Chip and I are on our way to his cell. It had been an hour since the fight. I do not know where he is. I need to speak to him about Marie. If she truly is here, then…

“You seem troubled.” Chip points out.

“Oh, me? No! I am perfectly fine.”

“Okay…”

“Why did you ask?”

“I only did cause I was curious.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, that’s it… Wanna tell me to satiate it?”

“It is…about my sister. I worry that she is throwing herself into jeopardy.”

“How old is she?”

“23, the same as I.”

“Ah.”

Such a dry response. Ah, I get it. He wishes to not hear about me, but instead…

“Then, how about your family?”

He ceases moving, keeping his cool gaze forward. “I ain’t got any.”

“Oh, then I am–”

“Save it. I don’t care about that stuff, I just hate when people ask me about that stuff, ‘specially guys like you.” Marie always did tell me I had a knack for saying the wrong thing. I should really learn to understand that. “...Man, look it, I like being by myself, so can we just get going to my cell?”

“...Yes, okay…”

We traveled the rest of the way in silence. Chip refused to speak any further with me. Perhaps I was insensitive? Of course, asking such a thing is personal, and I brought up the subject, so I must take responsibility, even if I had no knowledge of his family, I should be more careful.

“Chip!”

Before I could speak his name, another spoke it for me. Three men, all of them intimidating in muscle mass, their faces rugged, and their postures awful.

“Hey, Chip, where do you think you’re going?”

The one in the middle of the trio moves and pushes me aside, putting their hands around Chip’s shoulder. I feel nothing but malicious intent from them as they surround Chip.

“You know what day it is, right?”

“Yeah, I do…”

“Then we're gonna make a withdrawal and investment into our boss's credit card… Unless you can’t make payment?” He holds his tongue, staring down at the floor. “You little shit!”

The man next to Chip crushes their knee against his stomach, making him spew saliva as he buckles to his knees.

"Bastard! Think you can skimp out on us, huh!?"

He takes another hit to his head. Quick to receive the hit, I take a hold of his wrist, pulling him away from Chip.

"Who are you, pretty boy?" one goon asks, scowling at me.

"I think you men should cut it out. You clearly are... Hmm... Thugs! That is it!"

The one hitting Chip grabs me, swaying me ever which way. He appears rather angry. "Say that again, pretty boy?"

"I said, I think you should--"

A rough impact crashes against my stomach, making me cough out my breath.

"Wanna run that again, pretty boy? Now get lost!"

Peering at their shoulders, I noticed a flame marking inked on them. That is not just a flame, but with a person standing in the middle of it, watching as the flames blankets them; similar to a phantom in the flame. A Fire Wraith!?

"Sorry, but I think you should--"

Once again, I was struck in the gut, leaving me breathless as I clutch my stomach. I refuse to yield.

"Wrong answer! Wanna die, punk?"

"No, but I refuse to leave this situation as is."

Instead of listening to my request, they hit me in the stomach again, then striking my chest. My knees refuse to buckle to the ground. The other thug hit me in the side with his foot. They begin to unleash an onslaught of kicks and punches that belt against my ribs, rattling them with each hit.

I'll end up majorly injured if this continues, but I refuse to give up. No matter how many times I am kicked, punched, or pushed, I shall not allow them to deter me. If I cannot overcome this adversity!

"What the...!?"

The continuous attacks stopped. I take a gander, seeing a guard effortlessly take down the three thugs with a staff in hand. Their movement is fluid, speeding along with a merciless style that takes full use of the staff's flexibility to strike them all, even when he was so close to them. Taking out the last of them with a flourish, he came to help me up.

"Thank you, kind sir."

He leaps forward at me, wrapping his arms around me… Hmm, this is...an odd, rather bizarre situation I have found myself in. Instead of responding with his words, he is hugging me, squeezing me with all his strength.

"Um, thank you...I suppose."

"It's been too long. I'm just glad to see you again."

"Oh, um...do I know you?"

