As I am writing, I hear something from behind me, it's so close. I jump up dropping my paper and pen to the ground as I turn around. My body in shock as I find myself surrounded by five men, all with weapons or rope, and one of the men is carrying a line of small fish.
“Hey, look what we found. She looks like money, good money, we could easily trade her in for supplies.” Said one of the men, as he glared at me like I nothing more than meat that he could sale.
“Yeah, I think your right, she looks strong and healthy. She isn't sore for the eyes either, which means even more trade.” The second man said with a slight lisp, as he tightened his grip on the rope he was holding, and he has my cross bow.
“Just do us a favor, and don't bother to run, because then we will have to chase you, and I had a big breakfast, so I don't feel like doing much running right now.” The third man said with a strong clear voice as they all laughed.
I started to back up, angry with myself for doing something as stupid as sitting out in the open like I did. That is exactly why I am in this position; I should have followed my instincts. I hear my heart racing as they start towards me. What to do, I think to myself. There is no way I can fight off five of them, one of them looks relatively athletic in build, and I seriously wonder if I can outrun him, but the others I may be able to outrun. I can't just stand here, I must run or fight, because I have no intentions of surrendering. I look at my bag, pen, paper and the canteen on the ground, but I don't have time to grab anything. Run it is. I turn around and take off across the stream, trying not to slip on the rocks as I hear them behind me screaming “Let's get her boys, we need a good trade for once.” I tripped a couple of times, but I finally make it across the stream absolutely soaked and with my wet clothing slowing me down. I turn to look at how far behind they are, as they splash around in the water, one of the heavier men falling in the water cursing and screaming as he is just sitting there in angry defeat. Great now they are angry and if they catch me it will be much worse for me. I run as fast as I can, soaking wet with my clothes clinging to my body and still weighing me down. Turning to get another look and as it's clear that most of them aren't as fit as I am, and they are struggling, except that one. I knew he looked athletic, tall and skinny, still as filthy looking as the others. There are some types of dirt that even water can't wash off. If I can just outrun him then I will be fine. Darting through the trees, eventually he is the only one still even close to me.
The others are much farther behind now and I can't even see them. I need to outsmart him, but I can't get far enough away from him to hide. Then I trip on a vine draped across the ground, and I manage to just get back up as he tackles me to the ground from behind, quickly flipping me over onto my back and grasping his hands around my wrists as he pins them to the ground and sits down on top of me. Both of use breathing deeply as we fight to catch our breath as well as fight against each other. It happened all so fast; all I could think is how did this happen. Now what happens to me, I don't want to be sold into slavery, and there are fates far worse than being a slave and none of wish to endure. I will never find my parents now, and in this moment, I realize that my freedom may actually be gone, because I made one bad decision. A single tear rolls down my face as I lose the energy to continue to struggle with him. I take a deep breath as I try to control my fear so that I don't panic.
“Please, let me go, I am not worth much value for trade, but I have skills, I can hunt, and cook. I can be useful to you instead.” I beg him as I am focused on the tired look on his face and the dark circles under his eyes.
As his breath is returning to normal, he looks down on me with annoyance. “I had to chase you, we told you not to run. We don't need your talents, we need trade, food and supplies, and that's all your worth to me. Well, there is other things your worth to most men, but fortunately for you, I have enough morals to not force myself on someone, so today is your lucky day.”
“My lucky day, you must be joking. Morals, you're going to sale me as a slave, what the hell is moral about that? That is an enormous ego that you have to even use the word morals in a sentence to describe yourself.” I glare at him with disgust.
“Kitten, you're young, this world is different now and you have to adapt or die. If I don't trade people, then I may starve. It's simple, and you will learn your place, just as I have. Now get up so we can get on with this.” He stands up still holding on to my wrists so tightly that I am losing feeling in my hands.
The others finally catch up to where we; all of them clearly not happy about the jog I took them on. “Get the rope and tie her up, there is a village that we just passed that we can trade her there.”
They bind my hands leaving slack to lead me on a leash like a dog. I feel like this is the end of my life, and tears continuously stream down my face as the lead me back to the village where I had met the doctor. One man follows closely behind, pushing me every few moments and making dirty remarks about my ass along the way. I swear if I could get free, I'd punch him right in the throat, if someone wasn't holding on to this rope, then I could probably do it with my hands tied. I bet if I did it would take him a solid ten minutes for him to catch his breath.
Finally, we reach the gates as the athletically built man beats loudly on the doors. This guy finally makes me loss my temper as he has the audacity to grope my back side, and I quickly turn and elbow him in the stomach. Watching him bend into the fetal position as one of them kick me behind the knee and I crash to the ground.
They slowly open the gates drawing the attention off me, and we are greeted by about ten men from inside the gates. They ask the strangers, what they want as I scramble to pull myself off the ground while the athletic man is pulling on my arm for me to get up. They go on to explain that they are slave traders and have acquired a slave that is for sale if they are interested in making a trade for some supplies. They invite all of us inside the gates where they begin to negotiate what I am worth.
