The weather was pleasantly cool and summery, with a clear sky stretching overhead. Seaside birds flitted about, their cheerful cries mingling with the gentle whispers of the breeze. The chill of the summer air rustled Azusa's hair, and she seemed to be savoring the beautiful day. The sea was calm, its tranquil surface shimmering under the sun.

A distant voice called out, "Azusa!"

She turned, a warm smile lighting up her face. As the young girl who had called her approached, she asked, "Are you leaving already? It's too soon."

Azusa offered a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, I have to go now. I have some Amogh camps to visit and help out."

The young girl's face fell into a sad expression. "I'm going to miss you a lot."

Azusa smiled reassuringly. "I'll be back soon. Take care of everyone while I'm gone, okay?"

The young girl nodded, handing Azusa a small box. "Here, your journey is long. I baked some cookies for you. Have them on your way."

Azusa's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Aeri!"

They chatted briefly, both smiling as they spoke.

Aeri looked at her with a hint of concern. "Your ship isn't here yet? It never takes this long."

Azusa shrugged slightly. "Maybe I'm too early. I didn't check the schedule or ask anyone about the ship."

Aeri nodded, still worried. "Should I wait with you?"

Azusa shook her head. "No, you don't have to. I'm fine. You should be at the clinic now."

Aeri sighed. "As you say. Let me know if anything happens, okay?"

Azusa agreed, and Aeri departed.

Standing on the bridge, Azusa waited for the ship. While she spoke with Aeri, a group of men nearby overheard their conversation. They didn't seem to be locals and appeared to be plotting something. Their eyes frequently darted toward Azusa, who remained unaware of their intentions.

One of the men approached her. "Miss, are you waiting for the ship? Which one?"

She responded, "Yes, it's the Pioneer 4"

The man nodded. "The Pioneer 4 is departing from the other side. It's running late today."

Azusa thanked him and made her way to the location he indicated.

There, a ship was ready to depart. It looked unusual compared to the others, as if it rarely visited this part of Germany.

As Azusa prepared to board, one of the men stealthily approached her from behind and covered her with a cloth soaked in a mysterious liquid. The scent of the liquid made her head spin. Confused and disoriented, she began to lose consciousness as the surroundings blurred.

The men quickly carried her aboard the ship, which then set sail, gradually moving away from the shore. Azusa lay on the deck of the SW10, while the men began to converse quietly among themselves. The ship continued to drift further from land, its destination unknown.

...______________...

- Thank you so much for reading.

The loud noises of the ship were overwhelming, a deep rumble that seemed to shake her to the core as she slowly started to regain consciousness. Machinery hummed, and the vessel creaked around her, creating a confusing mix of sounds that made it hard to think. When she opened her eyes, the dim, flickering lights felt too harsh, barely cutting through the darkness around her. Her vision was blurred, and it took a few moments before she could even begin to understand where she was. She tried to pull together bits of memories flashing through her mind, but they came and went too fast for her to make sense of them.

Closing her eyes again, she took a shaky breath and whispered a prayer to God for help. This quiet plea felt like a small light in her confusion, giving her just a hint of courage amid her fear.

With trembling hands, she reached for her bag beside her. She fumbled for her phone, only to find there was no signal. Panic rose in her chest. Desperately, she murmured, "I have to find a way up to the deck. Lord, please help me." Steadying herself with a deep breath, she stood up and began to walk.

The ship was oddly quiet, her footsteps the only sound breaking the silence. She figured that everyone must be somewhere else, maybe asleep or busy. As she finally reached the open deck, the thick darkness of night greeted her. She could barely see, with shadows stretching across the deck and creating an unsettling atmosphere. She looked around, hoping to find someone who might help, but the deck was empty.

She moved to a spot where she thought she might get reception and tried to make a call. But before she could connect, a man suddenly appeared from the shadows behind her. Without warning, he grabbed her phone and threw it overboard into the sea. Shocked, she gasped, "Hey!"

The man's face was mostly hidden by a hood, but she could see the hard look in his eyes. His voice was cold and threatening as he said, "You're not leaving, miss."

She stared at him, frozen, unsure whether to respond. Then another man nearby with a mocking smile added, "If you're so eager to leave, why not try swimming?" The others around them burst out laughing, their voices echoing in the quiet night and adding to her fear. Their laughter only reminded her how alone she was.

They told her to sit, and with no choice, she sat on the cold, hard deck, hugging her knees tightly. The cool night air made her shiver as she tried to keep her mind steady. Right now, all she could do was pray, hoping for a miracle or some way out of this terrifying situation.

Azusa, a 25-year-old travel nurse, was known for her kindness and dedication. She traveled to many places, from busy city hospitals to small rural clinics, bringing her skills and care to anyone in need. Despite the challenges, she loved her work, knowing she was making a real difference in people's lives. Driven by a deep passion and a desire to help, Azusa kept moving from one place to another, always ready to serve those who needed her.

Another day dawned, and the man came to her. "Time to go, miss," he said as he tied her hands with rope and led her off the ship. It was already morning, and as she looked around, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. She had never seen this area before. She could tell it was an island. The ship she had been on was different from the regular ships she had always seen near the seaside, with a unique flag she didn't recognize.

The men took her to an area where people were laboring, digging into the ground and hauling out coal, carrying objects like boxes. She had no idea where she was. The men pushed her into a room. "You'll stay here for now," one of them said before leaving.

Azusa's expression was a mix of confusion and worry. She looked around the room and saw a few more women, strangers to her.

A young woman spoke, "Sit down." She looked about a year younger than Azusa. As Azusa slowly sat down, she noticed that the women didn't seem scared. They appeared to have been talking about something before she arrived.

The young woman looked at Azusa again and said, "You don't look like one of our citizens." Another woman added, "Indeed, her clothes are different too."

Azusa felt a slight relief that the women were engaging with her. She introduced herself, "Yes, I'm Azusa. I was kidnapped from the German seaside. Do you know how I can leave this island? I need to go back." The women looked surprised.

The first woman who spoke to Azusa said, "German?!" Her face showed surprise, then confusion. Another woman responded, "Simi, don't act like you know where that place is." Simi replied,

"I heard about it somewhere though."

Their conversation made Azusa even more confused. How could they not know about Germany? She decided to ask, "Where am I?"

Simi looked at her and said, "Very far from other countries. Don't worry, we will leave this place soon!"

Another woman cautioned, "Don't speak too loudly. If those men hear us, we'll be in trouble!" Simi quickly apologized, "Sorry, Sienna..."

Azusa, not understanding a single thing about where she was or what they were planning, felt lost.

The sun had already set, and low lights were on everywhere. Azusa carefully analyzed the area. The room's structure, the way it was built, the lights—they all suggested that the island's technology was more primitive compared to other countries, reminiscent of the 19th century.

She wondered what the two girls were planning before they talked about leaving the place. But how could they escape? The place seemed sealed off with no way to run. She tried to calm herself.

Thank you for reading!

I’m really glad you made it to the end. I hope you enjoyed the Novel ! and I’m already working on the next part. It’ll be uploaded soon, so please look forward to it.

If you have any thoughts or favorite moments, feel free to share I’d love to hear from you! Until then, take care and stay tuned for the next update.