The Monarch: Days of Dusk

Chapter 5 Hope

Gwen

CREAK

Suddenly the main door creaked open. In came two men in black furs, our captors.

One was burly and the other was a bit lanky. Burly one had a serious expression while the lanky one had a foul smile over his face.They walked to the centre of the chamber and started inspecting us all one by one.

All of us instinctively moved back in the cages. The whole place was as silent as the grave.

Never had I ever felt a terror such as this.

I did not know what they wanted, but the terror still churned up my insides. It was like I was all aware, of my body, my heart beat, the chamber, the eyes of the men darting here and there.

Then the lanky one moved towards the cage with Penny and little Maggie in it.

They both jerked with fear, hugged each other tighter.

“The little one.” Said the lanky one to the burly. The burly one took out the key and started to unlock their cage.

“What? No! Please, I beg you, not her please!” Cried Penny as Maggie hid behind her, teary eyed, clutching Penny’s waist from behind as if holding on for dear life. But the man would have none of it. Unlocking the door, he pulled them apart and carried Maggie out. When Penny tried to retaliate, he pushed her back hard, knocking her on the ground.

Maggie was now crying hard. “Please don’t take me, please! No! Penny! Save me! No!”

My heart broke by what I just saw. It was so relatable, it could be Anna and me.

“Maggie! Maggie! You let her go you swine! You let her go now!! I’ll kill you! I sear I will! Maggie!!!” Penny cried her heart out, but it seemed it was all for nothing.

“Smacking a little girl makes you feel like a man, is that it? You jerk off son of a b***h!”

WHOA ANNA??

WHAT THE f**k ARE SAYING?

I was so shocked I felt my stomach lurch. Now, to be fair, I was awfully surprised by what she was doing, putting us in danger and all that but I was a bit more shocked by what she was saying!

If one knew Anna like I did, one would understand. Mother would have skinned us both alive for it.

Safe to say the man was shocked as well. He looked at us with surprise, followed by radiating anger, giving me goosebumps all over.

“What did you say you little b***h?” The man growled, ignoring Maggie’s relentless sobbing.

Anna was standing behind me and slowly handed me the knife. I knew already what she was planning to do.

Gods have mercy Anna!

For you and me both!

“Let it pass.” The lanky one said in a non chalant way, eyeing us for a bit and then going out.

The man kept watching us for a bit, then grunted and started moving out.

“Yes, obey like a little b***h and you may get a bone.” Anna jibed again. Somehow, giving me the prickles all over again.

Now the man was furious. Grunting, he came up right outside the cage and grabbed the bars with one hand, while carrying a sobbing Maggie in another.

“Cur, you be grateful he won’t let us touch you, otherwise I would have opened you up and taken you raw. Again and again until you…..”

He stopped, shocked. Trembling a bit, drooled blood. Looking at me and then my hand that held the knife, deep inside him till almost the hilt. My hand feeling warm blood upon it.

“Like I would let you.” I said. Taking out the blade as he fell on his knees. Maggie sobbing constantly, her pitch increased when he fell.

I grabbed his arms and tried to pull him towards the bars.

“Anna, help me”. I whispered. We managed to keep his body steady for a bit and Anna started to rummage around his furs for the key.

“Found it!” She squealed in excitement.

I quickly unlocked the door.

Our cage open, I gave Anna the key.

“Free the others. And be quick about it.”

I ordered Anna. She nodded and got to it.

After a moment, all cages were open and the kids crowded in the middle of the chamber. I heard footsteps and quickly rushed to the door, which was open.

Gripping the knife with the blade-side down, I rushed and as soon as the man entered, I spun and buried the knife deep in his guts. He didn’t even have time to register what happened. The lanky man fell down, clutching his abdomen as blood pooled beneath him. I closed the door quickly and as silently as I could.

Then I looked at the corpse that I just made, out of a man who only moments ago was a living being.

Gods! What am I doing?

Gwen.

I kept looking at the corpse below.

Gwen!

What else could I have done?

“GWEN!!” Anna shouted beside me. My focus turned to her.

“What do we do now?” She asked with anxious eyes. Filled with fear but also with a sincere hope that her elder sister would know what to do. Fortunately for her, she did.

“All of you, search them for any weapons, anything that we can use.” I ordered them.

They readily complied. Although they still were a bit reluctant to touch the corpses, they did so nevertheless.

We recovered a shortsword and two daggers in total.

“Now, who among you knows how to fight?” I asked, desperately.

Kirk and Sven stepped forward. After a moment, Jason did too. And Amber?

She stepped forward shyly and stood along with Kirk, who looked at her in a weird way.

“We don’t have a bow Amber.” Kirk told her. “ Stay behind until I find you one.”

He said.

She stepped behind without a reply.

Gods! What’s going on here?

Now, everyone looked at me, and I knew who was going to lead.

“Kirk, Sven and Jason, pick them up and come with me. All others huddle together, hands grabbed and keep following us at a distance.”

May the gods grant us strength.

We started to leave the chamber.