It's Monday and I've got a really good chapter for you guys. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out, so I'm excited to share it with you.
- K. Chandler
This was nothing like Rosemary Orphanage.
Ultear and Kinana pressed further into the facility, leaving her with Jellal, who was bringing up the rear. Despite their care, their footsteps echoed down empty halls. Some of the cells were, fortunately, empty. Others were filled with huddled, miserable masses with haggard faces and sunken cheeks that Erza couldn't bear to look at. Erza wondered at the sort of people they were. She wondered how dangerous Kinana's boyfriend really was.
Kinana looked so normal. Ordinary. She didn't seem like the kind of girl who would get herself involved in anything illegal.
Of course, Erza would never have imagined that she'd be spending her first night away from Rosemary sneaking around a state penitentiary either.
"Something on your mind?" asked Jellal. "You've got quite the frown."
Erza let out a breath. Jellal seemed so relaxed here that Erza couldn't help but ask. "Do you do this sort of thing often?" she asked quietly.
Jellal chuckled. "I can't say that I do, no. Actually, if I'm being entirely honest, I wasn't planning on much more than a look around. I figured I'd show you another side to the world, but it seems my exercise has gotten a little out of hand."
"Just a little," said Erza. "It all seems a little bit unreal," she admitted.
"Like something out of a dream?" asked Jellal wryly.
"More like a nightmare," said Erza. "I can't imagine having to live like this."
"Yet, this is the reality for many of Fiore's Citizens," said Jellal, his voice regretful.
"It sounds strange, but I feel almost lucky to have been an orphan."
"Ultear and I were orphans too," said Jellal. "But we weren't as fortunate as you were. Most of us aren't."
Was it possible that…
But, no. That couldn't be the case! The State took care of people. She wouldn't be alive, if not for that. Kinana and her boyfriend must just be the victims of some unfortunate mistake or misunderstanding. They were the exception, not the rule. They had to be.
"I wish I could do something for them," said Erza. "It hardly seems fair."
"You and I both, Erza," said Jellal, his eyes distant. "You and I both."
Erza wasn't keeping track of the halls and corridors as she followed along, surprised when they came to an abrupt halt in front of one of the cells. The occupant of this one was slumped against the wall, his knees drawn up to his chest.
Kinana gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
"Is this the place?" asked Ultear dryly.
Kinana ignored her, choosing instead to pressing herself against the bars.
"Erik!" she hissed. "Erik, it's me!"
"Kinana…?" he croaked, his voice tinged with disbelief. He blinked, rubbing at his good eye. The other bore a healing injury, a slash in the flesh that pulled tight over an empty socket. "Is that really you?"
"Yes… yes! I'm here," she said.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, shaking his head furiously.
"Well, I'm here now. It's all right. I'm getting you out of here. Just give me a second."
"No, this is enough. All I wanted was to hear your voice again," he mumbled. "Just one last time…"
"How were you planning on getting him out?" asked Jellal.
"I don't know. I hadn't gotten that far," admitted Kinana.
"Ultear," said Jellal, motioning at the wall of Erik's cell.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this…" she sighed. Shutting her eyes, Ultear pressed her palm to the stone.
"Ultear… what are you—" Erza started to say.
"Wait for it," Jellal told her.
The room started to shake and Erza felt a pulse of something around her as the stone under Ultear's fingers crumbled, leaving a hole large enough for a person to pass through.
"You're wizards too," Erza gasped, her stomach giving an uneasy churn. What had she gotten herself into?
She wasn't sure why she had expected any differently. As much as she had tried to ignore the facts, this was a state prison facility. And she and her new friends had just broken in.
"Why does that matter? I thought you wanted to help them," said Jellal, his eyes reflecting his disappointment.
"It doesn't," she said quickly.
Kinana wasted no time in rushing to Erik's side, supporting him as he struggled to his feet. She gasped when she finally got a good look at his gaunt face.
"What did they do to you?" she murmured. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she cupped his face in her hand. She traced the scar that crossed his destroyed right eye.
