The Heart Of Gaia - Chapter 9 The Monstrosity

“Hey Doc!”

“What do you want?”

“I found a good one! by the east side of the Black market!”

“Did you get what I asked for?”

“He was talkin’ to some beggar by the street! but before that he blasted buildin’s! like they were nothin’!”

“Oh really now?” said the man sarcastically.

“Yeh! I’m not lyin’! he brought down houses like they was nothin’ I saw his eyes glow too! like t-the uhmm…”

“The what?!”

“The Vistones! his eyes glowed like that! they burned bright!”

“Whatever you say number one! lock that kid along the others! I’m busy!”

“Alrighty Doc!”

“And did you get what I asked for?”

“It’s right here doc!”

Few hours earlier, I got abducted by an unknown man and right now I don’t know where I am. He carried me all the way here, we passed through an alleyway then somehow, we’re in another place. I couldn’t tell but it seemed like a narrow hallway riddled with a lot of pipes, then soon we met a man that my carrier referred to as “Doc”. I couldn’t see his face due to my state but it seemed like he had worn goggles and a white laboratory coat. Later we passed along an iron gate and then from there I heard voices of despair, the endless screaming, the constant wailing of distress that echoed throughout the moment we entered. The voices came from cages, they were filled with creeping shadows.

“Help me!”

“KILL ME PLEASE!”

“hehe! hehe! hehe!”

“OH GOD! OH GOD!”

“We the people… we the people…”

“He said that he’d help us!”

Soon we finally stopped.

“Here we are little boy! welcome to the family!”

*Creak*

*Thud*

*Slam*

I heard the cage open as he threw me in as he slammed the entrance shut.

“Please do get acquainted with your sister!” as he giggled right after.

I struggled and struggled on the stone cold floor, the effects were starting to wear off, slowly my body loosened that I could move my finger tips. I heard someone weeping from behind me, eventually I could turn. I heard that man mentioning “sister” before he left so I must’ve someone else inside the cage beside myself. Finally I could sit up right, as I stretched my body while I stood; I need to escape. I inspected the place, it had no bedding, no windows either but had a lamp in the back wall which lit up the area with its dim light. The foul smell of fecal matter and urine lingered on one side of the cage. There on the corner was a girl sitting on the floor while hugging her legs; head down. Her disheveled caramel colored hair was everywhere, she wore an ragged looking dress that was torn at its base. I nudged her.

“Are you okay? we need to get out of here.” I said.

“Who are you?” She said lowly as she sniffled.

“My name is Knoxx Abbot, and we need to get out of here.”

She still had her head low, probably still has her guard up. I don’t know what happened to her but I have to at least help. Silence answered my question.

“How did you get here? I can help you get out…”

“M-my family was framed…”

She paused.

“I got captured, we can’t get out, I’ve tried already.”

“My father was captured too, I went here to look for him but only ended the same way.”

She turned to me as I reveled in her beautiful maroon colored eyes shimmering under the dim light of the lamp with a mole under her right eye that accentuated it.

“Beautiful…” I muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing…”

“So how long have you been here?”

“A couple of days, they only give out food every now and then.”

I stood to inspect the metal bars, they were pretty solid and didn’t even budge. The cell door was locked, I thought of maybe using my powers but I remembered that I can’t control it well and might cause a disturbance, further sealing our fate here. Since we didn’t have any choice I tried manifesting my Corr to the center of my hands, slowly it glowed but for some reason I could only hold it for just a second. It was probably because I was tired, I concluded. I sat down the side near the cell door to get some rest.

“If you don’t mind me asking, you look like from a rich family. Judging from your dress.”

She looked towards her dress.

“My parents were of noble descent… we were very happy together.”

“Ah so that’s why, me too. With my father, I mean we were very happy.”

“They framed my parents of murder, I know they’re innocent. my father can’t be a murderer! especially if that bloody oaf found the evidence! curse him and his burned head!

along with his smug, demonic looking face!”

“Did you just say burned head?”

“Oh pardon my foul mouth, I just can’t stand that person!”

“Who? who is that person? does he have a menacing smile? with a smug looking face and cocky demeanor? b-but most importantly did he have burn scars on the upper right region of his head?”

I came close as I bombarded her with constant questions.

“U-uhm… you just described him perfectly!”

Out of coincidence, I didn’t think I could find him here. But since it was too good to be true I still needed to ask more.

“I-is his name Kuzmann?”

“Why yes! that’s him! did he capture your father?”

I felt rage running through my veins as I clenched my fists, as I smiled out of happiness that I could avenge my father and save him at the exact same time. She stared at me weirdly, her eyes questioning me that she couldn’t put into words.

“Yes, he abducted my father.”

“I’m sorry about all the questions, My name is Knoxx Abbot. I was looking for that man.” I followed.

“It’s fine, My name is Lyrissa Seraphina Celeste Cy–”

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

“You both are causin’ too much ruckus! better shut yer trap!” after he hit our cell.

