"uhh, hello? Is someone there? I'm uhh, I'm here to set you free?". Forcing his feet to start walking forward, he froze when he finally turnt to look into the cell. "whAT THE FU-"
It didn't matter how long he looked, Suigetsu simply couldn't believe what he was seeing. Huddled in the corner, seaming to be attempting to make themselves look as small and as threatening as possible, both at the same time, was a girl. Her starved, obviously malnourished body was down on all four, low to the dirty stone ground, while her wings puffed up behind her back, and tail curled around in a defensive manner.
'shit, shit, shit who the hell is this guy? What the fuck is he doing here? He can't be serious though right? Set me free? After everything Orochimaru did to seal me in here? That can't be right… can it?'. 21's thoughts were running a mile a minute. Most were full of fear, terrified of what this new stranger could do to her. But there were a few that were filled with curiosity, and one, the tiniest bit of hope. Hope that what she had heard the white-haired man say wasn't just her imagination. Hope that she could finally be free of this place.
"i- uhh, hi kid" Suigetsu stuttered, not knowing what else to do. From the looks of it the strange girl couldn't have been older than 16 or 17. Though it was pretty hard to tell due to her, uhh. Extra limbs. "what the hell happened to you?". The words left the sword wielders mouth before he could stop them, though the regret was imminent from the way the girl's eyes narrowed and body tensed.
"what does it look like happened to me huh? I sure as hell didn't do this to myself". It was the winged girls first time speaking for a long time. She was the only prisoner this end of the hide out. And the only person she ever saw was Jugo on the occasions he'd bring her food and water, but he wasn't a very talkative person. So as expected her voice was rough and quite from never being used, but threatening none the less.
"oh, right. Haha, I should have guessed". Suigetsu scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "He really went all out with you huh? I've never seen him go so far with an experiment before. You must be pretty strong". He took a few steps towards the bars of the cell. 21 simply growled at him.
"I would have rather had a childhood then be strong" she rasped out. But instead of being afraid, like one would have expected, Suigetsu simply laughed and once again stepped closer to the cell. Now standing directly Infront of the bars. This angered the girl. "what the hell are you laughing at?!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. It's just that I feel sorta the same" the shark mans eyes became downcast, and it looked like he was about to explain further. But before he was given the chance, the door he entered from once again opened. This time 2 new figures, and 1 rather familiar one, walked through. This immediately made 21 tense back up, having relaxed slightly during her short conversation with Suigetsu. While the man in question just simply looked over, and greeted the 3 newcomers as he realised who they were.
"Suigetsu, what the hell is taking you so long? And what were you shouting about before? Did a rat spook you or something?" a red-haired girl with glasses was the first to respond. Hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. It was pretty obvious she was upset.
"Ha! You're one to talk Karin. You'd be the only one of us to spook at a rat". The newly named red head seethed in anger, but before she was able to retort, Suigetsu continued talking. "Anyway, I was just about to release the last prisoner before you guys arrived. But I think you may want to talk a look first" as he spoke, the white-haired man stood to the side, leaving plenty on room for them to take a look at 21.
Karin let out a small huff, about to tell the man to just let them out already so they could leave. But when the raven-haired teen, who had been silent up to this point, walked past her towards the cell, she quickly shut her mouth and followed suit.
Their reactions were no better than Suigetsu.
While the stoic man's eyes merely widened in shock, Karin gasped loudly, hand covering her mouth and almost falling over from shock. Honestly, 21 was starting to get sick of this.
"Why don't you guys just take a photo already. I ain't no fucking museum display. Now are you going to let me out of here or just keep talking all day?". Realising that these strangers did not possess any immediate threat, 21's posture relaxed. Now sitting in a squat like position, hands grazing the ground in front of her. With her ears facing forward and a bored expression on her face, 21 waited for one of them to act on what she had said.
"let the girl out, Suigetsu" it was the stoic kids first time speaking. His voice even and devoid of emotion. It set 21 back on edge.
"Are you sure about that Sasuke? I mean, it looks like Orochimaru put a lot of effort into keeping her locked up here. Just look at the seals on the door". True to her work, Karin pointed at the multiple seals sounding the outer wall of the cell, as well as a larger one covering the lock of the door. The newly named Sasuke spoke up again.
"Hm, just be quick about it". With that said the man walked over to the opposite wall, closing his eyes and leaning against it.
