Chapter 2

4 years after Gol D. Roger's execution

A knock on the door made my younger foster siblings and I look up from our shared little dinner. The brief curiosity I felt however was quickly joined by a slight wariness, which made me instinctively grab the little pocketknife in my pants.

Tree 24 wasn't exactly in the worst part of the lawless zone but given the hour and the stories you tend to hear, well, even I knew to be careful.

Chancing a glance towards Sister Mary at the head of the table to gauge her reaction my wariness receded somewhat as she didn't look surprised to have a visitor this late in the evening, quite the opposite even.

This was only confirmed when she met my gaze with a kind smile and made to stand up from the table.

"Becker, would you please collect the dishes of your siblings and get them to bed. I want you to meet someone in the living room." She asked of me without giving a hint of what was going on and left for the front door, knowing I would do as I was told.

Which I did.

"You heard Sister Mary, shovel the last bite in, and then I'll tug you into bed," I said, the unknown visitor pushed to the back of my mind for the time being.

"But…"

"No 'Buts' Leslie," I said absently while walking along the table collecting the already empty bowls and patiently waiting for the younger ones to finish. "You and John can already wash your hands and head upstairs." I finished not unkindly but with easy big-brother-authority, which tended to work like a charm with my four younger siblings…most of the time.

"We go if you promise to read us another chapter of Liar Nolan!" Leslie, five years of age and the second oldest, countered and did a decent impression of Sister Mary haggling at the market.

"Deal." I instantly replied to avoid any headaches and was thankfully rewarded with a chorus of cheers from around the table. More importantly, however, the last two eating shoved their food in their mouths and bolted with the rest upstairs, leaving me to finish my current task in peace.

Bowls and glasses in hand I walked the few feet from the dining table to the little kitchen and gently placed everything in the sink. Only a couple of steps later and I was following my siblings up the narrow staircase. Ignoring Sister Mary's room to the right and the little bath to the left I stepped into our shared room and was greeted by four children neatly tugged into their bed.

Too neatly…

"Did you all wash your hands?" I asked blankly, already knowing the answer.

"Of course!"

"Yeah!"

"Y..yes."

"Alright," I let them fool me since by now I was eager to get back down and see who's there. "I see what Sister Mary wants from me and then I'll be back with the book." Sensing another round of cheers coming I hastily decided to dampen the mood a bit by adding some terms to the 'deal'. "You have to stay quiet and in your room, otherwise the deal is off." I threatened, my gaze on Leslie.

"Fine." She replied with indignation as if they were anything but little angles.

"Good." With that, I closed the door and headed back downstairs towards the living room, where we tended to play, and Sister Mary taught us what she felt was necessary.

Walking through the now-empty kitchen again I was able to hear talking through the open door.

"…he would start with trees 60 to 69, the marine base, some taverns, and so on. The decent neighborhoods" A male voice said in a reassuring voice.

"That's good, Reuder." Sister Mary answered in obvious relief.

Remembering my lessons, I stepped into the room and politely knocked on the doorframe, announcing my arrival.

"Ah, Becker," My mother figure stood up, as did the young man. Both with an easy smile. "This is Reuder, my younger brother, he works at a local newspaper." She pointed at the man, who gave me a friendly wave. "Reuder, this is Becker, the eldest of my little orphanage and here since he was a babe in a basket at my door."

"It's nice to meet you, Becker." Reuder said in an honest manner, which made things easier for me to reply in kind.

His gaze was back on his sister, which apparently was the cue for her to continue to explain the reason for his visit.

"To put it simply, I asked him to offer you a job." She began with a smile, seemingly pleased, which I didn't quite understand.

"A job?" I asked, baffled. "Like a grown-up?" I honestly had no idea what to think of this.

"A little bit." Sister Mary answered with a laugh before she quickly sobered up and kneeled in front of me, her hands taking mine. "Becker, you are an intelligent and sensible young man, that's why I want you to think of this as an opportunity."

"I don't understand." My gaze was switching between Reuder, who kept himself in the background, and Sister Mary right in front of me. "Why? And what about here?"

"Nothing will change here, and you won't have to leave or anything like that." She quickly reassured me, perhaps having sensed some of my fears.
Taking a breath, she looked me straight in the eyes. "I want you to earn your own money and use it to build yourself a life. The earlier the better."

