

No one, even Jaxon, saw it coming.

Ulysses slammed the pointed rock into the head of the slave merchant, who had flinched upon receiving the blow.

“I have to kill him.” Ulysses murmured as he repeatedly smashed Fernando’s head with the pointed rock. The children watched as Ulysses continuously hammered Fernando’s skull until the matter cracked, revealing curled flesh drowned with blood.

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

Coming inside the prison chambers were five adult men. Jaxon, who was in utter shock, had his blood rush as he turned towards the people who entered the premises. They all had that distinct look; all of them wore decent clothing, and they were holding bags of cash.

Buyers.

That time, Ulysses thought freedom was closer.

Everyone thought freedom was within their grasp.

But nowhat was closer was bloodshed.

Bloodshed and death.

The five buyers instantly saw what had become of Fernando. Jaxon saw what was coming; these five adult men drew their daggers and any weapons they had.

“RUN!” Jaxon warned as he pulled whoever was closer to him. Seizing Miko by the hand, Jaxon never dared to look back as those men advanced to attack them.

Jaxon’s tears began to pour down as he ran. Every step he took equaled a scream. A plea. A cry.

Children begging to be saved.

“Uly!!! ULY!!!!”

Jaxon didn’t want to look back, because he knew there was nothing behind him but darkness and bloodshed. Yet, he turned his head to see, even if every inch of him screamed not to.

Ulysses, who was the oldest among them all, didn’t move an inch; he, with his body that was pierced with blades, protected the children and blocked the attackers from moving forward. Jaxon’s tears fell unstoppably as Ulysses finally fell to the ground.

“ULY!!!”

Popo rushed to Ulysses’ side, hugging his bloodied body, shielding Ulysses as blades pierce through her back.

“The younger kids! Don’t damage them! They’re goods!”

“Yeah, but these ones are fucking persistent!”

“J-jax, we have to save them! Those kids!!! Aiden! Everyone!” Miko tugged Jaxon’s shirt as they ran.

Jaxon gritted his teeth as he kept on running; pulling Miko even more as they rushed forward. Echoes of those children they had embraced, comforted, and taken care of resonated against Jaxon’s mind as his conscience torn every bit of his soul.

“Help us! Jax! Miko!” It was the small Aiden, who was caught by one of the men. “Help us!!!”

“Jax!!!”

“NO!” Jaxon retorted as his tears kept on flowing nonstop. “We’re getting out of here, Miko!”

Light by the end of the passageway appeared as Jaxon and Miko continued to run. Time slowed down for Jaxon as eyes blurred from the tears.

“What about you, Jax? What do you want to do when you get out of here?” Ulysses’ voice echoed in Jaxon’s mind.

Miko snatched her hand away from Jaxon as she sobbed wildly.

“JAX, THERE’S STILL SOME TIME! WE CAN STILL HELP THEM! WE CAN GO BACK!”

Jaxon seized Miko’s wrist as he once again ranand then, in a matter of seconds, they reached the end of the seemingly endless tunnel.

Light welcomed both Jaxon and Miko as the outside world appeared.

The moon was shining brightly, illuminating the silhouette of two children who were clad in grimy rags, tears in their eyes as they continued to run to the streets.

That night, those two children had witnessed something gruesome. That night, those two innocent children were given the bitter taste of reality.

In exchange for their dreams was guilt.

And in exchange for freedom was death.

**

“Escape with me, Miko!”

Miko’s eyes widened as she stared at Jaxonand as she met his gaze, the memories of THAT night sunk back to her. The memories of the sacrifices they had instigated just to get that fragile dream called freedom. Ulysses, Popo, Aiden, and everyone. All of it sunk back to Miko’s mind at once. The memory she repressed came back to her as the same Jaxon who had saved her came to do the thing she regretted doing once again.

“MIKO! WE HAVE TO ESCAPE! Can’t you hear me?!” Jaxon’s hand reached towards Miko, in an attempt to seize her by the wrist once again.

Miko’s lips trembled as she drew away from Jaxon. Tears began to flow to Miko’s eyes as her soft features sharpened. Miko glared at Jaxon, who had flinched from her unanticipated reaction. Jaxon’s lips parted as Miko began to back away.

“You’re urging me no, you’re dragging me away again for your selfish gains.” Miko whispered. “This was the same as before the same as THAT night”

Jaxon, who clearly was taken aback, blinked.

“What are you blabbering about, Miko?! Get in this compartment right now!”

“Why are you saving me, Jax?” Miko asked. “No I shouldn’t ask what I know the answer for. I should tell you what you cannot accept.”

“No shut up no!” Jaxon clenched his fist. “Get in the compartment NOW!”

“I am you scapegoat, Jax. Ever since then. When we left everyone in Fernando’s den when we left everyone in there, you took me because you wanted to compensate for something.” Miko’s tears streamed down. “It was for the sake of your conscience, wasn’t it?”

Jaxon stopped breathing as he stared at Miko. His expression wasn’t the same as before anymore.

His creased brows had softened as his eyes were laden with sheer sadness and hurt. His lips were parted in slight shock, and his occasional, light blinks showed he was on the verge of tears?

“I am tired of running away, Jax.” Miko took several steps backward. “I’m staying with these children something I should have done from the start.”

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