Soul Lovers

The day of Collection.

The third day, the final day of collection, Azra, Aquila, Aghogho, Aghul with Aguda walked into the bounty collector, leaded by Sheik.

“We have waited for how long now? I won't hold my breath for the remaining diamonds.” Aghogho said, reaching the bounty collector, he nodded as he waved his hand followed the two little girls swiftly brought the remaining huge diamonds in a sack and dropped it in front of Sheik.

“Hope it's complete?” Azra questioned.

“Yes I counted it myself.” Sheik said then he picked it up, “You seems to be in hurry, Azra Miller.” He rambled towards Azra Miller and stretched his hands to him with the sack of huge diamonds on his hand. Azra narrowed his eyes, looked to his left and to his right.

“Where is the other one?” Azra inquired.

“You mean, Frankenstein? He is in his lab with the boy.” Sheik answered. Azra sighed then stretched his hand and collected the sack of diamonds, "don't think about it too much the boy is still alive and kicking."

Without warning, right above Aguda two large vents on the ceiling dispersed smokes as chains ejected out of the ground strongly bounding Aquila and Aguda around their legs and arms, Azra took notice of it while the bounty collector watched from his throne with no or little expression.

Azra furrowed at the bounty collector.

"Is this how you want to play it, fine as you wish." Azra said.

Aquila and Aguda struggled to removed the chains on their body however Azra immediately, lifted his arms as he broke the chains firmly coiled on his left arm like a chattered ice then the smoke above hit him causing his limbs to fail him as he groaned gradually rendering another chain from the ground in a sudden matter another chains bound him where he was loosen.

“What is all these?!” Azra raged, putting his arm on his nose to stop the smoke from entering into his nostrils, Sheik stepped back to the bounty collector and stood near his throne. “Aghogho, Aghul. From this point forward the plan as change. Let’s destroy this place.”

Azra with the idea to safe the kids from the hands of the bounty collector was all planned by himself and his close expats with him at that very moment, earlier he saw most of his kind from the beast kingdom inside the prison cells not to assumed them staying in that enclosed space wasn't a life suited for them; this irritated Azra but with the diamonds he now had and his fellow expats who are ready to fight for him he won't mind to release them with force knowing the bounty collector would never release his collections just by a certain amount of diamonds. He'd want to try. Why go this far if he knew the kids were never to be sold? This plan may altered the remaining expats outside but it is what he would follow even if the bounty collector attacked or not.

Aghogho and Aghul moved forward as they turned into their beast mode walked to the bounty collector... and stood near him also.

Azra widened his eyes. What are they doing there instead of fighting? He wondered.

“Don’t be surprise, Azra Miller," Aghogho said, "you told us yourself the plan as change so we chose this as our changed plan not long ago."

"Why the face? You knew this was going to happened someday.” Aghul added, "well today is the lovely day."

Few moments ago.

Don’t worry, I have a plan to save us from this hell. Node thought as he side looked at Peirce inside the tube. On walking a few steps away from the lab, he turned to his right but was obstructed by Sheik staring at him with an evil smile.

Node fidgeted and stepped back.

“The Bounty collector is asking of you.” Sheik told, Node nodded and walked pass him. “What is it like?” Node stopped wondering what kind of question Sheik asked him. “Am talking about Frankenstein's lab, what is it like? He never allow me enter his lab not once only the Bounty collector and few of the higher alphabets he'd allow. Anyway forget I ask you that. You can go.” Node swallowed then walked away from him as Sheik beheld him with a smirked.

Higher Alphabets as Sheik said are beings which are ranked from A to J who the bounty collector took as his subordinate, F for Frankenstein means he is one of the higher ranks while S for Sheik was one of the lower ranks with few benefits and those alphabet were all marked on any part of their body.

On reaching the throne of carcasess Node bowed.

“Here I am.”

The bounty collector seated on the throne looked at him as he put his hands on his belly in delight.

“Now I believe you are the cook. My sisters once told me stories about your kinds although I thought it was stories told to make us dream of having a sweeter meal.” He laughed. “But it is a pity the beast kingdom killed them all.”

The words of pity where Nodes' anthems to his ears ever since he left the village to this strange land, indeed it was a pity the beast kingdom eradicated his ancestors.

“Thank you for your empathy towards my kind, bounty collector. Am truly grateful to have you as my master.” Node said with a bow.

The Bounty collector narrowed his eyes at the boy in front of him, Node took a glimpse at his chubby face then lowered his eyes, slightly sweating on his face.

