Date: 26th of February, 2223

100 years later, Present day.

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Too bright...

Correctly, it was warm and bright. Exactly perfect. For a moment I thought I had entered the gates of heaven. Before I felt the soring pain going all over my body.

Slowly my eyelids lid open, only for them to narrow up by the bright sun shining right to my face. My arm found itself shealding me from it, as I begun to explore my surroundings. What the hell? I laid half-way in water, my upper body lazily flushed to the shore on the ground. My gaze followed along the water to notice a small river, then a tiny hole filled with water which in I was. I couldn't see further because of the trees, but I didn't need to.

Thanks to the memories coming back in split second.

Once I managed to slip from the guards I had made run for it. I kept running I remember that much. The rest is little hazy until I remember standing by a cliff, staring down at a terrible waterfall. Did I really jump? I hate heights, but I do regard jumping for a reason.

But- what was the reason?

Was I cornered or what?

I remember Damon, the archers then the lizard guards too. .. but how did I manage to get away from all them? From Damon? From my Master?

Wait, where were my chains?

The more I thought about this the more I became anxious, my breathing fastened. I desided to get up. There was always the possibility that they might came after me to drag me back. And I, absolutely, was not going back there to get myself killed.

By getting this far away I know I have sealed myself a death-sentence.

But I was too distracted with my thoughts so I forgot my left ankle, meaning I went straight face back to the water. I let out a pained grunt and growl of frustration: added to all my other problems, now I was soaking wet too.

Now my second try to get up was a lot more successful, with the help of my right arm I managed to drag myself on the ground to sit. Luckily I rememberd to be now careful with my left arm; the arrow, remember?

I'm being too sarcastic.

I made clear of my surroundings, a forest was there to give me cover for heaven's sake.

That's really all that can protect me however.

As I know I look like a slave, and for a slave with no owner can be if found taken to another Master, or to be killed. That's how things are. That's why I don't expect to run into a same kind of girl slave like me, I'm all alone, exposed to the world now.

So I needed to be precautious.

Been left alone with own thoughts is quite scary, isn't it?

By time I noticed how cold it was getting, and that the sun was setting. Thanks to my only two clothes I wore which was normal under wear and a grey little torn long T-shirt, which in I looked like a tent, I realized was going to freeze to death. And now by getting that I had to get up and walk, before Damon or someone else would find me.

I sat there my legs relaxed, until I tore a piece of the only clothing that covered me to get my arm stop the bleeding. It was little difficult with one arm, but luckily I was right-handed. It took a few minutes perhaps before I finally tightened the clothing with my right arm and teeth, pressuring the blood enough to not fload. I did hiss, it was far from being painless. But I probably had to stay quiet.

Now when I was done with that I turned to my ankle, knowing I couldn't do anything for it to ease the pain. I didn't have time to let it relax for few days. So I had to leave it be.

I finally started getting up.

Like a miracle I managed to hop myself on to my left leg, then lean myself to a tree as I hovered of the sudden movement. I stadied my anxious mind then looked little around me, which direction would be the best for me? The thick woods, or the open area?

Why are you even thinking that?

So I chose the thicker woods, limping and hissing everytime I used my left leg when my right got tired of the jumping. Let me tell you I wasn't the curviest one-- more like the skinniest chicken. I had almost no muscles thanks for being trapped in a cage for 17 years, nor did I have any extra fat. I didn't get exactly well fed back there, it was good if we girls got one piece of meat in a week.

But here I can exercise.

Or more likely I have to exercise.

As if you have a choice.

I wonder my sarcasm many times also, but it's what keeps me alive and sane. Just imagine being left in a cage for so long with your own thoughts, when intercourse with other people was the most scariest thing ever done, for sure begun to loose your mind.

That's why I had came all this way.

It was a win or loose situation.

My feet ached a bit, so I rested by a tree again. Damn I was hungry. Now an apple pie would be the heaven to me. It didn't took long as I picked up a sent of something delicious, not too far away. My gaze tried to search for the best location where it might came from, until I heard laughing.