"What…is this job?" I finally asked after some hesitation, still not comfortable with this strange event.

"You would work as a newsie." My gaze had still been on Mary, but it was Reuder who answered, which made me look over in confusion.

"A newsie goes around and sells newspaper." He elaborated, having correctly interpreted my questioning gaze. "It's pretty simple and I will explain everything, don't worry."

I swallowed uncomfortably…this was so….sudden, and…just why?

But my gaze slowly met my mother's hopeful and loving eyes, and I had to swallow again.

"A..alright."

A quick glance through a window at the front of Fred's bar gave me a good idea about the number of guests today and made it easy to judge a proper entrance.

Wouldn't want to make a grand entrance just for a handful of people after all.

Yeah, a month of this newsie-thingy and I really got the hang of it, I even kinda liked it so far.

Stepping in front of the salon doors I took a deep breath and steeled myself, a single copy already in hand while the rest was safely stashed in my satchel.

With a bit of luck and given the news I might sell them right here right now.

A strong, confident push on the door and a purposeful step later I finally stood in front of my audience.

Fred at the bar gave me a welcoming nod, already familiar with me and my style, while a handful of the Marine crew gave me a disinterest side-stare.

This would change.

"Extra! Extra!" I hopped onto a nearby stool and shouted at the top of my lungs, intent to reach even the most drunken sailor.

"Whitebeard is on the move!" I declared and tried to sound ominous. Hours spent practicing with Reuder now becoming handy as it instantly garnered the Marines' attention, even the strangely dressed weirdo at the bar stopped his strange dance.

"Whitebeard!" I repeated the name to keep the tension high before I went on with the proper news and the script that was prepared. "In a brazen move, only fitting for the legendary man, he claimed Fishman-Island as his!" Now I held up the single copy. A, in my opinion, super badass picture of the man on the front page for all here to see.

"A statement of intent?" I asked out loud, my gaze swinging over the watching men as if I was asking them. "Expansion into Paradise?"

I paused for a second.

"Thoughts and theories on page three, ladies and gentlemen." Now I held up the copy again for emphasis. "First reactions from Marine HQ exclusively on page four and consequences for Sabaody Archipelago on page five."

"Five berries for a copy!" I shouted and hopped off the stool, on my way towards the first group of Marines.

"Get your news fresh off the presses and help a poor orphan make some money."

"The ink is barely dry…"

And in that manner I went from table to table, gleefully feeling my satchel getting lighter and my purse getting heavier.

Grin on my face I finally made my way towards Fred, who was already pouring me a glass of juice, to hand him the last copy, when I couldn't help but watch the strange marine…run on the spot?

"How the fuck are they doing this?"

Ignoring the strange, mismatched outfit, the fierce look on his face, and the agitated muttering, which was honestly all par for the course on this crazy archipelago, I intended to give the guy a wide berth just to be sure when….

"6,7,8,9,10"

I blinked and he was simply…gone. An almighty crash from the table I just left followed a heartbeat later.

Whipping around startled I saw the man, that was just in front of me, in a heap of broken wood and marines.

"Sir!"

"Captain!"

"Captain Yarisugi!"

"Whazzup?"

Startled yelps, pained groans, drunken confusion,….and uproarious laughter echoed all around me and I could only dimly watch as the elated and probably drunk man stepped out of the wreckage he created in less than a second.

I simply couldn't help it.

"How did you do that?" I exclaimed, pure amazement shining through my voice and awe lighting up my features.

"Leg-day, baby!" He exclaimed in unadulterated joy…and proceeded to kick one of his men out of a nearby window. "Men! Next round is on me!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, which was answered with equally elated cheers…even from the guy outside.

6 years after Gol D. Roger's execution

"Experience Sabaody Park's latest attraction," I shouted with rehearsed enthusiasm between the various hotels and tourists on tree 30.

Almost on autopilot I stepped out of the way of a passing family and shoved the flyer into what had to be the father's hands. Uninterested in their reaction I already moved on towards the next gaggle of people with the next flyer already in hand.

"They say it's almost as tall as a mangrove," I exclaimed brightly right into the face of a lady, which had her shopping floating above her in half a dozen bubbles. Knowing it was borderline rude I still held the piece of paper into her face until she took it in a mix of bemusement and annoyance.

Skipping away from the lady I almost whooped with joy when I felt the last two copies in my satchel because it meant I was finally hitting the home stretch for the day and could focus on way more important things.

