Seagulls announced the arrival of the sea. The rotten odor hit Isra and Yasen stronger as they approached the docks where the travel ship brought them in yesterday. They scanned the dreary horizon where several commercial ships were moored to transport cargo. A few fishers loitered at the end of the docks, carrying fishing rods and nets.

Isra and Yasen climbed up the docks where the fishers were gathered.

“Excuse me,” Isra interrupted, drawing their attention, “where can we find Fisher Anh?”

“I am she,” a woman answered boldly in a deep voice.

Isra and Yasen glanced at the edge of the docks. The fisherwoman did not turn her head towards them, she was sitting down staring off into the sea as she held her rod.

Isra and Yasen exchanged glances. Isra took a step forward.

“What business do ye have with her?” a fisher barked, standing in front of Isra to block her passage. His oily black bangs clung to his sweaty forehead, and his hands trembled at the sight of Isra’s and Yasen’s weapons.

“We’re not here for trouble,” Yasen reassured. “We just want to talk to her.”

“About the Cereus gang,” Isra interjected.

The man lowered his arms, looking skeptically over to Anh.

“It’s all right, Taku,” Anh responded. “What ye gals like to know?”

Isra knelt down by the fisherwoman. She had long curly red hair, tied back into a frizzy ponytail. She was in her early thirties, a few wrinkles creased on her forehead. Freckles dotted around her eyes and nose. Her cold blue eyes were lifeless as they continued gazing off into the endless sea.

“Can you tell me what happened to your eyes?” Isra asked, lowering her voice.

Anh grew silent with thought. “A year ago, I could see. My wife… she was one of the best doctors in this city.” She stopped as sadness lingered in her voice. “The gang kidnapped her to force her to do their dirty work. I tried to rescue her but got caught… they were going to kill me but my wife begged them to spare my life, so they took my eyesight away and sold both of my corneas. I’ve never seen my wife since. She never came home, and I don’t know if she’s alive. I miss her so much...”

Tears spilled from Anh’s eyes, dripping down to her pale cheeks.

Isra squeezed her shoulder, feeling her own eyes getting moist. “What did they force your wife to do?”

“Harvest organs,” Ann’s voice trembled. “My wife was forced to assist them. They kidnapped innocent children, women, men… take out their organs and sell them overseas. The last thing I’ve seen was my own wife sobbin’ scraping my eyes out while a black-haired woman threatened her with a pistol. She.. I remember her green eyes clearly as if she was a demon herself.”

Isra almost fell back. “Did… did you know her name...?”

“D-Desert… Desert Flower.”

Isra clenched her fists angrily, her knuckles turning white. Of course, it was her. She’s the gang leader.

“What was your wife’s name?” Yasen asked quietly.

“Kai… Doctor Kai.”

“We have to stop Desert Flower,” Isra growled, standing up to her feet. “We’ll find your wife and bring her back.”

Anh’s fishing rod dropped from her hands. She gasped, “Ye—Ye will?? Who are you?”

“Someone who should’ve stopped Desert Flower long ago,” Isra replied coldly. She was angry at herself for being a coward, for never going back to face Desert Flower. And now Desert Flower was destroying more innocent lives.

“But first we need your help.”