Chapter Text
16 years ago, Flevance
Cramped.. Dark.. Smokey?
Lami swallowed back a cough and focused on her breathing. There was some light projected through the slits on the closet door that had allowed her to see clothes hanging up, pants folded on the board, her toy bunny, and a small safe. She clung tighter to her blanket, nerves racing.
He said he would be right back. But the bangs, the yelling.. Law, where are you? She shook her head. No, stop worrying! He’ll come back.. He has to.. I need a distraction.
Lami glanced at the safe. It was a grey cube only a little larger than her hand. A combination lock hid its contents. She clutched it and shook it. No chink of coins, but instead a plump from something larger and softer. She gave a tug on the door, but it didn’t budge.
Alright.. What would Mom and Dad make the code? A birthday? She tried everyone’s birthdays, months, and years, but nothing clicked. Not that.. She tried the address. Nothing happened. Maybe their lucky numbers? Or..
She set down the safe and carefully opened the closet door to reveal a smoke-filled room. It was even hotter out there, but she didn’t care and stepped out, stumbled over to the bedside table, and grabbed the stethoscope atop it. She hurried back to the closet before falling into a coughing fit, tears in the corners of her eyes.
I need to- No, no, Law will come here, Law will keep me safe.. He said to wait, so I’ll wait, so- The safe. Remember what he told me when he broke into my safe and stole my candy stash.. I should be able to hear when it’s in the right positions..
The next two minutes were spent in trial and error before the door popped open. Lami grinned despite the struggle to breathe. Then she pulled out a light blue fruit with bumpy skin. It almost looked like a crescent moon.. Or a very moldy banana. Her smile faded and her stomach grumbled.
It couldn’t be that bad, right? She began to peel the soft skin, revealing a yellow and orange swirled center, like the sun. Just one bite.. And if it’s bad, then I’ll spit it out!
She took a bite. The taste was appalling, but hunger took over and she swallowed without thinking. Her attempts to throw it up failed, so she tried to wipe her tongue on the blanket instead. It hardly helped. Milk.. Water.. Any drink.. It’s gross! Please, hurry Law!
Minutes felt like hours passing. Soft cackling could be heard outside the closet door. The dim light had turned orange, and sweat ran down her face from the intense heat. The coughing insisted mercilessly and her lungs screamed for fresh air. She stayed put, thinking Law will be here. I can’t go, or he’ll think something happened. Even if it hurts, he’ll come.. Please come.
Panic gradually rose in her heart. Nothing happened to him. He’s strong, stronger than anyone else, and smarter, too! He’s fine, he has to be.. He’s taking his time to be safe! I know there was never a festival out there.. I know you were lying, but I smiled so you wouldn’t worry. Don’t make me worry now, Law..
Nausea kicked in. The ache from the white lead increased. Tears streamed down her face. No.. Now! Come, please, please, let me see you. I want to see you.. Be okay, come and get me. Let’s go to another festival once we’re healthy.. We’ll bring Dad this time, too! Law, come back..
I want to see Law!!
Something inside her awakened. Her stomach twisted into a knot and she shut her eyes tightly. Lami curled up and shielded her ears like that would help block out the pounding headache. Nothing felt real. A cloud of numbness consumed her. Her energy drained past its limits and her emotions went void. Nothingness.
Then it began to clear. It was so bright.. Too bright to open her eyes. She heard faint noises past her hands, like murmurs in the cool breeze. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air. There were smooth stones beneath her feet now, not the dusty wood from that closet. Comfort and fatigue took over, leaving her lightheaded. She thought, Maybe I'll finally get a nice rest if I just lay down and cover my eyes..
"Miss! Little miss! Are you alright? You're so pale.." A friendly voice. He had a strange accent, like he wasn’t from Fleavance.
She forced her eyes to open against the burning light, blinking herself into full consciousness, and looked up at him. Short, black, messy hair and a black top hat rested upon his head. A black, crisp tuxedo adorned his body tightly. Big, black pupils gazed down at her in worry. Black.. Everything about this man seemed black, and yet so kind.
Her vision faded in and out of blackness as well. She struggled to remain balanced.
“Where.. am I? Who are you?” she asked, her words slurred. He doesn’t seem mean.. Can I trust him? Where’s Law?
“My name is Finn. Finn Galiore. You are currently in the town of Scarso. Now, may I ask, where do you come from, miss? Do you need a hospital? You look ill..” He was crouched beside her, contemplating how risky it would be to carry this sick child without knowing the diagnosis.
“I need.. Hospital.. Hospital, please!” The pain was returning. Her lungs stung, and her body was heating up again with fever. Her eyelids were brimmed with tears as she struggled to hold them back.
“Ah, let us hurry then!” He scooped her up into his arms without a second thought and made a dash towards the hospital, only a few blocks away. Finn no longer cared about his own risk of catching the illness. He wanted nothing more than to save this unfamiliar, sick child in that moment.
On the way, Lami spotted what seemed to be a polar bear walking on its hind legs and wearing clothes, basket in hand. She passed it off as a hallucination and shut her eyes.