Children laughing.

A village.

As I finally processed that I lazily moved forward, almost ignoring everything going on. There was food. People. If I found humans they might've be able to help me... so fingers crossed.

I approached an open space which was coming ahead, the sun really shiny today. So it wasn't a surprise when I got blinded by it, moving from dark to light is something you need to step back and recover a little. But the noises were just getting louder and louder, telling me that I was going to the right direction.

Before long, when I finally could see, my eyes grew wide.

I stood by a small cliff, looking down at a village, small wood/fabric houses built close to one another, the space the village took was humongous. I've never seen so... big village. It could almost be concidered as a city, but that word is almost dead. Like us humans soon too.

Stop that.

The truth was that I could easily get lost in there.

And I wasn't too confident to go down there looking like-- this. I looked like a soaked rat who had ruffled hair and terribly dirty and worn clothes, someone would almost immediately notice something is wrong with me. Then I would get caught. I believe since this village is so close to our Master's home he is well known here. And the whole town must know of a 'runaway slave'.

My thoughts were interrupted as I got to stare the people... no, creatures in there. Mostly I saw different animals selling something by their tables, then some Masters with their slaves, powerful looking warriors who must've protect the village from outside dangers, then some travelers walking with their big guns and swords hoods pulled over their heads, and finally few normal humans. But I had to admit those humans didn't look like they were doing fine, every single living being apart from humans of course hates mankind, so we are being pushed aside or bossed around, since we are not strong and powerful like them.

Stupid Faith, get moving.

I brushed my head once to get rid of all these thoughts, now I had to concentrate. My plan was little undone until my eyes landed on some clothes hanging on a rope near my direction, some similar to a long clothing which the travelers usually wear.

My grin grew back on my face, as I slowly got down the cliff, sliding in the mud before reaching the rope. I quickly took the clothing and limped over to a small house, wrapping the over-sized brown cloak around me as I buttoned it close, pulling over my golden hair the hoodie to give shelter, as I little hesitantly looked the crowded village's direction.

I had to find someone to help me.

Or then help myself by starting to steal more.

And the only way I was probably getting alive from here was the second option, even though I didn't fancy the idea of taking other people's belongings. But did I have a choice? It doesn't matter how nicely I ask I'm gonna get beaten up! I grew pretty cold-hearted in that cage, but I still tried to keep a fair game and intended to rob the ones who don't almost notice anything. Or suffer of it.

I finally had my adrenaline burst as I slipped smoothly into the crowd, walking behind this humongous bison who was searching something specific from the sellers he passed. I kept my gaze low, greedily staring at his coin sack which hanged on his waist's belt. I was insane if I intended to take that.

Turned out I was completely insane as I snatched it quietly from him, quickly changing my direction on left. I kept walking without looking back, realizing how my heart was about to beat out of my chest, how did I end up being like this?

I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die--

Finally, after feeling like having a safe distance I made a tight turn to a dark corner, limping to a close railing. There I listened for a while was someone after me, turned out there seemed to be no one and I was off the hook. Hopefully.

I looked down at the sack I took and opened it up, noticing dozens of cold coins. Woah, that bison must've really get paid well. I wondered why hadn't anyone stole it from him? It felt too easy.

To my question was answered really quick as I felt a humongous hoof land on my shoulder, and it wasn't nicely.

"I believe you have something of mine, kid."

I was so frozen to my spot, for a second ago my heart felt like coming out of my chest, now it felt like it stopped entirely.

I quietly had taken earlier few of the coins to my palm, turning to face the big creature very slowly. I had crushed my palm tightely close, trying to hide them at least. The bison looked a lot more scarier now when we were face to face, his sharp horns pointed out dangerously, he had a scar over his left eye-- no, scars all over his bare chest and arms, luckily he had pants on so I didn't know did he possess ones down below. But the point was that he looked like a gladiator, I hadn't noticed that before the humongous ball-thingie he carried with. It had knives sticking out of it.

