As Arnold walks through the outskirts of the city, the empty roads stay with a loud silence.
Arnold (in head): "There's nobody around."
He continues walking, legs beginning to wobble slightly. As he passes some buildings, one catches his eye.
Arnold (in head): "A pharmacy."
Arnold shuffles towards it at fast as he can. Arriving in front of it, he walks up a flight of wooden stairs and reaches the front door. He knocks on it relentlessly.
Arnold: "Anyone here?! I need help! Hello?! Hel-"
"Who is it?"
Arnold: "I'm a traveler. I found a little girl. She needs help."
"Do you have money?"
Arnold: "Money? I don't have money right now but-"
"Goodbye."
Arnold: "Wait! Are you seriously gonna turn your back on an injured child? What kind of doctor are you?"
"The type of doctor that can barely afford his own equipment."
Arnold: "Please. Is there anything I can do?"
"Hmm... If you run downtown and get me some things, I'll see what I can do."
Arnold: "Ok, I'll do it!"
The man slides a list underneath the door, along with some money.
"Preferably from MeldMart. If you go down that way, you'll eventually see it."
Arnold heads down the stairs. Before he walks on, he stops in his tracks. The thought of her safety floods through his mind, and at the chance of his legs giving out at any point, he could no longer carry her. He unties her and places her under the wooden stairs with his bag under her head like a pillow.
Arnold: "I'll be back as soon as possible."
Quickly heading down the road, Arnold rushes downtown. As he goes further and further, his head goes all around, looking.
Arnold: "MeldMart... MeldMart... there!"
He spots the MeldMart and sprints into it. Rushing through the aisles, he grabs all the items on the list. As he goes up to the counter, Arnold finally realises. There's nobody around. Nobody shopping. Nobody at the register.
Arnold (in head): "What's going on?"
With no time to waste, Arnold grabs a bag and puts all the items in it. He rushes out, stealing them all. Before he heads back, a sudden loud cheer goes off behind him. He turns around surprised, but sees nobody on the road. The cheering continues, confusing Arnold.
Arnold: "Where's it coming from?"
Curiosity gets the better of Arnold. He rushes over to the end of the road. As he looks onto the next one, it leads to an open park. From the entrance, he spots a large number of people.
Arnold (in head): "So this is where everybody is."
Not too far for him to see or hear, Arnold sees a stage up ahead. His eyes widened as he could not believe what he could see. Multiple Crimsonians, lined up and in chains.
Arnold (in head): "What the hell is going on?"
With cheers following, a man walks on stage. He has a noticeable pot belly and long, blonde hair.
Auctioneer: "To both Ritetown residents and our esteemed guests. Welcome to the annual Ritetown slave auction!"
The crowd goes wild. Not Arnold. Frozen in place, he stares on in disgust.
Auctioneer: "We have a good selection this year so don't be hesitant. Bring them up!"
The first crimsonian in line walks up.
Auctioneer: "To start this off, an excellent worker. Just take a look at that physique! We'll start the bidding at 1000. Do I hear 2000?"
Little girl: "Daddy, I want one."
Man: "Anything for you. Here!"
Auctioneer: "2000. Do I hear 3? Any 3?"
Woman: "5000!"
Auctioneer: "5000. What a staggering jump! Anything higher? Going once... going twice... sold! To the Macbers family!"
A person on stage pulls out a marker and writes the word 'Macbers' on the arm of the Crimsonian, and drags him off stage.
Auctioneer: "Bring forward the next one."
The next crimsonian walks forward scared.
Auctioneer: "Alright, do not let his nervous look scare you. He may look weak, but he's one of their strongest. Stamina unlike the rest. We will start at 500. Anyone for 500?"
The crowd stays silent.
Auctioneer: "Is nobody interested? What does that mean?"
Crowd: "Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!"
Auctioneer: "Haha! Well, the people have spoken."
Two men hold the Crimsonian down onto his knees. The auctioneer pulls out a knife and holds it at the Crimsonian's neck. Closing his eyes as he cries, they stab him in the neck killing him swiftly. The crowd erupts into cheers as he falls to the wooden floor of the stage.
