We live next to the horrifying Stygian Penal Colony or as we call it Stygx. The place had many with abilities and some of them were on death row. I was an orphan so these people can't have any record of my family or their abilities. I pulled the loose bricks on the walls to meet the boss named Roaken. He is the one to talk to if anyone wants to disappear. He said that if I had an ability then he had no choice but to collect me. I said that I am not a mutant and I am not for sale. I just want a ticket out of here so I can get a life. I wanted to go to Havana. I am told it is a free zone. He said that he will help me if I get out of prison. I smiled, "You have a triple life sentence. I couldn't get you out even if I tried." He shrugged, "I thought you were the girl who stopped time and space. If you were her. You better watch your back girlie. The authorities lost one just like you years ago. They won't make that mistake this time. Now one more time. If you want my help. Are you her?" I kept myself calm and said no. He stared for a moment and gave his junior a nod.
The boy showed me a ticket and said that I have to work and earn about three thousand credits to buy it. I grinned, "I have been working at the scrap yard for over two years now. I have three thousand credits. Where do you want me to send it" Roaken smiled, "Resourceful and forward thinking. I like you very much. Go to the Chinatown restaurant called Mistress Qin. There you will meet Madam Li who will hand you your ticket. Be careful not to lose it. There are many who will die for it." I bowed to show my respect and ran back out the wall. I quickly ran to my secret hiding spot and pulled out my emergency funds. I took the entire stack with me. Going to Chinatown is easy. Talking to specific people is not. So when I told the waiter that I was here to see Madam Li on Roaken's orders he gave me a look before he pointed at an empty table. I sat and waited an hour before she came inquiring. I told her about the ticket and she asked for the money. I paid and she had them counted and checked for counterfeits. She gave me the ticket and asked me for my destination. I said Havana. She nodded her head and told me to be at the harbour on the other side of the city at eight pm. The freighter will leave with or without me.
She asked me if I ate anything and I was warned even as a child that Madam Li likes to spike people's food. So I said that I had eaten. She pursed her lips as she asked me how fingers she was holding behind her. I rolled my eyes and told her that I am just a normy. How the heck would I know what's behind her or not. She stared for a moment and waved me off. I made it to the harbour and true to Roaken's words there were people keeping an eye out for those with tickets. I pretended to be a new employee and made it past them. They didn't seem to care about a teenager working hard labor. But they did eye an elderly man who was dragging his granddaughter with him. I sat down near the place mentioned in the ticket. The bouncer asked me to beat it and I showed him my paperwork. He gave me a grin and ushered me to wait in line. I was third. There were refreshments and no entertainment. If you blink you miss. Only normies can get on board. If the border patrol catches a mutant then they will arrest everyone on board. I waited patiently as time passed. Once you are in line you can't be moved. So those eyeing the papers harassed others before the bouncer caught his eye.
Eight pm on the dot a freighter came and we moved in an orderly fashion. First to board was an old lady. The next was a woman in her thirties. Dressed decently but arrogance like nobody's business. Next was me. But the person behind me tried to push himself forward. The man next to the porter pulled out his gun and told him to wait his turn or eat the lead. The man stepped back and I showed him the papers and he ushered me in. I was taken towards the containers. I asked him to let me out when we reached Havana. He said that this boat only goes to Canada and then to Hong Kong and back again. If I want to go to Havana I can hop a ride from the harbour when this ship stops. I thanked him as I stepped into the small room by the crane. The boat left for Hong Kong and the coast guard from a few countries stopped the ship for a routine inspection. I kept calm and cool so they didn't detect the presence of a mutant. I managed to stay hidden but miss entitlement was busted during the third inspection. She was dragged out kicking and screaming.
The next few days were bumpy and I almost threw up a few times. There were few who got seasick. They happily said that they are going overboard. I met with a man with a spiderweb tattoo on his wrist. He said that his name is Ben. He said that he was part of the order of the Web. He is looking for recruits. I told him that I am not interested. He seemed like he was ok but I was told my future self before I went boom not to trust anyone. So I told him to try his luck with someone else. He saw that I wasn't interested so he went away. He called someone and said he talked to seven people. He said that none were mutants and none had the power or interest to give him the authority he feels that he deserves. I thanked my future self as I made myself at home in-between the container filled with electronic devices and high end cars. He tried his luck and was told to stop harassing the stowaways or they would throw him overboard. I was looking forward to seeing it. But I felt it was unnecessary so I went about my usual business. He started asking everyone about their destination. I was the last one he harassed. I made it clear that if he doesn't stop I will talk to the nice people to throw him overboard. The elderly man happily called the porter and Ben wasn't seen on board for the rest of the trip.
As we made it to the port we saw Ben was waiting. He couldn't harass us on board but he can harass us while we are in the harbour. The porter kept him busy while the stowaways and I made it out and gave him the slip. I went looking for the ship leaving for Havana. I found it and made it on board after paying the first mate a hundred credits. Ben was seen looking for everyone who made it out of the freighter. He picked up his phone and called someone who told him something. In a fit of rage he threw his phone. I watched as the slender piece of tech was shattered to bits and pieces. He huffed several times before he walked back to his transport. I made myself comfortable as containers filled with spices, tea and goodness knows what else was hauled in. The crane operator argued about how the stuff should be arranged. The porter was saying it should be arranged by least important to most important. Most important closer while least important in the back. I wasn't the only one on board. But I made sure to stay hidden and not to use my gifts because it would attract the wrong crowd. There were some suspicious characters but as long as I kept my head down and avoided using my gifts I was ok.
A few days later I made it to Havana and I paid the first mate another hundred credits as I hopped off. It was the middle of the night so I made sure that no one saw me disembark. I was walking through the streets and found a cheap place to bunk as I started using my gifts. I got a room on the second floor so I had a beautiful view and a heads up if things go belly up. I read about the punishment of Roaken. He was given the death penalty by lethal injection. His successor was the ruthless Cuthbert. Steel blue eyed, all business and no nonsense. Mostly he was involved in investigating any and all trouble inside the gang. Infamous for shoot first and ask questions never. He is a cold blooded killer. The government has officials who live in his pocket. He has very little patience which is why people are trying to pass over ownership to Trent. He is calm and level headed even in stressful situations. The two decided to split the duties which is a possibility for a shootout but that is none of my business.