When I was suddenly hit in the head and my eyes began to close, I thought that was the end and that I was dead. So when my eyes began to close, I started to wish I had done some things better, I wish I could see Mom one more time and tell her that I love her and don't mean it those times that I give her trouble and I also want to tell Dad how much I appreciate his effort on us, then the sensation of Jane being with me on the other side pushed everything away.
So when I opened my eyes again, I tried to check out if Jane was with me in this paradise. It was then I noticed that the place was dark. Total darkness.
'This must be hell'
I told you how I believe every word that comes out of Ms. Erin's mouth. Well, I didn't tell you that I also believe everything Mom says. In fact, I believe Mom's words to a greater degree more than I believe Ms. Erin's. That's the relationship between a mother and her child. So it was Mom that told me what hell is. It was a long gist between mother and son that beautiful twilight.
Mom was in the kitchen, Dad was yet to return from work, and I just finished my homework. So I joined her in the kitchen since Jane would probably be busy with chores too. It was a quiet atmosphere only broken by the sounds of the cooker and the food boiling. I hate dull moments. I decided to tell Mum what had happened in school that day. One boy had stolen his classmate's lunch pack and one way or the other, he was caught. A wear was designed for him out of cardboard paper with 'THE LUNCH PACK THIEF' boldly written on them.
"I really pity the boy," I said to Mum "He was made to wear it while going around the school visiting every classroom and staff offices"
"Stealing is not a good thing Mase," Mum said. "And it shouldn't be supported. That is why the school punished the boy. If they don't and he goes on to become a robber and killed. He will go to hell"
"What is hell," I asked out of curiosity and that's how Mum told me how hell is a place where bad people end up after they die. She said it is a place of infinite pain and torture, in pitch darkness, without water or food. And that's why I always told myself that I will never end up in such a place that has no food.
So when I regained consciousness into such darkness, I began to wonder why I ended up in hell. I was a good boy or so I thought. Then I remembered how Mum said those in hell are tortured but I feel no pain of torture. It was then I realize the reason for the pitch darkness is that my eyes were tied with some thick fabric that prevents me from seeing anything. I also noticed that I was in a sitting position though I can move as my legs and hands are tied by a rope that seems to be fighting its way into my flesh.
I heard the struggle of someone not too far away from me. I strongly believe it is Jane since she was the only one I was abducted with. I tried to call out to her but my mouth has been sealed with some kind of tape so I began to struggle to see if I can free myself from the rope that bounds me.
Our efforts to free ourselves from the chair caused quite the noise and I had fallen with the chair when I heard the creaking sound of a door opening. I heard heavy footsteps come near me, two hands landed on either side of my shoulder and violently lift me off the floor with the chair. I was now back up not knowing where I was, or who the person that has just entered is. My eyes were still covered by the piece of fabric so I could not see what was going on but then I heard a man with a very thick voice that sends shivers down my spine instruct one other man to untie the fabric on our eyes.
I opened my eyes and wait for them to adjust to the light in the room. When I could finally see clearly, I discovered we are in a fairly large room as big as our sitting room back home. The room is empty bar some iron chairs and some hard metals that look like weapons. They must have knocked us out with one of those things. I looked beside me and not so far from where I am tired, Jane's eyes have also been untied and she seems to be taking in her environment. I just gave her a nod of assurance and she just nod back with tears already welling up in her eyes. Our mouths were still taped so we couldn't talk.
My eyes drifted back to our captors. There are three of them, men with huge biceps and as big as those men in black that we see on the television follow the President of Silverland, not allowing anyone to get close to him, beating every brave aleck till to retreat as they follow closely behind him. That's how I can describe these men. One was standing not so far from where I was tired, one on Jane's side, and the last one who seems to be their leader took a seat and sat not so far from us making sure he is in the middle of us.
"Remove the tape," he said and his subordinates quickly remove the tape from our mouths, setting our loud tongues free the next thing that comes to my mind is to scream for help but every thought of that was quickly thrown into the sea when Jane attempted to scream.
"Don't even think of screaming. You can try but no one will hear you even if you do from now till eternity. And moreover I hate noise. So just listen to me or die regretting it". The man threatened us in his thick voice and we both instinctively kept quiet". "Someone will bring food to you very soon. I'll come back after your meal"
"Untie them," he said to his subordinates as he stood up and walk towards the door which I assume they came in through. As he was about to step out, he turned around and said to us:
"Don't even think of escaping. You are heavily guarded"
He left the room. His dogs soon untied us and they also left the room, leaving the both of us alone again.
"Are you okay" I hurried over to Jane's side ignoring my pains.
