Madness & Despair

A sea of flames. This was all one could use to describe the scene in front of their eyes. A crowd gathered outside the destroyed gates of Bounty Orphanage. A stifling silence engulfed them as they watched the flames flicker before them. 

"Look!" 

Someone broke the silence and pointed towards the fire. Silhouettes appeared in the flames. Several figures emerged out of the flames. A ball of crystal and 3 people landed in front of them. The crystal broke apart and Jessie, Caria, Astrid, and Connor fell out. They were grasping for air. Astrid was especially rugged as his skin was dried up. Frantz stood there looking down on them breathing heavily as well. 

"Luffy, are you okay?!" 

Hancock held Luffy whose clothes were burnt. 

"Y-Yeah...More importantly, Hancock...You're back." 

Hancock's back was red from burns. 

"You protected me long enough to activate my Haki....Thanks." 

Luffy wore a pained expression in contrast to Hancock's gleeful one. 

"It was nothing. I just used my body to take to the full impact of the explosion. The fact it penetrated my Haki means I need more training. There's nothing for you to be guilty about." 

Luffy stood up. 

"Next time, focus on protecting yourself, alright? I'm strong, I'll manage." 

Hancock sheepishly nodded her head. 

"...Luffy, are you angry?" 

"Yeah, at myself." 

"Ahhh!" 

Jessie screamed while rolling on the ground. 

"Jessie, you aren't on fire." 

Caria spoke while still trying to catch her breath. 

"I'm not?" 

Jessie stopped and examined his body. He had burns but nothing serious. 

"Whew~. Thank God." 

He stood up and looked around. 

"Where's Luka?" 

Hearing Jessie everybody started looking around. 

"There..." 

Connor pointed towards the flames. Everyone turned their heads towards the fire. Luka emerged from the fire holding something in his arms. It was pitch black and looked like it could crumble at any time. After focusing on it for a while, they all slowly realized what he was carrying. 

"Oh no..." 

Caria covered her mouth as tears flowed from her eyes. Connor consoled her, trying to hold back his own tears. Astrid looked away and a single tear flowed down his cheek. Jessie remained silent while Frantz stared blankly. 

"......" 

Luffy clenched the fists with bloodshot eyes. Hancock silently hugged him from behind. He gritted his teeth as he watched Luka gently place what he was holding on the ground. 

"Jacob." 

He mumbled before turning around and walking back into the fire. He soon emerged carrying another one. He placed it beside the one before. 

"Selena." 

He turned back around and walked back into the flames. Once again, he returned with another. He gently placed it with the rest. 

"Hamsik." 

He repeated this routine dozens of times as everybody watched on in frustration and sadness. 

"Emily." 

"Instructor Cooper." 

"Nurse Beverly." 

"Mimiko." 

They came in all sizes and shapes, some whole, some missing limbs, others on the verge of crumbling. 

"Mesut." 

"Joaquin." 

With every one he laid and with every name mumbled, Luka's voice and body looked more drained of life. After what felt like an eternity, he placed the last body and moved his lips, however, no voice came. 

"He looked at his hands covered in soot and fell to his knees. 

"Ah...Ahh...Ugh..." 

Tears started flowing down his face. 

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!" 

He let out a heartbreaking wail. 

"Luka!" 

His comrades rushed to his side and started embracing him. 

"AHHHHHHHH!" 

However, it didn't stop his cries. 

"It's alright, Luka...It will be alright!" 

Caria talked to him but his wails only grew louder. 

"...." 

Luffy silently watched him. His image from two years ago overlapped with Luka's. 

"Hancock, let's go." 

"Huh? Are you going to leave like this?" 

"He has his family around him, so he will be fine." 

Luffy turned around and looked at Hancock. She instinctively stepped back upon seeing his face. 

"While they console him, we'll search for the bastards who did this." 

Hancock silently nodded. Luffy walked away and Hancock followed behind him. Neither of them turned around to take another look. They kept their heads forward as Luka's cries pounded on their hearts. 