By now I was a sweating, panicking girl about to pass out, now I knew why no one stole from him. He probably had a fifth sense!

His eyebrows narrowed to a thin line, I almost screamed when he snatched the sack all to himself. For a moment I thought he was going to hit me, to teach me a lesson, but all I saw was him sighing and turning his back on me. "Go home, kid. Next time I won't be this forgiving."

I forgot how to breathe, I just watched him suck into the crowd again, leaving me there in one piece. Alive.

Why? How? What?

I was about to shit myself!

I regained minutes later barely, silently looking down at my palm he hadn't noticed. Or then he did but gave me pity and let me keep them. I opened my hand to see three clean cold coins laying there, these were my only resource. I wasn't planning to do that again. Absolutely not. I almost had myself killed.

With sigh I thought what to buy with these. I needed some cover. Well, I needed much more which I couldn't get with this less coins, but I have wanted one thing since I ran away from that hell.

A goddamn bow.

And arrows.

I needed some self-defense. Yes I was starving and I needed some clothes to cover me up but in this world those weren't the first priorities, surviving was. Maybe if I robbed someone with those weapons I was able to gain more money, but I should think that later.

Now I had to find someone who would sell me such things.

Like the bison I got back into the crowd like nothing happened, searching for weapon sellers. I got to admit when the sun was setting the people and creatures begun to lessen up, but it still was little crowded. Some of the buyers started to pack up and close their stores, some would even stay up all night.

Where's the gun sellers?

I looked around very closely, almost giving up with my search. All I saw was food sellers, jewellry sellers, cloth sellers as well as belonging sellers. But then, by the end of that road, there finally came a shop which had a door there where read 'weapons'. My face relaxed, as I took a deep inhale, then approached the shop.

I got in from the white door into the brick building, knowing this belonged to a human, and was human built.

The shop was very organized, different kinds of weapons and self-defense things had their own places, then there were of course armours, bullet-proof clothes as well gloves ment for beating. Great shop. Besides me in the shop was a a big warrior, 'half-breed' I believe they would call him. He had elf ears and beautiful face, but his skin and outstand was too human, so it was clear. Don't ask how I can tell it when he's wearing an armour.

While he was talking to the owner about something I looked around all the things in there, wondering who made them. Where did we need these? Where had they get these? They were beautiful and all but I didn't understand violence and disorder, the world was at the edge of collapsing and these just made it possible.

Well, I couldn't judge once my eyes landed to the bows and arrow trugs hanging on the wall, now I turned of what they call a 'kid in the candy shop'. I admired them... no I fell in love with each of them. They were made very beautifully as well as the arrows and trugs, especially the one colored with blue and white paint. It matched with my eyes. If you didn't already know my eyes were sky blue, so they really had quite the match.

I got to get that.

"Interested?" A suddenly new voice asked right behind me.

I flinched as I turned to see- a human. Oh no. Oh dear, a male human slave. He wore only grey torn pants, he had a collar on which was colored red, and it had this electricity wire on... in case he would show disrespect to his owner. Now seeing a village slave is totally different thing, we were forced to have chains, but collars... that's cruel.

I got so lost to the elder man's brown eyes that I just stared, his expression shifting confused. Before long his Master's throat clearing snapped both of our attention away, I nodding hesitantly.

The half-breed was gone already, the old man by the casher now lent over the table to stare at us.

"I wonder," My throat felt sore so I cleared it a bit, my attention drawned to hear the shop's door open. I glanced to see a dark big figure enter, before I answered. "How much is that bow over there?" I questioned by pointing the blue bow and the arrow trug filled with arrows that I wanted.

As the shop's owner looked over I glanced back at the person who had entered the shop, seeing he had expensive looking armour on, long black cloak covered his back and shoulders, then he had this helmet over his head to hid his identity. He had quite the swords hanging on his waist and back trug, what was he here for? More for his collection I think. A traveler?

