In the dimly lit alleys, far away from the bustling streets, dirty and calloused hands scoured through the discarded leftovers, hoping to find even a morsel of food to satiate her gnawing hunger. Her heart sank as she found none. She had no choice but to divert her attention to the busy streets. She warily moved her feet to the alley. She squinted as her gaze met the afternoon light.
"Wow," the child wondered.
Her attention drifted longingly toward the array of stalls and food carts, each offering a mouthwatering variety of treats. The aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and decadent sweets wafted toward her. She stood on the sidelines, clenching her dress. She felt embarrassed as she stared at her ragged and filthy clothing compared to the neatly dressed children with their parents.
"Grrr," Her hunger pangs intensified.
Her emaciated frame was a stark contrast to the joyous faces that surrounded her. She yearned for a moment of respite from her hunger. She glanced around, looking for something to fill her empty stomach. Her small frame stealthily approached the food stalls. Her eyes were fixated on a plump, juicy strawberry sitting enticingly on a vendor's display. Summoning all her courage, she swiftly reached out and snatched the strawberry, concealing it in her small, dirty hands. She glanced around nervously, her innocent eyes darting from side to side, hoping no one had witnessed it. Her heart raced as she quickly retreated to the alleys, away from the prying eyes of the bustling crowd.
"Food!" she smiled contently as she held out her tiny hands holding the fruit.
In that fleeting moment, she drew the fruit to her mouth and smiled in delight; the taste of the sweet, succulent fruit melted in her mouth. She sighed, feeling slightly relieved, but they gazed upon the bustling stalls again. She's not yet full. She could still feel the lingering hunger within her frail body; she went out to the stalls again. This time, she stole a baguette. As she turned to make her escape, a sharp voice pierced the air. A black-haired child immediately alerted the vendors of her act. The vendors turned their attention to the scarlet-haired orphan. She froze on her feet, her breath caught in her throat.
"What on the earth are you doing, you filthy orphan?" the angry vendor exclaimed as he grabbed the baguette from her hand.
The child lowered her head as she felt the prying eyes of the onlookers directed at her. The vendor's face contorted with anger; in the heat of the moment, he raised his hands and slapped the poor child hard on her face.
"You should be ashamed of yourself! Where are your parents?"
Her face reddened like her hair, tears welling up in her eyes. Her ears were ringing, and she couldn't even hear what the vendor said after that slap. She trembled as she felt his vice grip on her small wrist, dragging her out of the streets.
The salty sea breeze felt like salt adding to her wound, she tried to repress her sob, but she felt unable to restrain it. As she sat by the shore, she let the crashing waves of emotion through her. She wanted to eat, all she wanted was to contain her hunger, but she couldn't even do it. From there, she gazed longingly at the radiant bursts of color that painted the night sky, illuminating the darkness with their vibrant hues. The distant sound of laughter and cheers reached her ears and made her realize her solitude; she was crestfallen. Her heart swelled with joy and longing as she watched the fireworks display. Each explosion was a momentary escape from the harsh reality of her life, a brief respite from the struggles she faced on a daily basis. In those fleeting moments, she allowed herself to be swept away by the magic and beauty that filled the sky.
"Meow,"
A faint sound caught her attention. She turned around, following the sound to its source. Her eyes widened as she saw something nestled in the shadows, a lonely cat. Its eyes filled with a mixture of fear and longing. The cat looked up at her, its mews growing louder and more desperate as if pleading for help.
"Are you lost?" she asked as she noticed the tag on its neck.
With gentle caution, she approached the cat, extending a hand in a gesture of trust and comfort. The cat, though wary, slowly edged closer. Its trembling body leaned into her touch. The child's heart swelled with warmth as she felt a connection with this tiny creature.
"Let's return you to your owner," she said as she carried it in her arms.
With the cat cradled gently in her arms, she made her way toward the more populated part of the beach. The soft sand shifted beneath her bare feet as she walked, the cool ocean breeze brushing against her skin. As she neared the bustling area, her feet felt numb as the cat jumped from her hand, and the black-haired child yelled as soon as she saw her.
"You thief!"
It was the same black-haired child who had alerted the vendors earlier. The scarlet-haired child froze in her tracks. She looked at the cat as it jumped into its owner's arms. Her parents soon followed her.
"What happened?" her father asked.
"She was the one who had stolen Ali," the child said, angering her father.
"I d-didn't realize it was your cat. I found it alone and thought of returning it to you," she stammered as she tried to divert her gaze to the sand, trying to ease her racing heart.
"Lies! Teach that child a lesson!" the man said as he signaled their knights to take care of her.
"Please, b-believe me. I did not steal the cat," she cried as she felt herself getting dragged away from the family.
"Don't you dare mess with the baron's daughter again if you still want to live," the knights said
Her small body writhed in pain with each labored breath escaping her lips. Every inch of her body seemed to ache. She gritted her teeth as she clutched the sand into her hand. She felt her energy leaving her body; she sobbed as she tried to open her eyes, only seeing red as blood was already obscuring her sight.
"Look what we have here," a voice sounded, making the little child lift her limping head to see the person.
Despite seeing nothing but an obscured vision of a woman standing before her, she tried to reach out to her feet, hoping for some help from her.
"H-help m-me," the little girl cried said as her bloody hands grazed her feet before losing consciousness.
"Don't tell me you'll help her, Lady Irene?" a voice asked, making the scarlet-haired woman smirk as she touched the child's lifeless form.
"Who knows," she chuckled as she faced her.
As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself in a place she didn't recognize. The gentle melody of birdsong drifted through the air, filling her surroundings with a sense of tranquility. She took a moment to absorb her surroundings. She felt happy as she reeled the softness of the bed and the soothing sounds of nature to ease her weary body and mind. Her gaze soon shifted when she felt the bandage wrapped tightly around her other eye.
"You're finally awake," a voice said from a distance, making her turn her head as she slowly rose to a seating position.
A/N: Hi, it's me again. I have always wanted to write stories about Irene and Erza. I hope you'll support me with this one. Thank you for reading.