"What? The Orphanage?!" 

Meanwhile, at the sheriff's office, Felix froze in shock after hearing what happened. 

"What the hell did you do, La Parca?!" 

He roared at an officer. 

"You mean, "what we did", remember?" 

The female officer crossed her legs as she sat on a chair in front of him. 

"It was you who led them to the orphanage. It was you who were playing games. Everything that happened is because of us." 

"Bullshit! There was no need to kill the children!" 

"I'll have to disagree." 

The female officer was calm compared to the raging Felix. 

"What would happen if we spared the children and killed the adults? It will lead to the birth of new adversaries. Their hatred for us would be directed at the World Government. We might be forced to kill them then. If that's the case, why not kill them now? It would save us a lot of trouble and also minimize the casualties. After all, one of them could become a real thorn in our side in the future." 

"We don't kill children!" 

Felix gritted his teeth. The female officer looked at him in confusion. 

"Just how deep in character are you? Have you truly forgotten what we are? The things we've done in order to preserve the balance? We're the world's biggest sinners." 

"I know what I am! I am the Sheriff of this island, Felix Crouch!" 

The female officer shook her head. 

"You're the biggest hypocrite, Felix Crouch. Just how many countries have you caused to fall? Just how many lives you've snuffed out?" 

She narrowed her eyes. 

"Just how many lies have you told yourself and others?" 

"Shut up!" 

"Scream all you want. It's good for releasing stress. So no one will bat an eye." 

"You're truly inhumane." 

"It's like looking in a mirror isn't it?" 

The female officer chuckled for a bit. 

"However, it's a bit regrettable. The situation with Luka, that is." 

Felix's eyes widened. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Hm? Did Tate's death really mess with your mind that badly?" 

The female officer placed her hand on her chin. 

"Your rebellious actions, your compassion, and your memories seemingly being jumbled...Are we reaching our limit?" 

She mumbled for a bit before shrugging. 

"If the end is approaching then I guess that's a blessing in a sense." 

She stood up and pulled out a gun. She rested the gun on Felix's forehead. 

"El Nino will be upset they couldn't play games with you, but they'll have to be satisfied with those brats." 

Felix glared at her with hatred burning in his eyes. The female officer said nothing and pulled the trigger. 

*Bam* 

Felix's head flew back as his body hit the floor. His blood flowed onto the cold floor. 

"You hate us, Felix? That's natural." 

She put the gun away and walked away from the cell. 

"We should hate ourselves. After all, we're the scum of the earth." 

Felix's body was left in the cell as she entered the office. Everybody looked at her. She snapped her fingers and they all went about their way. 

"Hm? What was I doing again?" 

She looked around with a confused expression. 

"Officer Shirley." 

Someone approached her 

"Deputy Riley." 

"Go check up on Felix. Ask him if he wants anything to eat. We can't have him dying of hunger." 

"Yes sir." 

She went around the back and walked towards the cell. 

"Sheriff, the Deputy Sheriff is asking if..." 

Her words trailed off. She saw Felix lying lifeless on the ground. 

"Ahhhhhhhh?!" 

She let out a scream which drew the rest of the officers. 

"What's going..." 

They all froze when they saw the body. Shock and horror stained their faces. 

"The Sheriff is dead?!" 

"Who killed him?" 

"He's the strongest person on the island!" 

"Everybody shut up!" 

Riley's shout silenced everyone. 

"Lock down the station and search the surrounding areas! Don't let his death leave this station! The island is already tense, if the sheriff and mayor die on the same day it will plunge the island into chaos! If you understand, go!" 

"Sir yes sir!" 

The Officers scattered to carry out Riley's orders. Outside the station, Hancock and Luffy stood with widened eyes. 

"The sheriff guy is dead?" 

Luffy mumbled. 

"This is unbelievable. With him dead where are we going to get information now?" 

Hancock started to ponder. Luffy's fists clenched so tightly they started to tremble. 

"Just what the hell is going on?"