She held her mouth open, shocked, with a touch of the “I’m not having this expression”.

“Are you guys seeing THIS?”

She panned the camera around, recording the students as they gathered in the lobby. Then she turned the camera back to face her and capture her reaction.

“We’ve barely arrived? Hello? They want us to get back already? Because of…” She moved the camera over to put the notice document in the shot. “of pest problems?”

“Hannah would you just put that camera down already?” Ms Smiro waddled over, looking tired. “Hang on, where’s Alex and Jayden?”

“Oh dear Ms Smiro!” Hannah exclaimed as she sneaked a wink at the camera. “They must have escaped!”

“No no no!” Ms Smiro sighed in exasperation. “Not right now.”

Hannah almost felt sorry for the poor woman. She had enough thought to understand that cancelling a school trip isn’t easy on the teachers either. She looked around and saw the hotel manager tearing his hair out trying to find some “Chris” that went missing from his shift. The entire place is in chaos, and she was touched a little bit by the guilt that her loud recording sessions isn’t helping.

“I’ll look for them!” A young man beside her offered. It was Thomas. He had a look of sincerity that Ms Smiro had never observed from him before. “If we go to the police, they will find out about the VOGF crusade, so I will take on this task myself.”

Shocked, Beatrice Smiro bent over to examine Thomas. From him glowed an aura that was almost new and refreshing like that which emanates from the joy of new dawns. It was at that moment she was determined that Thomas must have experienced, a “spiritual absolution!” that changed this character for the better.

“Very well then.” She said, as she walked Thomas out.

“One sec!” Hannah shouted chasing after them. “Ms Smiro, I would like to accompany Thomas and give him my help.”

She wasn’t about to let Thomas take a free trip out of this stinking mess all on his own. It’d be nice to at least enjoy a walk down the esplanade by the beach in the name of looking for the runaways. But Thomas wasn’t so willing to have someone over his shoulders if was to leave this place.

“No no, Ms Smiro. We all know Hannah has a lot of work to do, she’s a very conscientious student, so I wouldn’t want to waste her-.”

“Actually, that may be for the best.” Ms Smiro nodded, interrupting him. “You two go together, and bring the boys back in one piece won’t you?”

***

"Don't touch me!"

Jayden shouted as Christina approached him. In one hand she held a stick made of iron, glowing red hot at the tip. Beside her a barbecue stand, filled with burning coal. From out of the char sizzled a smoke that lined the apathetic face that Christina bore, as one always would when they are about to commit an action inhumane.

"Look, kid. You know how this goes."

She said as she reached for his palm. His arm was secured to the armrest of the chair by ropes. Jayden looked in horror as he saw the branding iron held above him. The rest of his body shivered and shook but was held tightly in place.

He looked around the room, steel walls and concrete floors left little possibility for escape. In front of him was two large steel doors that seemed like it could open outwards. To their side, on Jayden’s left a dozen steps away was a wooden side door.

He whimpered one word in defeat as Christina pushed the brand towards his exposed skin.

“Alex…”

***

As he came ashore he immediately checked out his surroundings. Rustling of leaves and crackling of pebbles seemed to be no more than from the movement of critters that lived in the forest by the seaside. Raike had explained to Alex that he had promised Lady Varier he would bring Alex to one of their hideouts where he would be ambushed in his unawares.

The island that made the primary base of the east-coast fishermen was shaped like a horseshoe. on it’s tips, were sandy beaches that formed the jaws of a bustling harbour. However, on the other side of the island were huge cliffs and dense forestation that were very difficult to traverse. Raike navigated their way here, so that their chances of being spotted were lower.

A few lookout stations were built here, but boss Raike raised his flag as they approached the island, so no one made a fuss.

“Alright Alex, this here is my territory so you should be safe.” He said as he dug out a spare change of clothes including a pair of glasses and a fisherman’s cap. “But I am in good faith that Varier had bought out some of my men. Put these on just in case.”

“Thanks.”

“Listen carefully Alex. Goodcatch Island is divided into four regions: “Port, Market, Dorms, and Backend”, their passcode for today is “striped sunfish”, “spotted turkeyfish”, “hightail tuna” and “scamping scallops” respectively. That will get you through most checkpoints until 8 AM tomorrow, where a new passcode will be released. Jayden should be in a medium sized warehouse in the Port Region. But you must wait and not interfere with them until they are sure he is telling the truth, where they will bring him to a cellar in the Dorms region. The cellar will be in a building called the “Marina Blues”; you can tell by its bluish roof. If you are ever lost look for the large building with a ship built on top, go there and ask to speak to lil’Hook. Remember, once we’ve parted, you most likely won’t be able to request a meeting with me without looking suspicious.”