"R-right!" Karin loudly stuttered out, heading over to the closest seal and beginning to release them. It took a few minutes due to the amount, but eventually the glasses wearing shinobi found herself facing the last, and biggest seal that had been placed over the lock. "Alright, this is the last one, but it's also a lot stronger, and more complex than the rest, so I'll need a minute before I can safely take it off. Are you… sure you want me to remove it, Sasuke?". While she didn't receive any verbal confirmation from the raven-haired teen, the slight nod of his head was more than enough for Karin to continue with her task.
What no one had yet to notice, was that within the cell they were currently opening, 21 was slowly beginning to feel herself become more and more aware of her surroundings. 'those seals much have been sealing away my power or something. I feel like I could hear an ant climbing on the wall if I wanted'. With her hearing becoming stronger, so were her other senses. That included her sense of smell. And there was one that instantly caused the girls pupils to narrow, and anger to rise. 'what the hell is this? I thought he was dead! Just keep it together, wait for the final seal to be broken. Then you can get out'. With her mind set, 21 focused on keeping her posture calm and relaxed, less the ones outside her cell sense her anger. Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long before Karin's voice once again caught everyone's attention.
"Release!". With that the paper seal fell off of the door, and 21 felt a wave of energy and strength wash over her. Suddenly, she didn't feel so afraid. With another small huff, Karin grabbed the cell door, and slowly pulled it open. Years of never being used made it fairly stiff and difficult to move. But she quickly managed to open it fully, and stood to the side as to allow 21 the space to exit her prison. which is exactly what she was planning to do.
Slowly standing up on stiff legs, 21 begun making her way to the door. Her mind still not able to comprehend the fact that she was about to get out. 'but before that' she thought, 'I have to figure something out'. Keeping her head low, and fists clenched, the dirty girl walked right out of her cell, and directly towards the teen leaning against the wall. "You" she growled out. Anger now clearly showing on her face.
"Hm?" Sasuke barely moved. Only lifting hid head up slightly and raising an eyebrow in question. There was no emotion in the Uchiha's eyes.
"why do you smell like him?". When no resignation showed on the man face, 21 continued. "why do you smell like Orochimaru? I thought he was dead" the name was spat out of her mouth as though it were poison.
"He is dead. I absorbed him, and his power". This time Sasuke was looking the girl directly in the eyes, hints on annoyance showing in his own. Suigetsu, Karin and Jugo standing in the background. None knowing what to do. Should they intervene? Or just let things play out?
21's anger had completely disappeared at the Uchiha's answer. Instead replaced with shock, and a slight amount of fear. "you… you absorbed him?". 'just how strong are these people?'
Jugo decided it was his turn to speak. "look, if you still want to leave, just head out the door, all the way to the end of the hallway and turn left. There's a hole in the wall so you can just leave from there". Not really knowing what else to do, but definitely not wanting to stay around these people, or in this place, any longer, 21 begun making her way towards the door. While slightly afraid to completely turn her eyes away from them, 21 couldn't help the feeling of excitement that begun bubbling within her chest, and her speed increased. Reaching the door, she pushed it open. No longer caring for the 4 people still standing behind her. As she entered the hallway the girl begun to run. No longer able to wait.
Following the directions Jugo had given her, 21 reached the hole in the wall and, without hesitation, jumped through, landing on the warm rock outside. A strong breeze ruffling her feathers and blowing sand into her eyes. But she didn't care.
"I'm… I'm free"
Hello again! Sorry for taking so long to write this. Life's been crazy lately. But! To make up for it, I'll be promising that from here on out, each chapter will be at LEAST 1000 words! This one being over 1700!
I also apologise for it being a bit rushed. I'm still working on it haha. Hopefully the more I write the better I'll get.
Another thing to add! 21 now has an official design! I commissioned an amazing artist to help bring her to life and could not be happier with the results! And before you ask, no it is not the new cover photo. That is one I created myself. I didn't want to use someone else's art so I made my own! It's far from perfect but considering it's my first time drawing human anatomy, I'd say it didn't turn out to bad.
Anyhoo, I'll stop before this gets to long. So please leave a review if you enjoyed this! I may not respond to them, but I do see each and every one! You have no idea hoe happy it makes me seeing that there are people out there enjoying the things I create.
Welp, I'll see yall in the next chapter! (hopefully it doesn't take me as long to write…)