Gray Raven : The Graffiti Arc
Lucia's Interlude
Chapter 15 : Escape to Somewhere (Interlude 0-1)
...
Luna : " Lucia, what did you find today?"
Lucia : " ...It's not a bad haul. I found this."
Luna : " Is that... canned meat? Yay!"
Lucia opens the can with her trusty pocket knife and passes the can to Luna.
Lucia : " Be careful of the sharp edges."
Luna : " Lucia, you should eat first..."
Luica : " I ate already on my way back."
Luna nods, trusting the words of her older sister. Then she sips some of the broth packed with the synthesized meat inside the can.
Luna : " It's so sour..."
" Lucia, when can I go out with you?"
Lucia : " ...You can't. It's too dangerous outside."
Luna : " But, you're always the one protecting me... It's my turn to protect you... Or at least, help..."
Lucia : " You're being good help for looking after our food stash."
" I promised our parents that I would never let anyone hurt you. So, handle the riskier tasks..."
Luna : " fine... "
Lucia : "... "
Luna : "What's that sound?"
Lucia : "Quick, hide!"
Nun : "Looks like we're at the right place. The Central Purification Filter is still running in this city."
"Its efficiency is decreasing, but it should still last a few months."
Black-clad Man : "If you weren't bringing a whole group of children, the army would have never guard you on your journey."
" Now that you're here, you'll have to take care of yourselves."
Nun : " I know-That's why we've been taking those kids with us."
Black-clad man : "... "
Nun: "Is there a problem?"
"It's always been us ostracized servants of God who protect and feed the children during warfare."
" Of course we're allowed to rely on the charity of you soldier folks in these critical hours."
Black-clad man : " No, it's just... Saying it so bluntly in your position, it's making me a little... Forget it...."
" Anyway, the shelter below this church belongs to you now."
" But the supplies..."
Luna : " A-achoo! Lucia, I'm cold..."
Lucia : "Shh..."
Nun : " W-what's that sound? Is it... a Corrupted?"
Black-clad man : " Come out! Or else-"
The black-clad man is about to pull out his gun, but seeing the two small figures in the corner, he quickly returns it.
Lucia, holding Luna's hand, walk slowly out of the darkness.
Lucia : "..........."
Luna : "..."
Nun : " Where did these two little girls come from...?"
" Go go go, go somewhere else, this place is already..."
"—Tch ..."
"Okay ..."
Nun : "Two more mouths to feed it is."
"From today onwards, you two'll come with me.",
.....
Luna : " Lucia, are we finally safe now?"
Lucia : " Yes, at least we can feed ourselves if we work every day... No more unnecessary risks..."
Luna : " That's great..."
" But... Lucia, you've been coming back later and later..."
Lucia : " After this, Luna, we'll have all the time in the world to be together."
Luna : " Okay... "
...
Little Girl : " Luna, your sister is amazing! She's doing so much work."
" And she looks after everyone as well. It's like she's the class monitor back in my school"
Luna : " Ehe... "
Little Boy : " Um... Can you.... spare us some food...?"
Luna : " Um... "
Little Boy : "It's so cold lately, we're all too sick to even work... We don't have food either... We're not going to live..."
Luna : "... "
Little Boy : "I'm just borrowing it, okay? When I get my strength back, I can earn more food and return it to you, how's that?"
Little Girl : "We live in a group, so we should help each other to better everyone's lives!"
Luna : " Okay... "
...
Luna : "Lucia , you're back!"
Lucia : " Luna... I found a... doll... outside..."
" I think you might like it, so I... brought it back for you..."
Luna : " Ahaha... It's so ugly!"
Lucia : "'s ugly?"
"I see..."
Luna : "But I like it!"
Lucia : "You do?"
Luna : " It's the first time you've given me a plushie, I'm so happy!"
Luna takes the plushie and begins to check it out.
Luna : " If you ever come back too late, I can go to sleep hugging it!"
Lucia : " As long as you like it..."
Luna : "But my favorite is still Lucia! Hehe!"
Lucia : "... "
Luna sits on her bed and plays with the plushie as Lucia walks before their food stash to store the food she earned today."
Lucia : "The food... Why's there so little left."
" Luna, did you eat some of it?"
Luna : " I didn't eat it, just... I lent it to... people... the last few days..."
Lucia : " All the food and you... lent it to people?"
Luna : " I did... what's the matter?"
Lucia : "..."
Lucia steps back, stupefied. She mutters to herself silently.
Lucia : " It's all my fault for not checking the food crate..."
" Blizzard's coming in a few days..."
" All the food supplies are going to be cut off..."
" That's why I've been coming home so late recently..."
" Luna... with this much food... We won't be able to..."
Luna : " But... they said they would return it to us afterward..."
Lucia : " Luna! "
Luna : "What's the matter? Lucia?"
Lucia : " You—"
Luna : " Lucia... "
Lucia grabs Luna's hand and promptly rushes outside.
Luna : " Lucia... It hurts..."
Lucia brings Luna to the hall
Lucia : " Whoever borrowed food from Luna, come out!"
The crowd merely gazes at the two, not a soul daring to make a sound.
Lucia : " It was you, wasn't it?!"
Little Boy : "—!—!"
" I already ate most of it... What's left is... only barely enough for myself..."
" Do whatever you want with me, I still won't give it back to you!"
Lucia : " You...."
Little Boy : " I'm just trying to live! What's wrong with that?!"
Lucia : " PL...."
Little Boy : "What?"
Lucia: "PL... please..."
Luna: "Lucia..."
The boy could not bear to look at Lucia, and instead huddles himself up, not showing any emotion.
Lucia : " Please..."
Lucia turns to the crowd.
Lucia : " Please... help us..."
—Not a sound.—
Nun : " Alright..."
" Well... No one to blame but your own gullible selves."
" Don't expect there to be any law-upholding police or judge around here."
Lucia : "... "
Lucia glares at the curled-up boy, her fists unconsciously nearing the knife she always kept close to her.
Lucia : "..."
Lucia and Luna return to the surface...
Luna : " Lucia..."
Lucia : "We don't have a choice..."
"We have to head out together and search for food..."
—to be continued—