CHAPTER 5

Aria's wrists and ankles were bound by coarse ropes, her body tossed unceremoniously into a cramped, dimly lit carriage. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, dirt, and despair. As the carriage door slammed shut, Aria's gaze fell upon the unfamiliar faces of her fellow captives.

The carriage rattled and lurched forward, its wooden wheels creaking in protest as it trundled over the rough terrain. Aria's stomach churned with each jolt, her mind reeling with the events that had led her to this moment.

As the hours dragged on, the carriage made periodic stops, its doors opening to admit more slaves. The space grew increasingly crowded, the air thickening with the weight of their collective misery. Aria's body was pressed against the carriage wall, her limbs numb and aching.

The carriage continued on its journey, carrying its human cargo toward an uncertain fate. Aria's thoughts drifted back to her uncle, Damon, and the betrayal that still seared her heart. She wondered if she would ever see her family again, or if this bleak existence would be her reality forever.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world outside in a deep, foreboding shadow, the carriage finally came to a stop. The doors creaked open, and a gruff voice bellowed, "Welcome to the Barracks, slaves!”

As the carriage doors swung open, Aria and the other slaves were met with the harsh glare of the setting sun. The air was thick with the acrid smell of sweat, smoke, and despair. Aria's gaze fell upon the imposing structure of the Barracks, its walls towering above them like a monolith of oppression.

The slaves were herded out of the carriage, their bodies stiff and sore from the long, cramped journey. Aria's wrists were still bound by the coarse ropes, but as she stepped out of the carriage, she was met with the cold, unforgiving gaze of a burly guard.

He grasped her arm, his grip like a vice, and began to attach heavy chains to her body. Aria felt a surge of fear as the chains were wrapped around her waist, the cold metal biting into her skin. The guard's hands moved with a practiced ease, attaching chains to her ankles, wrists, and neck. When he was done, he looked at Aria and licked his lower lip while slowly looking at her chest. 

Aria tried hard to resist his looks as she felt very uncomfortable with his stare coupled with anger and hatred for the guard. She took a distasteful glance at the guard and noticed that he had a badge that read his name there, “Benson.” 

She looked around, ignoring his looks as she tried to take her mind off whatever she knew he was thinking.

Aria was not alone in this ordeal. The other slaves were being similarly shackled, their bodies weighed down by the heavy chains. As they stood there, a human chain of misery, Aria felt a sense of hopelessness wash over her.

The guard gave her a rough shove, and Aria stumbled forward, her chains clanking against the ground. She was forced to march alongside the other slaves, their bodies linked together by the chains.

As they trudged along, the chains seemed to grow heavier, the metal biting deeper into Aria's skin. She felt like a beast, a mere animal being led to slaughter. The sun beat down upon them, its hot rays scorching their skin.

The slaves were led to an open field, the grass dry and withered beneath their feet. Aria's gaze fell upon the endless expanse of the field, the sky above a deep, foreboding grey.

The guard's voice bellowed out, echoing across the field. "Stand here, slaves! You will remain here until further notice!"

Aria felt a surge of despair as she stood there, her body weighed down by the heavy chains. The sun beat down upon her, its hot rays scorching her skin. She felt like she was being slowly cooked alive, her body screaming in protest.

As she stood there, Aria's gaze fell upon the other slaves. They were all standing, their bodies chained together, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair. Aria felt a sense of solidarity with them, a sense of shared suffering.

But as she looked around, Aria realized that they were completely at the mercy of their captors. They were nothing more than slaves, mere objects to be used and discarded. And as she stood there, the chains biting into her skin, Aria wondered if she would ever be free again.

As the slaves stood in the scorching sun, a contingent of guards marched onto the field, their rifles slung over their shoulders. They moved with a practiced air of authority, their eyes scanning the rows of slaves as they took up positions around the perimeter of the field.

Some of the guards stood at attention in front of the slaves, their bodies rigid and unyielding. Aria felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed upon the guards, their faces impassive and unyielding.

Suddenly, a horn blew, its shrill notes echoing across the field. The guards snapped to attention, their bodies stiffening as they saluted. Aria's gaze followed theirs, and she saw a figure emerging from the shadows.

He was a tall, imposing man, his robes a dazzling display of gold and crimson. But it was not the robes of a royal king that he wore, rather a guards uniform, adorned with intricate embroidery and symbols of rank. Aria's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the man, his presence commanding attention and inspiring awe.

As he strode onto the field, the guards parted to let him pass, their eyes fixed upon him with a mixture of reverence and fear. Aria felt a sense of trepidation as the man's gaze swept over the rows of slaves, his eyes lingering upon her for a moment before moving on.

"Captain Orion," one of the guards whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.

Aria's eyes snapped back to the man, her mind racing with questions. Who was Captain Orion? What was his role in this place? And what did he have planned for the slaves?

Captain Orion stood tall, his piercing gaze sweeping across the rows of slaves. He cleared his throat, and his voice boomed out across the field.

"I am Captain Orion, your commander and the one who will determine your fate."

He paused, his eyes lingering on the slaves as if sizing them up.

"Let me make one thing clear: we are not interested in keeping weak, feeble, or dirty-looking slaves. You will be inspected, and those who do not meet our standards will be discarded."

His voice was cold and detached, as if he was discussing nothing more than cattle.

"The rest of you, the ones who are deemed worthy, will proceed to the next stage. But let me warn you: any attempt to escape, any disobedience, will be met with swift and merciless punishment. You will be killed on the spot."

He glanced at a nearby guard, who held up a timer.

"Inspection will begin in two minutes. I suggest you make yourselves presentable."

The slaves exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale with fear. Aria felt a cold dread creeping up her spine as she realized the true nature of their situation. They were nothing more than commodities, to be used and discarded at the whim of their captors.

Aria whispered to her neighbor;

"What does he mean by discard?" She asked.

The guard beside her heard and whispered back to her, 

"Killed. Drowned in the river or given to rogues to fill their bellies with your flesh."

Aria's heart pumped faster in fear as she heard that. 

The guard then put his hand on her jaw and said;

"Cooperate with me, beautiful one and I will make sure you remain alive." He said as he caressed her down to her chest, pressing her nipple. 

Aria immediately recognizes him to be the same man who was flirting with her earlier.

She bit her lower lip in anger but he didn't stop.

He stood closer to her and began to touch her body in a way that disgusted her.

As she tried to push him away with her body, the arrangement scattered and it was noted by the captain.

“What's going on there?” The captain asked with the speaker that was in his hand.

Just as Aria was about to speak in fear, the guard pointed at her neighbor immediately.

The commander’s personal guard ordered for the girl to be brought forward.

The guard brought her forward.

“So you dare disrespect me! You incompetent chicken!! Is this how you want to go and do it in your masters home when we eventually sell you off??? I will use you as an example to others!” Captain Orion yelled as his personal guard drew out his sword and cut off her head. 

The rest of the slaves shivered in fear. Aria was greatly shaken.

She couldn't believe what her eyes had just seen now.

She looked up at the guard, Benson as he just raised an eyebrow to her. She was filled with horror.

“Quiet! Quiet all of you!! One more sound from you again and I'll send you to the rogues to be fed on just like her body!” The captain replied.

The guards brought five hungry looking werewolves in their cage. Her body was put into the cage of one who devoured her.

Everyone watched in fear as they were

forced to watch it as a lesson to them and to know the consequences of disobeying them or trying to escape.