“Good… Time to get Doc another one…” He proud said.

The man that abducted me was in front of our cell, now that I’m looking at him directly. He was tall but shorter when compared to my father, oddly enough he had blue-ish skin. His head had a short, white and crudely fashioned hair. After that he went away that exposed the left shaven part of his head that had a tattoo of number one. He talked in an unrefined manner which was hard to discern. When he went away I saw that he was carrying keys that dangled on his side. I thought of an idea.

“Mind if I call you Sera? I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just that your name is too long.”

“Oh I don’t mind, I’ll call you Knoxx then.”

“Who was that Sera?”

“Oh that was One, I don’t know why he’s named like that but that’s what the Doctor calls him.”

She mentioned Doctor, she must be talking to that man I saw earlier.

“What did he meant by another one?”

“He takes a person out of here… they rarely comeback and when they do, they’re never themselves.

It’s like they saw something they shouldn’t.”

She trembled at the moment she said that, we need to get out of here. As soon as possible, I don’t want to find out what the hell they’re doing here.

“About that devil…” I asked.

“Hm? you mean Kuzmann? what about him?”

“Did he bring you here? did he had someone with him?”

“I don’t recall, he brought someone with him.”

“Well did you hear anything?!” I pleaded desperately.

“I do remember the Kuzmann getting angry about something… something about a Titan?”

My eyes widened open as she said Titan, that was definitely my father. I may be delusional but I’m sure of it. My senses are telling me that he’s here. I needed to escape, but the only way out of this is with her help. I spoke to her more and gradually gaining her trust as time passed, I told her that we might be able to get out. Once we get out I mentioned to her the existence of the Liberators. Her eyes beamed with hope as she learnt about these selfless heroes, she wanted to get acquainted. Ultimately she agreed to my plans and added a one minor detail. Apparently One has an interest when it comes to the Doctor and that he’ll go on ages talking about the person. We waited hours before One came back. I signaled Sera as she proceeded with the plan.

“Hey!” I shouted at him.

“Wha’ do ya’ want?”

I immediately thought of the quickest thing I could think of to distract him.

“Who is doc?” as I smiled awkwardly.

He stood there for a couple of minutes and then frowned. He must’ve caught on.

“You don’t know the Doc?!” he exclaimed.

“U-uh yeah.”

As he went on blabbering about “Doc” Sera was already sneaking in behind me in order to reach the keys dangling from him. The idea was while I distracted him she used me as a cover to steal the keys. Soon she recovered the keys without any hassle but I had to endure One and his fanatical attitude towards Doc. It went on for ages, she already took the keys with her and I’m still here listening.

“He finally left… I’m surprised, he doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“Well he takes his time to chat with the people here mostly… I don’t think he is.”

One seemed too friendly, straight forward but mostly a simpleton. What ever his situation may be, I can’t pity him. He still chose to be here. We waited for a while until he got farther in the prison. When the coast was clear, I unlocked the cell and motioned Sera to lead the way as we sneaked carefully.

“Do you know the way out?” she asked.

“I don’t actually…” I giggled nervously.

“I don’t blame you, they did the same thing to me. I vaguely remember how I got here.”

“We just need to keep roaming around, we’ll find it eventually.”

We passed by each prison cell and most of them barely had sanity in their eyes, it looked like they were consumed by Laxxo; forever tainting their minds. Sera was distraught at the sight of this mentally and physically distorted people. Like One they all had numbers but were in different sections of their body, their skin had unusual spot of colors: Blue, purple, green, red, black.

*Screech!*

One of the imprisoned leaped towards our direction as it screeched in a high pitched tone. The metal bars stopped it in its tracks as we both got startled by it. It started screaming out of desperation reaching towards us, its voice echoed throughout the prison overlapping the sounds of despair. I nudged her to hurry up…

“What’s wrong brother?!” One shouted from behind.

“He’s coming, we’ve got to hurry.”

We ran as fast as we could through the long corridor of the prison, from afar I saw One walking towards our direction.

“HEY YOU! GIT BACK IN YER ROOM!”

He bolted towards us.

“Sera! ready the keys! we need to shut the gate.”

“Okay!”

*Huff! Huff!*

Soon we had reached the gate, it was twice the size the bars on our cells. It was heavy as we pushed the gates close, One was closing the gap every second. He wore an angry expression on his face as he clenched his teeth, like an animal bearing its teeth towards prey. Finally we closed the gate now we only needed to lock it.

“Lock it Sera!”

Sera stood in fear,as she saw the hulking mass running towards us, his body grew in mass bit by bit, as his Blue-ish hue faded and turned slightly purple. I grabbed the keys from her and started trying each one, I struggled as my hands trembled.

“Come on! come on! come on!” I said anxiously.

“Leave the gate Knoxx we need to hide!” as she tried to pull me away.