Auctioneer: "I apologise for the inconvenience. Hopefully the rest of the product is acceptable, ay? Anyways, onto the next one..."
Separate from the slave auction, one stall nearby was surrounded by children, all watching a sock puppet play. Three socks were up in front—One of a normal human, one of a human with a crown, and one of a Crimsonian.
Sock puppeteer: "Long ago, we found this land and stayed in peace. Until the Crimsonians came around. They found us, caught us, and hurt us. Used us. They treated us poorly for generations, until our brave first King and others stood up to them. He and his people managed to stop the evil red people and send them into hiding but we managed to stop a lot of them from escaping and now today we are the ones in control, so they can't hurt us anymore."
All the kids cheer as the story closes, but one.
Kid: "Can't we be friends with them? Maybe they're not all bad."
All the other kids look at him, confused. Some laugh, some mock him. The puppeteer comes out and walks up to the kid.
Sock puppeteer: "Don't laugh. This is a good question. Let me tell you something. We did once want to help them, but no matter what we did, they didn't want to change. Scientists actually found something in their brains, which makes them evil and hate us. It's just who they are. But as long as we're in control, we don't need to worry. So remember, it's not us, it's them. Cheers for our king who saved us from their evil!"
As the kids celebrate, all the noise around slowly drowns Arnold. The horror of Ritetown finally painted itself to him. Enslavement of a group of people he himself had no clue even existed. Almost heading forward, he stops himself. What could he do? Speechless, all his body could do was run away, remembering where he needs to be. After a short while, he arrives back at the pharmacy. He goes under the stairs but both the girl and his bag are nowhere to be found. He runs up the stairs and knocks very aggressively on the door.
Arnold: "Where is she?! Hey! Who took her?! Hello?! Answer me!"
Arnold prepares to kick the door down, but before he does so, clicks come off the door and it finally opens. He opens the door and sees a man walking up the stairs.
Pharmacist: "Follow me."
He walks through the bottom floor, as narrow as it is and climbs up the skinny stairs on his right side, reaching another floor with a room up ahead. Watching as the man walks in, he follows him and enters. In front of him is a room full of medical equipment, and a curtain. Beside the curtain, the man sits, looking at Arnold.
Pharmacist: "Hand it."
Arnold walks up to the pharmacist. Getting a clearer look, he is a human man, with a slightly wrinkled face, white hair and a gray full beard. He has blue eyes and is shorter than Arnold. Arnold drops the bag and grabs him by his shirt.
Arnold: "Where is she?!"
The man slowly pulls the curtain to the side, showing Ulqora on the bed, covered in bandages.
Pharmacist: "And your bag is over there."
Seeing his bag on the side, Arnold loosens his grip and takes a deep breath.
Pharmacist: "Take a seat."
Arnold: "I don't have time. Thank you for helping her. But it's-"
Pharmacist: "Not safe for her here."
Arnold: "Ho-"
Pharmacist: "You must not be from around here. What kind of idiot would get help in Ritetown for a Crimsonian?"
Arnold: "Crimsonian?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a Crimsonian. Now, take a seat."
Arnold reluctantly listens sits on the chair on the other side of the bed.
Pharmacist: "I take it you don't know what she is."
Arnold shakes his head.
Pharmacist: "She, among many other people with red skin are called Crimsonians. They are a different, human-like species but they are more gifted, to say the least. That's why they are feared and hated."
Arnold: "Is it true? That they attacked the people before?"
Pharmacist: "Far from it. They were the original people on this land. They welcomed our kind. And then one day..."
Arnold: "We attacked."
Pharmacist: "A majority of them killed. Just like that. They even took it a step further and captured some alive, using them as..."
Bringing him to tears, the pharmacist struggles and grips onto the bed handle hard.
Arnold: "I saw it... downtown. The auction."
Pharmacist: "I... apologise. I shouldn't have sent you down there."
Arnold: "Even the children... they're told a lie."
Pharmacist: "It's how you convince future generations to hate. The power of words. They continue a cycle. A wheel spinning that should have lost energy long ago. I'm ashamed. I stand by as this all happens..."