"I'm fine" she replied though she was crying. I've always known Jane to be a strong girl, she does things like a boy, and you can call her a hard girl. That's why I was worried to see her cry because I know the trauma of being kidnapped and the uncertainty of what is to come is getting to her. "How about you. Are you fine? She asked amidst sobs.
"Fine" I replied and we both sat down together, right there, silent and just hoping that maybe a search party would have been arranged to look for us and maybe they will come and rescue us.
That didn't happen and the door soon opened and another set of men brought in food in some kind of bowl for us to eat. Even though we were famished, we didn't touch the food for fear of being poisoned. For the second time in as many days, food is placed before me and I am unable to eat it. We drank the water only for we were dehydrated. I didn't eat before I left in search of my parents that morning and I guess the same could be said for Jane. The door opened again and the leader of the kidnappers came in once more.
"I was told you didn't eat," the man said putting on an evil grin. " It's better you do because you don't know how long you'll be here for," the man said as he sat down.
'You don't know how long you'll be here for' the words kept repeating in my head as I began to cry silently. I was still a kid. A 10-year-old, what do you expect.
"Why" Jane shouted and for the first time, I wonder why they even kidnapped us.
"You are Mason Henshaw, right?" the man asked and I nodded wondering how he even knew my name in the first place. "Your father is being defiant, that's all you need to know for now," the man said as he faced Jane.
"I don't know you or how you got together with him and land yourself here but I believe you'll be useful too" the man stood up without saying anything as he makes his way to the door.
"Wait" my lips suddenly moved "how is my father being defiant"
"He has to be a transporter for my boss," the man said as he left the room.
When the man left the room, silence lingered in the room. Jane and I just sat there staring at the door where the man just passed through. We didn't say a thing to each other for a very long time, not like we had something to say in the first place. We were both trying to take in what the devil-looking man had just said. I was thinking so hard about what the man meant by his boss wanting my father to be his transporter. Who is his boss? Could he be the mafia of one underground casino? You are probably wondering how this little boy knew about a casino or a mafia? Well, I don't gamble moreover, there is no casino in Old Town and don't think I'll gamble if there is. Trust me, Mum will kill me if I do. So, I might not be an intelligent student but I am a smart one and that's how I got to know about this casino and its mafia. When I was in Elementary 3, there was this boy in Elementary 4 so he is my senior. This boy is a very big, huge guy, he looks overage for his class and
Time passed quickly and we didn't even know when it is day or night so I lost count of the days. Considering my assumption, we should have spent close to five days in this room doing nothing. Jane had kept crying out of fear of everything that is going on but she soon put everything at the back of her mind. I advised her to do so because crying won't take us out of that horrendous room. The Man kept coming at intervals to check on us, maybe not as he will just come, issue his threats to us that we should never let it cross our minds that we have a chance of escaping or give him or his 'boys' any 'matter'. There's been a lot of changes in things and I've made some discoveries over the past five days. Incredible ones. I will start with The Man. Something about The Man is very amusing to me. You see The Man talks in some kind of slang which I probably didn't notice the first day due to the trauma that comes from being in abduction. The man once said to one of his subordina
The Man paused and kept staring at us as silence filled the room. It was a very awkward atmosphere and there were lots of emotions and facial expressions pouring out in the room. Jane was just staring at nothing in particular with a face full of confusion. I have to say everything still sounds like a lie to me as if it is all made up by The Man perhaps it is one of their tricks. For one, my father never told me any of those things he said about him and I don't think Mum knows about it too but the expression on The Man's face is very complicated. He looks as if he doesn't approve of what is happening and is just being forced to do it but even if that's the case, he is not saying anything now so I broke the silence. "Why did you tell us all those things. We can't do anything or change anything and even if we can, you are holding us captive. So why?" "I'll tell you why I chose to tell you but you have to listen to me. I didn't say I was finished" h
After The Man left, Jane and I sat there in silence. Silence is now the new normal for us. Most times when we both have nothing to say, we just sat down and let our minds take over wandering from North to South, seeking answers to bizarre questions. Most times, I look at us and I wonder if Jane and I could ever be so silent and at a loss of things to talk about even though we are seated beside each other, with an entire room all to ourselves. It is needless to say what the cause of this is and as I look at Jane, I know it will be better if we figure things out ourselves. I believe it was night because I was beginning to feel drowsy and would sleep any time now but the door unexpectedly opened again. This time, it was not The Man who stepped in nor the two men who always accompany him. It was a man who in his hands was a tray of food which he dropped before us in suspicious haste and I when I saw his face clearly, he was not the one who usually brings our food but I was too h
