The Path To Despair

No one near District 3 of the lower city heard the strange sounds through the tall buildings.

The rumbling metallic sound of industrial machinery piercing through tough iron drowned out the distant screams and footsteps — the sounds were a good 650 meters away in the shadow of the huge buildings that surrounded them. No one could hear the cracks of the punches applied to the metal of the cage the girl was trapped in, not even the girl's loud, throaty moans had their effect, they were so faint they coudn't even reach the ears of whoever was next to her.

''How pathetic… just look at me.'' Remarked with an exasperated sigh the slender girl with her hair in a ponytail and a stray strand on the right side of her head, crouched awkwardly beside a square piece of torn canvas and full of dust inside a cage with thick metal bars.

"How did I end up in this fucking place?" She gave a few light punches to her own head, as if they were thrusts into a stuck gear.

The girl was shivering in her voluminous red sweatshirt, which covered her antique accessories and the faded skirt on her pale legs. She took little looks around the place, a narrow alley in who knows where, that she'd been locked inside a cage that morning.

Layla had been captured by a band of 'mercenaries' (or so she called them) from the undercity, not knowing the reason or purpose of the men in doing so. However, the weirdest thing about it wasn't the sudden kidnapping or the place she was, no, it was the Landra boy named 'Quagmire' who had warned her of the imminent danger a day ago, telling her to be careful when being alone.

She obviously took him for crazy, and just thought of it as an awkward and unmemorable situation, which was thwarted the same evening when she was taken to the extremes of the academy's premises while trying to escape these strange people. Layla constantly wondered who was behind it all, their goal and also how the heck Quagmire was able to predict the attack.

"Who are you, anyway?" She brought the fingers of her left hand up to her beautiful face covered with a few freckles here and there.

Her thoughts didn't last long when she was interrupted by an imposing presence. Layla had to struggle not to stare at the man's arms, which swayed up and down as he waved; Even with his knees bent, wearing a black sleeveless shirt and a (probably) quilted vest, the man sported an imposing appearance before her. He had the body of a professional player of that game her parents liked so much, the so called 'American football', with monolithic shoulders, huge thighs that resembled tree trunks and finally a thick neck with a beautiful face covered by the typical Landra's black hair and red eyes.

'' Hi!'' The man said in an excited tone, as he placed one of his huge hands (which Layla thought would easily cover her head completely, if he wanted to) on his own chest.

"It's a pleasure to meet the one chosen by the Great Lord, Layla Mina Caseste." The man began to bow to the girl, who was getting farther and farther away from the metal bars.

"A real honor indeed, you can't even imagine!" He stood up as he shouted excitedly, saying things Layla had no idea what they meant.

"Cahum." He coughed dryly as he straightened up in embarrassment. ''My name is Joshua Lee Lincoln, it is a pleasure to meet one of the people chosen by the great lord!''

"U-uh, it's my pleasure too?" Layla didn't know how to respond, nor did she intend to face someone who clearly had the upper hand, as she was locked in that tight metal cubicle.

"MY GOD!" Joshua took a few startled steps backward, nearly falling to the ground.

"My god, my god, MY GOD!" The man yelled, putting his hands on his head and putting light pressure on his forehead.

"One of the chosen says it's a pleasure to meet me?" The man continued muttering intelligible things for a few minutes.

Layla grew more and more frightened, but tried not to show it openly, showing a crooked smile that reminded her of Quagmire's ironic smile.

"One way or another," The man finally spoke things again with a slight built-in sense.

"I came to let you know that you will soon have company."

''What? Who?" Layla asked confused, as she tried to assemble the strange puzzle inside her own head.

"One of the remaining chosen ones." The man responded as he reached into his pocket and pulled a photo.

"This young man here, but he's no better than you miss!" Joshua yelled, trying to prove that he worshiped Layla as a goddess above everything and everyone.

The image was blurry and somewhat worn, but it was clear that the person the man was referring to was a Landra. As for the meaning of what he called the 'great lord', the 'blessed ones' and the 'chosen ones', the girl had no idea what they meant.

"Well thanks for the news!" Layla didn't understand things very well, but what she noticed was that the man in front of her (not much older than her) clearly adored her.

She wasn't an idiot, and would try to use this point to get information or to try to escape this damn place.

''You're welcome, miss! I am here to serve you as you wish.'' Joshua clenched his index fingers as he touched them in embarrassment, something very ridiculous for someone his height and age.

'' Now I have to go, miss! Your meal will be served soon and your accommodations will be completed soon too! '' Joshua turned as he waved his hands, running towards the same place he'd come from, and then disappeared through the door in the wall next to the alley where Layla's cage was located.

"See you later." Layla said with a smile as she made plans alone in that cold, cramped cage in the middle of the night.

-------------------

''He is a dangerous target, we must be very careful when dealing with the boy.'' A young blond man sat on a throne of gleaming silver while wearing a pink button-down shirt and a long, padded white vest that went with the accessories and the two swords strapped to his waist, spoke in a gruff tone.

Several people were gathered and bent over with their knees bent, worshiping the man like a true king as they listened intently to his orders. Beside the blond young man, another guy, this time with dark skin and black hair that reached his shoulders, looked at the main members of the Order of the King of Crime.

"You are the best of the best in the lower city." The man beside the young man on the throne, and also the King of Crime's advisor, said excitedly as he clenched his fists.

''Complete the mission successfully, at any cost! The King and the Great Lord fully trust you!''

The 12 people who were bent over rose with a loud yell, excited and inspired by the words of the two men they so admired. The councilor soon waved his hands for the 12 to leave the room, and they waved with a smile on their faces, giving small glances towards the boy sitting on the throne.

As soon as everyone left the room, leaving only the King on the throne and the advisor at his side, the King began to break out in loud laughter with a huge smile on his face.

"Finally, we will meet again, Quagmire."