Escape

"My head... it hurts so bad..." Eventually coming back into mindfulness, Draco immediately felt an overwhelming headache. Breathing in and out, his nostrils were flooded with a tyrannical stench of sweat.

"Just what happened to me?" Draco decided to finally open up his eyes, but he was faced with something out of his expectations. Whether his gaze moved, it was impossible to see through this eternal darkness in front of him.

Something was blocking his vision.

Unfortunately, as he tried to do something against this perpetual gloom, another issue revealed itself. Both of his hands appeared to be tied with some kind of material. A rope, most probably.

"!!!" Using all the residual power, Draco tried and miserably failed to remove his hands from restrictions. A few veins popped on his forehead.

"Mary." Involuntarily, Draco blurted out his sister's name, only to later realize the value of these words. He has finally remembered what has happened, especially the image of his sister shouting in fear, which later was replaced by gloom and ringing din in the ears.

Not even thinking twice, Draco shouted at the top of his lungs, "Mary! Where are you?!". Yet, there was no response, complete and utter silence.

Draco didn't give up though, he shouted twice, thrice, up to the point when he could barely stammer even a word from his dry throat. Each part of his body was already drenched in sweat from the inexplainable anxiety.

'If something happened to my sister...' Draco's thoughts were flooded with killing intent, but he tried to calm down. Before jumping to conclusions, he has to find more about the current situation. Perhaps Mary isn't in any danger.

"Hey, when are you going to stop shouting! It's so annoying!" An angered, deep voice resounded through the area, forcing Draco to turn silent. Goosebumps started going through his intact body, just from the fact that someone was standing right in front of him, yet he couldn't see what or who. It was truly a frustrating feeling.

"Don't let me hear another noise coming from this room, or else it will not end well for you." The same person coldly stated, as Draco instantly stuck out his ears to determine the position of the enemy.

Slightly lifting his head, Draco no longer had any doubts. "Where is Mary?". His voice was bitter, carrying dimness that promptly spread around the room.

"Mary? That little girl?" The voice ignored Draco's almost unnoticeable killing intent. There was a long silence, which, in Draco's eyes, seemed like an eternity, before eventually hearing a deplorable statement, "Why should I tell you? Do you think I am just going to answer all your questions?"

Draco cursed inwardly, his fingers drilling into the wooden floor, "Answer me, or I will kill you when I am free!".

"Hahaha." Instead of an answer, an uncanny laugh thumped his ears. He was getting angrier and angrier, each of his fingernails already covered in crimson blood.

"You-" Draco was about to yell again, but a kick landing onto his face forced him to shut up. The pain was great, but Draco didn't give up at all. Rising back into a sitting position, clinching for the only source of light in this overwhelming darkness, he repeated, "Where is Mary?"

"This was not enough of a lesson" The person appeared to get even more agitated, as Draco prepared himself for another forthcoming kick.

"Erik." Before getting hit anew, Draco heard yet another voice. It was a lot softer and more gentle. "His shouting is annoying, but don't damage the goods. We won't be able to sell him for as much as we intended if this goes on."

"I know. I just got carried away." Erik coldly replied, piercing Draco with his gaze, "You heard him. If you want to get into the hands of a good master, then shut up and be quiet."

Listening to this conversation, Draco's anxiety reached the climax. Goods? Masters? Sold? All these clues were more than enough for Draco to understand the situation.

"Whoever both of you are..." Draco quietly mumbled, rising his head upwards, "Show me if my sister is safe and I will never shout again."

"You-" Erik's anger was explicit as he landed yet another kick onto Draco's face, forcing him to fall astern on his back, "How dare you bargain with us?! Do you even understand in what kind of situation you are in right now?"

Draco completely ignored the enemy's words, as he rose back into a sitting position. Blood was flowing down his nose like a river, later dropping onto the floor. It was painful, but definitely not enough to destroy his faith.

Seeing Erik's angered expression and the persistency of this boy, the person in the back, finally made his move. "Remove the band, Erik."

"What? But why? Brook, I don't think this is a good idea." Erik had a few doubts after hearing his partner's words.

"Don't you see?" Brook casually pointed at the somewhat struggling Draco, "You can hit as much as you want, but he will not stop shouting. The road is still long and it will be unbearably annoying. Besides, him seeing what's happening won't change anything."

