Crow

I had nothing to say. I didn't speak. I couldn't speak. I was just so shocked that I didn't know what to do. It was such a cruel truth to find out. I felt lost and so alone that my hope was like molten wax and the little candle was her voice, "I am the Kaku Rata".

My dry eyes stared down at my red flesh and the small toes on the floor. The agony was overwhelming. It had felt so long yet is has only been 48 hours. I couldn't bear it for much longer... I just couldn't. No,I couldn't let my hope rot away, I had to at least try before I gave up. That's when the question struck me; who was the skeleton man? If it wasn't the Kaku Rata then who was it? Could I get him to become my ally? This could be my only chance, I must get him on my side!

A bucket of sludge was thrown at my feet. I turned my gaze to face that patterned head. There was something sad in his face. It was like he was on the verge of breaking down, like there was pain inside him that was begging to be unleashed, however, I just stared back at those empty sockets. That's when he spoke.

"What's your name?",he asked.

"J-Jeane" I replied with my hoarse voice.

He just nodded and turned away and headed towards the splintered door.

Without even knowing what I was really doing, I screamed "Don't leave me! I don't want to be alone again. I-I can't b-bear it."

He stopped, murmured something and left and I was once again left in the darkness.

***

It must have been late in the evening when the man with the skull face came back. However, he seemed secretive about it, like he wasn't meant to be here. It puzzled me.

He quietly waltzed towards me and whispered, "For now, you can call me Crow, I plan on helping you but it will be very very difficult".

His deep voice was husky but the shock that he wished to assist me on an escape made my hope go from a candle to a bonfire. Then he said, " This might hurt a little".

At first I was confused but then I felt the pain strike through me like a whiplash, a pain that I had felt during the torture sessions and it is an unforgettable sensation. The pain eased and I looked down at my once bloodied, skinned feet and found that they had been cleaned from the infections and my toes were no longer on the floor but once more part of me. I could have cried from happiness. I wiggled them around a little; I had to re-adjust to the feeling.

I smiled at him and thanked him and he nodded in return.

I asked, "Do you have any sort of plan in mind?"

And he answered, "Of course I do! Otherwise I wouldn't have come down here."

"

Okay, okay. I'm sorry".

"Anyway, here is the plan. I have made a secret passageway to the top of the peaks and we can use the sled I have been make these past few hours to slide down. Then, we should reach your village and you will be safe. Understand?"

"Sounds pretty simple to me!", I spurted out in glee.

"You wish, it isn't as easy as you think. The passageway has flooded a little so it will take a lot longer for us to get through without Kaku realising. Also, wolves on the mountain might chase us and thay would put us in much more danger but hopefully you will be safe in the village" was his grave reply.

"Oh".

"I better be off before I get caught out of my room. Goodnight."

He strutted back through that blood-stained door and was gone. I was once again alone in this void of darkness but his escape plan would direct me away from that void and back home. These chains might tie me back but I will be willing to slip out of them the second I can. I refuse to let my hope sink and to leave my future corpse here. I will be free and I will go back home because nothing and no one will get in my way any longer! I will go home and protect my village from this damned curse!

A spark ignited deep down inside me which grew and grew and my whole body became a blue fire. My hands shook as I stared in surprise and fear at the flames dancing around my palms.

"And I won't fail."