"Brother, it's me, Marie!"

She lifts her visor, revealing her face. Marie… Marie! This is Marie!? Emotion wells within me, almost overtaking my body. I fight back the urge to cry in front of her.

"What are you doing here? Why are you here?"

"I'm here to save you, and it shows."

"You're here to break me out?"

"Duh."

I knew that's the reason, and how could I not.

"No, you need to leave, now."

"Not without you, brother, and I won't take no for an answer."

Against my will, she starts dragging me away elsewhere, away from Chip, whose baffled face mimics my own..

"Where are you taking me?"

"To Proxy's cell. He's--

"I already know who he is, and he told me you were coming, but why do you know him?"

"It's a long story. Just follow me there."

"But you're dragging me there!"

"Don't be such a baby, brother!"

And so, we made our way to Proxy's cell. Other prisoners on the way there saw us. If they had known the person under the uniform was my sister, the humiliation would mortify me for the rest of my days.

BlackRock - morning

Gil and I decided to hang out in the hall after work. It was long, hand wrecking, and strenuous work, but we finished the first half of coloring the panels for Gil's comic. But holy shit, I never imagined how tedious it is to draw in those characters, let alone the backgrounds. Now I know why manga creators don't use color in their work.

"Thanks for coloring in the panels today," Gil thanked me.

"No problem." I was massaging my drawing hand.

"I can't believe you got so much done in a single day.”

"Nah, it was nothing."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Do you think you can get the rest done?"

"I don't know. What do I get in exchange?"

I was only kidding, but since I brought it up, I actually wanna see where I can go with this.

"Well, you are working for me, so... 8,000 CCP a page."

So 8,000 per page… Holy shit, I would be made, screw that, I'd be as rich as a Don boss! I could buy anything I like in this prison… But what can I buy besides food?

"Hey, Gil, what else could I buy with CCP?"

"The prison issues magazines once a month, so anything on there is set. You could also use old ones as well. Of course, the list is picked by the guards, making sure nothing dangerous is brought in.”

“Sounds about right.”

You know, what do prisoners do other than just fighting and walking around this place?

"Is there anything else to do in this place besides fighting?"

"Not really. But I did hear that prisoners were taken from here to work somewhere else. They stopped doing it though."

Come to think of it, back in the Hell Mine, the Warden said they used prisoners. Wouldn't be too farfetched to say used these guys. Well, not like they can keep doing it now, with the place being destroyed and all.

Gil stops moving. He darts his eyes down 4 stories down, leaning over the rail. Wonder what’s down there? I fix my view on where he’s staring. If I think I got it right, then he’s looking at some dude being led by guards.

"Whoa, look at him. He’s got the VIP treatment. Who is he? Gil?"

He isn't listening to me. He's too busy trying to stare holes into that old dude; squeezing the rails, practically bending the damn thing.

"Whoa there! You're leaning too far out there. You should watch out, or you'll fall over, dude."

The “I wanna kill him” vibe washes away. The pissed-off face he was making gets replaced with a goofy grin.

"Sorry, sort of lost myself there for a moment."

"Nah, nothing to be sorry about, for there are times when the great Proxy was distracted like that as well."

I regaled him with stories of how clumsy I was when I started pulling pranks, and stuff like that. What made him angry is beyond me, but I know that he’s doing better now, so I guess it’s alright, for now. We approached my cell as I finished my last story.

"Well, it was nice talking to you by ourselves today, Proxy. I hope we can become good friends," Gil says, flashing a friendly smile. He extended his arm to me. Of course, I shake it.

"Yeah, I'll see you around then."

“Come by whenever you can. I’ll have everything ready for you.”

“Cool, I’ll swing by tomorrow.”

I open my cell door, ready to get some shut-eye for the day. As I was getting ready to relax, someone was already on my bed, that being Alex and a guard.

“Umm…hello?”

Not too sure how I should handle this, so I better be careful.