"Hm. I'd say 5 cold coins and you can have it, little girl." The owner said as he glanced at mine direction, trying to read my reaction. This naming me a 'kid' or 'little girl' is starting to get on my nerves. As well as the greediness of these sellers.

But I must take the same attitude.

Not gonna happen, old geezer.

Cause I only have 3 coins.

"I can only pay of it three." I argued, approaching the table, leaving the slave human there to not cause him any unnecessary trouble. I knew how short-tempered the owners were. "And it's miss, please."

"Five is my only offer, take it or leave it, miss." He growled, as I stopped infront of his casher.

We shared a common glare, even if he looked quite skinny and short I knew he had probably a guard of the shop, who would murder me if I cocked too much. I wanted to survive in one piece.

I hate his judging eyes.

But this owner stared at me way too much, exploring my muddy and dirty spots until looking down at my clothes. I was quick to wrap the brown cloak on me more over, not liking one bit of the way he eyed me.

I was ready to run out of that door, he was getting a hint of something by the look on his face. My mouth opened to turn my offer off, what if I'd just get food and rob someone else tomorrow... but what if it wouldn't be here tomorrow? Or what if this owner would inform my Master, he was also a slave Master and was probably familiar to a name called Ezekiel.

What was I going to do?

"I--"

"15 cold coins," My heart skipped a beat, once a big manly hand settled 15 cold coins on the table, skin colored grey. There was only one creature in this world with that colored skin, and so deep monsterous voice, which made me froze like a deer in headlights. "Of the miss' bow, and of that Demon blaster."

My eyes were wide, as I just stood there, unmoved. The owner stared at the figure beside me little bored, glancing back at what he wanted, until turning forward with a grin on his face. "You can have all of them with 20 cold coins."

I stared at the sneaky little bastard on other side of the cashier, he was still trying his luck even though there was a monster buying these things. A monster standing right beside me, offering to pay of my weapon?

He's planning to kill me-- rape me.

Then he takes what he has paid.

I stood there quiet waiting for the situation to get somewhere, seeing how the Demon placed five cold coins more on the table, which made it finally 20 cold coins. My eyes couldn't be wider. The owner quickly snatched them away as if the Demon was planning to turn his offer off, he put the coins to his back pocket and snapped his fingers for the slave to bring the weapons over.

Finally, after probably three minutes I gained the courage to glance little beside me, seeing the same armoured man I watched coming into the shop, now standing beside me paying my things. Why was he doing that? He had to have other plans for me, I wasn't going to get off the hook this time?

Was he related to Damon? Is he his brother!?

Yet again my thoughts had a grip of me, and I hadn't realized that my bow and arrow trug waited on the table for me to pick them up. The Demon already grabbed his big-ass gun, starting to check it's condition and good angle for shooting.

"Your bow and arrows, miss." The slave human reminded, my eyes blinking few times before I reached forward and grabbed them slowly, I was little tense thanks of the monster probably watching me now. Without thinking I now faced my payer, he indeed was the helmet-wearing-stranger I saw coming in to the shop before, less threatening now. In fact something of him didn't trigger me straight away-- and how can Demons turn their eyes so yellow?

"You know-" The owner begun, gaining my attention back on him. "You can always earn the money back by joining me to my bed, with a lap dance it'll be double."

His offer threw me off guard.

That-- OLD PERVERT!

I knew of some 'prostitution' on the streets and all, but to ask or offer it straight infront of me- to my face--!?

I'm going to kill him.

"I believe I have to refuse." This got me out of the blue. I didn't realize that I had snorted inbetween my glaring and thinking until the Demon looked right at me, reading my face. "And it was already obvious that she is not going to take the offer."

Can Demons joke?

The Demon showed with his arm towards the door, showing me the way. I should probably obey. Being killed by him is hundred times better than being raped and killed in the bed by an old geezer. Like so much better.

Although I didn't really go with the idea of accompanying him.

