Scales and Talons

Chapter 1

Fear. It could be smelled all around. Or perhaps it was just the stench of piss combined with sweat. The terror could be felt in the cells as screams of agony ripped through the hallway. For these prisoners there was nowhere to go and all awaited the same end. They would either die or never be human again.

In the corner of one of these cells sat a young girl, just turned 20, curled up against the dirty wall. All the protection she had, came from her own arms which she held around her fragile body. At every sound and every scream in the cell she flinched and shrunk deeper away against the wall. How had her life come to this, she asked herself again and again. A week ago everything had still been normal. 

She had the simple life. Went to college without really knowing what she wanted in life. She still lived with her parents, at least her mom. Where her dad went she did not know, nor care. How could she? It was not as if she ever really knew him. The most exciting part of her life had been her weekend job; training horses. And well that had been it. And whenever life got a little bit too dark for her, she would simply go drinking with her friends. She would not get that relief in these dark cells. She wondered if she would ever see the light again, or a friendly face even. 

The worst part was that she didn't even really know where she was or how she had gotten here. The last thing she remembered was a trip, a vacation with her friends. They had gone hiking in the woods and while taking a short break she had wandered off and... well that was where her memory failed her. 

She had woken up on a dirty stinking floor, her eyes heavy and muscles stiff. At that time the cell had still been full of people, at least twenty. Now only four of them remained, and every day one of them would disappear, only to be heard screaming for days down the hall. She wondered when it would be her turn. She had been the last to arrive, so maybe she was the last one to leave as well.

Sarah was woken from her thoughts when an older man, already in his 50's, came sitting next to her. Hermann was his name, she knew. He had been the first one here, just as ignorant to where he was as they all had been. He had taken Sarah under his wing the past week. Comforting her and giving her little bits of his food. It seemed he was there to support her once more. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, squeezing it shortly. 

"How do you fare my lady? Are you falling ill?" A little smile appeared on Sarah's face. This man had such a funny way of speaking, but he was always kind to her. She remembered she had tried to speak to the guards the first day, convinced she didn't belong in the cells. They had come into the cell to silence her, but remembering her kickboxing lessons she had put up a good fight. Only to find a sword suddenly slicing her legs, making her fall to the ground. Herman had immediately come to her aid. He had given a funny speech to the guards, convincing them to let her live. 

"My lady! Oh please honorable guards, do not harm a lady that way. I give my word that she will not disrespect you any further! Please spare her, in the name of Ayesha, goddess of forgiveness."

 He had begged on his knees and saved her life by doing so. 

The truth was she was falling ill. The wounds on her legs that crippled her, were now infected and dirty, but she was too headstrong to admit it. "I'm fine Hermann," she lied, "just tired. When are they going to take another one of us? It has been some time." She heard a heavy sigh beside her. "Your guess is as good as mine, my lady. But do not worry yourself, you need rest. I will keep a watchful eye." Herman reassured her. As kind as the gesture was, Sarah could not sleep. Certainly not after what she heard next.

It was a roar that shook the ground and the wall behind her, making her ears pop. Immediately Sarah sat up straight, her eyes wide in terror. 

What was that?