"Proxy, we have been waiting for you," Alex says.

"Yeah, why are you here? Better yet, what's with the guard?"

"It's me Proxy." The guard takes off the helmet, showing that it’s Marie under there. “So stuffy,” she complained, fixing her hair.

“So you guys linked up?” I ask, expecting one of them to answer.

“Yes, she aided Chip and me.”

“Well, ain’t that sweet. But hey, now that you caught up, we can leave, right?"

"About that… I am grateful for you two coming. However, it was a waste of a trip."

“Brother?”

“...I must ask for you two to leave without me.”

This is my cell, so if anyone’s leaving, he is.

"Brother, we already talked about this. We're all leaving this prison together."

Wait, what does that mean? Don’t tell me…”

"You know as well as I do what shall happen if I do. The both of you need to leave this prison, immediately."

"Why? We came to save you!" Marie argues back, yelling the words in earshot.

"I know, but I'm here on purpose, and you know why."

"It…I don’t care if they come at us! I’ll kill them all if I have to!”

"Kill who?”

"None of your business!"

Okay, now this is pissing me off. I’m a part of this conversation, whether or not they like it.

"Marie, what in the hell is he talking about? Killing who? Stop ignoring me and give me an answer!"

Staring away from me, they continue to act coy. That’s until Alex turns to me, shooting a serious look that sent a bit of a shiver down my spine.

"...A group of bandits had me imprisoned here."

"A group of bandits? That's it? Nunnalé and I can kick their asses."

"They're much more than a group of bandits,” Marie says, acknowledging my involvement in all of this. “...They're a group that's been growing in power over 7 years now, with people who live outside the kingdom. As said, they are bandits, so they steal from those who are weak, kill others that refuse them," she explains with a serious, yet somber expression.

"Wait, then why is he in prison instead of being dead?"

"That's..."

Marie’s lip quivers as she touches her shoulder, which is covered by her uniform. This ain’t good. I don't need Richard to tell me I stepped on a landmine.

"You know what? It doesn't matter. What happens if we bust him out?"

"I was told if he were to escape the prison somehow, then I would suffer the consequences for it." Guess someone must've broken out of here before then. They wouldn't need to say that if it weren't possible. "...They also know where we live."

So that means…!

"You knew about this, and you still came to save this guy!?"

She turns to me, rage brimming from her face, directing it at me. "This 'guy' is my brother! What else am I supposed to do!?"

"You could've told me!"

"You would've stopped me! I didn't even plan on you coming anyway, so you get no right to talk!"

"Bullshit, of course I do! If you busted him out, we’d–"

"Enough!" His raised voice makes my ears jump up. “Please, calm down, both of you. I do not wish to be the center of discourse."

Damn it, I know she just wants to rescue her bro, but she’s putting our necks on the line without us knowing it.

"I'll ask again: I wish for the both of you to return to camp.”

"You already know what I'm gonna say!"

"Marie..."

The both of them went on bickering again. They're never gonna shut up at this point, and I doubt these doors are sound proof... Now I feel like I'm the bad guy. Not like I wanna leave him behind, but I have to think about Richard, Nunnalé, and everyone else... Wish we can move Alex out here without anyone knowing... Move...moving... Move!

If we leave, we don’t have to worry about bandits, but that means leaving him here. Not that I would feel bad about leaving him in this place, I’d have to say I chickened out, and I ain’t the type to leave things half-finished. So what the hell do we do? All we need to do is just get up and move… Oh my god, that’s it!

“We just need to move," I yell, having the biggest brain blast of my life.

The siblings turn their heads to me, breaking from their heated screaming match.

"What did you say, Proxy?" Alex asks, forwarding his brow.

"We just need to move the camp to somewhere else, somewhere the bandits won't find us! Why didn't I think of this before? As a matter of fact, why didn’t you guys!?"

Seriously, this is a simple problem with a simple solution. I’m a genius!