I pictured what Geo told us, how Gil, his blood sister was auctioned off before his own eyes while he just stood there, unable to rescue her from the fangs of the predator who purchased her. I imagined the pain he must have passed through at the time, and how much regret he still feels to this day. I don't have a sister, I am the only child of my parents but I have Jane, who has been my best friend for so long, and I pictured how it would feel to see Jane sold off before my eyes while I stand there unable to save her. The thought of it alone is dreadful and right there I felt that I will do whatever it takes to make sure Jane does not end up at the auction house or with any pregnant man. "I later found out..." continued Geo "a few days after the auction that the military, as well as the government, were aware of the auction where humans are sold but refused to interfere because elite members of the society are partaking in the auction. I even received information that t
"I told you all of this because you both remind me of my siblings and I won't forgive myself if I watch you both die," Geo said as he help himself calm down. "I will try my best to get you out of this situation," he said and left the room. I began to see Geo in a different light after that day. I got up that morning. That morning I told you that we probably have used five days in that room. The morning before I told you everything about 'The Man', now Geo. I woke up that morning feeling the most tired and haggard I've ever felt before. I've not taken my bath for perhaps six days now. The room was becoming stuffy of our body odor now. But who cares about a bath or a smelling body when your might end up dying or end up in the hands of one full moon-sized belly man. Geo had told us the previous day that I'll speak with my Dad again today and he advised me to pretend like I'm starving and being tortured so those on the other side won't become suspicious. Geo no lo
Geo came and told us that he has been able to convince them that I shouldn't be released yet. We were both moved to a different room, probably because we were no longer going to be tortured since Dad has accepted to be the transporter. The reason we were put through difficult situations was that they needed to coerce Dad into being the transporter. The room we got moved into was a better one compared to the one we were in before. This one has a slightly large bed not big enough for a set of adults but suitable at least for two kids. The room is not as large as the previous one is as big as our classroom back in school and it does not have chairs scattered all over but is neatly arranged like my room on a Saturday afternoon after Mum finishes arranging it. The room that the room has a bathroom for us to take a bath makes it better. We took turns having our bath as we've not had a bath for weeks now. Geo came after we showered. Geo told us that we are restri
When my legs suddenly left the floor, I thought I've been tricked by Geo into being kidnapped by some other punks. I felt betrayed but I screamed nevertheless for help from the person I felt betrayed by perhaps he can still save my little ass. The torches pointing sharply blocked my eyes from seeing those laughing. I don't if to feel relieved and happy that they are maybe friendly or to be sad and more frightened that they are laughing at my helpless screams. "Welcome to training boy". When I heard this, I felt very relieved and happy that Geo did not betray me but I wanted to curse at them. "Who the hell welcome their student to training in such a manner!. You freaking scared the hell out of me!!!" I shouted when they finally released me from where I was tied allowing me to fall to the floor face first. "These are your teachers Mase," Geo said. Everyone was holding a torch and it gives the hall a little bit of illumination. The two people I saw on the other e
It was pitch dark in the vault. I could hardly see the person next to me. Master Leao was the only one with a source of light amongst us and he was at the front. When Jane entered first, Katie followed, Rio and Alex went after her and I was the last person to go in, so I was at the back of the group. I was struggling to keep up with the others as I place my feet on every step.The stairs were narrow and curved in an S shape. The space got larger when we got to the larger part of the stairs and it opened to another big hall. The hall was empty and our voices echoed as we speak. There was nothing notable about the hall as it looks like the one that is up. Master Leao led the way to a rigid-looking iron door on one side of the hall. The door has a wheel at its center and requires a pattern to be unlocked.Master Leao went ahead and made some marks on the wheel. The wheel began to roll on its own after Master Leao finished whatever thing that he was doing on it and soon after the door
Lewis and the seniors did as I have told them. They wouldn't intend to flaunt my words remembering what I did to them.They did so well that the school got a hang of the things happening even before they reported themselves. If Lewis decides to report Alex now, then he will most likely not be believed.The school found it weird that the students came out and reveal themselves. Just like that!. The bruises on Lewis had raised suspicions but they wouldn't dare to reveal the person behind it.The students that have been robbed off their food items got their items back and Alex's situation was solved that way. The situation was a lot easier to handle than I thought.The next day was the day we were meant to meet Master Leao. I didn't bother to look for more students to take the number to 7. The lesser the better. I had passed information across to all the members the previous day. It was something easy as we are all in the martial arts class. I most times have Jane by my side, Alex has b
"Your time's up," I said.If the other students are as strong as Lewis, then I might have trouble dealing with all of them at once. There are four of them and just me after all.I never wanted them to accept my offer and I didn't expect them to either. They may accept to return the things they collected from the students and also promise me that they won't report Alex but it won't be something that can be guaranteed. They may accept just because they are scared of my appearance and the fact that I discovered them, but all of that could be thrown away along with their promises once my back is turned. The best way to resolve this is to beat them to submission.I walk towards them, one step after another, slowly, making each step as terrifying as possible. They were bedazzled by my act of arrogance and were still in a daze when I got to the first person.I flung my legs across the average-weight boy, adding enough strength so he won't be getting back up to cause more trouble. I was lef