Erik stood still for a few moments, debating whether it was really that good of an idea. In the end, he has decided to follow his partner's words, though. They have already completed many deplorable acts together and reliance wasn't an issue.

"You are lucky, this time." Erik quietly murmured, as Draco felt a hand sliding upon his forehead. Only a few seconds later, the material blocking his vision was removed.

His sight was blurry at first, but after adapting to the light, he finally saw the two people standing in front of him. One more robust and masculine, short dark hair coupled with a defined beard.

Brook, the one in the back, looked much skinnier and weaker, but his eyes carried a peculiar sharpness within.

"Your uniforms..." Draco's attention was immediately drawn towards their t-shirts, which were joined with blue ties. "Aren't you marines?".

"Marines?" An eerie simper formed on Erik's face, "Yes, we are marines, so what?"

"What?!" The shock on Draco's face was clear. Marines, the ones who should defend everyone from the pirates, were actually the ones who sneaked attacked them? None of this just makes sense.

"But why?! Why did you attack us?! Shouldn't marines be the ones protecting us?!" Draco broke the deadly silence, sniveling. From the moment he was born, his dad has always told him about the importance of marines and how he could always trust them. Yet now... he was captured by them?

"Protect you?" Brook, a cigarette in his mouth, chuckled. "In this world, no one is going to protect you. Everything relies on your own power."

Draco was struck by such a response, but the flames deep inside his heart only agitated. If his words were true, why would the marines exist in the first place?

"Enough. I don't want to listen to you anymore. My mood is already ruined." Brook didn't even let Draco answer, lighting up his cigarette. "If I hear one more shout coming from this room, I won't even bother stopping Erik then."

Finishing his words, Brook left the room. A cloud of smoke was blown behind, which quickly disappeared within the thin air.

"You are lucky this time," Erik stated, glaring at the youth from above as if declaring his dominance. Seeing Draco staying silent, Erik marched out of the room as well.

"Wait..." Draco mumbled, tilting his head, "You still haven't shown my sister."

Erik stopped for a moment, his back facing the youth. Draco heard a chuckle before eventually seeing the marine turn around, a creepy smug on his expression.

Draco saw Erik point his finger just beside him, apparently not able to contain himself from laughing. "You are blind even with your eyes open."

Not really understanding the meaning behind his words, Draco turned his head sideways. To be honest, he was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it was because of confusion, or still not properly adapting to the light, but he didn't notice his little sister lying just alongside him.

Inspecting closely, Draco didn't notice any injuries on her sister's body, except a slight blemish on the top of her head. That was a relief. Her hands and eyes were restricted, still unconscious.

Bam!

A loud thud resounding through the entire room forced Draco's attention away from her little sister. Examining the perimeter of the vacancy, Erik could no longer be seen anywhere.

"Poof..." Draco heaved an exhausted sigh, leaning back against the wooden wall. The moment they had enough luck to escape from those pirates, they faced yet another danger. Marines, people who should have been protecting them.

"What should we do now? Wait till we are sold to some kind of bastard?" Draco glanced at his sister, grief apparent in his eyes. It would still be alright if he was the only one captured... but he can't let his sister become someone's slave. They have to somehow escape.

Forcing power into his knees, Draco rose onto his feet by leaning against the wall. "What kind of room is that?" Draco mumbled to himself, looking around. He had to admit, it was the perfect room for keeping prisoners. No windows, solid walls, no even one sharp object, metal doors that could be opened only from one side... no escape routes at all.

"Escape? How should we escape from this room?" Draco admitted the truth. Even if they somehow remove the ropes and leave this room... who knows what they will find outside?

Maybe there are tens of armed, trained marines waiting for the second the door opens. This is all just too dangerous with no information.

"Brother... behind." Mary's voice rang out in Draco's ears as he immediately turned around. His sister, although looking less pale, still seemed passed out.

"I should probably wake her up first." Draco promptly moved by his sister's side, taking one last second to look at her sleeping face. Before waking her up, he removed the band covering her eyes first.

Clinching this material with his teeth, Draco started to neatly slide it upwards. It didn't take long for his sister's somewhat purple eyelids to reveal themselves.

