Post by Shinku on Jan 24, 2017 13:21:00 GMT -5
"As if slavery would be any different than working for you." Rince thought but didn't say a thing. There were many different slave masters as far as he was aware and it all came down to luck if you got one that was only mean or someone who was outright cruel - none of the people in this business would be friendly. If they were nice they wouldn't be keeping slaves after all.
The fake Santa and his helper seemed rather bad already, but Rince didn't indulge in the illusion that he'd end in a better place if he disobeyed.
After a moment's hesitation, he kneeled down next to the crying Goldilocks, though he didn't feel close enough to her to pat her on the shoulder like Kuu did. Instead he tried it with some encouraging words.
"The matron and the other women weren't dead.. I think... I hope... Tomorrow they'll wake up and alarm the local law enforcement and they're going to organize a search for us."
The girl sniffed back her snot and looked at him with big blue eyes.
"You think they'll find us?"
"I don't see why not. We aren't that far from the orphanage.. I mean.. we haven't left the island. Sooner or later they will look here as well."
Goldilocks wiped the tears from her face and looked reassured, but her friend gave him an odd look. The tomboy didn't contradict him and kept her thoughts to herself, but Rince could feel that something was on her mind.
They stayed quiet after that. Huddled together they sat there on the cold floor and stared at the cold iron bars that blocked their way to freedom.
"I think she's asleep now." Kuu startled him. "What are we going to do now? How does the plan look like?"
Most of the kids had dozed off at this point and Rince had let his mind wander. Her question took him unprepared.
"Uhm... we will wait?"
"Isn't that just something you said to calm Aurea... You don't really believe they will find us? Do you, Cotton?"
In truth, Rince had believed just that, but the way she doubted it made him hesitate to admit it.
Would the criminals choose this spot to hide if they weren't certain that no one would find them here?
Lots of criminals had overestimated their cleverness, but could he really hope that this was one of those cases?
Even if it wasn't... There was nothing he could do about it.
"Just... wait for now.. and let us sleep." he told her, tired. If the girl started to make a ruckus now, it would just end badly for him.
They both felt silent again and Rince started to doze off again.
The steps were soft, he nearly missed them. But slowly and carefully, someone was approaching the cells.
Alarmed, Rince got up to his feet and startled Kuu in the process.
Under the gaze of her watchful hazel eyes, he went to the bars and looked down the corridor.
A small silhouette was coming closer. At first he thought that one of the kids had gotten out, the figure was hardly any bigger than he was, but then he noticed that something was strange about it.
It was bulky and misshapen. Humanoid but fatter and somehow different.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Did the kidnappers have another monster in their middest other than bad Santa?
Scared he took some steps back from the iron bars and after some consideration he fully retreated to the back of the room.
The figure appeared on the edge of the cell and paused, a black silhouette darkened by the light behind it, looking inside as if searching for something... or someone.
Rince froze... he was too scared to even breathe... He...
The figure moved again, taking one unsteady step after the other, and this time it was enlightened from the side and Rince recognized the big teddy bear Reynard had claimed to be a gift from a generous rich donator.
"Huh?"
Surprised as he was, a suspicion began to dawn on him.
Strange as moving plushies might be, it was hard to be afraid of something with a face that spoke of unconditional friendship and a body that was the personification of huggingness.
Even Rince hardly thought twice before approaching it.
"Uhh... Mad- I mean... Morcant?" He struggled to remember the name of the third exploration member - the boy whose plushy he had accidentally torn up earlier today.
"What?! That's Morty in there? So that's why you told me to wait! Nice plan. I knew I could count on you Cotton!"