"You are welcome!" I exclaimed over my shoulder towards a man, who was talking with somebody else and used his hands to animatedly gesture his point, which I naturally took as an invitation to shove a flyer into his open hand.

The last flyer in hand I spotted a man from the long-leg tribe wave his hand high above the heads of the other passersby to hail a nearby Bon Chari taxi and couldn't help but smile at the challenge.

'Now!' Seeing a gap between the people widen I took the opportunity and leaped.

"High Five!" I shouted in genuine glee when I managed to smack the flyer in his outstretched hand. Still airborne I looked over my shoulder and shouted another one of the phrases I was actually paid to say. "Enjoy the new Ferris wheel in Sabaody Park!"

Finally landing and done for the day I took of running towards the edge of this little hotel town, intent to get back to Reuder's office and collect my hard-earned money.

Despite being happy to use the people as obstacles in my impromptu sprint I was glad to finally reach the outskirts and gaze at the vast open stretches between the various mangrove trees. This was the part where I could play to my strength and how I managed to sell more newspapers than the other newsies combined.

Biting my lip in concentration, I shook my legs in preparation and eyed the first part of the journey.

Slightly hilly, no buildings, trees far enough apart, and the waterways in between relatively narrow.

Breathing getting deeper, focus becoming sharper, I settled into my starting position and went for it.

'12345678910!' Legs sculptured by two years of skipping rope like a madman and squats with an old cannonball propelled me forward, hopefully towards the direction I was aiming for.

The wind made my eyes water, the world became a disorientating blur and for the few seconds I traveled the wind rushing past me felt and sounded like a howling gale, which only made it even harder to know what was going on.

Luckily, as unpleasant as it was it ended just as quickly when I stumbled to a stop…somewhere.

Heaving a big sigh, I forced myself to continue breathing normally and tried to orientate myself. Breathing another sigh, this time in relief, when I spotted the edge of the town that I just left in the distance I immediately turned and refocused on the path ahead of me, my gaze locked onto the next clear patch of land.

Deep breath and '12345678910!'

'Almost there! Almost there! Almost there!' I practically vibrated on my spot in the queue towards the pay booth.

The laughter and excited screaming, that I heard through the park's fence only adding fuel to my giddiness and it took all my good behavior not to make a scene or bowl the people in front of me over.

Still in my newsie outfit including the cap I had practically bolted out of Reuder's office the second the money touched my hands, just to see the reason why I spent all morning bugging people.

The new Ferris wheel.

I could already see it, towering above everything else in the center of the park and the sun glittering on the bubbles all over it. It looked awesome!

'Yes!' I almost whooped in joy when I could take a step further again.

That's when a sound pierced through the joy around me.

A trumpet!

The trumpet!

Any and all thoughts gone I practically threw myself to the ground, desperately trying to be as small and unassuming as possible, just like everybody else around.

The trumpet became quiet and the only sound I could hear was the shaky breathing of the scared family behind me.

'Eyes on the ground!' I swallowed my terror and willed myself to be still as a statue, which became next to impossible when I heard the labored breathing of their human steads getting louder, getting closer.

Heavy footsteps of armor-clad feet were just as terrifying as the nasal laughter of the people, which had the absolute power to bring ruin to every single person on this archipelago.

People, that even kings bowed to without a second of hesitation.

"Oh, look father!" A boy's voice exclaimed a horrifyingly small distance away. "It's a complete set, two big ones and two little ones. I bet mother would love them." The family next to me froze, and I reckoned it wasn't much and I would be able to hear their hearts hammer up to their throats.

"No, Charlos, she's still pregnant, let her enjoy her peace and the musicians I got her." An elderly male voice answered a bit tiredly, unknowingly saving the lives of a young family.

"Alright, but can I get that one, my fishman needs a new chew toy."

Goosebumps exploded all over me and a shiver went down my back. I felt their gazes!

Why did I feel their gazes?!

"Isn't it a bit skinny, it doesn't look healthy." The father I presumed answered disinterested, the complete opposite of what had to be his excited son.

'Please!'

"I don't care, it's good enough for some fun." The son, Charlos, answered, playing with my fate without a care in the world.

'Go away!'

"Fine," The man relented, seemingly not caring either way and clapped his hands once. "Box it and send it home while we enjoy this infantile establishment."

