✧*̥˚1. The Witch Breaks Free *̥˚✧

In the middle of East Blue, shrouded in mists, lies an island cloaked entirely by forest. Rich in resources yet untouched by man for years, it remains isolated due to a feared curse—stories of the island echo across the Blue Seas, each ending in death. But as with all rumours, there is always a grain of truth.

‧₊˚.A witch does live on the island, though not quite as the tales would suggest.˚₊‧

Within a metal box at the base of a mountain, a young girl swung a chain against the wall with steady determination. Her blonde hair moved with the rhythm of her strikes, catching the moonlight, while her icy blue eyes remained focused. The wall bore the scars of her relentless effort—dents, scratches, and small holes, concentrated mostly in the center.

Breathing steadily, Lithania paused, narrowing her eyes at the stubborn wall that stood between her and freedom.

"Why don't you take a break?" a voice echoed behind her, gentle but resigned. "You know there's no point in rushing."

Without turning, Lithania replied in a low voice, "I'll rest when we're out of here, Klun." Her gaze swept across the wall, pausing for a fraction of a second as she caught sight of what she'd been working toward—a small crack that hadn't been there before. It was barely noticeable, but it was enough.

Unbeknownst to his friend's brief pause, Klun continued his train of thought. He floated nearby, his worry apparent in the soft sigh he released. He knew better than to argue. She had decided long ago, and nothing he said would change that. A slight twinge of annoyance flickered in him at her stubbornness, but it was quickly tempered. In truth, that same tenacity was what had connected them in the first place. No matter how much it frustrated him at times, he couldn't resent that part of her.

Klun's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a wet cough. He turned just in time to see Lithania, her body stiffening as the familiar pain seized her chest. Her brows furrowed slightly, a subtle crease forming between them—something anyone else might dismiss as mere discomfort if not for the thin line of blood trickling from her lips.

She exhaled carefully, her breaths controlled as she fought to stop the dizziness from overtaking her. Klun's eyes widened, his pulse quickening at the sight of the blood. "Lithania," he whispered, the alarm clear in his voice.

Lithania didn't meet his gaze. Instead, she wiped the blood away with the back of her hand, her face remaining composed. The only giveaway to her struggle was the brief pause as she caught her breath, her posture firm even in the midst of pain.

She wiped the blood from her mouth, her face betraying nothing of the pain clawing at her insides. Instead, her gaze found its way back to the wall, focusing on the small crack that had formed. "Look," she said simply, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her lips but never fully forming. "It's giving way."

Klun's gaze shifted to the crack, his relief barely contained. A sliver of light peeked through the darkness, offering a fragile hope. "Technically, you did all the work," he muttered, trying to deflect his worry with humor.

Lithania's faint smirk faded into something more neutral. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have lasted this long." Her voice remained steady, but there was a weight behind it, one Klun didn't miss.

For a brief moment, neither spoke. The crack in the wall stood as both a victory and a reminder of what it had cost. Lithania's hand hovered near her chest, her fingers twitching as if to reach for the chain, but she stopped herself. She knew she was pushing her limits.

Klun floated over, offering her a small bottle of water. "Drink this. Rest. The crack will still be there in the morning."

Lithania took the bottle, her fingers briefly brushing his in silent acknowledgment. "Yeah," she murmured, her eyes once more lingering on the wall, as if needing to confirm that it was real. With a quiet sigh, she laid back against the makeshift pillows, her body sinking into a light, restless sleep.

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Morning crept in quietly, the soft rustling of leaves and the distant sound of the sea slipping through the still air. Lithania stirred, her body aching from the previous night's exertion. Her eyes instinctively found the crack in the wall, and for a long moment, she simply stared, confirming its presence.

It was still there. It wasn't a dream. The faint beam of sunlight slipping through the crack reminded her of all she had fought for.

She swallowed, feeling the weight in her throat, the heat behind her eyes but—no... she refused to let it grow. Instead, she took a deep breath, pushing back the emotions pressing against her chest. Her eyes remained steady—no tears, just the quiet intensity of her resolve.

Slowly, she sat up and stretched, every movement deliberate and controlled. There was no need to rush. After seven years, freedom could wait a little longer. She sat back down, her eyes glancing at the sleeping Klun. Right, a few more minutes or hours wouldn't make a difference. Impatience would only lead to messes.

Lithania leaned back against the cool stone wall, closing her eyes for a moment as she listened to the world outside. The soft rustling of the leaves, stirred by the wind, twisted through the air like a whispered melody. Birds called out to one another in the distance, their song faint but clear, a sound that she hadn't heard in years. Every chirp and trill seemed to echo with a promise that everything would be alright, even in the face of her ordeal.

The sea's waves crashed faintly against the shore, a distant and rhythmic pulse that somehow soothed the tension in her body. She hadn't felt the salt spray on her skin in so long, but just hearing the sound of the water was enough to stir a quiet longing inside her. The wind slipped through the small crack in the wall, carrying with it a scent of the outside world—fresh, unfiltered, and full of life.

For the first time in as long as she could remember, everything seemed to be falling into place. The weight she had been carrying for years felt a little lighter, as if the wind itself was easing the burden on her shoulders. She let herself savor the peace of the moment, the stillness that surrounded her.

Her thoughts slowed, and for a brief second, the world didn't feel like a cage. It felt vast and open, waiting for her beyond the cracked wall.

A sense of anticipation rose in her chest as the scent and sound of the sea brought back memories she had rarely voluntarily recalled during her life of captivity. Her older brother, always nagging her about her unhealthy lifestyle, came to mind. Even as a kid, she preferred staying in her room with her toys, books, and endless research to quench her thirst for knowledge—since none of the adults in her life ever had enough time to answer her questions when she was a babbling child.

