I awaken to light peeping through a black curtain that appear to be floating slowly away from me. The beeping is clearer, the sounds of voices and shuffling feet seems less muffled than before. My left eye opens slightly, then my right follows suit. The light is so bright that I can't help but blink rapidly in response. After a moment, I'm able to focus my surroundings into clear view and fully welcome the vivid colors, revealed after so long in darkness. What a beautiful world I live in.
There's a tube in my mouth which seems to be pushing air into my lungs at a steady rhythm, something I hadn't noticed before. On my legs are some mechanisms that vibrate, making my muscles flex and relax regularly. There are wires connected to sticky pads on my chest, arms, legs, head, and places underneath my body, which I can not see. Another smaller tube in my nose is connected to a bag on one side of a pole and a final plastic tubing runs to a bandage, on the inside of my a
The next few days are filled with a lot of tests, question, and congratulations from the medical staff. They've all been working hard to look after me since I arrived here. The machine that's been breathing for me has completed it's process and turned itself off. I'm so much more comfortable now. It felt like I was choking when Akida removed the tube from my throat, but with it gone, I can finally speak a bit and finally drink some water.I thought I knew thirst when I took that first gulp of water at the auction house. Nothing can compare to how thirsty I was when I awoke from my coma, though. Let's never do that again! According to the nurse, my vitals look great and my recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Thanks to the technology developed in this hospital, I should be able to return home for care tomorrow morning.Master has spent the days holding my hand, reading to me, and participating in playful banter with Akida and the purple ha
"When I was finally brave enough to go for help, the hallways were littered with bodies. Bloody and handprints and splashes of red covered the walls. Even the frost covered windows were splattered with it. I went to my grandparents' room and they were still in their bed with pillows over their heads. No matter how hard I shook them, they wouldn't awaken. While desperately trying to wake my grandfather, the pillow fell to the floor and I could clearly see why. He had a hole, right in the center of his forehead.""His eyes, they were still open, just staring into the nothingness. I searched everywhere for my father and finally, I found him in his study, face down on his desk. His face looked like he had just fallen asleep until I walked behind him. The back of his head was smashed in and blood dripped down into a pool around the base of his chair. From there, I just curled up on the floor and wished I had just let my aunt kill me. Mr. Sherman worked in the kitchen
I inhale deeply, as I stretch out my arms and legs. Is it morning already? Opening my eyes, the soft light peeps in through the windows, and I realize that the room is empty. I look around, but before any worry has a chance to set in, I hear voices coming from just outside the curtain, reassuring me that my master hasn't left me again. He seems to be having a debate with Akida about the plans for taking me home."Come on, Akida. I have to get back to work, but I can't just leave her here!", he pleads."You definitely do have to work, but that doesn't mean she's ready to go home yet, Zion.", she snaps back."Look, I own every single one of these machines. You have my full permission to just pack up whatever you think she might need, and let me take her home with me! You should know me well enough to believe me when I say that I'm not leaving here without her.""Fine then, you great big, stubborn ass.
As my master and I share a look of mutual excitement, one of the men wearing a white coat releases the hovering bed, and comes to stand beside me. He extends his arms to pick me up, but caught off guard, I flinch and pull away. I know that he merely intends to move me to the floating bed, but I still don't feel comfortable with another man touching me, let alone holding me. Before things have a chance to become too awkward, Master rushes over to help me."I'll move her.", he says, abruptly.The poor man is clearly confused as to why we are interfering with his duties, but he concedes, backing away while acceptingly nodding his head. A pair of comfortable, sturdy arms slide underneath me, one supporting my back, the other tucked behind my knees. He lifts me effortlessly off the bed, flashing me a satisfied grin. If I could capture this moment and put it in a picture frame, I would cherish it forever. Looking up at his weary face, my heart see
I watch his back, as he disappears through the door. Forcing myself not to call out and ask him to stay is so difficult, when my heart is being crushed like egg shells, with every step he takes. Before I can feel too alone though, I see some familiar figures, cautiously creeping about. Elise and Marie carefully step into the room, looking as though they've seen a ghost. They seem hesitant to enter."Euroah?", Elise asks, so quietly that her question is nearly inaudible."Of course, it's me. What's wrong?", I ask, as Elise walks over to the bed and kneels beside me, taking my hand in her's."Thank heavens, Euroah, I thought you were going to die! I never imagined that Anna was capable of doing something like that. I'm so sorry that I didn't pick up on something when we talked to her last. I heard the words she was saying, but I just didn't think that she had the intention of actually harming anyone. I thought she was just
I awake in utter terror. My legs throb and my ears are ringing. As I inhale deeply through my dry and cracking lips, my surroundings come into view. I must have fainted at some point but everything is hazy. The sound of dogs barking in the distance is enough to pull me out of my semi-conscious state, ready to run. There is no sun in the sky, yet the night is lit with orange dots, getting bigger with every passing second. I look around, trying to get my bearings straight. What is all this? Where am I? I wonder for only a second before a flashback of waking up from a dead sleep to a banging on the door plays through my memory. Then I recall my father's face as he appeared in the doorway of my bedroom yelling, 'Quickly, Euroah! Don't worry about me! Just run!' That scene sears through my mind like wildfire, and I push myself off the ground. How long have I been running? It seems like it's been days, but I know that isn't possible. Who are these men and why are they even chasing me?
