21 LOST SOULS (1/2)
Lirzod was walking down a sloping corridor. ”Geez, these streets are like a maze. Shouldn't K Block come after J Block? Just how are these blocks situated?” Though some part of him wanted to ask others for directions, some part of him didn't. So he continued to roam, hoping to end up at the K Block.
However, the blocks had no straight paths that connected one block to the other. Because their shapes and sizes were different, it made it even harder to know which blocks surrounded a particular block. The curving streets were an additional bonus. All of this irritated Lirzod a bit.
After he entered one of the corridors, his ears caught the sounds of music. ”Is Snow White still playing music?” All his uneasiness got washed away as he walked in the direction of the source and began to dance a little while forming words for the music.
”Bag, bag, bag your hazelnuts.
Bag, bag, bag your chestnuts.
Bag, bag, bag your walnuts.
Bag, bag, bag your peanuts.
***
Bag, bag, bag your Baru nuts.
Bag, bag, bag your Pine nuts.
Bag, bag, bag your Soy nuts.
Bag, bag, bag your Raw nuts.
***
Bag, bag, bag your salted nuts.
Bag, bag, bag your roasted nuts.
Bag, bag, bag your seasoned nuts.
Bag, bag, bag your beloved nuts.”
”Hehe,” Lirzod rubbed his nose. ”I should make Duera dance to these lyrics when I get back home.”
Somehow he reached one of the entrances to the open segment and could barely see Stussy playing instruments at the top of the figurehead, but when he was about to step out into the open, he hit an invisible wall made of air and fell back. His nose got bruised, and that impact jolted awoke all of his senses. He came out of the dream where he was playing an audience to Duera's dance. ”What the hell...” He was surprised and looked around not knowing what he just hit. When he walked ahead, he hit it again and startled.
”This...” He stood and knocked the air with his knuckles and a sound similar to that of him hitting a glass, came out. He shouted out loud but got no response from her or even from any other workers who should have heard his voice. ”Can't she hear me?” He tried again for a few times, but the result was pretty much the same. Not one person glanced in his direction.
Seeing how his efforts were fruitless, he shook his head. ”She must have set this wall.” A pouting for a few seconds, he began to walk away. ”I will come back when there's no wall here, haha...” Saying that he picked up the pace and covered a few hundred meters before slowing down.
”I should first head back to my room which is in the K block if I'm correct. But how in the world do I get there on my own?” He looked at some people who were nearby and wanted to ask them for directions but then shook his head. ”No, I have to find the room by myself.”
He resumed his relentless journey with a renewed vigor.
Fifteen minutes later.
In some random street, Lirzod was walking like a zombie, his shoulders flailing, head tilted down, and spine arched forward. ”Screw these streets. Screw this ship. I just want to go home. I'm really missing them both,” He seemed distressed and couldn't help but sulk.
At that moment, he saw a female figure cross the junction and enter a different street. His eyes lit up and he ran after her. Only after he crossed the corner of the street and got close enough, he realized that it was Sariyu. Seeing her brought tears out of him. ”Sariyu!” He jumped at her from behind, startling her. He curled his arms around her and rubbed his head on her back while sobbing. ”Waah, I thought I'd never see you again.”
”Lirzod! Let go of me!” Sariyu did her best to get out of his bind, but he was too absorbed in crying that he didn't pay heed to her actions at all.
”Who the heck is that little finger?” Some of the men who were following Sariyu from behind were enraged. ”How dare he attack a girl from behind? He needs to be taught with fists!” They all ran towards those two.
”Lirzod! I'm talking to you!” Sariyu shouted, but got no reply. She ground her teeth and spoke in a controlled tone, ”If you don't step away before I count to three, I promise for real that I'll kill you.”
The words 'kill you,' reached Lirzod's ears and brought him back to his senses. ”No.” he shook his head and hugged her tight. ”If I do you'll run away.”
Sariyu was startled. ”Run away from what? Let go of me first!”
Despite her attempts, Lirzod was in an advantageous position, so she struggled to succeed. In that time, three men arrived at the spot and wasted no time in pulling Lirzod away.
”You rotten flower! How dare you cling to that beautiful lady?” They were quite furious as they forcibly pulled him away.
”Are you alright, miss?” One of the men asked her.
Sariyu took a deep breath and nodded as she glared at Lirzod. ”Can you beat that prick for me?”
”Of course,” the three men stood in between her and Lirzod. ”Hehehe,” they cracked their knuckles and let our vulgar smiles, ”with pleasure.”
”This is too much,” Lirzod stepped back. ”Sariyu, tell them to stop.”
”Huh? Did you stop when I told you to?” Sariyu raised her voice. ”The right thing to do is bear the punishment.”
”What?” Lirzod frowned.
”Hehe, you heard the lady,” the three guys came closer and closer. ”Now, hand your candy ass without a hitch and we'll make a quick work out of it. Otherwise, you won't be able to rest it on any surface for weeks.”
Lirzod pressed his lips harder and looked at Sariyu who pulled out her tongue purposely as he would do to her all the time. (You devil...) He looked back at the men and forced out a grin.
”Heh, what are you smiling for?” One of the men snorted.
”Maybe, he's too afraid to do anything else,” another man said.
”Hahaha,” they laughed in sync.
Lirzod startled and stood straight. ”Hello, brothers. Can I ask you three one thing?”
”Ah?” Their laughing stopped. ”What is it? Are you gonna make your dying wish or what?” They chortled.
”No, no. You three are helping that girl for a reason, right?” Lirzod said and paused to examine their response.
”Of course, we want to become her Offsider,” those three replied simultaneously, and the next second, they looked at each other.
”Hey, I got to her first, so I will be her Offsider!” One of the men blurted out.
”What? I choked the boy's throat and pulled him away. I deserve to be her Offsider!” Another man rolled up his sleeves.