Desnuerhiel

Chapter 6

After walking for a couple minutes I reach the end of the hallway and turn left. As I walk down the second hallway, I wonder why there are no guards escorting me. I shiver as chills suddenly go down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. It feels like something is watching me. I quicken my pace and spare a glance over my shoulder: it could be my imagination but I could swear there was something hidden in the shadows far back down the hallway. The longer I look the more it comes into focus- there is no body just a swirling dark mass and a pair of glowing red eyes. I whip my head quickly forward and start running towards the next door. I can see one close up ahead. I run towards it then turn the handle and pull it open, jumping inside then slamming it behind me. I lean against the door, eyes closed, and breathing heavy from fear and exertion.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Looks like a little lamb got lost from the flock."

My eyes snap open. In front of me were three men, one clad in armor, the other two wearing only brown fabric pants. One of the men lay reclined on a bed, while the other two sit in chairs playing a card game around a small table. My breath catches in my throat- I somehow managed to walk right into the guard barracks.

"What are you doing here little lamb? A pretty little thing like you should not be running around unescorted. Let us assist you."

The guard that was speaking, the one in the armor, stands from his seat at the table and takes a slow step towards me.

I move my hand back onto the door handle and slowly twist it, all while never taking my eyes off the man in front of me.

Suddenly the man darts towards me, catching my wrist in his hand before I am able to pull the handle all the way. He yanks me towards him and away from the door, his grip growing tighter by the second.

"Not so fast, you've only just arrived, stay awhile, we could use some company- especially from one so pretty as yourself."

I feel frozen, unable to move. My arms and legs felt as heavy as lead, my eyes locked on my captor. This didn't feel real, like this was happening to someone else and not me.

The guard turns me around so that my back is tightly pressed up against him. His other hand, the one that isn't holding my wrist, starts to roam. First down my face, then slowly down my neck, until his hand is just above my chest. He leans forward and puts his mouth next to my ear; "if you play nice little lamb, this will go a lot smoother."

He lets go of my wrist for a split second to grab my chest with both hands, and something inside me snaps and I am able to move again. I shriek and bolt towards the door, but one of the other guards is already there, blocking my escape. I try to shove past him but the armored guard comes up behind me and grabs me again, twisting my arms painfully behind me. At this point I know there's no escape unless a miracle happens, but I doubt it. A few tears run down my cheeks. The guard blocking the door slowly walks over and stands in front of me, a salacious smile on his face. He bends down and grabs the bottom of my dress, then slowly tears it upwards until a long slit is formed. I yelp when the guard behind me tightens his hold and pulls upward on my arms, forcing me to stand on my tiptoes

The third guard who had been off to the side suddenly steps forward. He looks young, maybe in his late teens. "Wait...are we sure this is a good idea? I mean if the prince finds out about this, there will be no mercy for us."

The guard holding my dress turns his head to the side so he can see; "shut up brother, come enjoy yourself for once, stop being so pessimistic. Look, she seems to be enjoying herself.....aren't you little one?" The guard turns his attention back to me, his right hand grabbing my now exposed thigh, his left covering my mouth. He puts his mouth by my ear and whispers "if you want to live to see tomorrow, you will act as if you are enjoying this. Now, do not make a sound, or I will kill you."