The Curse of the Gift

Part 2

I was not the only one who heard the carrier's words, from the way the rest of the men were freaking out. Rory, who hadn't let go of my hand the whole time, tensed up. When I turned my head toward her, her big green eyes were staring at me again, only now fear was in them. I wished I could cheer her up, tell her that everything was going to be all right. But it wasn't going to be okay. Everyone here knows exactly why and where they're going.

From the noise and the stomping of feet upstairs, everyone was getting ready to dock. Rory grabbed my hand harder, and I squeezed it tightly. My main concern was surviving the hold a few days ago, but now I felt like I'd been splashed with ice water. The reality waiting for us out there was even worse than what we'd already experienced.

But it was too early to give up. The whole time we were being taken to that damned island, I was thinking about an escape plan. Of course, while we were on the ship, it would be impossible. We would probably be kept under close supervision. But when it's my turn to be put up for sale, as if I were a soulless object, I'll have a chance. If I am bought, and I am counting on it, I will be able to escape during transport to the place where I am to serve. And I'd really like to do it quietly, preferably at night. I don't want to kill anyone, even though it's hard to call them human. But I am not them, and I will never be like such monsters, for whom, human life means nothing. Besides, I am not a warrior either. I've never even held a real sword in my hands. But I can defend myself. That's the first thing my grandmother taught me when she took me in after my mother died.

The minutes dragged on and on like hours. Every time I heard someone stop at the door to the hold, my heart sank, and I waited for them to let us out. But in five or ten minutes no one came for us. It was suspiciously quiet upstairs. No more footsteps, no more bickering male voices.

Rory and I looked at each other, and she shook her head, showing that she didn't know what was going on either. We all sat in absolute silence, afraid to move from our seats. The man sitting closest to the exit tried to get up, but his legs buckled and he collapsed to the floor with a thud.

And then we finally heard some sign of life on the deck. From the sounds, there were three people upstairs, and one of them was coming toward us.

When the footsteps became clearer and louder, and then stopped near the entrance to the hold, I tensed and held my breath.

The silence was oppressive, not allowing me to breathe. Most of all, I hated the feeling of not knowing. What took them so long? Did something happen?

These and other questions were swirling around in my head, but I didn't have time to find the answer, because at the same second the hold hatch was opened, and I heard the rude voice of the carrier.

"One at a time, out! And no tricks! "

When we all went outside, I felt sick to my stomach from the sudden rush of fresh air. And the bright sun was so blinding and catching me off guard that it took me a few minutes to see anything at all.

When I get to my senses, I realize I'm no longer holding Rory's hand. I immediately start shaking my head in a panic, looking for her, and I get hit in the head by one of the carriers, not hard, but rather painfully. I immediately dutifully put my head down, because I don't want to get hit any harder. But fortunately for me, I was able to spot Rory out of the corner of my eye. The girl was standing a few steps away from me, next to some kids. I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't know why, but I felt a certain responsibility for her. Like an older sister. Even though I've never had sisters or brothers, and I don't know what it's like to be protected by an older brother or sister, or to be babysat by younger ones since childhood, but now I feel like she's my little sister. She's still too young and innocent. She shouldn't see pictures like that at all. No one should.