It was as if cotton fell over my ears and the outside world hid behind a waterfall, I heard the blood rush through my ears and felt my heart trying to escape my rips.

'What is happening?' Everything was getting fuzzy; everything was starting to feel funny.

The sound of chains, the sudden weight around my neck, and the sight of armored feet stepping into view, however, were somehow crystal clear.

The shiver, that went down my back had absolutely nothing to do with the cold polished marble under my feet or the thin grey jumpsuit.

The shiver, that made me struggle to hold the impossibly fancy dagger in my hands, came from the…the thing, that was pacing in its cage on the other side of this round chamber.

Deep down I knew that it was a Fish man, but…this? This, this wasn't right.

I almost fell to my knees in terror when its eyes settled on me again. Wide and wild, unblinking, and so full of hunger and fear.

Unable to stare back my eyes dropped and I flinched in horror at the sight. This had been a Fish man, now it looked like a sky-blue skeleton. Ribs protruding, clearly visible through the scarred skin, and spindly limbs with…I gasped.

'Are those bitemarks?'

I couldn't help it, my gaze jumped back up towards the monster's head and I flinched again.

The eyes! The way it was panting, the way salvia was dripping down between razor-sharp teeth and cracked lips. This was hunger!

'CHEW TOY!' That boy had said chew toy! I gasped in horror and backpedaled as far away as possible from the thing, that had its eyes unerringly on me while it kept prowling in its cage, seemingly unbothered by my reaction, consumed by hunger.

The back of my head smacked against the shiny metal door, that the faceless knight had dragged me through who knew how long ago, and I was about to scream for help when an innocent ping sounded through the giant room.

Startled, I dimly registered the Fish man flinch violently before he scrambled into the corner of his little cage, seemingly trying to make himself look as small as possible.

Swallowing my confusion my gaze swept up the room to where I thought I heard the sound come from when I noticed a pair of doors silently glide open behind a balcony, that I had previously missed.

"This is going to be awesome, Mjosgard!" A voice exclaimed in boyish excitement and despite the situation, I still instantly dropped to the floor.

"What did you get, Charlos?" A slightly older voice asked, and I could hear similar enthusiasm.

Eyes not quite on the floor I could clearly see the blue Fish man's labored breathing as he struggled to keep his terror in check. Shivers, which were more like convulsions, wrecked his entire skeletal frame every so often and I had to force my eyes to the ground, I didn't want to see this.

"Ohohoh," My captor chortled, "see that critter?" I felt their gazes on me and my entire body locked up. "This will be a little cat and mouse game. To make things interesting I starved the beast and gave the food a little weapon."

'I….' My limps suddenly felt like anchors dropping into the depths of the ocean. Again, my entire world seemed to fall behind a giant waterfall.

"This should be quick though, do you wanna go hunting then?" Only dimly did I register people still talking, in the corner of my eye I saw the 'little weapon', that I dropped only moments ago.

Shivering like….like…my eyes shot up,...the 'beast'.

I felt bile rising, apparently, it hadn't been broken entirely, because its eyes were locked onto me, gaze unwavering, unblinking, gone were the shivers, back was the hungry panting.

"Laskey!" The younger boy shouted in glee and to my despair he sounded as hungry for my blood as the Fishman was for my flesh, "Open the cage!"

I scrambled to my feet, back pressed into the door behind me, and dagger clutched in my hands before me. Almost in slow-motion the cage door swung open and I struggled to breathe, my rip-cage seemingly too small to contain my beating heart.

Impossibly, my eyes widened in terror even further when I saw the Fish man slowly rise to his own feet and slowly stumble towards the now open door.

As if testing the waters, it took a tentative step through, suddenly, as if it couldn't believe its luck its entire posture changed before my very eyes. Gone was the terrified creature, in its place now a horrible monster ready to pounce.

Which it did.

Driven by a seemingly unbearable hunger, almost on all fours, it shot forward, crossing a third of the room in a second.

My entire body seized, my throat locked up and I couldn't help but watch it cross the middle of the room in a strange torpor.

Unwittingly I took a stumbling step away from the door behind me and dumbly looked down at my feet.

Mind blank, except for three things; my feet, the dagger, and the monster coming.

My gaze snapped up on its own, the monster only a handful of paces away now.

'I can't miss any more!'

Dagger in an iron grip, eyes snapping shut again, '12345678910!'