Coming to my senses, I'm able to make out voices but all I can see is darkness. Who are the voices coming from? I listen to my surroundings as my world comes back together like puzzle pieces in my previously jumbled mind. I don't believe I recognize any of these sounds or voices. Suddenly, my last memories come cascading back to me, crashing into my head with a roar. Opening my eyes, I try to jolt up but my efforts are in vain. Where am I? What happened after I was picked up by that ugly brute on horseback? Piece after piece, floats into place as the world builds in the darkness around me. My eyes seem to be covered with a dark cloth of sorts and my hands and ankles are bound by some kind of scratchy rope, though it feels more like thorns or barbed wire against what used to be my soft, delicate skin. I can only imagine what I must look like now, covered in sweat and dirt, bruises and blood. As my captors come to the realization that I've awoken, I hear footsteps coming in my directi
"Get up!", I hear as I'm being nudged in the side by a heavy boot. "We haven't got all day to wait on you to get ready! The stands are just full of stallions chomping at the bit for the chance to get at a fresh new pony." Stands and stallions and ponies? What is he talking about? I'm barely awake and we're already talking about animals? Ah, the auction. I guess I'm being sold with livestock. Have I been sold to a farmer? Perhaps he breeds horses. Before I'm even fully coherent, I'm taken by the arms and pulled up to a standing position. This time, I can feel that there is one person on each side of me. I do my best to gain an understanding of my situation. The hands on my arms aren't as large or rough as the brute man's. Perhaps they belong to women? And I sense another presence somewhere behind me, so there are at least four people here. "The knife.", the same voice calls out from his position in front of me. Knife? Wait, what knife? What's happening? He doesn't need a knife!
I watch his back, as he disappears through the door. Forcing myself not to call out and ask him to stay is so difficult, when my heart is being crushed like egg shells, with every step he takes. Before I can feel too alone though, I see some familiar figures, cautiously creeping about. Elise and Marie carefully step into the room, looking as though they've seen a ghost. They seem hesitant to enter."Euroah?", Elise asks, so quietly that her question is nearly inaudible."Of course, it's me. What's wrong?", I ask, as Elise walks over to the bed and kneels beside me, taking my hand in her's."Thank heavens, Euroah, I thought you were going to die! I never imagined that Anna was capable of doing something like that. I'm so sorry that I didn't pick up on something when we talked to her last. I heard the words she was saying, but I just didn't think that she had the intention of actually harming anyone. I thought she was just
As my master and I share a look of mutual excitement, one of the men wearing a white coat releases the hovering bed, and comes to stand beside me. He extends his arms to pick me up, but caught off guard, I flinch and pull away. I know that he merely intends to move me to the floating bed, but I still don't feel comfortable with another man touching me, let alone holding me. Before things have a chance to become too awkward, Master rushes over to help me."I'll move her.", he says, abruptly.The poor man is clearly confused as to why we are interfering with his duties, but he concedes, backing away while acceptingly nodding his head. A pair of comfortable, sturdy arms slide underneath me, one supporting my back, the other tucked behind my knees. He lifts me effortlessly off the bed, flashing me a satisfied grin. If I could capture this moment and put it in a picture frame, I would cherish it forever. Looking up at his weary face, my heart see
I inhale deeply, as I stretch out my arms and legs. Is it morning already? Opening my eyes, the soft light peeps in through the windows, and I realize that the room is empty. I look around, but before any worry has a chance to set in, I hear voices coming from just outside the curtain, reassuring me that my master hasn't left me again. He seems to be having a debate with Akida about the plans for taking me home."Come on, Akida. I have to get back to work, but I can't just leave her here!", he pleads."You definitely do have to work, but that doesn't mean she's ready to go home yet, Zion.", she snaps back."Look, I own every single one of these machines. You have my full permission to just pack up whatever you think she might need, and let me take her home with me! You should know me well enough to believe me when I say that I'm not leaving here without her.""Fine then, you great big, stubborn ass.
