The Mershark ch9

Pucci finds himself in a small, cold, cell with three other men. They wore pale, raggy cloths and chains on their ankles and wrists. Two of them have dark skin as himself, the other has light tan skin. The only light they had was one candle on a small table.

He looks down and sees the same chains on his own ankles and wrists, recalling the small amount of information of slave trader that Mikitaka told him last night before he went to sleep. "Pucci has LisaLisa told you about slave traders?"

"No, just slavery of those with dark skin like mine."

"Slave traders are the ones who buy and sell slaves. When they've captured someone they keep in small cells and have them wear chains and raggy cloths. Their locations are either a warehouse that's miles away from a big city or they're underground."

One of the other men called out to him, "Mershark are you alright?" He squatting in front of Pucci.

"I'm not a mershark."

"You were one once."

"What makes you say that?"

"The scars on your neck are a give away." Pucci traces a finger on one of the scars. "They look very similar to gills."

"Should I find a away to hid them?"

"No. Most muggles don't know the existence of mythical and magical folks."

"Muggles?"

"None magic or mythical folk."

"You seem to know quiet a bit."

"I can tell you more another time, we have plenty of it."

"Has anyone tried to escape?"

"A few have, failed and up either whipped fifty times or beaten to death." One of the other two men answered.

"Not to mention it's easy to get lost in this building." The other man said. "The only way out of here is to get bought by a wealthy white man. The names Pocoloco if you're wondering. The guy you calls you mershark is Avdol and the Native American across from me is Soundman."

"Thank you, Pocoloco, I got caught up in the conversation we were having and forgot to introduce myself." Pucci introduces himself. They told each other a little bit about themselves and how they got their cells.

"It's common for thieves to take someone off the streets and sell them to places like this." Avdol, explains. Three hours later they went by and they went to sleep.

For five months Pucci has spent his days in the cell with these men and got to know them more and more. Avdol came from a fire clan that lived in Egypt until the Turkish took over that land. Pocoloco was born a slave in Amurrica. Soundman is a village of Native Americans, his his village was destroyed, his people were killed, his sister was raped before she killed herself.

Pucci's hair grew longer. It was hard to tell when it was day and night. There wasn't much to do but talk to one another, eat when food arrives, and sleep on the hard floor.

The conversation he had with Avdol about the mythical world and hope of seeing Dio once again were the only things that kept his spirits up. While imprisoned he discovered his ability to read a person's memory. It happened while they were waiting for their meal. Avdol offered to read Pucci's hand. The moment Pucci made contact with his hand, he saw visions of Avdol's life. Avdol let go of Pucci's hand, knowing something happened from the look of Pucci's eye.

"Did something happen?" Pocoloco asked

"Did you see something?" Avdol asked

"I saw… "

"You saw what?" he asked

"…You were held in the arms of a creature with the body of a man and a head of eagle. Flames were behind it."

"That was when the leader of my clan, he held me when I was five years old. Pucci it appears that you have the ability to look into a person's memories when you touch someone."

"That's never happened before."

"Some abilities aren't awakened right away."

This happened again the next day when he accidently  touched Soundman's arm. He saw a vision of his village being destroyed. "I'm sorry I didn't-"

"Don't worry about it." From a few days of testing his ability he learned that he can see memories from direct contact (touch or eye) of any living being and he can only see memories of any living being one time, not twice or more.

One day Avdol was sold to a man with long, wavy, blond hair. Pocoloco and Soundman died from an illness three days after Avdol left. Pucci was now left alone in this cell.  

TBC