Chương 18: Chapter 18:Black Emperor
The back of the carriage was tightly sealed. Astella wasn't sure how long this industrial ether would keep her unconscious. She estimated she had been "knocked out" for around ten minutes before she hazily opened her eyes, feigning terror and on the brink of screaming.
A cold dagger pressed against her face. The "Trick masters" beside her seemed to struggle in the dark, unable to see clearly. She could barely make out his figure but heard his rough, malicious laugh close to her ear, "Don't move, or… hehe, you'll regret it."
Astella put her newly-learned acting skills to use, letting her eyes glisten with tears as she bit her lip and looked at him with a pleading expression.
The man spat out a filthy curse, followed by a string of vile insults and threats. Astella nodded frantically in a show of surrender and compliance, making herself small in the cramped carriage, though she could feel his predatory gaze fixed on her helpless form.
Sensing his initial lapse in vigilance, Astella huddled in a corner, pretending to cry silently. In reality, she was stealthily opening a small "window" in the wall of the carriage to observe the surroundings.
"We're moving away from the East District…" she mentally noted the direction and scenery, preparing for potential future escape routes.
Soon, the carriage pulled up to a modest, greyish building. It wasn't ostentatious but rather inconspicuous. She was escorted out at knifepoint, forced into a small, dark cell. With a clang, the iron bars closed, and the lock clicked into place.
The dimly lit corridor outside was patrolled, lanterns casting faint light into the cells. Young women's soft cries, whimpers, and curses echoed through the oppressive air, filled with pain and despair.
Astella scanned her surroundings; the cell was small but packed with over twenty other girls. Many bore visible injuries; some appeared fearful, others wept, and a few sat numbly, dried tears marking their cheeks. Astella pressed her hands against the wall, knocking and probing, as if seeking an escape route.
"Give it up; it's useless…" a slightly older woman sighed weakly. "Begging, faking illness, resisting, even trying to dig out… none of it works. Some are beaten even if they don't fight back; resistance brings worse punishment… there's also the torment, the abuse… Some catch illnesses and are dragged out before they even have the chance to die…"
Her voice faded, and the long-suffering girls stifled their sobs.
"If only… if only someone in power would pity us…" one girl whimpered. "Look at Shari—she caught the attention of someone important and was taken out of here. No more abuse for her…"
"Traitor!" someone cursed. "Do you forget who dragged us here, leaving us to live in this inhumane hell?"
The girl shouted back, "What do you know? Life outside was just as awful for me! My stepfather would burn me with cigarette butts if I didn't bring in enough money, smashing me with beer bottles, hitting my mother... Everywhere is hell for me! I just want to live a little better—is that so wrong? God, did I do something to deserve this?"
Her sobs turned into wrenching cries, filling the cell with agonizing silence. Astella felt tears prick her eyes but quickly wiped them away, focusing on the cold wall behind her, lips pressed tight.
After a while, as the crying quieted, a braided girl whispered, her voice frail but resolute, "Hang on, sisters… The 'Robin Hood' Black Emperor will save us. Before I was captured, the East District was buzzing with tales of him—a true hero…"
"The 'Robin Hood' Black Emperor?" Astella blinked, recognizing the name. She had heard of this sudden hero who became a legend among young people, admired as the "judge of evil" and "savior of the oppressed." He was said to have brought down a ruthless trafficker who preyed on young girls, holding wicked aristocrats to account, and rescuing countless innocents from dire fates.
"Yes," the girl nodded, "even powerful people fear him. He will definitely save us."
"He's a true hero," Astella murmured sincerely.
But one person alone couldn't change this dark world. A single villain's defeat was only a drop in the ocean, as countless others still prospered in the shadows, preying on innocent lives. Nevertheless, Astella admired this Black Emperor. He was someone who, despite knowing he couldn't change the world, still reached out to help those in need. That was what made him a real hero.
But she had no intention of relying solely on his rescue. She was determined to fight for their freedom herself.
Peering through the bars, she saw the guard berating another girl. Taking advantage of his distraction, she held a finger to her lips, signaling for silence as she whispered, "Whatever happens, please stay quiet. I promise, I'll find a way for us all to escape safely."
The girls nodded, doubt and hope mingling in their eyes.
Without waiting for guidance from Amon, the mysterious angel in her mind, Astella took a deep breath, retrieving a small pouch from a hidden pocket. She scattered powder over herself.
The girls gasped as her form began to fade, vanishing completely within seconds.
Illusion Technique: Temporary Invisibility
It would only last a few minutes, insufficient for true invisibility magic, but enough for reconnaissance.
Pressing her hand to the back wall, she created a temporary gap in the concrete, slipping through to the other side.
"As I suspected…" The other side led to a narrow corridor, complete with ventilation ducts. After a few minutes of cautious walking, she spotted a metal ladder leading up to what looked like a ventilation shaft exit. Testing it, she found it unlocked.
"This must be a secret escape route for their leaders. Well hidden, no need to lock it from the inside… quite the escape plan." She resumed her search, finding a concealed door at the far end. Putting her ear to it, she listened carefully.
---
"Mr. Hoder, the order is complete. The 'goods' are ready for delivery," one man reported.
"Excellent," a heavy, sinister voice replied. "When this is over, I'll make sure you get control over the vacant market left by Capin. This is your reward."
"Thank you, sir. I've verified the latest shipment—the girls are… exquisite. Would you like to sample?"
"Certainly," the man chuckled. "Bring one. And remember, my associate arrives tomorrow; he'll evaluate your progress. Consider it a test."
"Yes, sir. I'll give it my best."
---
Astella's fists clenched, heart pounding. If she didn't act tonight, the arrival of this "associate" could spell disaster for the captives.
Returning to the cell, Astella deactivated the invisibility and wrote a brief message on the ground: "Stay quiet. Escape tonight. Behind this cell is a tunnel leading to an exit. I'll cover our escape."
After reading, the literate girls nodded, passing on the plan to others with whispers. Glimmers of hope flickered in their eyes.
Just as she was about to spread the word to other cells, a guard appeared outside their cage.
"You," he pointed at Astella coldly, "come with me."
Astella stared, taken aback.
"Didn't you hear?" he growled, yanking her arm, "The boss specifically asked for you!"
Astella shot a reassuring look at the other girls before nodding and allowing herself to be led away.
Does anyone know of any websites where I can find the rest of this novel?
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