Lithania's lips twitched into a small smile as she placed her hands on her lower back as she stretched, her screaming muscles protesting, but she pushed through the discomfort. After a few moments, she bent backward, her flexibility making her seem almost inhuman. If anyone had seen her, they'd probably think she had no spine at all.

She tilted her head in thought. On second though, they might have even commented on how much she had changed compared to her post-captivity. Back then, her brother had to drag her out of her room and push her into the sun. It used to annoy her—despite the fact that time spent with her brother was something she would forever treasure.

But now, she understood why he loved the outside world. He probably felt trapped on their small island, and being near the sea gave him a sense of freedom.

She could still recall the shimmering blue of the sea beneath the sun. The wind had wrapped itself around her like a gentle embrace, and the soft sand had formed under her feet as she ran along the beach. The memory was vivid—her brother's face bright with laughter as he darted away from her, their smiles wide and uncontainable. The air had been filled with the soft sound of their laughter, like bells chiming in the distance. The sound of the wind and the crashing waves had seemed to harmonize, creating a tune that made the world feel so alive.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she remembered those happy moments. She sat down again and released a deep sigh, leaning forward to stretch, her arms reaching out towards her toes.

Maybe that was what freedom truly was, she thought.

In the past, she had taken everything she had for granted, unaware of its value. It wasn't until it was taken from her that she realized how fortunate she had been.

When she was younger, the only family she acknowledged was her brother. And after he was gone, she had stopped caring about anything else. A frown creased her brow, and she almost wanted to slap her younger self for it. But reflecting on her time back on the island, she knew it had been inevitable. Apart from three people, the rest of the island's residents were rather questionable. She had believed that by minding her own business, people would leave her alone. She had been so naive and had underestimated the lengths people would go to for their greed.

And that had led to this mess.

Lithania rested her palm beside her head as she stared at the pocket watch with mixed emotions. Her lips pursed, a mixture of regret and determination swirling in her chest.

"Lithania?" Klun's voice broke through her thoughts, startling her. She flinched in surprise, snapping her head toward him.

"Have a nice rest?"

"It was bearable," she replied evenly.

Klun, the stuffed toy-sized creature, jumped to his feet and stretched in an exaggerated way that always amused her. It was a strange sight since he didn't have any joints—just stuffing inside.

He paused his 'stretching' when he noticed her stillness. "I'm impressed you didn't start banging at the walls."

"How rude, I'll have you know patience is one of my stronger points," Lithania huffed, not minding the banter.

Klun looked at her in mock shock, his tiny arms gesturing dramatically. "Don't you mean 'never'?" he teased.

Lithania gave him a dry look but didn't respond, bending over to grab the chain in her hands. The familiar clinking echoed through the dim room. "Now, let's get out of this hellhole, shall we?"

Without hesitation, Lithania swung her arms back, the weight of the chain familiar in her grip, and aimed at the wall in front of her. The metal links scraped together, a rough, gritty sound echoing in the confined space. As the chain struck, a sharp bang rang out, and the metal bent slightly under the force. A grin tugged at her lips. She had rested well enough—though her body wasn't at full strength, it was enough to take down the one thing standing between her and freedom.

With deliberate care, she repositioned her legs, grounding herself firmly, and gathered strength in her arms. Muscles tightened, and she swung forward, her movements fluid, powerful. Each pull and throw of the chain carried weight, the air vibrating with each strike.

Just a bit more.

She continued her methodical efforts, the edge of the weak spot becoming more pronounced with every swing. Her grip on the chain remained steady as she aimed at the cracks widening in front of her. For the next fifteen minutes, she was relentless. Bang. The chain slammed into the wall again, the force reverberating through her arms and into her bones. Her breath came out in controlled puffs, each exhale a rhythm in sync with her strikes.

Each hit was precise, targeted, widening the hole. The jagged edges of the opening were sharp and unforgiving—one wrong move and they could slice into her skin. The thought of infections crossed her mind briefly, the roughness of torn flesh and the sting of dirt settling in open wounds. She knew some tricks from her brother, but she was no healer. She couldn't afford those injuries.

But she couldn't stop.

Each strike was stronger than the last. Bang! The sound echoed in the hollow room, louder, more forceful. The chain scraped, clanged, and ricocheted off the stone, filling the space with an intense cacophony. The tension in her muscles screamed, her arms aching, but she wouldn't relent. She couldn't when freedom was this close.

It seemed like a lifetime of effort compressed into those final moments, the seconds stretching, heavy with anticipation. She pulled the chain back, muscles straining, and threw it with all the strength left in her. The chain crashed into the wall with a deafening clang.

For a brief moment, everything went still. Lithania stared at the shattered wall, her eyes dazed, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. The silence was thick, broken only by the slow, rhythmic clank of the chain dropping to the floor. Her breath came out laboured—whether from the effort or the rising excitement, she wasn't sure. The wall had finally bent to the side like a door forced open, the light from the outside spilling into the room.

The contrast was sharp—light against the darkness she'd lived in for so long, warmth against the cold stone walls that had imprisoned her. The light filtered through, soft and golden, bathing her pale skin as if welcoming her into a new world.

Heat gathered behind her eyes, an unfamiliar sensation. Her vision blurred, the light becoming a haze of gold as a single tear fell, unbidden. For once, she didn't fight it. Her lips trembled, but then, slowly, they curled into a small, wavering smile.

Finally. Freedom was in sight.

☾•༻ ───────*.·:·.✧ Author's Note ✧.·:·.*─────── ༺•☽

Hello there! I hope you like this chapter. The Updates would not be regular since I write only when I'm inspired. I have been obsessing over One Piece for a few months and well, this was the result of that obsession. ^_^ Tell me what you think! Until next time!