I can't believe that the world has returned to such narrow-minded thinking. I am not an object to be sold or someone's possession, I am a person and I deserve to have my free will. Meanwhile, I am stuck sitting in the dirt waiting. I am still considering punching that one guy in the throat as he stares at me with both anger and perversion. It would be worth it, even if I got hit back for doing it. He is a total pig.
Eventually an agreement is made after I am looked over by a few of the villagers and I am taken away to what appears to be a wooden stage in the center of the village. There they tie me to a wooden pole that is coming up from the stage, and I am left there standing alone. People start to gather and gawk at me, I can hear the whispers as they gossip and rant. I try to fight back the tears as I put my head down with my hair dangling in front of my face. This has to be a nightmare; it can't be real. It feels like I can't breathe, and I struggle to block out the sounds around me to try to calm myself. My clothes still wet and covered in dirt as I stare at the mud smeared across the knees of my jeans.
Time passes and many people have passed by to see the new slave for sale, like I'm a tourist attraction. Then this filthy man approaches the stage and calls everyone in the village with a bell he keeps hitting until the stage is surrounded by villagers.
“Welcome everyone, it's been a while since we have put a slave up for trade but this girl was found guilty of stealing from another village and so she was banished and will pay her debt here as a servant.” He announces to the crowd.
“That's I lie, I never took anything, and I am an outsider. I am not a member of any village!” I argued loudly without thinking.
“Be quite girl, it doesn't matter what you say, today you will go home with the highest bidder and that attitude will end up getting you into more trouble.” He turns back towards the crowd.
“Okay, we are going to start out high for this one, because she has many good qualities, she is strong, she can hunt, cook, and the bonus is that she is very easy on the eyes gentleman. We rarely get in trades like thi
s, especially one with so many needed qualities and in good health, everyone let's hear your bids.” The seller raises his hand to nod the start of the bidding war.
The crowd roars with offers of trade and barter, mostly men as they gawk at me like I am nothing more than a pretty body that they can own as they please. It's repulsing, the world never seems to change in some ways. I stand there blowing my hair out of my eyes in a panic just trying to see who is bidding. Some of these people look like they are one murder away from earning the status of the newest serial killer in the village. Others clearly are unbathed and have sweat pouring down their faces, mixing with the smut across their face and running into their untamed beards.
I notice a single lady that is bidding, she appears pregnant and clean considering. Listening closely as I watch them continue to bid as I pray in my mind so hard that my lips are mimicking my thoughts, please let her win! Every time this huge chubby guy, covered in soot, with a snarling grin across his face as he grips onto an unfinished axe bids, I die a little on the inside. I hate to even think why he would find me useful enough to bid on. Sick, just sick, this entire idea, what is wrong with these people?!?!
My heart is racing, some of the bidders are backing out. Only a handful is left now, and fatso isn't backing down. Then I see a man look at me like he has seen me before, he quickly turns and runs off into the distance, I wonder if he has seen me, maybe he knows my parents, if so they could help talk the villagers out of selling me.
The bidding continues, the pregnant woman gives up, that leaves two men battling it out. One offering to trade for metal work, the other will offer carpentry. This feels even more hopeless then it did when it started, I hang my head down listening to this two baboon's battle it out.
Then I hear a voice stand out from the crowd, “I'll offer free medical care to the debtor, and a gun of your choice for her.”
I look up to see him, the doctor again. My mind begins to race, did he turn me in to begin with, must have. That's why I'm here, because of him! My nostrils flare out, I should have known better then trust him. I feel like such a fool, and I risked it all for some bread. I glared at him with a fire starting to burn in my eyes. Well, at least if he wins, I won't be stuck with either of these two guys that look like they should be modeling for a magazine that's titled “Living in dumpsters is the new look” and “Serial killer weekly”.
While my thoughts distract me, I hear the seller announce a winner. Wait, who was it, I wasn't listening? I look around with panic smeared across my face, breathing heavily. If I was listening while sitting on the rock by that spring, then I may have not been here in the first place!
“Come up on stage sir and claim your servant, she is all yours.” The seller stands in front of the stage leaning over to greet the winner. He bends down to grab his hand and help him step up onto the stage.
I lunge back and forth trying to look around the seller to see who it is that is coming upon the stage. It's him, it's the doctor. I give a sigh of relief knowing that it was him, and this means that there is a chance of escaping from him, with the right plan. Now I just need to wait for the right time, but until then, I think I will make his life hell for turning me in.
“Now I know you have never owned a servant Kallem, and I am not sure why you are interested in this one considering how opposed to the idea you have always been in the past, but you must know that you are responsible for her. If she gets in trouble, then you will be held responsible as well. This one is pretty mouthy, and I suggest that you do your best to keep her under control and out of trouble, understand?” The seller tells the doctor with a stern voice of concern.
“I understand, maybe this one is different, she can be helpful. I'm much busier these days and I am always caring for others in the village. I was thinking it would be nice to have someone around to help me with some chores and such while I am taking care of others.” Kallem explains to the seller.