Arnold: "You can't blame yourself."
Pharmacist: "But I can. Me of all people. I know better than most, yet I let it happen... can I ask you how you found her?"
Arnold: "My friend and I saw her on the train tracks, so we went to help her. We got separated in the forest but he's going to meet me at the train station here."
Pharmacist: "The forest? No... your friend may be in bigger trouble than you think."
Arnold: "What do you mean?"
Pharmacist: "That forest... that's the problem. Where all of it stems. She probably escaped from there, poor thing."
Arnold: "I can't take her back there. Are Crimsonians hated everywhere?"
Pharmacist: "Hated or feared in most places, yes."
Arnold: "What about with you?"
Pharmacist: "News spreads quick here. If someone found out, we'd both be in danger."
Arnold: "So there's nowhere I can take her. What do I do?"
Seeing the hopeless look on Arnold's face, he shuts his eyes gently and takes a breath.
Pharmacist: "I'll give you an option. Not all Crimsonians were captured. There are still groups scattered around the world. And I know of a place you can take her."
Arnold: "Where?"
Pharmacist: "A small village on the outer coast of Thari. They are very different from the rest of the world so they will take her in."
Arnold: "That's amazing. Thank you. Do you know where specifically?"
Pharmacist: "I do, but I want to ask. Are you sure you want to do this? You know, harbouring a Crimsonian as a regular citizen is against the law. If you are caught doing so, you can get in a lot of trouble."
Arnold: "That's not a problem. It was going to happen eventually."
The response confuses the pharmacist. Suddenly walking up to his bag, Arnold sees a bunch of papers on the ground near it. On the top of the stack, a flyer grabs his attention.
Arnold: "What's this?"
Pharmacist: "Oh, that. There's an exhibition happening at the Imperial Museum in the capital. They're displaying pieces of art but the one that's grabbing most attention is the Queen's diamond. A rare red diamond. Naturally, it's getting a lot of spotlight, from the press."
On a section of the flyer, three letters stood out to Arnold,
Arnold: "ACO."
Pharmacist: "Yes, there's a special pre-exhibition night for an elite group of people. So the ACO will be there protecting them and the diamond."
Arnold (in head): "It's in a week."
Pharmacist: "I hear they're relocating the diamond immediately after the morning exhibition. Smart choice, considering the uprise in theft recently."
Arnold: "Do you mind if I take the flyer?"
Pharmacist: "Not at all. I don't plan on going anyw-"
Ulqora: "Ja... Jaser. Help..."
Shocked by the voice, Arnold turns back to the curtain.
Arnold: "Is she-"
Pulling the curtain to the side, both Arnold and the man see her clearly.
Pharmacist: "She's awake. As always, their recovery is amazing."
Ulqora opens her eyes fully. To her left, a human. To her right, human. In fact, all she could do was scream
Ulqora: "Humans!"
She covers herself with the blanket she was lying in, cowering from both of them.
Ulqora: "I'm sorry for running. Please don't hurt me!"
Arnold: "I..."
Pharmacist: "Little girl. Are you alright?"
Ulqora: "I-I'm sorry."
Man: "There's no need to apologise, little one. We just want to help. This young man here brought you to me because you were hurt. Wouldn't it be rude to not thank the young man that just saved your life?"
Slowly, she peeks out the blanket and stares at Arnold, but barely holding eye contact.
Arnold: "I won't hurt you, I promise. I'm not like them. The people that hurt you."
Refusing to budge, she stares silently at him.
Arnold: "I'm Arnold. What's yours?"
Ulqora: "Ul... Ulqora."
Arnold: "You have a nice name. Do you know what happened to you, Ulqora?"
As he asks her that, memories flood her brain. How she fled from the village, how Aljaser chased after her and let her go. How she climbed over the fence, starved and in pain. All to the collapse. Seeing the pain in her eyes, the man stands up.
Pharmacist: "Try to not ask stressful questions. She just awoke so it's not go-"
Ulqora: "I ran... Jaser told me to run... where's Jaser?"