"That’s…not a bad idea! Brother, that’s not a bad idea!” Yes, yes, praise me more! “...Looks like you can think after all, Proxy.”

“Hey! I think of a lot of things!”

“But we would need to find a place to move to so everyone can fit,” Marie stated.

"Then we should get Ovan on that," I suggest.

"What about the escape plan?" Marie brings up, keeping pace with this rapid-fire conversation.

"We'll worry about that later. For now, let's just get the word out to Ovan about moving camp."

“Kinda concerned about that part, but got it!”

I point to Alex. "As for you, Alex. Now that we got everything worked out, we're getting you out of here. I came this far, might as well bust you out, and if you have a problem with that, then I'll just knock you out and drag you outta here myself."

Alex goes flabbergasted, his eyes widen. After a second, he just starts busting a gut, slapping his knee, the whole mile

“That’s funny?"

"Yes, no…yes…NO!” He can’t control himself. Did I really say something that funny? “...I was simply laughing at how the tables had turned on this situation with such a simple answer; it’s comical..." He stomps his foot to the ground with a sort of style that made it seem like he was a big shot. "Very well then! From this day forward, we shall dedicate ourselves to escaping this place!"

Dumbass, don’t yell it out for everyone to hear!

"Keep it down, moron!" Marie scolds Alex by bopping him on the head.

"Ow, ow... My apologies. But on a serious note, we must move the camp before we escape."

It’ll probably take a bit to do that, so we’re gonna have to hang around here for a while. Guess this wraps everything up. Might as well get some shut-eye.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Then, shall we leave?”

“Nah, you guys might probably wanna catch up, so do it here. No one even knows we’re all in here, so don’t sweat it.”

I hop into the top bunk, facing the black stained wall, getting ready to go out like a light.

“Proxy,” Marie says, noticeably more feminine than usual. “...thank you.”

For a moment there, she sounded kind of cute, a little shy too. If she sounded like that more often... Nah, it would be weird.

“Don’t sweat it. Just don’t make too much noise.”

That’s the first time I ever heard her thank me, let alone sound so feminine… Gah, what the hell am I thinking? It’s not like I did it to be thanked. She just needed my help, so I just did what I did. I'm gonna get some shut eye!

...

"So they're planning to escape . . ."

I’m sitting outside my cell, waiting for the blondie and the guard to leave. I just wanted to get some z’s, but when I heard some voices coming from inside, that made it hard to do. From what I heard, they were hatching an escape plan. The kid and blondie were in there, but the other one is a mystery to me, except for the fact it’s a chick…

This might be my only shot at escaping this shothole. Staying here is gonna get me killed, so I rather roll the dice and try my luck. Better than being beaten to death.

7/ 6 - Black rock prison - cafeteria - morning

It's been a few days since we've planned on moving the camp. A fool-proof plan hasn’t come to mind yet, not even a good plan. To be honest, the only thing I could come up with is a prison riot, but I don’t have any idea on how to start one.

Most of the prisoners are gawking at me, watching me eat my delicious food. Those idiots are probably waiting for me to let my guard down, but they’ll never catch me with my pants down.

"I see you’re eating fancy." Chip sits next to me. Oh, I know what you want, guess what? I got it! I throw a bag of chips into his hands. "Thanks."

“Course.”

He tears open the bag, throwing the chips into his mouth, one at a time. "How’s the prison treating you?"

"You know, like a king. I've been in more fights over the past few days, so I've been racking in the big bucks. What about you? I haven’t seen much of you."

"Just working for CCP. What, concerned about me?" sarcastically, he curls the left end of his mouth.

"Not really."

"Cold." He balls up the bag after emptying it. "Proxy, I know you plan to break out of here."

Wha…!? How the hell does he know that!? Was he listening in on us the other night? Why was he bringing it up now? Shit, what do we do now? If he goes and snitches, then we’re screwed!

“Don’t worry ‘bout me snitching or whatever. The only fact that matters is this… I wanna bust out of here with you guys.”