Helpless Diego

"What did you find?" Daniel inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"He... Gaston Regis was involved in trafficking young children to the slave market, particularly young girls. They were forced into servitude, catering to the needs of both the young and the old. Some survived the ordeal, while many did not. He would adopt them under the guise of providing them with food and shelter, but in reality, he exploited them for his own gain. It was a clandestine operation; he would only supply two to three children a year," Diego revealed, his voice filled with bitterness and indignation.

"How did he manage to do that? Surely someone would have noticed the missing children," Daniel queried, his tone measured as he processed the information.

"Indeed, why would anyone question him when the missing children were all supposedly suffering from heart conditions? Initially, he would admit them to hospitals under his care, where they would be subtly administered drugs before being sold off like commodities. Those who returned after treatment were typically boys, and they rarely survived for more than a month," Diego explained, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"I started to collect evidence against his actions, compiling the names of hospitals, doctors who treated these children, and even those who delivered them to the traffickers. I gathered everything that would ensure Gaston Regis a lifetime behind bars for his crimes," Diego recounted.

"I sought help from a friend who worked as a lawyer. I trusted him implicitly and handed over every piece of evidence to him. However, I never imagined that bastard would give everything to Gaston for money," Diego continued, his tone laced with betrayal and anger.

"I received a call from him, instructing me to meet if I wanted to see her alive. I already knew who she was, and without hesitation, I went to meet him. Upon arrival, I found not only Gaston but also my friend and several other men present in the room. There was a large glass box and she…. she," Diego choked on his tears, his voice trembling with emotion.

Daniel's expression darkened at the gravity of the situation. "I can't promise that we can save her, but we can certainly prevent any more Hazel from ending up in his clutches. Go ahead," he urged, his voice firm and resolute.

Diego wiped his tears with the corner of his shirt, his eyes red with burning hatred. "She was placed in the center like an object, surrounded by men. They showed no mercy, despite her being just a child. Her cries echoed throughout the room. I tried to save her, but it was futile to fight against five," he recounted, his voice trembling with emotion.

The echoes of Gaston's laughter reverberated in his ears, along with the disdainful sneer of his friend and the mocking gazes of the other men, leaving him feeling helpless and vulnerable. He begged everyone in the room to spare her, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Instead, they sipped their wine and watched with delight as the little girl's innocence was destroyed. In the end, all he could do was lower his head and listen to Hazel's painful cries and pleas.

"Gaston burned all the evidence in front of my eyes. He said he would keep her alive only if I stopped meddling in his affairs. I had no choice but to obey him. I carried her out of the hotel and admitted her to the hospital. But the next day, I was accused of abusing her and arrested. They imprisoned me here and tortured me day and night, but I refused to accept. Then Gaston's lawyer, Douglas, visited me carrying a bunch of pictures. It was Alice from the orphanage, the same age as Hazel. In some photos, she was smiling and playing around with other children, and in some, she was dragging her favorite bunny doll in the corridor."

"If you refuse to admit it, she will be the next Hazel," that's what he said to me on that day. He had no choice but to succumb to their power and accept my fate in prison.

"Gaston would probably erase every piece of evidence from existence now," Johnny chimed in.

"Of course. What is he? A fool to keep the key to his destruction in his own hands," Daniel replied sarcastically.

Diego swallowed heavily before answering them, "Not really. I had copied the evidence onto a chip and kept it safe in case any mishaps happened before I handed over the copy to my friend."

"Oh boy! Good work" Daniel appreciated the thoughtful young man before him.

Diego smiled wryly, seemingly mocking himself.

"Where is it?" Daniel asked.

"With Hazel."

Daniel's eyes dimmed hearing this. He took back his appreciation. He realized he was a complete fool to hand over such crucial evidence to such small hands.

Seemingly understanding the man's angst, Diego replied in a calm tone, "Hazel is a smart girl, trust me, no one else will keep the evidence safe other than her. I had no chance to meet her after my imprisonment. I don't know where she kept the chip. You could only find out by asking her."

Daniel stood up from the chair, ready to exit the cell. Diego clenched his hands tightly by his side. He didn't know if he could ask him or not. He was already feeling grateful for him, he didn't want to ask for more, but…

Daniel understood his unspoken words, "We will try our best to save her."

Diego let go of his clenched fist and bowed to him respectfully. The cell once again turned empty, and he took the small piece of coal by his side and drew the curved line on the figure he had previously left incomplete.

A small stick figure smiled back at him, "Hang in there, Hazel."