“Your loyalty is remarkable, not only your cook whereas your attitude also. Lucky for you the letter N seat is empty. Will you mind joining my group I formed according to the finite alphabets?” The bounty collector asked.

Node lowered his head down, he’d want to say no at that moment but if he don't maybe death will be knocking at his small door? this days the choices you make or don't make are the decisions you may regret at the later part of life. He couldn't answered what is in for him if he say yes or no? This kind are thoughts battled his minds so he just ignored the bounty collector question with a silence.

“However, What is between you, the boy and the girl? I don’t see any reason a beast like her living among you Inhumanes.”

“Nothing master, the girl was only closer to the boy. I never had the chance to talk to her or see her during the time with us.” Node answered immediately, as he couldn’t think of anything but that.

“Hmmm. It seems obvious you are telling the truth. And again an Inhumane befriending a beast? It’s so abrupt.” The Bounty collector said then he pointed to Jared. “That man there, what is between the beast and him.”

“The few days I was with the expats— It was told the man was trying to protect the girl from them.”

“The girl? You mean a Humane or should I say a divine humane tried to save a beast from her own kind who befriended and lived with an Inhumane. Why? I need to know the true story behind all this? ”

“I also heard from one of them. She is a rear breed in their land which in exchange to their Alpha will be given back their right to live in the kingdom once more, since they are all expats.”

“Hmm. You are wiser than you look, are you sure of all this.”

“Yes master, I was the youth leader in my village so it is part of my duty to observe and retain information.” Node replied with a bow.

The bounty collector nodded and suddenly stood up, clomped towards Node then put his fat hand on Node's shoulder.

It felt as if he was held down by a gripping jaw.

Node groaned silently. So heavy! He thought, as the bounty collector hand was still on his shoulder.

“For the information, you gave me, I was told the same thing before hand by one of the beasts with Azra. I respect that side of you for the truth,” He continued. “For that, you are free to wander around the city of bounty hunters. And if you are ever disturbed by any one. Tell them you’re with the bounty collector. They won’t dare touch you even though so many people lied about that.” The bounty collector placed his second hand on Node shoulder.

Node inhaled. This time his knees were about failing him. “But if you run away from this city or do something stupid. I will not hesitate to ripped your inside out.” He threatened, Node swallowed in despair then the bounty collector removed his hand and clomped to the door. “Am going for an outing. Cook something before I come back.” He commanded and left.

Node's eyes widened and watery as his hands and legs shook uncontrollably, his chest rose and fell with rapid breath.

Is this how life is outside the village? Did that Mudlark actually love doing this kind of things to explore the world? He jerkily placed his hand on his chest with a strong grip, "Ugh! who I'm I kidding to save them when already at the heart of hell."

“Hey, kiddo.” Someone said, Node slowly turned looking at Jared. “Not him, turn your face to his right.” Node turned his face. He noticed a man under a shade, “you look scared.” the chained man said, as he removed his face from the shade revealing his tartar teeth whose his hair and beards where much, untrimmed. “Which era is this?” He asked for which date of the year they were in.

Node swallowed. “T—the… Eclipse era.” He stammered.

“Hmmm. Ten good years. I left her. She will skinned me alive when I get home.” The strange man pondered, poking his ear and was instantly lost in his thoughts of that.

“Mister… Mister… ”

“Yes! Yes! Sorry I was day dreaming or should I say night dreaming. Ha! Nevermind,” He continued. “Why do you look scared, Boy?”

“Me?”

“No. me. Then who am I talking to if it wasn’t you.” He sneered, “I thought you have a plan to escape from this s**t hole with your friends.” Node widened his eyes. “Don’t worry go with your plan I won’t snitch on you so as everyone in here.” He looked at Jared on his right. “I will try talking to him for your plan to go smoothly. Even though his mouth is being sealed and his body frozen but he can still hear us out. The silver bracelets on his hand will give me a hard time finding it's patterns but what can't I undo? Ha!” Node was confused. “Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Lazarus!” Node blinked more confused than ever. Lazarus slapped his forehead. “I think my name has finally dried down in all kingdoms or… well it has been long I caused ruckus ever since I lodged here.” He looked at Node. “I’m an Inhumane just like you, kiddo.” he said as half of his body including his left eye glowed in glittering black, the room sent aglow slightly from the glittering source. Node stepped back, shrugging his shoulders. “Oh! You do remember the stories,”

“You mean... La-Lazarus. The shadow Inhumane?!” Node said in confusion.

“Nice to meet you.”