Chapter 14: Second Episode: Chapter 5 (2/2)

The only sound that answered him was the sound of steel bars closing.

The distance between Dublin and Damorga wasn’t far, it was only six days. The boy had travelled further than this. Having just moved to Dublin, to him, this road leads to his hometown.

There weren’t many guards escorting him, obviously, they’ve been given some benefits to not harm him. They’ve unlocked his shackles, sometimes they even let the Devil’s spawn walk around the camp.

Oscar knew he could no longer go home. He was shocked, but he was even more puzzled. He was puzzled how those people could take away his right to go home, he was puzzled why they won’t let him visit Sasha. Sasha must be crying, she must be really sad.

The boy was demoralized day after day. He didn’t know how long it’s been since he last smiled. When a fortress appeared amidst the morning mist, the guards told him they’re arriving at their destination, and the boy just nodded with his eyes staring into blankness.

Oscar wasn’t overwhelmed by the whole prison saga. He sank into his own imagination. Since there’s no one who could talk to him, Oscar talked to himself. He couldn’t see Sasha, so he prayed for her. Sasha liked fairy tales, so he weaved countless beautiful stories in his mind. This peculiar child, his optimism and fortitude had kept his innocence and imagination intact.

However, those soon fade away too. Oscar had heard the roars from the Devil of the deepest Hell, walking through the dark fortress had him mustering all his courage.

The boy knew he would stay in this place for a long time. He couldn’t accept that. When the deepest, darkest stone door in that depth of hell croaked open in front of him, he finally cried. He clutched at the door tightly, he didn’t want to go in, that boundless darkness would devour him whole, both body and soul. The doubts and the unwillingness he had harbored bursted out in the form of biting and kicking anyone who gets close to him. Little Oscar prayed for his ancestor’s forgiveness as the Andrew’s men would only bleed, not cry. He just couldn’t stop the tears and the fear from flooding him.

The heavy stone door finally closed behind the child. Darkness swarmed him like a hungry beast. Oscar didn’t give up, he pounded at the door with craze as he yelled until he’s all out of strength.

The dungeon returned to silence, Oscar sensed a sliver of light from behind him. Afraid it might be a beast’s glowing eyes, he slowly turned his head.

Candlelight! There’s a candle lamp in the dungeon! Oscar dashed at the shaky fire, worried that it might go out at any time.

The boy saw a tiny bed beside the lamp that might be his. He laid down on the bed. It was cold and wet. He handled the fire with care and muttered his mother’s and sister’s names. Even though they are far away from him, he still hoped to get courage from them.

When he woke up, the candle was still burning. He knew somebody had changed it for him, and there’s a tray of food on his bedside. Oscar wanted to wash his face, and of course, it’d be nice to also have some tooth-cleaning powder.

Something strange attracted Oscar’s attention. There’s another tray at the entrance to the dungeon, but it’s empty. Evidently, someone or something else had finished it. Oscar retreated to his faint light. He realized there’s some other thing in the dungeon. He was scared, because he didn’t hear a sound. He was scared of wherever the light couldn’t reach.

There was no way to tell time in the dungeon. Oscar had lost count of the duration he had been in there. As his scaredness turned into boredness, he started to become more curious about the thing that hid in the dark. He knew there was a pool in the dungeon, he had heard it being flushed out occasionally, only to be refilled not long after. There were times when he felt like he wanted to go near the pool, but there’s always this feeling of horror surrounding it, as if it’s a warning to him. Sometimes, Oscar even think the pressure would suffocate him if he got too close.

The chubby boy didn’t lose a lot of weight, his meals were specially designed, the warden had promised his father to take care of his health. However, he was only 5 years old. There’s only a candle lamp and several humongous rats as his neighbor. Many a time he would wake from his dreams in despair, his weeping kept the family of rats scrambling.

Oscar was woken up again. He dreamt that he was playing with his mother at the flowering shrubs when suddenly she was caught by the stems of the lily flowers. She asked him for help, but Oscar realized he was running further away from her. He yelled for her, but her face disappeared behind the shrubs.

It matters no more! Let the darkness take over me! Oscar got off the bed and walked toward the darkness decisively.

There was no resistance this time. He approached the edge of the pool and finally could see clearly. The stagnant pool was filled with thick, intertwining chains that was tightly locked onto the six pillars around the pool. In the center of it all, where the chains converged, was a man.

The process of making friends with the man was pretty ghastly. The first time Oscar saw him, he shrieked in surprise. The man had his hair let down to his waist, his lower body was wholly underwater, and the pool had a stench that would make a grown man retch. The boy didn’t know if he’s even alive.

Oscar eventually deduced he must be alive, because his meal tray would become empty every day. The boy was so curious about the mysterious prisoner, he went into the center of the pool to touch him. The result of that satisfied the boy, as the man never moved, just like if he was dead.

Getting to know someone is a long process. After several attempts, Oscar was certain his ‘roommate’ is as dangerous as a dove. What a relief! This is a living human! That’s rare these days! Finally having someone to talk to, the boy introduced himself politely and respectfully, as well as nicknaming the man ‘Mr. Undead”.

The rest of their accompaniment was relatively simple. Mr. Undead had never replied to Oscar, but Oscar didn’t mind. He kept telling Mr. Undead his story, his family, mother, sister, his room, the rats which he nicknamed ‘the Woods family’, how he spent his free time bullying the Woods family, he even told his ‘roommate’ about his crime. The boy didn’t think it was a punishable offense, and he reckoned his roommate would agree.

