Chapter 11

Hugh began organizing his tools. "All the girls in here will be branded with tattoo, you know, like how the slave got their slave brand, to show the ownership toward their possession."

Aretha cluthched her shirt, unsettled. Her eyes shut, and her eyebrows scrunched. She took a deep breath, count until 10, and exhaled. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes.

"I don't know what's the point you're telling me this now, but, I have made my decision," Aretha said.

"I have seen various type of people. Just one look, I already know, you have the capability to escape on your own. Why would you chose this path? Is it worth it?"

"It's not about whether it's worth or not. I just don't want to run away."

"From the problem? Do you think escaping from here equal to running away from your problem?"

"No. I don't want to run away from my responsibility."

Hugh flinched. "The children are not your responsibility. You are a child yourself."

"What makes an adult as adult? Was it their age? Or their appearance? For me, the moment I start to understand my responsibility, and capable of making judgment on what is right and what is wrong, I guess I'm a step forward of becoming an adult."

Hugh snorted. "You are just a kid."

"Should I ignore the other children who are younger than me just because I am not considered an adult yet, and thus do not need to take any responsibility?"

"Then, are you going to take care of the children for the rest of your life? Could you sacrifice yourself, your happiness for the sake of those young children?"

"Never did I said I'll sacrifice my whole for them, that would only plant guilt in their heart. My responsibility is to care for them until they could care for themselves, and to guide them on what is right and what is wrong, to show them the many path that are available for them in the future."

"You can just let them learn it by themselves. Children grew by learning on their own."

"A baby that were just born could not suddenly have the knowledge of the world, wouldn't they? They learn, guided by their parent, or their guardian. Children need the protection, care and guidance from adult so they won't learn from a bad sources. A beautifully patterned mold create the most lovely shape."

"So, a bad child become bad because the adult are bad?"

"Aren't they?"

"Hah! You are still young and don't know the way of life. There are kids out there still turn the wrong way no matter how good their parent are."

"But, parent aren't the only adult in their life."

Hugh startled. His expression stiffen. 'That's true.' The girl was right. It was hard for him to accept, but, it is an eye opening. A truth that many turn a blind on.

"Those children are fortunate to have you as their sister."

Aretha stare at the wall. "Sister…" she mumbled. She looked down on her feet. 'Right… we are each other's family… we only have each other now…' Like a mantra, she keep repeating the same thought in her head.

"Kid." Hugh voice rang.

Aretha snapped back into reality. Leaving her thought lingered in her mind.

"We need to get started," Hugh said.

Aretha nodded. "Okay."

"That." Hugh pointed his index finger toward Aretha's upper body. "You need to take off your shirt."

Aretha was silent. She took a few second before she turned around, her back facing the bearded man. She took of the brown vest. Her palm caressed a bump at the middle of her chest. She sighed. Aretha took off her white shirt, leaving a regency stay that support her breast and a pear shape white sapphire necklace dangling on her neck. She parted her hair into two section and tucked it at front to cover her chest. She loosen the tie string, and took off the remaining cloth covering her upper body. Her bare back was facing Hugh.

Hugh looked at the bare, smooth and milky white skin in front of him. He took a big gulped. He caressed the smooth skin with the tip of his fingers.

Aretha shuddered at the sudden touch. It was extremely revolting. The unpleasant memories kept surging. Her chest kept churning and burning like a pot of stew about to boil over.

He noticed the shivering girl and came back to his sense. 'What was I doing?' he thought. He shake his head several time.

Hugh sighed. "I'm going to start." He must be quick, only then, he can ran away from the temptation. Hugh took his tools and began carving on the skin of the young maiden.

The beautiful peonies began to take it shape. Once the outline was finished, he healed her, and started the next step, coloring.

The different shade from the pale tint of red began to crowd the milky white skin, followed by the shades of the fresh green leafs. The drawing and painting was enchanting that whoever looked at it will never thought about the pain that the person had to go through.