Arnold: "I'm sorry. I don't know who Jaser is."
Ulqora: "Where are my friends? Ulsena? Uljana? Alfoltho?"
Arnold: "I don't know who those people are. I only found you."
Ulqora: "You're lying!"
Arnold: "I'm not. I swear."
Ulqora: "Maybe they're still in the forest. We have to go back."
Arnold: "I... don't think I can take you back."
Ulqora: "Why? Why can't you?"
Pharmacist: "Little girl. I'll ask you a question. Take your time if it's hard. What do they do to you guys in the forest."
Again, all the memories flood back in. Trembling, she struggles to put to words the horrors she faced.
Ulqora: "They... they force us to work. We get fed once a day... and they hurt us if we are bad. Some of us get taken away, and the others are..."
Tears begin to form in Ulqora's eyes.
Ulqora: "Why do humans treat us like this? Did we do something wrong?"
All Arnold could do was look at her with a disheartened face in silence. As he faces the man, he gets confused, seeing a smile on his face.
Pharmacist: "You did nothing wrong. You are a brave little girl. This boy here, he wants to take you to a safer place. Will you go with him?"
Ulqora: "I... I just want Jaser. He said he'd protect me..."
Arnold: "...Ok."
Pharmacist: "What?"
Arnold: "If she says he can protect her, I'll go find this Jaser and bring them together."
Ulqora: "Really?!"
Arnold: "Yes."
Pharmacist (in head): "A naïve young girl. To trust a human so easily, even after all she's possibly gone through..."
At the door, Arnold and Ulqora stand outside, as the man holds the door open.
Pharmacist: "She seems to be fine, but to be safe, take these pills, two tablets every half day, in case of migraines."
Arnold grabs the packet and puts it in his bag.
Arnold: "Can I ask you something?"
Pharmacist: "Go ahead."
Arnold: "You aren't from here too, right? So why are you here?"
Pharmacist: "Let's just say I'm doing my part."
Confused by the response, Arnold thinks little of it.
Arnold: "Thank you for the help, uh..."
Pharmacist: "It's Ale. And it was no problem. Take this as well."
He puts Ulqora in a scarf, covering her head and her neck.
Ale: "Old fashioned, but still effective. Don't let her be seen. And replace the bandages daily, ok?"
Arnold: "I will."
Ale: "Alright, be safe out there."
Arnold and Ulqora head down the stairs and walk away. Ale closes the door shut and the silence in the air takes over again.
Ulqora: "Thank you."
Arnold: "No need to thank me. I'm just glad you're ok."
As Arnold and Ulqora head back in the direction of the forest, a figure in the distance runs towards them. This confuses Ulqora and slightly frightens her, as she grabs onto Arnold. But Arnold himself realises who it is. Kassius, sprinting at full speed.
Kassius: "Arnold!"
Running out of breath, Kassius finally reaches them and falls to the ground. Arnold smiles, amused, and chuckles a bit. Ulqora giggles as well.
Kassius: "You won't... believe... forest... red people... giant moth..."
Arnold: "Relax, nothing is chasing you anymore."
Kassius starts controlling his breaths calming down more and more.
Kassius: "Arnold, the things they're doing to the red people... oh. She's awake. You must be Ulqora."
Ulqora hides behind Arnold in fear again.
Arnold: "It's ok. That's my friend, Kassius. He's good."
This put her at ease a little.
Arnold: "I know all about it. But how do you know her name?"
Kassius: "A guy called Aljaser told me to help her."
Ulqora: "You know where Jaser is?!"
Arnold: "That's great. She wants to get to this Jaser person. Since you know where he is, we can go find him."
Kassius: "Arnold... I don't think that's a good idea."
Arnold: "I know but maybe we save this guy and he can take care of h-"
Kassius: "Arnold. It's not a good idea."
Arnold: "You don't mean..."
Ulqora: "Is Jaser ok?"
Kassius: "They..."
Arnold looks to the ground in shame. Kassius may not have said it, but Ulqora understood it all the same. People struggling to tell her the unfortunate truth. And this was no different. Aljaser had died.