"When I was finally brave enough to go for help, the hallways were littered with bodies. Bloody and handprints and splashes of red covered the walls. Even the frost covered windows were splattered with it. I went to my grandparents' room and they were still in their bed with pillows over their heads. No matter how hard I shook them, they wouldn't awaken. While desperately trying to wake my grandfather, the pillow fell to the floor and I could clearly see why. He had a hole, right in the center of his forehead.""His eyes, they were still open, just staring into the nothingness. I searched everywhere for my father and finally, I found him in his study, face down on his desk. His face looked like he had just fallen asleep until I walked behind him. The back of his head was smashed in and blood dripped down into a pool around the base of his chair. From there, I just curled up on the floor and wished I had just let my aunt kill me. Mr. Sherman worked in the kitchen
The next few days are filled with a lot of tests, question, and congratulations from the medical staff. They've all been working hard to look after me since I arrived here. The machine that's been breathing for me has completed it's process and turned itself off. I'm so much more comfortable now. It felt like I was choking when Akida removed the tube from my throat, but with it gone, I can finally speak a bit and finally drink some water.I thought I knew thirst when I took that first gulp of water at the auction house. Nothing can compare to how thirsty I was when I awoke from my coma, though. Let's never do that again! According to the nurse, my vitals look great and my recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Thanks to the technology developed in this hospital, I should be able to return home for care tomorrow morning.Master has spent the days holding my hand, reading to me, and participating in playful banter with Akida and the purple ha
I awaken to light peeping through a black curtain that appear to be floating slowly away from me. The beeping is clearer, the sounds of voices and shuffling feet seems less muffled than before. My left eye opens slightly, then my right follows suit. The light is so bright that I can't help but blink rapidly in response. After a moment, I'm able to focus my surroundings into clear view and fully welcome the vivid colors, revealed after so long in darkness. What a beautiful world I live in.There's a tube in my mouth which seems to be pushing air into my lungs at a steady rhythm, something I hadn't noticed before. On my legs are some mechanisms that vibrate, making my muscles flex and relax regularly. There are wires connected to sticky pads on my chest, arms, legs, head, and places underneath my body, which I can not see. Another smaller tube in my nose is connected to a bag on one side of a pole and a final plastic tubing runs to a bandage, on the inside of my a
So, it looks like I'm an adult now. I guess that must be right if I've been sleeping for nearly three months. I've missed my birthday, I've missed my master's return, and I've missed a lot of what's happened in between, it seems. I hear the curtain begin to close as the sound of footsteps, coming slowly closer makes me feel anxious. I can't see the person making them but still, I know the owner of these feet."Look at you.", his voice flows through my dark prison, like water through a valley. "Just like that day, when I first laid eyes on you at the auction house, I'm seeing you in this vulnerable state, all over again. Where's the feisty girl who gave a dozen grown men a run for their money? Aren't you going to pull some kind of trick and run away this time? I promise i won't get angry this time. Are you just going to lie there, looking helpless?"Now that I think of it, just the recollection of the look on the auctioneer's face is pretty f
Beep... beep... beep... This incessant beeping will not stop! It started out as a distant ringing, like a high pitched echo from far away, barely even audible. Now, it's close enough to discern that it's a machine of some sort, driving me insane with it's obnoxious, high pitched, hullabaloo! I can't open my eyes, nor can I move to turn it off or get away from it. Have I been reborn? Slowly, I begin to hear the voices of two women chatting back and forth."It's been eighty six days, Akida! You need to consider letting her go. There's been no improvement in her condition, no change, no sign of any activity at all. At this point, there's practically zero chance that she'll ever come back, no matter how long you try to keep her hanging on. We're just wasting time and resources.""You and I both know that, but he won't give consent to pull the plug. You know how Zion is. He blames himself. He feels like if he hadn't been so cruel to that girl, sh
It's been weeks of what feels like the same thing, over and over again. Every day, I've put on a show for the public. I go out and make heart felt speeches and I parade around as though I'm not dying inside. Every breath I take is as painful as the last. I haven't made it through a single night without nightmares plaguing my sleep. My appetite is non-existent, no matter how many local delicacies are served to me.Public relations are improving. The investigation is coming along well, and it seems I'll be found innocent of any involvement in the 'scandal of the century'. Everything is going as well as it could be, in terms of the company's well being. It's true that I couldn't have asked for a better outcome to this situation. I should be happy. I should be overjoyed that things are going to able to be cleared up and smoothed over.But I'm not happy at all. There's no joy in my heart. I don't feel like I can walk through life without putting