“Great, I know you work hard, and we all are grateful to have such a wonderful doctor living in our village. Just keep in mind that if you are unable to control her, then after three public offences the deal will be off, and she will be put back up for trade again to someone who can control her. I just want you to be aware of what you are getting yourself into.” The seller shakes his hand with a gentle joking laugh and pats him on the shoulder in a brotherly way.
“I get it, thanks for watching out for me. I assure you that I will do my best to keep her in line and out of trouble. Please feel free to come by and I'll trade the gun as I said.” Says Kallem as he struts towards me with a smile on his face, but he seems to be sweating nervously as you can see the beads of sweat on his face shine in the sunlight.
“We meet again, are you ok? Let's get you untied and out of here.” He unties the ropes that are binding me hands to the wooden pole.
“Are you serious, am I okay?! Am I okay, just back up and keep your distance from me!” I huff at him as my face flushes crimson with anger.
“Quiet, don't draw attention to yourself. Listen to me, I am trying to help you and you little miss should be thankful that I won the bid, because that big guy that was voting for you has already had one servant that “disappeared” and another that is often found with a blackened face when he is unpleased with her work. Now come with me, I will explain everything when we get back to my house” He grabs my upper arm tightly and leads me off stage.
“You're hurting my arm, let go.” I say, as I keep trying to pull away from him.
“I said keep your mouth shut and keep walking!” He continues to pull on me to keep walking.
He appeared so nice, even human in the woods; seems I was wrong. As soon as I can get away, I am gone. I refuse to live like this or live at all with this person.
We come up to this tiny house, made of recycled wood, with a fireplace to the side, and a solar panel on top and he opens the door and shoves me in, and slams the door behind us. “Now, are you okay? How did you get caught?!? I thought you were moving on from here! You knew it wasn't safe to stay near the village, I told you so!”
He rants as paces back and forth, running his hand through his long dark brown hair, with a worrisome look across his face.
Angry and confused I scream at him, “I'm not okay, I am officially a slave … No thanks to you! They found me by the stream, and I was outnumbered five to one. I thought I could trust you!”
He stops pacing and turns towards me, “What? You think I turned you in, don't you?! Well, I didn't. I wouldn't! You shouldn't have stopped at the stream; you should've left like I clearly directed you to do!”
“Sure, like I believe that. I have never been caught, and it just so happens that the first time I actually trust someone… well you see where I am, you see what it got me!”
I look away from him and sit down on the floor with my back towards him, knees against my chest, and lay my head down on my knees to cover my face as I feel tears starting to outweigh my anger. I stare down at the old wooden floor planks that are dusty.
“Look, I didn't turn you in. You can believe what you wish, either way consider yourself lucky, because you may be a servant, but you are safer here with me than anyone else here.” Kallem starts to approach but stops midway.
I turn around quickly and look up at him wiping my face with my arm. “I am pretty sure the bruise that will appear on my arm calls your bullshit. I am not staying, and you can't make me, and if you cared, if you have any humanity in you, then you will help me escape.”
Kallem looks down at the red mark across my arm, “If you hadn't have put on such a show back there, then I wouldn't have had to drag you by your arm, I am sorry….I know you haven't been part of a village before, but that's not how it works. There are rules here, and while I don't agree with all of them, I refuse to do anything that will get me banished from this village. If I help you then I put myself at risk and I do have people that I care about here. So, I have no intentions on leaving this place. I am just as much human as you are, bu
t I am rational enough to know that I need to be dependent on other humans for survival, unlike you! If you try to escape, then there will be serious consequences for the both of us. Besides, I stand by what I said when I found you in the woods, you will not survive as an outsider forever. You are safer here, in this village, so you need to accept it and don't cause me any trouble.”
“Just stay away from me, I won't be your slave or anyone else's, and you can't force me to do anything I don't want to do. In fact, just don't even speak to me, because I am done talking to you.” I turn back around and lay my head back down on my knees to hide myself as I fall apart.
“Fine, be stubborn. Just remember I can trade you to the metal worker for more weapons or to the carpenter for work on my house.” He grunts at me as he goes back to the door and locks it, then walks to the bed and flops down. “Can you at least tell me your name since we are stuck together now?”
I sit there in silence, filled with anger and regret. My head resting down on my knees and tears streaming down my face as my hair and jeans keep him from seeing my face.
“Oh, forget it. I have known you for less than 24 hours and you're already the most infuriating person I have ever met.” He gets up and goes to grab a canteen of water on the counter and takes a swig and slams it back down. “Okay, I have work to do. I don't have time to stay and argue with you any longer.”
He stomps over to where I am resting and reaches down and grabs my arm. “If I have to worry about you escaping then you can't be trusted. Get up.” He pulls me up off the ground as I stumble around trying not to fall over.
“What are you going to do?” I look at him with confusion and concern.
Revelation of Raelia: Book One Page 3
