Chapter 2.

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I awoke a while later. The sound of clanking iron and cries of agony filled my mind. I pushed myself up off the rough dirt, rubbing my eyes and scanning my surroundings. I was outside in what looked like a cleared field. All around me were people, cowering in fear. Four men stood, broad shouldered and armed with strange looking axes. I felt a hand grip my shoulder, making me jump. I whirled around to see a comforting face. "Andrew!" I squealed, wrapping my arms around my older brother. "Holly! Thank goodness it's you!" he replied, wrapping his big arms around me and giving me a little squeeze as little arms wrapped around my waist from behind. "Yuumi!" I said, pulling my little sister into my arms. I felt several eyes staring at us, but I didn't care. I was wrapped, tight and warm in my family's embrace. Yuumi sobbed in my chest as Andrew rubbed our backs soothingly.

I heard a deep voice clear it's throat, causing me to snap back to reality. One of the four men had approached our little stir. He towered over our crouching bodies as his crimson eyes bore into me. He reached down, snatching Yuumi's forearm and yanked her out of my reach. I immediately stood, attempting to pull her away from him. But he shoved me, knocking me into Andrew. He shoved Yuumi towards the smallest of the quad, who addressed as Calum. Calum gripped my sister by the jaw, wrenching it roughly open and looking into her mouth. Then, he poked every inch of her small body. Next, he put his hand on Yuumi's forehead and closed his amber eyes. Yuumi stared wide in fear. Calum opened his eyes again after a minute, and turned to the man who grabbed Yuumi. "Negative, Kieran." Kieran nodded, grabbed Yuumi and flung her on the other side of him. Then, he turned to Andrew and I. He moved quickly, grabbing Andrew by the forearm and shoving him to Calum. Calum repeated his actions as he did with Yuumi and told Kieran the same thing, negative. Kieran grabbed Andrew and flung his next to Yuumi. Andrew wrapped his arms around Yuumi, attempting to comfort her sobbing state.

Kieran turned towards me once more and made his way over. His long fingers wrapped around my wrist, yanking me to my feet and dragging me to Calum. Calum eyed me, before forcing my mouth open to peer inside. The other of the four men, who Kieran addressed as Liam and Brunt, stood near and looked me up and down. Calum released my mouth and roughly poked me all over. Then came the hand on the forehead. He closed his eyes, and opened them soon after, just as he had done to Yuumi and Andrew. He removed his hand and sighed, looking at Kieran. "Too bad. She's a pretty one. But, positive." He said.

Kieran scoffed, then shoved me down roughly. "W-what are you doing?!" I cried out. "We can't take any infested humans with us. Too bad, though. You would have made a marvelous concubine." He says, smirking as he raises his axe in the air. My heart stopped, I trembled. I heard Yuumi screamed for me, and Andrew call out my name.

My adrenaline pumped through my veins. Kieran swung, but I somehow dodged it. My body moved on its own as I reached up and gripped the handle of the axe. I yanked it back, throwing Kieran behind me. I scrambled to my feet and broke into a dead sprint, pushing past all the awe-struck people. I heard heavy foot steps coming towards me quickly.