Talking is too boring! O’Neil Andrew Morisette is an observant child, he asked the dungeon guards to send a message to the warden, asking him for more bathing water.

That’s how the warden is, he’s always responsive to the youngster’s request. He also started to become impressed by with kid, that’s definitely not what people call ”the young do not understand despair*.” This Andrew kid really does have a courage beyond his peers.

Oscar would help his roommate scrub his body every week. He could feel his roommate’s strength with his taut muscles and countless scars on his body. The youngster knew that he must be a powerful knight, just like those warriors protecting his family, they all deserve respect.

The boy really like his roommate’s long black hair, he had not known any hair as black and as shiny as his. But even more so, he admired Mr. Undead’s skin. It was of the most beautiful color, a faint yellow like the wheat field in the fall season, not even the scars could disrupt his skin’s luster. Oscar really liked helping his roommate scrub his body, he even started humming his mother’s songs when he does that.

Time must be flying by. Everyday, Oscar would find new topics to tell Mr. Undead. In response, his roommate’s face also had some minor changes. Oscar thought Mr. Undead had shown him some of his subtler expressions, although he was not too sure.

One day, the relationship between them changed fundamentally. Oscar was very thankful to the person who wanted to have him killed, because if it weren’t for him, Mr. Undead would never have entertained him.

Thirteen was slightly troubled recently. This little kid kept harassing him. He witnessed the change from the initial fearfulness to the current enjoyment, he’s got to admit, he was impressed with how easily the kid took it all. The kid was about five, at most six years old, but he kept trying to adapt to this horrific environment, and now he started looking for entertainment. At the thought, Thirteen felt slightly sad for him. The chubby kid’s biggest entertainment seemed to be the Woods family.

He’s the strongest assassin of the Westland, he had never missed his mark with his target, some of his assassination even got recorded in the history of some countries. Even though those record only revealed the smallest of details, the people who had read the descriptions were always shocked by the strength and meticulousness of the assassins.

Thirteen really wanted to ignore the chubby kid, especially when this silly boy compared Thirteen’s penis to his own. Thirteen had to admit, the Westlanders generally have bigger tools than his Eastlander’s heritage, but that doesn’t mean he could endure being teased by a kid.

The King of Assassins was so irritated, but now someone else is making him peeved. Dinner tonight is late by 10 whole minutes. It didn’t matter, he wasn’t hungry, what’s even more annoying was how crappy the meal delivery dude acted, his behavior was a disgrace to the assassin community.

”Can you bring the food to the pool? I don’t feel that well, I don’t wanna move.”

Oscar’s gaze snapped toward Thirteen, shocked. He didn’t believe that was his voice. The boy was dumbfounded. Has it been a month? Or was it two months? This man who had never opened his eyes spoke!

The man in the guard uniform was also a little stunned. He didn’t know if the prisoner can request for that, but seeing the chains constricting Thirteen, it didn’t feel too much. He’s pretending to be the meal delivery guy, it should be the same whether he deliver it to the door or deliver it to the pool.

The guard set down the tray to the side of the pool, his gaze never left his target. The chubby boy stared at all this with a bewildered look. The guard slowly moved his hand to the dagger hidden in his sleeves, but right at that moment, something black flashed in front of his eyes.

It’s been awhile since Thirteen had killed. He looped the chain around the idiot assassin’s neck. As he felt his prey’s pulse through the steel chain, he dragged the ‘guard’ into the pool and crushed his esophagus before he could even scream.

The King of Assassins was very satisfied with the shock he caused to the boy. He’s still not rusty with his craft, the chains were close to soundless in his hands.

”Can you say something else? Please! You have a nice voice!” Oscar didn’t pay attention to the dead person in the pool, he’s more interested with the living one. He just wanted to make sure. If his roommate can speak, life would be so much more interesting in the future!

Thirteen was startled by the kid! What is he made of? He had just killed in front of the boy, but he didn’t even blink, the boy was only interested in whether he can still speak! Recalling his own past, he remembered needing a long time before he completely got used to blood and death. But this boy? He seemed to be immune to those naturally. Compiling his observation of the kid, Thirteen reckoned the boy would be an even better assassin than he is, his affinity was uncomparable.

The King of Assassins started conversing with the youngster. Obeying Thirteen, Oscar set his own dinner in front of the Woods family’s entrance. The ‘head of the family’, a huge rat leapt out of its lair, smelled the food and started nibbling on it. The other family members of the Woods family peered from inside the entrance, squeezing at the small hole. They had planned to wait until the head of the family had finished before they enjoy the food. However, the family head’s luck ran out, it was deceived by the chubby boy. Like other lab rats who were sacrificed elsewhere in experiments, it screeched after he was satiated, and rolled over dead.

The poor Woods family retreated and shrank into the depth of their lair, shivering.

Oscar finally understood and thanked Thirteen politely. He knew he was almost murdered. After the whole month of being tortured with silence, this boy’s mind had sharpened, opposite of Thirteen’s assumption.

Oscar sat beside the pool, his feet kicking the dirty water gleefully. The King of Assassins steeped himself casually in the pool. He had just killed someone, and the pudgy boy respects him, all these had made him ecstatic. The body of the idiot assassin floated in between the two.

The two freaks started their friendship under this strange environment.