The storm raged on as Panchaali watched the rain from her room, thunder rang throughout the place. Panchaali lit a lamp and sat on the window seat looking out of her room, gazing at the sky that was showering the water without a mercy. Hopefully her aryas were fine, worry crunched in her stomach as she thought about her husbands who were all out for some trading purposes, she knew they had super powers and all, but she couldn't help but worry.

Fear crunched in her stomach as she heard the thunder clap once again, the unrelenting shower of the rain did nothing to pacify her fear. Why did she have to be alone today? What was she thinking? She sighed as she looked out of the window, everything was blurry because of the darkness and rain, her stomach crunched with hunger, she wanted to go down and eat something but was afraid. The complete darkness in the house was scary, she picked up the lantern and moved to the door, the sound of her anklets was the only thing she could hear other than her harsh breathing.

She moved to the kitchen, thank god she had prepared something before the storm had raged on. She prepared a plate of food for herself and sat in the kitchen to eat, she heard a loud shrill scream of a woman making her heart freeze in her chest. She got up from where she had been sitting and rushed to the window her eyes fell on a silhouette of a number of different figures some looked males and another was a female. Who was running, crying for help. Panchaali's heart thundered in her chest as terror sunk its sharp talons in her heart making her freeze on the spot, what was happening?

"Arya!" She called out panicked just to realise none of them were home, the fear in her stomach intensified. She needed to do something, to help the poor girl, she can't just let her alone to suffer, she wrapped her hands on her lehnga and raised it as she turned around and ran out. She was instantly soaked by the rain as she ran towards the girl, her heart thumping in her chest, she pushed herself to run harder, but the storm was unrelenting, the strong wind slapped on her face making her hair blow in her eyes. Water dripped off her face as she ran bare foot on the muddy ground that now had water flowing. She was a soaked mess, but she didn't care. The loud thunder clap had her jumping as the lightening struck, lighting up the dark sky for a moment. Her heart thundered at what she saw, this men weren't just any normal men, they were khisakis.  Her heart thundered in her chest, her feet froze as she recognized their half tattooed faces, the blood thirsty barbaric group of bandits that killed for fun. This poor woman seemed to be their pray, because of the storm and the noise going on they hadn't heard her, the trees provided a perfect cover for Panchaali if she wished to turn around and run, but than the woman would be left alone. He heart thrummed in her chest as she felt in complete chaos, her instincts screamed at her to turn around and run but her heart on the other hand was a different story.

Survival instincts warred with her heat, she sighed determination filling her body, she will save her. Panchaali ran, her heart thrummed with pain and uncertainty, terror sunk it's ugly claws in her heart making her doubt her capabilities. The dark laughter of the men coupled with the lightning and the atmosphere made her heart jar with dear, she froze mid run as she saw one of the men pull out a sword and swung it, Panchaali's heart thumped in her chest wildly as she watched the head of the woman roll away from the body, her body slumped down. The men laughed, her ears rang with a loud piercing noise as her body grew cold as terror sliced through her being, she couldn't believe her eyes. They killed her, just like that. How could they? She was a living breathing person just a moment ago and now all that was destroyed. They killed her, the poor woman's blood mixed with the water, diminishing her signs of life. Panchaali stood there, maybe she should run, maybe she should save her life but all she could focus right now was on the blood, the thick red liquid that mixed with the water creating a pool. Her heart thundered in her chest as her ears rang, her body slowly grew numb as she felt her body go lax, her breathing came in short pants as memories after memories unlocked of her parents and families death. Images of their dead bodies flashed through her mind making her heart throb with pain, her legs gave out as everything around her blurred, her mind grew hazy as dark spots danced in her vision and she lost herself in complete darkness.

The men turned around their gazes moving in the direction from where they heard the sound come from. "Seems like someone is there!" One of the men said, "who has a death wish now?" The other taunted, "could be an animal?" One suggested, "in a storm like this it could be anything. So be alert. " The leader warned, "I'll go and check. " One of the them stated, "I'll come with you." The other volunteered. "I just hope it's another woman that we can enjoy." The first one said as he began to move towards from where the sound had come, his eyes lighting up with a sadistic hunger, "you really are a greedy b*stard, but if your wish comes true I'll give you a treat!" The other said maliciously and both of them chuckled darkly, the walked down cutting the ferns and bushes on their ways with the sharp daggers that adorned their hands. Their breaths hitched and their laughter ceased as their gazes fell on the woman who lay on the ground, she was soaked from the rain, her long hair were wet, her smooth skin glowed, her beauty captivating them. Never had they seen someone as beautiful as her, such a beautiful woman in a forest like this was a surprise, how was that she was here? What was she doing here all alone? Was she even real? Seeing such a beautiful woman in the forest seemed like a dream, a peculiar dream. There was just no way.

The first one moved ahead, trying to reassure himself that indeed she's real, that her beauty is no illusion, that a woman as beautiful as her was real. Woman like he didn't deserve to be in forest like this, they were meant to be on his side, they were meant to be with them. He smirked as maliciousness spread through his mind, he would make her his slave, he smirked at the image of a beauty like her serving him, following all his whims and orders, his smirk widened, what more would he need than her serving him? Life would be so perfect. He chuckled as he moved forward, the water splashing under her feet as he walked ahead, he mentally rubbed his hands in excitement, a slave like her would be a prized possession, she would sell for lakhs of gold coins if he willed to sell her, this just got better, he would be rich in no time, what more could one want? This woman was going to be his lucky charm, he would sell her to the highest bidder in the black market where all the bidding for slaves took place, a cruel laughter left his mouth as he stepped ahead, with the tip of his shoe he tilted her face, so he could have better look at her gorgeous face, "What will happen to you now beautiful?" He asked sarcastically as his loud laughter rang throughout the forest. . .

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