(Sky's POV). (This is where the violence starts......but nothing super bad, promise)

I sit in a corner of the wagon with my knees drawn to my chest. I keep my eyes only half open to hide some of the blue-ness of my eyes. Aleasa said it would draw less attention to me. The boy younger then me and the older man who were broken sat in the front of the wagon. The other man sits across from me. I can tell that he wants to talk to me, but doesn't know what to say. I know that anyone else my age would be freaking out, but I feel calm. In fact, I don't feel much of anything compared to last night. My arms is also somehow already healed, with just a scab where the wound used to be.

"Hi, my name's Sky", I whisper to the man. He wears an eyepatch and what looks to be the remains of a purple and green dinosaur costume. His attention snaps to me, and he says, "O-Oh, I'ms Barney". He has a weird accent that makes some of his words sound plural. "Nice to meet you Barney. Just curious, but how did they catch you?", I ask. "I'm was froms an orphanage. That's whys I sounds so funnys. I joined the army against the squids when I was 18. Now I'm 19. I survived the battles where the kings, queen, and prince fell, onlys to be caught and sents here", he whispers back.

"I was from the same battle. The dogs tracked me down and found me", I say, "I'm thirteen". "I can't believes that they puts you intos slavery! You're still a boy!", he hisses. "I was fighting in battle, though. I fought in most of them, and I'v come out fine", I lie again. At least I think it's a lie. He doesn't seem very happy with my words. "I'm glads you're not likes them, thoughs", he says, gesturing to our other two traveling capanions. I cringe and nod my head.

(Time skip)

The wagon stops again, and I quickly sit up and shake Barney awake. The door opens and I rapidly blink at the light. "Out!", another guard orders. I get up and fall in line with the rest, Barney a step behind me. I notice the dirt that covers every bit of exposed skin on me. My hair is also dirty and messy. At least my shoulder should be covered up good. Aleasa's words echo in my head, and I mentally promise her once again.

The man who bought us steps out of a carriage and once again examines us. We stand in front of an enormous mansion, with a beautiful and green lawn sprawled out before it. Definitely rich. "Now, welcome to your new home", he says with fake kindness, "from now on, you'll be working here as my servants". Yeah right, servants are treated way better then slaves. For starters, servants are paid to do their work. "As long as you all behave, we shouldn't have any problems. A list of chores will be hanging in the mess hall every morning, but I would like one of you to be my personal assistant", he says while smirking. I can see that Barney is starting to believe him, and give a small shake of my head.

     The man's eyes meet mine again, and he says, "You'll do nicely for what I have in mind". He motions to a guard, and I'm shoved away from the other three. I can see that Barney is about to protest, so I shake my head again. He may have not seen the whip hanging from the guard's belt, but I did.

I'm ushered inside and taken to what I presume is the man's bedroom. He sits on a lavish arm chair, probably pretending to be king or something like that. "Now, this is my room. You will report outside every day at dawn, not a moment too late. You do not come in until I call to you", he says, "You shall refer to me as 'Master'. Now say it!". "Yes, Master", I mumble. "Good, now I want you to bow to me. On your knees", he commands. I was about to do it, but I froze. Every instinct I have is screaming at me not to bow to anyone, never mind this man. I remain upright, with my eyes on the floor. I can't do it; I won't do it.

     "Bow to me!", he barks. I bring up my gaze and meet his eyes, boldly saying, "No. I will never bow to anyone". He growls before walking over to me. He slaps my face, and I hear the sound before I feel the pain. "Bow to me!", he yells. "No", I say. He kicks my stomach, sending me skittering across the floor. He once again repeats the question. "No". He grabs my arm and drags me into the mess hall. I see Barney and the rest of the slaves out of the corner of my eye. The guard pushes them outside after me.

     "Looks like you and me, are going to have a little fun", the man growls at me before tying my hands up on a pole above my head. My back is to him, but I hear him yell at a guard for something. I hear Barney shout and yell, before I can feel the pain on my back. I scream out and barely remain standing as blood slides down my back. He's whipping me. Like an animal. The next lash makes me slump to knees, but I grit my teeth and remain silent. Where in my past life I learned such control over my emotions at thirteen, I will never know.

I don't know how many times I'm whipped, just that Barney had to be dragged away. Darkness clouds my vision. I'm finally cut down from the pole. I fall to the ground and lay in a puddle of my own blood. I fight to stay conscious, but I quickly lose the battle.