Aretha gritted her teeth and scrunched her eyebrows throughout the time the needles pierced into her skin. Her forehead drenched in sweat. Her lips turned blue, and her face turned pale. It was excruciating.

"It's finished," Hugh said, wiping drenched forehead with a small towel hanging around his neck.

"Kid. Don't underestimate the lady. She's a bigger figure than she appeared to be." Hugh organize his tools and step out from the room.

Aretha gaze linger on the ground. Her back was healed, but she could felt the pain etching on her bones. She put on her clothes in silence. 'Ah~ My knees buckled…' Her eyes on the ground. Although she was not in the best condition, but that few minutes of peace calmed her mind and relaxed her soul.

A dark shadow loomed on the ground. Aretha tilted her head. It was the man with scar on his mouth.

"I'll bring you to your room," he said.

Aretha nodded. "Um, the chil—I mean my siblings, where are they?"

"We're going there. You and your siblings will stay in one room. Lady Maria said, your siblings was not under her care thus their stay, their food will be on you."

"I understand."

They continued walking in silence, until they arrived at the end of the corridor. Rick twist the doorknob and opened the door. He looked at Aretha. "This is your room from now," he said and left.

There was two bed and few furniture. It was not bad, at least they have a shelter now. She comforted her heart. The five children were cuddling on one bed. When they saw Aretha, they ran toward her, shouting, "Sister!"

Aretha embraced all of them in her arms. "Did they do anything to you while I'm not here?"

They shake their head. Aretha sighed. 'Thank goodness.' Aretha held their hand and bring them to sit on the bed.

"Sister, do we have to stay here?" Diana whimpered.

"Stupid, we're trapped here, you know." Cole said. His fierce glare pierced through the little girl.

Diana pouted. "But, I don't want to stay here. There are so many scary people…"

"I'm scared too…" Lucy added.

"Don't worry, me and Cole will protect all of you from the scary people." Peter chirped in. He patted Lucy's small head.

"Peter will protect you guys. I will protect sister Rere." Cole placed his hand on his waist, feeling smug.

"Cole…" Peter sighed. 'I will protect sister too.' He vowed in his heart.

"That's reassuring. Then, I will protect all of you." Aretha chuckled as she patted Cole's head.

"Sister, can we not go home anymore? I miss home." Diana hugged the older girl's arm.

Aretha ruffled the little girl's hair. "We are far from home now, but, don't worry. I promise I'll bring all of you back home. We might need to stay here for few years."

Making a promise is like creating a hope. Aretha wished that the children will never lose hope in a foreign land far away from their safe haven.

***

Maria pick up the glass of red wine and took a small sip. She glimpsed over Rick. "How's the kid?"

"She's already in her room with her siblings." Rick replied.

Maria chuckled. "That kid, do you get her name?"

"No. But, I do heard one of the kid called her Rere."

She grunted. "That's lame. Whatever. From now on, she's Ella."

"What about the other kids?"

"Not my business. Ella said so right, she want the other kids to be her responsibility."

"Lady, why did you accept the deal?"

"Why?"

"I believe Lady would never do anything without reason. It's just a bit… confusing."

"When you first saw that child, what come to your mind?"

"Temptingly beautiful."

Maria sighed. "Even a man that never spare a second glance toward all the beauty like you could feel something like that. Now, you get it?"

Rick shake his head.

Maria said, "She's a natural charmer. Even I as a woman felt something when I saw her. It's a pity if she don't put her heart in using her charm."

"You want her to work here willingly and attract customer on her own accord."

"My intuition said, if not, I might lose my golden goose. There's an easy way, why should I used a roundabout way, right?"

________________________

*Little Theater*

Aretha : "Don't you think the background story seems a bit dragging? It become a bit unpleasant looking at this timeline."

C.Udon : "Eh~ Really?"

Aretha : "When will the main story begin?"

C.Udon : "Soon~"

Aretha, holding a knife in her hand : "When?"

C.Udon : "Very soon!"

Aretha, placed the knife at Udon's neck : "When?"

C.Udon : "Help~!"