"Mary, it's time to wake up," Draco whispered into her ear while softly hitting her with his knee. A moment later, Mary's nose was already swaying side to side, as her mouth opened wide.

"Brother? Is it time to go fishing?" Mary asked, sleepiness visible in her appearance. However, after seeing blood spouting down her brother's nose, she was struck with a realization.

"Brother! Are you alright!?" All the tiredness in her azure eyes disappeared. Instead, it was replaced with worry and care.

"Shhh. Don't shout or they will come." Draco warned her, pressing his finger against his lips. That Erik is a dangerous person and when annoyed, who knows what he could do.

"Brother, what happened?" Mary asked again, being much quieter this time. She clearly remembered the scary face of the person who attacked them. It was still bringing fear into her heart.

"Bad people beat and captured us, Mary." Draco didn't hide the truth, glooming the atmosphere.

"Captured us? So this place..." Mary started looking around, becoming more and more scared of each glance.

"You are right... I am not sure where exactly we are, but I presume we are on a ship." Draco replied, forcing out a little smile, "But you don't have to worry, I already thought of an escape plan."

"Escape plan? Are we going to escape from here?" Mary had some doubts when looking at her brother. Something has changed. It didn't seem like the lazy and shy person she has known beforehand.

"Yes... it may not work, but it's still better than just waiting." Draco's mouth twitched, still feeling the pain spreading through his body.

"I don't know, brother... isn't it dangerous?" Mary whispered, keeping her head low. Having experienced the last couple of hours, she no longer wanted to lose anyone else. "Dad also wouldn't us to get hurt."

"Mary." Draco softly let out her name, not able to contain his emotions hidden anymore. He tightly wrapped his hands around her, pressing closer into a hug. It was truly a pitiful scene. "I know what I am doing, nobody's going to get hurt."

"That's a promise?" Mary bumped her head into Draco's belly, receiving the hug with open arms.

"Yes, that's a promise," Draco declared with confidence, softly patting the top of her head. "Now let me explain the plan, alright?"

-

"Those stupid kids." Erik exhaled violently, reading the newspaper in his hands. For the last couple of minutes, loud crying and sobbing were the only things ringing in his ears. No peace at all.

"Erik, control your anger. We are arriving soon." Brook tried to calm his partner, tightly clutching the steering wheel.

"I can't, this is too annoying." Erik threw the paper aside, rising onto his feet. After a few stretches, Erik's eyes lit up with killing intent. "I am going to teach them a huge lesson this time."

"Hey, Erik! Calm down!" Brook shouted, not able to keep his hands away from the steering wheel. The storm was near. They would get lost if he was to follow his partner.

"Don't worry. I will not kill them." Erik ignored the yells coming from behind as he moved down the stairs. "I may only damage the goods a bit."

Taking out a metal key, Erik hurried through the crowded corridor, stopping only by the last door. The cries of a girl could still be heard vividly, bringing even more veins onto his forehead.

"I warned you, kid! Prepare for the consequences." Erik angrily shouted, sticking in the key and rotating it. With a little kick of his leg, the door opened wide.

The first thing he saw, however, confused him. Mary was sitting in the middle of the room, shouting at the top of her lungs. There were no tears, no reason for her to scream like that at all.

"Now!" Draco shouted, Mary's voice vanishing right after. Erik glanced sideways, only to see two legs flying at him. Not able to react in time, both of Erik's eyes were kicked by Draco.

"Bastard!" Erik couldn't help but mumble something out, settling his hands over the eyes to ease the pain. Tripping over his own leg, Erik fell astern and hit his back against the corner of the room.

"Mary, fast!" Draco grabbed the door by the inner handle, awaiting his running sister. Fortunately, Erik wasn't fast enough to react to the entire situation, and Mary got out of the room as well.

"Brother, we have to go before he gets up!" Mary yelled, seeing the unmoving figure of her brother. An almost unnoticeable smile appeared on Draco's expression.

"Luck is on our side." Draco noticed a key stuck in the door, as he no longer had any doubts. Ramming the door with his back, he promptly closed the door by using his, still restricted, hands.

"Open the door, kid! It will not end well for you!" Erik, trying to ram the door open from the other side, yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Mary, we have to quickly find something sharp." Draco ignored the marine, his heart beating especially fast. So far, the plan was going better than excepted.