“I can’t do that Raike.” Alex said, looking at Raike in the eyes. “I can’t let them hurt Jayden.”

“Well,” Raike said. “Just know I will not sabotage my reputation if you get in trouble because you won’t follow our plans.”

“Got it. Thanks Raike.”

With that, Alex turned to prepare for the trek before him.

**

There exists many graphic words to describe the excruciating ordeal of branding torture. But Jayden found it easier to feel, essentially what he could NOT feel during the process.

And that was the sheer pain that didn’t hit the same time as the iron. The lack of difference between intense heat and intense cold. And the imprint that would forever remind him of this moment on his youthful skin; a reflection of the same shape forged in steel hovering before him.

The surface area of the brand itself was not too large. It was barely a third as wide as a standard toilet paper roll, and about 100 mm in length. This was intentional, so as to not make sure the hand that they might need would suffer permanent damages, as well as increasing the amount of times the brand can be used to the same limb.

But damn was it painful. Jayden was trained a variety of martial arts, and yet he was unable to contain his reflexive scream upon contact with the apparatus. Though, it was fair to note that he, as an average high school student, would have never dreamed of a situation where he would be tied in a chair and tortured. Not even when Alex rants about his weird fetishes.

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!”

He shouted at Christina, desperately. But she ignored him as she prepared to heat up her iron again. Beside her was a bottle of water filled to the brim, and some snacks on a table on the side. She was prepared to stay for a while. Behind her the henchmen took seats on the tattered chars stored in the warehouse, though it wasn’t the first time they were used by these men, this way.

"Wait!"

A feeble female voice screamed, shivering behind them.

"Calissa?" Christina turned around. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"..."

She stepped out from the shadows. Her dress, coupled with her mid-long cut that curled inwards at the ends spoke of a common upbringing tale. If she had been a score older, she would have been the splitting image of a housewife from nuclear families that settled on farms decades ago.

"Remember the terms of your agreement with Lady Varier?"

Christina threatened. She didn’t want any funny business, but it was Lady Varier’s instructions to make sure Calissa was present during Jayden’s interrogation.

"...No I remember. Christina. I think I know a better way. Just let me talk to him in private."

Christina examined her for a moment. She thought about the stakes Calissa was to lose if she betrayed them.

"Fine, you get 5 minutes." She said, then turned to her henchmen. "Boys lets go outside for a break."

Jayden looked at Calissa, confused, still trembling from the pain. As the numb fades away, an excruciating stabbing feeling remains, intensifying whenever it was brushed over by a cold breeze.

Calissa, looked down. She was unsure. She stayed silent and followed Christina and her henchmen to the sidedoor.

Christina looked at her as she stepped outside the warehouse.

"Keep the door ope-"

SLAM!

The door banged shut before she could finish her sentence.

"HEY KEEP THE DOOR OPEN"

She shouted as she turned around.

click, click.

Two subtle sounds hinted at Calissa locking the door behind them.

Calissa, looked at Jayden, who was struggling between deep breaths.

“cavija ₺eyi idie um harl starka de’vim!”

She shouted, as the wooden door clanged behind her. From out of thin air, a circle of flame erupted from around her and engulfed the wooden furniture in this room.

"DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR PARENTS!" She could hear Christina shouting as she tried to break the door open.

"GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Jayden screamed as he tried to untie himself. He seemed more panicked than when he was about to be branded by a burning iron.

She approached him, trembling, as the fire encroached them. Her eyes glinted hints of blue in the darkness fueled by the shadows that danced between the flames.

"I’m a sorceress Jayden. Just like you.”

CHAPTER END

XXX

Karl snuffed out his cigarette as he stood up from the pier. His face looked much younger then, than the one Alex knows.

The seagulls circled the ships hungrily as workers loaded and unloaded cargo. As the sun set into the edge of the blue horizon, brazen red of the skies drained from the clouds into a silver lining that quickly transitioned into grey. He miss home. He missed being with Alex... and mom. 

And dad... before he changed.

But his path is a journey he must forge before Alex to ensure a brighter future for the both of them. 

Besides, there're a few "benefits" to being with boss Raike. He thought as he grinned to himself.

"Oi! What did ya do this time?" A short bearded man some years older than him called out as he walked down the pier towards him. "Raike wants to see ya in his quarters again."

"Fuck, lil'Hook, he's gonna chew me out again." He said.

"Yeah. But ya gotta take responsibility for what ya do."

"Yeah."

Karl made his way past him. As he walked off the pier into the streets where the lights slowly flicked on, he lowered his head and licked his upper lips.

Yeah...