What if he really would take me back to Master Ezekiel and Damon?

Then I will have to use these babies in my hands.

I got out of the door and walked little ahead to watch him come outside, in the settling sun light I could see him a lot clearer. He did look powerful and scary I didn't tell that, but something of him... I don't know.

Why isn't he seeming so bad as rest of the Demons?

Cruelly, I didn't expect him to close the door and start walking away. Like seriosly he didn't even want to discuss with me or wasn't interested to form anykind of conversation-- he just started walking like nothing happened. And to my utter-shock: I limped after him.

"Oi," I called, seeing as if he was waiting for my call and stopped, me putting brakes on like three meters away. I still wanted to keep my distance, no matter how odd or suspicious it looked like. He stared at me, waiting for what I had to say. I stuttered under the hard look of Demon, but it was only because I didn't expect things to go like this. "W-why did you pay me these?" I showed the bow and arrow trug, watching his gaze drop on them. "Not any normal Demon would've done such a thing for a human."

There was an odd silence following, I patiently waiting his answer. But then,

The goddamn idiot turned around, his back on me. I was so ready to yell at him for an answer until he did speak, getting me off guard totally.

"A girl like you should have something which on to protect yourself." He answered simply, deeply, wisely. I didn't even process it enough well when he begun to take his leave again.

I wasn't satisfied with that. I wanted to yell after him again, but felt like I was too needy to know, and way too weird. I watched him walk, all the way till he stopped out of nowhere.

By now he had gained about 400 meters distance between the both of us, turning suddenly to look back on me.

Our eyes locked, as he nodded his helm forward, motioning me to follow. Now I was confused. The possibility for him proving to be bad was still there, but did I have better things to do anyway? Was this better than being left alone in this village-- could he be a traveler some sort of?

Without thinking again my feet lazily limped after him, he seemed to wait till I catched up on him, his eyes wondering down to my legs.

"Do you live in this village?" He asked calmly, almost ignoring the need to know what happened to my other leg and why did I look like that. When I shook my head in no he looked around for a while, until his gaze fell to a building which caught his attention. "Then we must reserve a room for the night."

I stared blindly at him entering the goddamn 'motel' casually, this time expecting me to follow when he clearly said the word 'we'.

"I'm sorry-- we?" I questioned in utter disbelief, yep for now there was no doubt that he had other thoughts or plans for me. But like a loyal dog I followed after him into the building which looked like collapsing any time now, but only to get some answers. "What are you really meaning?"

The Demon walked up to the motel's owner and booked a room for two, ignoring my questions for short time.

"Oi!" I called as I stopped beside him by the counter, leaning on it to earn his attention. "There's no we, I don't know what you're thinking with this but I'm not coming to that room. You can't pay me to sleep with you. I ain't those kind of girls."

He stared at me, agonizingly long and painfully. When the staring continued and the owner came back to give him the key I groaned loudly and started to storm off, I wasn't going to let this happen. He couldn't go on with his plan, I wasn't going to let him rape me. Take advantage of me!

"Miss."

All it really needed was his calm voice saying that, and I already stopped. He can't convince me to come with any kind of nonsense, why else would he book a room? Wait, it was room for two though?

He's planning to rape you none the less.

Anyways I stopped to hear him out, glancing back to see him looking after me.

"I wish I could change your opinion of my kind but that is all up to you, not all of us are what you think." He spoke, strongly and hurt. Now my eyes narrowed up but then softened little bit of sadness, I knew Demons could sense different kinds of thoughts and feelings but that he knew all along what I was thinking... yet he hasn't still touched me with a long stick. "Since this night will be cold I thought it would be the best for the both of us to stay inside, but please, I believe you are in need of some sleep and rest. If it does require me sleeping in separate room I will do it as long as I know I did it for someone who needs it more."

... He can't lie.

Nobody can lie that good.

