C5 Fear

Everyone was silent, including Grace, even though the truth was that she couldn’t get what was happening and what they were saying, but she knew that there was something really strange in the town that her father led.

“How can you be sacrificed if you guys are still alive? No one can escape from them, even the strongest person here in Malaya,” Yumi uttered, seriously.

“And if you are truly sacrificed. How come that you guys are still alive?” Chrollo asked in curiosity.

“Yeah! Right.” Everyone looked at Grace when she spoke and act like she knew everything when the truth is she’s trying to join their conversation, but she didn’t know everything. “Peace bro.” Her companions ignored her, and only focused their attention on the siblings who had been offered to Ada.

Mito looked at her brother to ask permission to tell the truth, so August nodded in response. Mito and August pulled the medallions out of their pockets. Chrollo and Yumi quickly knelt down for respect.

“I am former General Mito, the leader of Madame Marly’s army.” Mito introduced herself with dignity and pride.

“I’m August. Madame Marly’s former right hand in her army.” August proudly introduced himself despite their appearance.

Yumi stood up and rolled her eyes at Mito and August. Grace, on the other hand, could not imagine her look when she heard her mother’s name.

“This is the first and last time that I will respect and honor you, General.” Yumi returned to her seat and looked out the window again.

“Why is this boy so rude?” August pointed his finger at Yumi, they just shook in response.

“I’m a girl. You stupid right hand!” Yumi said angrily, but they just laughed.

Chrollo laughed. "They didn't know."

“She doesn’t look like a woman,” August said. Mito stopped her brother and smiled at Yumi.

Yumi rolled her eyes and glared at them. “Yeah, keep being stupid.”

“Or maybe her mom gave birth to her five months ahead that caused her like that?” Chrollo laughed again as he can about his joke to Yumi.

Everyone laughs at his joke while Yumi punched Chrollo in a blink that made everyone silent, including Grace. Chrollo let a sighed after a minute and face them. He's back from being serious again.

“How did you guys become a sacrificed?” Everyone looks at Chrollo. It shows his determination to know the story of the siblings.

“Our job is to watch over Madame Marly and her daughter,” Mito begins, and she smiled at Grace. “But that changed when she and Princess Grace left and we were counted in the Lord Nostrad’s group, but we didn’t last long in their group because our palms lit up immediately.” Mito and August showed their palms, which that continues to shine.

Grace was stunned by the beauty of the light coming from their hands and resisted herself not to touch it.

“Is this for real?” Yumi asked incredulously and held August’s hands. “The light of sacrifice.” Yumi looked at the siblings.

“Don’t touch me, boy.”

“Whatever!” Yumi just rolled her eyes and looked out the window again.

“When will the light go out?” Grace turned to Chrollo and stared when she saw the young man seriously. The siblings shook their heads sadly.

“It won’t go away as long as we’re alive. It’ll only disappear when Ada take our lives.” Mito looked at Grace sadly.

“But what if you'll die before Ada can take your lives?” Grace couldn’t help but ask questions, even though she couldn’t understand what they were saying.

“Our palms will continue to shine until the next life, while Ada’s shadow will seek us until she captures our souls,” August said and smile a little to lighten up the mood. “The day we received the light of sacrificed in our palms they gave us lots of honors.”

“You guys were given the highest honor in the town of Malaya. People looked up to you for your sacrifice, and considered you a hero here in town,” Yumi explained, and look at them seriously.

“But we don’t need those.” Grace looked at August when he spoke, and his sad smile couldn’t escape from her. “How can my sister and I appreciate those awards you gave us when we are about to die?”

“We still remember being in the center of town with both our hands and feet chained. Watching the sun go down with the moonlight goes up, and in a flash. We had the shadow of Ada in front of us.” Mito bent down to hide the fear he felt while speaking.

“Ada’s shadow?” Chrollo asked. “Isn’t Ada herself supposed to take you?” August shook his head.

“Ada’s shadows are the one who’s gonna take the sacrifice, and they’re also the one who kills here mercilessly,” August explained.

“So what is Ada’s duty? A boss?” Grace asked. The siblings looked at each other and bowed at the same time.

“We weren’t able to see her, no one knew,” August said, nervously and hugged himself.

“When Ada’s shadow came, they removed the chain on our legs and hands violently that caused our broken legs and hands. Gladly August knew how to treat our wounds. As we traveled, they didn’t stop removing my hair until it was all that was left.” Mito laughed when she pointed her head, but despite that laugh. There was sadness and fear in her eyes, and Grace saw that emotion in her.

“While they were whipping me in the back. Other Ada’s shadow was in front of us, but we couldn’t fight because of fear. Ada’s shadow was facing us, but we can’t do anything because they’re super strong and terrifying. Ada’s shadow was in front of us, and they lead us to death by simply torturing us.” August looks at them seriously and let a sighed. “So what if Ada herself is the one we’re facing?”

Everyone became silent at what August said, especially Grace. She’s thinking if she would let her fear consume her, and continue to travel to see her father and be brave enough like these peoples in front of her or she would run away because of fear, and forget what happened here.

“Despite the hardship, August came up with a plan. When we got to the place where Ada’s shadows lives, we suddenly burst out with the force of the shout, the force of their cries, the force of her power that was there within that place, and there another shadow of Ada took us again.”

“Lots of bodies, lots of screams, lots of cries, you’ll feel their fears,” August said, scared, and held both of Grace’s arms. “You can hear her, Grace. She’s looking for you Grace! Hide now! She’s coming at you. She’s so mad at you, Grace!” Grace cried in fear when she saw that August’s behavior changed and became stronger.

His eyes widened and his body became stronger and he laughed while staring into her eyes. August held Grace tighter and tighter until Grace’s arm bled in just a few seconds.

Mito quickly grabbed her brother to stop, while Chrollo forced August’s arm away from Grace. Yumi quickly wrapped her arms around August’s neck and choke him tightly.

Gradually, August’s arms loosened from holding Grace until he could finally release her. Chrollo and Yumi quickly blocked themselves to protect Grace, and simultaneously drew their swords and aimed them at Mito and August.

“One more drop of blood that will come from Grace again because of you guys. I am not Ada, but I'll sure that I am the one who will take your lives,” Chrollo said, angrily.

Grace shook her head at what she witnessed, and closed her eyes while hugging her body. Asking herself if she should leave this place while she can.

“I’m sorry,” Mito said, sadly. “Sometimes we’re not the one who's in control of our bodies.”

“What are you saying? What do you mean?” Yumi asked seriously.

“That Ada’s shadow has taken our hearts and brains. The only thing that keeps us alive is Ada’s power,” August explained, sadly. He’s back into his senses after Yumi choked him to death.

“What do you mean?” Grace asked.

“That little by little we’re going to be one of Ada’s shadow.”