Chapter 34: Chapter 34 - Escape plan
Kui tried to squeeze his fingers through the gap in between the wood and open the latch outside, but it was not possible at all. It only ended up with his fingers squished.
"Hiss…" he hugged his hand close to his chest. "We can wait until they stop..." Gazing back, he met the tear-filled eyes of the young mer. The pale blue eyes looked almost transparent as they gazed at the corpses all around.
"Shit," Kui jumped over the corpse and ran to him, hugging his small head tightly to his body. "Don't look."
The young mer weakly pushed him away while whimpering.
"Shh… please don't look."
The mer pushed his hand away and sunk back into the dark barrel.
Sighing, Kui gazed down. He did not anticipate this. He was only thinking of escaping but completely forgot about protecting this child. These fish tails that were hung from the ceiling might just be 'seafood' for him, but these were the young boy's poles.
'Shit… how do I console a crying child…'
He checked his pockets. Suddenly a small, hard stuff was found in one of the folds of his clothes.
He hurriedly pulled it out to find a half-eaten dried fish.
"Ah, I must have stuffed it in," he reached out into the barrel with the fish. "Here, eat these and regain your energy. We will escape these bad men's clutches, and I will reunite you with your family. I swear on my honor."
The mer child slapped his hand away.
Sighing, Kui sunk down to the ground, leaning against the barrel. 'How are we going to escape… the child looks like he can't breathe out of water. Can I even take him with me?'
He hugged the barrel tightly and tried to lift it up.
But that thing weighed at least seventy kilograms or so.
Grunting, he gave up on that idea. 'Before we reach our destination, I need to find a way to transport this young mer properly, or else he would become like this.' He peered at the half-eaten dried fish.
He looked at the fish intently.
It was actually to coax the child, but his stomach was growling too much.
Licking his lips, he hid the fish in his cloth folds again. 'Nope, that is for the child… mers can only eat fish. I can survive even on a patch of grass. The mer can't.'
He licked his lips and closed his eyes.
The carriage slowly swayed and creaked as it passed through rough terrain.
'How to keep the child from dying…' he tapped his fingers against the barrel.
Right then, he heard a huge grunt. "Ah, why did you hit me awake!"
"I told you to take care of the driving, yet you actually slept! You bastard! We could have driven into a ditch for all I know!"
"We didn't; the horses know the path. Why do I have to stay awake?"
The sounds were very silent.
Kui quickly moved closer to the front of the carriage and placed an ear on the wooden walls.
"Do you think that guy is awake?"
"Hmm, most likely," another guy said in a boring tone.
"What about their food?"
"We barely have food for ourselves. Why should we feed it to that fish?"
"But that thing can die. If it does, we will lose all our money."
"That's also true."
There was a subtle silence between them.
Kui raised a brow. 'Oh, they will have to open the doors to feed me! That's our chance!'
He perked up suddenly. 'It sounds like only two people are driving this carriage. What about the rest…' He quickly found a hanging hook off the ceiling and held it tightly in his hand. The moment they open the carriage door, he was ready to slam them in the head.
But as he neared the door of the carriage, he noticed something.
There was the sound of footsteps behind him, like horse gallops.
"What are you trying to do?" a gruff voice shouted. "Why are you opening the carriage door?"
"I was going to feed the mer and that hybrid."
"No need. They can survive without food for two days." The man said grunting, and the horse galloped ahead of them. "You better drive this carriage properly. I have seen it swaying so much. If we lose our precious cargo, I will have your head."
A vague sound of a whiplash was heard.
"Y-yes, boss!"
"We will set up camp after passing the next town." The man who sounded like the leader of the gang ordered and left.
The two who were driving the carriage whimpered amongst themselves.
"Goodness. Is he planning on starving us too?"
"He might. Our destination is six days from here, and we didn't pack much food with us."
"Fuck this."
Kui's eyes went wide. 'Six days! They aren't going to open this door for six days!!!'
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone