Under Sun
2. The Investigation and Toronto

Everything was clearly imprinted in the face and body of the girl. Even fools know; hell. Jea just got out of hell. Or maybe not yet. No one knows.

"Miss Cochava," Call one of the sisters on duty no matter how many times. The outcome? Still not overlooked the slightest item. Jea was still sitting pensively. His gaze was still as empty as it was three days ago, when he was just taken by the Minnesota police to this small hospital.

It's been an open secret for some people about the intricacies of the Collins family background. One of them includes physical and mental violence that has long occurred in the family. From now on, the people who passed by were just busy staring pity at Jea yang— I don't know. His condition is too bad to describe.

"Miss, you have to eat," This time one of the other sisters grabbed the tray that had been held by Sister Dhea, who was busy talking to Jea who had never turned her head.

"I'm Jane, you can call me by whatever call it is. After this if you want, I can take you for a walk in the hospital grounds for a while."

Eventually, the effort came to fruition. Jea turned her head even though her gaze was still smelly with both of her eyelids puffy. At first, the girl still seemed hesitant to speak. Since he bears the family name Collins, it can be calculated how many outsiders have had time to communicate with him. Rather than adopted children, Jea is more like a prisoner.

"A-what... b-can?" Said Jea carefully with her agitated moving gaze. Makes Jane smile.

After placing a tray containing a bowl of green bean porridge on a small white bed, Jane gripped Jea's hand carefully. Recalling the few wounds that were still imprinting on his skinny hand.

"Why not? You can go anywhere with me," Again Jane smiled her smile, removing any doubt that had left a trace on Jea's shabby face.

"Thanks..."

Jane sat down next to Jea, then again grabbed the bowl of green bean porridge low in sugar that became the patient's menu today, "But eat first huh?"

Jea nodded in disarray. His hands are now busy wrapped around each other, a sign he is really nervous. This is the first time he has spoken to a stranger other than the Collins family in the past year. Last year he only had time to talk to two middle-aged women and one little boy, just because they were guests visiting the house.

Fortunately, Jea had not forgotten how to talk to others.

"Here," Jea stared at the silver spoon filled with porridge it was pointing at him. She hesitates again, but Jea keeps her mouth open slightly as Jane tries to bribe her.

"Perhaps the Collins family's reward, to the extent that they can— ah sorry, is this topic sensitive to you?" Jane quickly nibbled her little lips, afraid of mispronouncing.

Slowly but surely, Jea shook her head. If you say sad about the death of his adoptive family, no. He didn't feel sad at all. Pleased then? I don't know. Jea couldn't really confirm it. Everything was so sudden and terrifying. It felt empty and didn't know.

"I've heard from other people's stories that the Collins family is crazy. It turned out to be true, "The woman in a white uniform with the sister's hat shook her head while clucking as her eyes explored Jea's small body filled with bruises as well as incision scars and such.

"Listen, the killer who did it to the family was just like the murderer who got entangled in a case with eleven others a few days ago. Well, the story's like a serial murder, huh?" Continue Jane while combing the long black manes of Jea.

"You're safe here. Maybe tomorrow the police will do a further investigation on your family, so get ready?"

Jane's gaze from earlier was so soft. Jea to wonder. Is this how normal people look at others?

"Y-yes.."

Slowly Jane stroked Jea's hand which was still slightly shaking. This girl's body was so frail and weak. Poor thing. Especially when Jane finds out that tomorrow is not the investigation that will be done. The world is not that good.

The 70s did not mean the era of human rights independence was fluttering.

The government is still crazy.

"Would you like a shower?"

"J-Jea took a shower last night.."

Jane held her smile. A little pity but somehow Jea even looks funny at this time, "Miss, normal humans will usually shower at least twice a day."

Whahuh? Jea widened her eyes. How come? For him, taking a bath every two days is a miracle given to him by the Collins family.

"If so, what Jea.. Jea can take a shower..?"

Jea stared at Jane's still warm face as before. Really, he was very unfamiliar with this kind of treatment. Is this all normal? Does not the pain feel normal?

Jea was used to not asking. The last time was two years ago, he asked to taste a little carrot cake that was just bought by Millie when he just came home from his darmawisata, he said, Jea ended up locked up in a barn for two whole days without food or water.

"Why not? Come on!" Jane quickly helps Jea to stand up. But all his movements were in vain when the door of the hospital room was knocked down just like that. With just a single push, the door nearly collapsed. Is it because this little hospital is too old and worn out?

"What the fuck! Didn't we agree to conduct the investigation tomorrow?!"

"It's a direct order from the government" one of the men came forward and showed a letter with the official state stamp on the paper.

"Please hand over the woman" The man quickly pushed Jane's body, causing her to almost fall. Hurriedly he grabbed the big man's arm.

"Don't! Please don't! I told you his mental state is not stable! Please respect him like a human!!!"

At first, the man was silent for a moment. Then exhaled an irregular breath, "Since when have you lived among humans, sisters?"

Jane froze. The man's words hit him hard, overwhelming Jane to simply refute his response.

"But please! This lady is still weak! Look at her body!"

The man did not touch Jane's words and immediately pulled Jea's hand. Making the owner grimace as he felt the wound on his hand that had not fully healed was pulsating again.

"D-don't!!" Jane again tried to arrest the officers who immediately left after taking Jea with them. But unfortunately, Jane was helpless.

Especially when one of the strapping men leaned a gun, right on his chin.

【ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｓｕｎ】

"Come in! Hurry along!"

Jea's body was violently thrust into a shabby room. His breath felt tight, increasingly so as his eyes caught how crowded the conditions inside this ship.

That night, it might be a historic night later. Night where women from the age of eight years to forty will soon be sent to a place— for sale.

A bunch of poor girls. Taken for sale because it no longer owns a home, or a family. There are also some who do not pay state taxes.

Is it so poor that the country has to sell its own civilians to other areas?

Jea could only cower near the wooden wall of the ship, staring at the women who had the same fate as him. No one looks alive— so obvious from the look of their eyes.

Chilly. I don't know exactly what time it is. As Jea knew, it was night. And the small wooden ship began to move, bringing all the humans inside to the next hell.

Is life always like this?

Jea rubbed her palms. Even he could no longer feel the pain that whipped from the wounds of his body that had not healed. Heart's crushed. Jea herself did not know why. Didn't he ever get his human rights from the beginning? So why is that feeling vacillating now? It even feels broken.

His eyes looked at the woman before him who was full of sweat. Maybe because of its already huge content. Jea started to guess. Will she give birth soon or..

"Don't look at it."

Hurriedly Jea turned to the origin of the voice. A girl who might be her age with bright blonde hair seemed to be chewing on something.

"Pardon me.."

"The baby will soon be dead. If his mother survives, it's just luck."

Although she was a little clueless with the words just now, Jea just nodded slowly.

Die. Hearing that word, made his mind then fall on the incident.

And also the mysterious man who had slaughtered the Collins family right in front of his eyes.

"Just sleep. The ship will arrive in Toronto in three days. As long as it's not certain we're fed or drank. You have to sleep a lot, to live," said the girl again, and this time she turned her head.

"And. prepare your mind. Arriving in Toronto, if you are lucky, you may just be used as *******."