One of the marines was already neutralized. Now they only had to silently run away. Removing these ropes on their hands was the priority, though.

"I don't know, brother! There is nothing sharp!" Mary shouted back, her entire face sweaty. The adrenaline was kicking in, and her mind was already filled with extreme anxiety.

"Calm down and breathe," Draco said before turning his gaze towards the mirror. He rammed into the window with all the force, not thinking even for a second.

It was painful, yes, but it was more than enough to scatter the window into many different pieces. Crouching onto the floor, he grabbed one of them and cut the middle of the ropes.

"Finally." Draco removed the restriction on his hands, a slight smile appearing on his face. His hands were no longer sore. The faith to escape from this place rose above the sky.

"Let me help you, Mary." Draco helped his sister as well, as her eyes somewhat softened. "We have to proceed with the plan."

-

"Damn it! What's happening over there?" Brook cursed loudly, constantly glancing at the entrance into the corridor. "Why is Erik always acting so immature!? Maybe it's time to find another partner!"

It has been a deliberately long time since Erik has gone into the room, and many unfamiliar noises could be heard since then. Brook couldn't help but worry.

"I have to check it out myself." Brook accepted this, taking one last look at the endless sea in front of him. Dark clouds were dispersing around the sky as if trying to submerge the ship in gloominess.

Maybe, with some luck, they would get on that island in time.

"Huh?"

Having already left from the captain's spot, Brook didn't expect to hear a noise coming from behind. Did Erik finally come back?

"Erik, why the hell did it take you so long--" Brook's words stopped mid-way, shock and confusion spreading across his face. Turning around, he didn't expect to see two kids sprinting towards the edge of the ship.

"They... they escaped?" Brook stood noiseless for a few moments. Did his stupid partner lose to some kids? What is even happening?

"Mary, we are almost there! Come on!" Draco shouted, regularly looking behind at the marine. He saw different emotions pass through Brook's expression, but the moment he saw where they were running... the surrounding atmosphere shifted.

"Brother!" Mary shouted, running towards the boat at the most of her powers. It was only a few feet away. The path of escape was already in sight.

"Mary, jump!" Draco yelled, adrenaline passing through his body. He no longer looked back. There was no way that marine would be fast enough to catch them. With such stormy weather, this ship wouldn't be able to follow this small vessel.

"Yes!" Mary no longer doubted herself as she jumped towards the boat. However, something unexpected happened. While being in mid-air, almost reaching the surface of the vessel, it has suddenly collapsed.

Fortunately, Mary was lucky enough to stop herself from falling abroad, but her expression only worsened.

"How the hell..." Draco had his mouth open wide, looking at his plan falling apart in front of his eyes. The rope holding this little boat was cut off... by a sword?

"Poof... that was close. That was not a bad try." Brook, a smile reaching up to his cheeks, said with relief. "However, it's the end. All your struggles were futile."

"How the hell did you do that?" Draco's hands clenched into fists, gazing down at the ground. Countless, different thoughts flooded his mind at that moment.

"I threw it." Brook took yet another cigarette out of his pocket, lighting it up. "What? You think it was cool?"

Draco completely ignored the opponent's words, trying to think of another plan. Jumping from the ship would probably not end up well, trying to fight back would probably be even more unfortunate.

"Brother... what should we do now?" Mary asked quietly, looking at the approaching marine with unimaginable fear. Unintentionally, her feet trembled, her body breaking into a sweat.

"Don't make me angry anymore, kids," Brook said, not having even a single hint of concern in his expression. A marine, skilled, would never lose to kids. Not today, at least.

"What to do... what to do?" Draco whispered to himself multiple times, sometimes glancing at the approaching enemy, sometimes at his little sister. Mary's terrifying eloquence was like a snap within Draco's brain.

This marine was right. The only thing they can do right now is... to rely on themselves.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Mary asked, seeing her brother grab the sword, which was stuck in a piece of wood.

"Step back, Mary." Draco took the sword into his hand, holding tightly for his dear life. It was a strange feeling to carry something that could take away someone's life, yet it manifested that unusual perception of power.

"This time, I will take fate into my own hands." Draco pointed the sword towards the enemy, wind caressing his hair astern. "This time, I will protect us."