CHAPTER 7

“All of you remaining here, congratulations, you have passed the test!” Captain Orion horned.

Aria's chest fell as her breathing became normal. She instantly became at ease as she closed her eyes and opened them again, calmly.

“You all will be further cleaned up for inspection and then he will be taken to the market tomorrow! Make sure you abide by all the instructions given to you! Whoever tries to misbehave or dares to attempt an escape will have her head cut off! Now move!” 

Aria was frozen with fear at the threat that was given. All hopes to escape this place seemed lost but Aria was still determined to try. You never can tell what the future holds, she thought to herself.

As the guards began to herd the slaves towards the barracks, Aria fell into step, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential opportunity. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to find a way out.

The guards led them to a large bathhouse, where they were forced to strip and wash themselves. Aria felt a surge of humiliation as she was scrubbed and cleaned by the rough hands of the guards. But she refused to let her spirit be broken.

As they were led out of the bathhouse, Aria caught a glimpse of herself in a reflection pool. Her hair was clean and shiny, and her skin glowed with a healthy sheen. But her eyes told a different story - they burned with a fierce determination, a refusal to give up in the face of overwhelming odds.

The guards handed out clean clothes and instructed the slaves to dress themselves. Aria put on the simple tunic and leggings, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.

As they were led back to the barracks, Aria noticed that the guards seemed more relaxed, their vigilance slightly decreased. She filed this information away, her mind working overtime to come up with a plan.

The slaves were given a meager dinner, and then instructed to get some rest. Aria lay down on her pallet, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of opportunity.

She knew that tomorrow would bring the market, and with it, the possibility of being sold to a new owner. Aria's heart sank at the thought, but she refused to give up. She would find a way out, no matter what it took.

As she drifted off to sleep, Aria's mind was already racing ahead, planning and scheming, determined to escape the clutches of her captors.

As Aria lay on her pallet, she had intended to spend the night thinking of a plan, trying to come up with a way to escape the slave market and reclaim her freedom. But as she closed her eyes, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The events of the day had taken their toll, and despite her determination, she found herself too tired to think.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and her breathing slowed. She decided to get some rest, just for a little while, and then she would think of a plan. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out, and she was no closer to freedom.

As Aria slept, she was abruptly jolted out of her slumber by a faint yet annoying sound. It was a metallic scraping, like the rustling of chains or the scratching of a blade against stone. The noise was soft at first, but it grew louder and more persistent, piercing through the silence of the cell and grating against Aria's eardrums.

She stirred, feeling a surge of irritation wash over her. Who or what could be making that noise? She slowly got up from her pallet, her eyes scanning the dimly lit cell as she searched for the source of the disturbance. The scraping continued, steady and relentless, and Aria's annoyance grew with each passing moment.

As she searched the cell, her gaze swept over the cold stone walls, the rusty iron bars, and the damp earthen floor. But it wasn't until she glanced towards the far corner of the cell that she noticed something peculiar. A faint, flickering light seemed to emanate from that direction, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Aria's curiosity was piqued, and she squinted her eyes to take a better look. The light was soft and reddish, like the glow of embers or the spark of flint. It seemed to pulse with a life of its own, and Aria felt an inexplicable sense of unease as she gazed upon it.

She took a step forward, her eyes fixed on the mysterious light, and her heart began to beat with a slow, anticipatory rhythm. What could be causing that light? And what was the source of the metallic scraping that had awakened her? Aria's questions hung in the air, unanswered, as she stood frozen, her gaze locked on the flickering light in the corner of her cell.

Aria's curiosity got the better of her, and she cautiously approached the source of the flickering light. As she drew closer, the shadows on the wall seemed to take on a life of their own, and Aria's heart skipped a beat. She saw the outline of a figure, its features indistinct, but its presence unmistakable.

The figure appeared to be slouched against the wall, its head bowed and its hair sprouting out in wild, scattered locks. Aria's imagination ran wild as she wondered who or what this mysterious figure could be. Was it a fellow prisoner, a ghostly apparition, or something even more sinister?

Despite her fear, Aria steeled herself and took another step forward. "Who... who is there?" she called out in a shaky voice, trying to sound braver than she felt. The metallic scraping had stopped, and an oppressive silence had fallen over the cell, as if the very darkness itself was waiting with bated breath for Aria's next move.

As she stood there, frozen with anticipation, Aria felt a chill run down her spine. Who was this mysterious figure, and what did it want from her?