Icelamb

Chapter 18

I don't feel like anything right now. I just want to live my life right now. I just want to be a regular teenager right now. Naade is my best option out of here but can I trust him?

   I find him staring at me with his signature look; best served....cold.
"Okay. After everything you have said. Not that I believe you because I still need to process-

"Sure take all the time in the world you need." He interrupts in an irritated tone. He looks at me like I am crazy. I mean I almost believe him?

"However, I don't understand why you need my help. Where do I fit in? What's your plan or rather what games are you playing with me?" I rant out because what does an experienced fighter who has practically lived here a long time need me to do.

I think Naade is playing me. Its better to deal with 'Aye' than Naade.

"Whoa! whoa! Yes I need your help. You may not trust me but really all It takes for me is one second to crush you. So If I wanted to kill you, I would"  tsk no need to be sassy. Well he is actually right. He could have killed me a long time ago.
  
"Fine. We can reach an understanding, I guess. What do you want from me?" I shrug my shoulders.

I see him with a smirk on his face and he shakes his head. I didn't know he could do that.

"Wow, you need me more than I need you and you still get to have a choice. Ara, you surprise me sometimes" I just look at him and wait for him to stop his snarky comments though there was nothing critical about his statement."

"That wealthy man who bought you has made his claim on you and has requested you to be brought to his quarters at the end of the year. So he told 'Aye' to torture you but he told them not to kill you. You know, so you can serve him better"

  My heart tingled with fear at the news. Please God, take control over the situation. Please hear my prayer and remove the heart of fear because you have given me the heart confidence. I pray silently speaking in my heart at every word Naade voices out.

  "The good news is that you can get out of 'Aye' before them. You need to however be able to defend yourself. Because you are getting 'married', you will be able to have your quarters where you will be groomed and then you will see him" he states.

I feel my brain spinning. Marriage at my age? Who are these people? What have I done to them? I don't even have a choice in this matter.

"I know the quarters you will be given, from this room there is a secret passageway that leads to your new room."

"Who made those secret passageway?" I question him.

"That's another story for another day" he dismisses in a clipped tone. Why didn't he want to answer that question?

"Alright I am ready. p...please train me." I say even though I am uncertain of what is going to happen.

"Finally, we are making progress" he says. You will meet my team later today. We have to go now. We have to be back at the arena. You have to show that you are strong. You will be the first of the captives who in just a week has a private space. So be prepared." I nod in understanding to what Naade says.

We leave the room and discreetly head back to the arena. The guards are still not back. We look at each other and pass a silent look and I nod my head. I will meet him later in the day.

I turn to see him disappear into the crowd. They are still in oblivion. I ease into an empty space and I wait and pray while looking at the door to the arena.

The time goes by and I pray in my heart, my heart crying out to God and my lips moving saying incoherent words.

"I know the plans I have for you. They are of good and not of evil". The gentle voice speaks into my head.

I zoom out of space. Did I just hear something or what? I try to process what just happened when the guards breeze through the doors.

They look stressed and tired, they have on black shirts tucked into camouflage trousers. Their eyes look red and downcast. I see blood stains on their camouflage.

For a moment, I thought the military were in the building and they were probably here to save us.

I sigh heavily when I recognize Mobo in the crowds and my dreams squashed.

He brings out a device from his pocket. It looks like a toy gun but it looks too small to be a toy gun. He shoots it in the air and the guards and I and everyone in the room covers their ears.

There was a loud police siren-like noise in my ears. People let out loud noises and almost immediately everywhere went silent.

I look around to see people clutching their ears but also staying in line. The guards are unapologetic.

"Listen up everybody. It is time to be called men and women. It is time to fight for our culture and what we believe in.

We have to defend our beliefs and stop foreigners from following other culture. Our beliefs is the only way of life. That is what all of you will follow."

"Stand still everyone!" Mobo commands.

He tucks in the 'gun' and brings out a remote and he clicks on it. I wait expectantly to see what will happen.

The walls on the arena begin to shake and then it was just like we were in an elevator and then suddenly the walls stops shaking.

The walls open and then a training ground is revealed. It was a grey arena with different weapons of all kinds.

There were guns, bows and arrows on the walls. There were different brands of grenades.