7'o' clock night

Anna made sure she wasn't seen as she slipped out of her house. She was going to check on Lucy. It wasn't safe for Lucy to stay with Loke. Loke might be killed if the council of nymphs found out.

Anna shuddered and wrapped her cloak tighter around her. She walked, keeping to the path.

Lucy was safe.

Anna was safe.

And yet, Anna couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

'Stop imaging things' she thought to herself as she increased her pace.

The woods weren't even safe during daylight - let alone nighttime.

As she got closer to Loke's house, she let the cloak fall, uncovering her face.

She knocked on the door and waited.

The door opened.

"Ah! Anna-san! Is everything all right?" Loke asked, surprised at what Anna came at night for.

Anna frowned.

"Is there someone behind me?" Anna whispered to Loke.

"Uh," Loke looked behind Anna.

"No?"

Anna felt herself go cold.

"Isn't Lucy here?" Anna asked, slowly.

"Lucy? Why would she be here?" Loke asked. And then his face grew panicked.

'No.'

'No way.'

'Not my Lucy...'

Anna's knees became jelly and she collapsed to the ground.

"Anna-san!" Loke cried and held her before she hit the ground completely.

"No way..." Anna cried, her voice low and eyes unfocused.

"Where is she?"

Lucy was hurt all over.

She could feel every bone and muscle in her body screaming out in pain. Even her nails hurt.

'Where am I?'

And then, she remembered.

The demons.

They must've kidnapped her.

It usually happens in stories. But now, it has happened to her.

Lucy winced as she sat up, trying not to cry.

Her legs were bruised all over and her beautiful, blue summer coat, gone. She loved that coat. Moreover, she had a big lump on the back of her head. Lucy could've healed it. If it wasn't for the wretched chains that bound her hands.

Magic-restraining chains.

"This is bad..." Lucy muttered, almost about to cry. "Auntie is going to be worried."

Lucy tried to get up, but it was hard as her legs hurt with every movement. To make it worse, the chains were heavy. Lucy could barely lift her hands.

Once Lucy stood up, she surveyed the room.

It was a cold, dark cell.

With a tiny window at the top right corner of the wall Lucy was facing.

There was a bucket in the corner.

And for a bed, there was a small sheet.

'Okay.' Lucy thought.

'Now how do I get out?'

"So, she's fine, then?"

"A little shocked, but fine. You can go home, dear." The nurse replied.

Loke was currently standing outside a room in the clinic. Anna-san had fallen unconscious and Loke had taken her to the nearest clinic - which was located in the village.

'Poor Anna-san...'

Loke had never liked Anna-san - and his dislike only grew when her sister committed a traitorous crime. But after he met Lucy, Anna-san's niece, it all changed.

Lucy was a pretty little girl. And, she was smart. She loved reading, like him. And they soon became the best of friends. Before he knew it, Loke started to like both of them very much.

But now, the council of nymphs is after them. After Lucy.

And there was nothing he could do.

But that was wrong, wasn't it?

He should've been there.

Been there for Anna-san.

Been there for Lucy.

But he wasn't there.

Guilt began to build up in Loke's chest.

'But still, where did Lucy go?'

As soon as he thought about it, he knew.

She was a nymph.

And there were demons roaming around.

And, she was a child.

Easy to kidnap.

'Crap! No way! She wouldn't have been kidnapped, would she?'

And as much as Loke wanted to believe it, he knew it wasn't true.

And the worst part was that he had seen the demons carrying a sack across their shoulders, walking towards the port.

He and Taurus even joked about how demons became workers.

And it sickened him to think that Lucy could've been in that sack.

'Dear Lucy,'

Loke looked up at the stars - it was Lucy's favorite thing to do.

'I know you're somewhere there. I know you must be scared, but you're strong Lucy. I know you're strong. So believe in yourself. And I'm sure, you'll make it back, you'll make it back and meet us!'

Lucy needed to get rid of these chains.

With them, she had zero chance she would escape.

Without them, she at least had a one percent chance.

And everyone knew, that one was better than zero.

Lucy tried wiggling her hands.

It wouldn't budge.

She tried to break them apart.

It wouldn't budge.

And then, she heard footsteps.

Lucy dropped to the floor - lying down and trying to stay as quiet as possible. She hoped they wouldn't enter the room.

But of course, they just had to enter the room.

Lucy inhaled sharply as two feet appeared at the doorway.

"Looks like ya're awake."

Lucy didn't recognize the voice - though she was sure it was a man. She was glad it wasn't the man who slapped her. That man was creepy and her cheek still stung from his slap.

"How ya doin'? He asked. Lucy wondered if he was trying to be friendly or creepy.

Silence.

"Look, I know ya're awake, so why don't ya respond?" Lucy thought she heard a growl.

Before she could answer, the man grabbed her by the hair and made her face him. Lucy noticed that his face was covered with scars making him look ugly and scary. He also had a scary grin on.

"C'mon, I was bein' nice..." The man said, grinning. "So why don't ya respond?"

Lucy began to tremble. After some time, she found her voice and talked.

"W-W-Where am I? W-What are you g-g-going to do?" She stuttered.

"Oh! Yay! Ya finally responded!" The man cheered, too loud for Lucy's liking.

"Ya're on a ship," He said, releasing his grip on her hair. He helped her up and looked straight into her eyes.

"And we're gonna sell ya at the next port to the highest bidder."

"W-What?" Lucy asked, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"Ya're a nymph. Nymphs are precious cuz of their abundant magic supply. Everyone knows that!"

Nymphs were precious? Lucy had no idea.

"So, we're gonna teach ya manners." The man grinned.

"I'm well m-mannered enough t-thank you," Lucy said, offended. Her mother had taught her manners. How dare this man insult her mother's teaching?!

"Ya get no choice." He said, now pulling Lucy outside the room.

Lucy struggled against his grip.

"B-But-"

"No buts."

Lucy bit her lip, she felt like crying - again. She wondered if she would ever see Auntie again. She wondered if she would see Loke-nii again. She wondered if she would ever read Auntie's books again.

She wondered if she would ever be free again.

'No. I can't go with this man. I can't be sold. I need to escape.'

And with that thought, Lucy wrenched her arms away from the man and began to run.