Chapter one Punishment

The golden sun shined above, warming my skin, droplets of sweats slid down my bare back. My bones ached from exhaustion and pain, bonded by heavy chains to the hands and knees, I knelt down feeling tiny pebble pierce my kneecap. Head bowed down in forceful submission, my freedom was kept. The hush whispers and excited cries from the sadistic crowd grow louder, consuming all sounds. I could feel them gawking at my naked form, it brought needle like feelings to my skin being so vulnerable and exposed to all who cared to see, it made my pulse race and my eye watered knowing that I was at their mercy. My heart quicken at the thought of being stoned to death or beheaded, it might come down to that I thought bitterly. I can still remember years ago when I stood as a witness in the crowd, the shrilling cry and pleas for help were deft to them, I stood there watching fear gripping my bones. Blood, there so much blood. I watched as my mother was stoned till she couldn't beg, till there where satisfied. My throat tightened, my eyes blurring with tears.

How ironic I thought we might meet the same fate.

The crowd suddenly became quite, heavy footsteps echoed , descending down, I looked up as the chief walked heavily dressed with fur and gold, each step he took I grow more tense, my heart quicken beating rapidly like a drum. His shrewd like face came into view, with slagging cheek he smirked as he stared at me. I looked at him with hatred, his eyes held wicked glint, I looked away, gritting my teeth. He had the right to take my life or inflict unbearable pain at me only for his own sick pleasure. I wanted it over, taking large gulps I breathed in.

Clearing his throat the air grow tense, after a large pause he spoke

"Order"another pause

"Must be kept among us, disobedience in this community is highly punishable especially those who have no rank or position in this community" I could feel his eyes on me.

" Today shall serve as an example to others" he spat the last word like venom.

"Vivian shall receive a light punishment of flogging" he paused

Sited on the golden like throne, his word made me lift my head shocked.

As if feeling my grazed the chief meet my eyes a wicked smile appeared on his face. My heart sunk, bastard.

" The amount of stoke would be decided by the Wolder"

Whisper filled the air at his statement, I stared ahead my eyes void of emotions. The crowd grow elevated there cheers and pretentious sympathetic sigh reached my ears, I could hear from afar the tonging of leather together making a crack sound, it was near, hot droplets went down my forehead, my breathing ragged and shallow. The vibration of the wolder footsteps neared dangerously. His large foot covered with leather sandal came into view, he walked away taking his stance by the side. Closing my eyes tightly, I waited for the impact. Anticipation filled my stream as the seconds felt torturous, the air was silent noiseless as only the whispers of the wind flew by. The first impact made the air in my lung get stuck, it felt like fire burning down on my skin then it throbbed.

The second came seconds later, his callous hands hitting the same spot at my lower back, the pain increased by every whip. I lost count after ten, my eyes blurring, my head dizzy, the metallic taste of blood reached my tongue. I felt myself float into the abyss as the pain became unbearable, I screamed out in agony but I never begged for it to stop. The powerful stroke made my head go back violently, bitting hard into my lips, my eyes heavy with sleep. I don't know how long I could bear it.

A howl sounded from afar, as gravity left me, I fell on my face as the Wolder stopped his assault momentarily. Blinking my eyes rapidly, my head throbbed with pain.

Angry growl drew closer, to weak to care, I laid there motionless. My eardrum begins to ring, my eyes half close.

I feel my body elevate as I give into unconscious. Welcoming the darkness.

***

Warmth a welcoming soft feeling like staying on the clouds up in the sky. The warm feeling massaged my bones oozing the ache. It brought sweet relief, everything was blurring, all I wanted was the warmth the feeling of it at my fingertips leaving me lightweighted like stepping on air. I was in paradise I thought sheepishly, it left all to soon, only replace by emptiness, everything was dark with no form or light slipping in. I stayed in the darkness giving into unfathomed.

"She's human" a distance voice hissed.

Light it was to bright, shutting my eyes tightly from the blinding light it still managed to keep me restless. Tossing and turning, I laid on something soft, it brought a contented sigh from my lips. Warping myself on the thousands like feather, I snug into it.

The nagging thought in my head made me snapped my eyes open, this wasn't a dream. A grand room came into view covered in wooden furniture standing straight, the morning breeze blew into the creamy curtain. The place smelt of cinder, old wood abandoned. Touching my dark chocolate skin, memories from what happened crashed into reality, strangely I felt no pain, inspecting my arm only scraps of dried wounds covers and closed, leaving only a faint scars, I searched restless I was cleaned with no trace of blood. Was I dead, I thought?, was this heaven? Trying hard to remember what happen only bits and pieces flashed through before I remembered passing out.

Taking a deep breath I tried desperately to calm myself, the creeping fear of still being in the village made me nearly choke, but this place seemed unfamiliar, it didn't seem like the palace I once cleaned day in and out till body would give out from fatigue. Placing my foot on the carpet floor, I looked down I was clothed with a grey shirt twice my size, it swallowed my lean body, I sniffed the shirt like a mad person, the scent warming my nostril, it brought a strange sense of familiarity. The cracking of door opening made made my heart go rampage.

Those eyes were my first thought.