For the truth, he has been such a gentleman that it's scary and startling to believe, but that's how he is. I believe his intentions are good. I can't see any bad mark on him, he's nice and polite and gives that kind of image of him... now he has me all convinced.

But I still keep my guard up.

"No," I said, my eyes flickering back on him. I can't ask him to pay more than he has already by reserving himself own room. "No need... one room's just fine."

Slowly, I begun to move towards him while dragging with me my bow and arrow trug, my brain screaming me not to do it. But I deside to follow my heart on this, I trust on it. But if it proves me wrong, I'm probably dead by tomorrow...

The Demon allowed me to go the stairs up first, following suit behind however. I didn't know what to think right now, I had so bad trust issues that I was going to die to this.

"The room's on third floor." He said as I stopped by the first floor, he showed the number 127 and this floor contained 1-50. I sighed as I limped to the second floor's stairs, starting to feel really the pressure I was putting on my injured leg. My body was starting to give in for the tiredness already too, that's why my speed started to slow down. A few odd men came across us coming from upstairs and this looked exactly the sort of building where 'prostituotes' liked to work, so they eyed me the second they realized I was a female. "Keep going. 

Suddenly the weight on my hands was lifted off as the Demon took my bow and arrow trug to carry, his other arm gently keeping me on the move as we passed the odd men. I couldn't ignore the hard glare he made to them.

A gentleman?

Or a jealous raper?

Getting up the third floor's stairs was rough, but I made it. I catched my breath by the end and walked after my Demon 'companion'... can I say that?

He opened the 127 door for me and let me limp in first, the lights to the room were already on so I didn't tremp on anything. I saw that the room was a little narrow as expected of such a house, the bed which in looked have slept all kinds of people still looked like a King's bed to me over a cold concrete floor. I slowly dragged over to it and sat down heavily, watching the Demon enter the room also.

For me the room was perfect size of my small height, but he was about two heads taller than me, meaning that he had to crouch up a bit in there.

Now when I looked the room better it contained nothing more than open space, the bed and a couch as well a fireplace.

-- Wait, a couch?

I started to get up. "I will sleep on the couch." But immediately I received an answer I didn't want. I stared at the Demon who settled down my bow and arrow trug near me, before walking over to the couch to get ready for sleep. I couldn't allow this. He should at least sleep on the bed!

"No, I seriosly can't," But as soon as I intended to get up again a hard look was send on my way, the powerful male companion of mine started to take off the gunbelt over his armour as well the swords on him. He kept looking however, while I swallowed down the gulp I was holding. 

... Maybe I should just do as he wants.

So I sat back down gently, looking at the pillow and cover which waited for me. Then I looked back at him who laid down on the couch, his armour on.

I raised a serious eyebrow.

"You sleeping in that?" I asked while started to squirm under the warm cover. This was heaven. I didn't want to move away from it ever.

Although I should get used to it.

"In case someone is going to attack on me I am far more protected than without my armour." He said, casually again. Why is he so calm? He sounds like a lunatic while sleeping in an armour, but I guess he's right...

"With a helmet too?" I held in a snicker and smile, because I still didn't know his intentions nor plan. Why would he buy to a random girl he doesn't know a bow and arrow trug, then bring her to sleep with him to a near motel and allow her to sleep on the bed? I'm just too confused.

As soon as I mentioned the helmet, strong arms reached up and removed the heavy obstacle over his head, but all I saw was the back of the sofa. I didn't know what he looked like at all, and I wasn't so sure did I want in this situation yet. So I didn't require him showing his face, although he had already seen mine.

I did give him a quiet 'hmph', until I snuggled into the warm bed. This was odd. So odd. Today had been totally different and abnormal, and there I just laid, in the same room of my usually known 'common enemy', who actually has been quite the gentleman.

I wanted this to last till tomorrow.

So of the bottom of my heart I wished that he wouldn't prove to be bad.

Please...

Please don't let him be fake.

<~~|||~~>

Okayyy, this was long one. You can congratulate yourselves for making it here!

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