"I'm all right. I've still got the other one," he said, forcing a wavering smile even as the tears rolled down his own cheek.
His words only made her cry harder. He pulled her close, one hand at the back of her head.
"How long has it been?" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"Too long…" Kinana sobbed into his chest.
"I'm so sorry. I never wanted to involve you in this," he said hoarsely.
She shook her head, pulling back just far enough to meet his gaze. "No… It's not your fault. I've been involved since the moment I fell in love with you," she whispered.
"I'm so, so sorry," he said, brushing her tears away with his thumb.
"I don't regret it," she said, shaking her head. "Never."
"Kinana…"
Erza watched as the young lovers cried in each other's embrace, unable to fight the conflict squeezing her heart.
"This is the State you love so much. This is what they do to people," Jellal reminded her quietly.
"You really were one of the fortunate ones," said Ultear.
"The State Security Task Force arrested three children today," added Jellal. "Orphans. And what crime do you think they committed?"
Erza shook her head, unable to speak. Children? Were these the 'dangerous criminals' that Kagura had mentioned?
"They used magic," spat Ultear. "But that wasn't the worst part. No, what's worse is that it was an accident. Two of his friends had been playing in the street. They didn't see the oncoming car. The 'dangerous' wizard in question pushed them out of the way and saved their lives, and possibly that of the driver, too. Now all three children are here until the State can determine whether they have any magical ability."
Erza couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was wrong! There was no reason for a child to suffer so cruel a fate after saving a friend's life. Children deserved to grow up fighting with wooden swords and eating cake with their friends.
Erza remembered laughing with Millianna, Sho, Simon and Wally. Things couldn't have been more perfect. She would never have imagined that this is what life outside of Rosemary would have looked like.
"We can't… We can't just leave them there," mumbled Erza.
"What else can we do?" said Jellal, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Anything we do would be going against the State," he said seriously. "One wrong move and we'll find ourselves in here with them," he reminded her.
"But this is wrong!" she blurted, unable to stop herself.
"I thought the State was always right," said Ultear, her tone acidic.
"It is," stammered Erza.
"Is it?" asked Ultear.
Erza shook her head. "How could freedom and equality for all people be wrong? How could taking power away from the privileged few to provide a chance to the common man be wrong?" she asked, almost desperately.
"It's not," said Jellal. "But does this look right to you? Does the spread of fear and ignorant lies against those who can't help what they were born to feel right to you? What about the senseless persecution of these 'dangerous' wizards, who were only going about their business? Who's the real oppressor here?"
Erza didn't respond. Was it possible that everything she had been taught was a lie?
"It doesn't sit well with you, does it?" asked Jellal gently.
"No," whispered Erza.
"Then let's help them," said Jellal, extending his hand.
Swallowing hard, Erza looked at Jellal's outstretched hand. Was this the right thing to do? She couldn't deny the truth that was before her. But yet…
"I'll come with you," said Erik, limping out of his cell with Kinana's help. "I can show you where they're being kept."
"No," protested Kinana. "You aren't strong enough. You can barely stand. I need to get you out of here."
"We can't be selfish," said Erik.
"Erik, please."
"They're just like I am. I can't just leave them here."
"But—"
"Listen to that girl of yours, Erik," said Ultear. "Don't make her worry about you any more than she already has."
"We can get the others out," said Jellal.
"You'll do that?" asked Erik.
"You have my word," Jellal said.
"Thank you…" breathed Erik. "You can find them just down the hall, two rights and a left. Good luck."
"The same to you two," said Erza.
"Hurry up," said Ultear. "We don't have long. It's a miracle we haven't been caught yet."
With a wave of her hand, Ultear restored the wall of the cell. Then they bid goodbye to Erik and Kinana, the young couple heading in one direction and Erza and her new friends going in the other.
That was my first time writing Kinabra. What'd you think?
Next time, in Journey to the Past, our heroes rescue a bunch of children. Any guesses as to who they are? (I actually left some decent clues to this one.)
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
