Thorns and vows

🌹prologue 🌹

Shira's pov

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets as a little girl named Shira Han enjoyed a rare outing with her mother. At eight years old, Shira was filled with the kind of joy that
only a child could possess, and the
excitement of the day ahead made
her heart race. They had decided on
a trip to the amusement park, a treat
for both of them, far away from the
mundane routines of everyday life.

As they hopped into a taxi, Shira
leaned against the window, her
Small fingers tracing the patterns of
the city that zipped by outside. Her
mother's laughter filled the cab, an
infectious sound that made Shira
feel safe and loved. But as the taxi
meandered through the busy streets,
Shira's excitement turned to impatience as her stomach grumbled. "Mom, I'm hungry!" she whined, her little voice echoing in the confined space.

Her mother, ever patient and kind,
smiled through the rearview mirror.
"Just a little longer, sweetie. We'll
grab something to eat soon."

When the taxi driver pulled into a
lonely filling station to fill up on gas,
Shira's impatience flared again.
*Can't we just go get snacks now?"
she begged, her eyes wide with
yearning.

"Okay, okay" her mother relented.
"Let's go inside and grab a few
things. Stay close to me."

The two of them stepped out of the
cab, the heat enveloping them as
they entered the dimly lit store.
Shira's eyes sparkled at the sight of
the colorful candy and snack aisles.
Her mother picked up a few items,but as they reached the counter, her
expression shifted. "Oh no, I left my
purse in the car! Stay right here,
okay? I'll be right back."

Shira nodded, her stomach still
twisting with hunger, but her mother's promise reassured her. She watched her mother hurry out of the store, her heart lightened by the thought of the treats they would SOon enjoy. However, as the
minutes ticked by, Shira's excitement began to wane. The store was unusually quiet, and anunsettling feeling crept in.

Just then, the door swung open, and
three men entered. They wore dark
clothing and masks that obscured
their faces. Their laughter echoed
through the aisles, and Shira felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
"Let's hurry up," one of them said,
his voice low and rough. "We need
to finish this job."

Shira's heart raced as she
recognized the tension in the air.
She wanted to call out to her
mother, but fear gripped her throat.
Then she saw her mother
re-entering the store, her face pale
with dread. "What do you want?" she
asked, her voice trembling.

Panic surged through Shira, and she
Wanted to scream, to run into her
mother's arms. But before she could
make a sound, she witnessed the
unthinkable. The men lunged toward
her mother, their intentions clear
and deadly. A small cry escaped
Shira's lips as she realized what
was happening

The men turned, and one spotted
her. "Look! There's a little girl!" he
shouted, and before Shira could
retreat, they closed in on her,
dragging her from her hiding spot.

"Let her go!" she cried, her voice tiny
against the cacophony of their
amusement.

"Why would we do that?" the leader
sneered, stepping forward. "We
could kill her, but.. what's the fun in
that? I bet we could sell her
instead."

Shira's heart sank as the men began
to argue. "We can't just sell her!
What if they find out? We were sent
to kill her!"

"Let's convince the one who sent us
that she's gone. We can make a
profit off this little one," the leader
insisted, his voice filled with a cruel
certainty.

Shira felt her world crumbling. She
wanted to scream, to run away, but
they were too strong. They pulled
her toward a van parked outside,
and she fought against their grip,
desperation fueling her struggle.
"No! Don't take me!" she shouted,
her voice breaking.

"Shut up!" one of the men growled,
slapping her harshly.

In the van, the threats continued, but
Shira wouldn't stop. She kicked and
screamed, her cries echoing in the
Small space until, in frustration, they
knocked her out.

When Shira finally woke up, she
found herself in a dark, empty room.
The air was thick, and the only light
came from a small window high up
on the wall, illuminating the dust
particles that danced in the air.
Panic rushed back as she recalled
the horrifying events that had
unfolded. "Mom!" she cried, her
Voice raw and hoarse. "Where are
you?"

As tears streamed down her cheeks,
Shira felt utterly alone. The
memories flooded back, and with
them came a wave of fear. She
remembered her mother's terrified
face as the men dragged her away,
her desperate cries for help echoing
in her mind. Just outside the store,
Shira's mother had fought fiercely
against the assailants, but the odds
were against her. They overpowered
her, striking her down, the glint of a
knife reflecting in the dim light before it plunged into her heart

Suddenly, the door creaked open,
and one of the masked men entered,
carrying a tray of food.

"You need to eat," he said, his voice
muffled but laced with a sickening
cheerfulness.

“No!" Shira shrieked, scrambling
away from him, her heart racing
with terror.

He grabbed her chin, forcing her to
look at him. "Oh, you'll eat. We can't
wait to sell you off. Just a little
more and you'll be ready."
In that moment, Shira understood
the nightmare she was trapped in-a
nightmare from which she feared
she might never wake.

Part two coming write up...