People having powers has become a myth in this age. It has become something we read in books, see in pictures, and just wow about them.We have been taught that the people who created Silverland were powerful and that it was through their powers that they defeated all the strong and dangerous beasts on the land at that time. It has been said that some people still have the powers like these people today. I never thought I would ever see one and if I did, I wouldn't have thought it would be a student in my school."Lewis and the seniors know about it" Alex whispered. "They know I have powers. I haven't told anyone in this school except you, so I don't know how they found out""How do you know that they know? Did they tell you or something?" I asked.Before Lewis and the others found out that Alex has some kind of powers, he has always been subjected to bullies. They will take some of his food and let him do work for them.Alex doesn't know how they found out that he has powers but it
The students were starting to leave after the fight ended. It fight has become a new trend among the students in martial arts class. The student had jumped from number 52 to number 4. It was probably the greatest leap ever by a student.Lewis got off the floor after some time. He dusts off his cloth like nothing happened and left the hall silently. He was no longer in pain, it looks like so.The boy was still standing in the same spot when everyone left. He didn't do any celebration whatsoever when he won the fight and he just stood there still looking as feeble as when he was walking up to the stage.After a while, Master Leao went to do his own thing and almost all the students had left the hall then. The boy finally left the hall.I told Jane to go ahead and not wait for me. She protested that she wanted to follow me but the boy might not be comfortable if we meet him together so I asked her to stay behind.Something looks to be troubling the boy. The fight didn't seem to have sett
I was still bleeding when the hooded person left. The cut was a little bit deep but I tore a part of my cloth and cover the wound with it. I lay on the floor having lost so much blood already. The energy surprisingly has not turned off. It was still active. This time though, it was not growing. It has been at a standstill for some time now, perhaps, since I was cut. It wasn't supplying me with an insane amount of energy like during a fight. The energy has rather gathered around my chest and it was somehow healing the wound from inside.I decided to stay on the rooftop for some time before returning to my dorm. I was feeling weak and end up falling asleep. Blood had stopped coming out of the wound when I woke up. It was healing as well. The energy was still active but it was reducing rapidly. It was like it gets used up as the wound heals.I untied the cloth on the wound after some time and it was at a point where I would not feel a lot of pain from it. I left the rooftop past midni
Some people would jump at kind opportunities that guarantee them power over other humans. It is human nature. Humans crave power. They want to have dominion over other people and exploit them in the long run. I do not wish to be Rio's boss. I have never wanted to be. I proposed the deal to be his boss so I could keep him away from my things in the future. If I accept to be his boss and start ordering him around, then I would be just like those that I loathe so much.Rio was still kneeling in front of me. I was at a loss for words initially, and so did Katie and Jane. "We didn't bring you here because of the deal you guys made," Jane said "It is for an entirely different purpose and it'll be nice if you listen to us first. You can sort out your issues later."I was glad that Jane bailed me out of that so I quickly backed her."That's true. Let's talk about that later," I said and helped Rio back to his feet. "Promise us you won't reveal whatever thing that will be said here to anyon
I intend to get the five or seven people Master Leao had asked me to select as soon as possible. I already have Jane and Katie in mind so I just need to look for two more people at least.I rushed to the dorm as I had told Jane. I met her waiting on my bunk. She was the only one in the room as none of my roommates are in the room at that time."Let's go to the rooftop" I requested.It was twilight. Students have finished every activity for the day and are making preparations for dinner. The view from the rooftop is grandiose. The students walking around the school, the high buildings around the school, and the bushes beyond the school building."It is beautiful. Isn't it?" Jane asked."What's that" I replied."The view from this place. The serenity. The sky, those few stars, the wind, and everything. They are beautiful, aren't they?" Jane asked as the wind blew her hair over her face."They are," I said. "It's the serenity that bothers me though.""I'm sure you brought me here for a r
Master Leao is always at the martial arts hall. That is his office and he rarely leaves there, except at nights. Most times, when you enter the martial arts hall, you either meet Master Leao punching thin air while doing back flips and sending kicks mid-air or sitting with his legs crossed inside and his hands stretched out making a V shape.That's Master Leao in summary. Train, train, and train. He would spar with everyone in class standing on one spot and anyone who manages to make him move a leg would be given something. We would put our all into the spar with him, and fight like our lives depend on it. For sure, we know Master Leao was a man of his word and his gift would not be little either so we fight for the reward.Only one student has managed to make Master Leao move his legs. Notwithstanding that it was through sly means. That student was me.I had offered to spar with the master that day. I was bent on making him move a leg and a good idea popped up in my head. 'As long