His Mate, His possession

Chapter one

I toweled my wet hair with the thin, almost torn towel, taking a mental note to sew the worse parts of it before it gets impossible to use. I didn't get paid at all to buy anything and requesting a new towel would just cause me to get beaten by guards.

I looked at my pale face in the tiny mirror, hanging on the bathroom's wall. I looked like a true zombie with getting only four hours of sleep every day for months now. Dark circles under my black eyes were in conflict with my pale skin. My lips were cracked from lack of water and I had to wet them with my tongue so they don't bleed. I didn't want to look at myself anymore.

I don't need to remind myself what's happing to me.

I grabbed my dirty clothes from the counter and headed towards the hall. People were waking up. Some were heading to bathrooms while some others were wearing their uniforms. Everyone was so slow in their motions and steps, no wonder with the lack of food and starvation.

I entered my room, walking past by others who tried to just get up on their feet with an empty stomach. I crouched down next to my mom. She was sleeping with a frown on her face. I checked her fever. She hadn't got any better.

I sighted and tried to push back my tears. It was three weeks now she had got sick. It was a simple cold at first but with the lack of medication here, it got worse. We had no doctor to check up on her. I could only get some painkillers from guards which was the only permissible drug for humans.

Her fever got worse day by day and I stayed awake at nights to wet her forehead with a cold damp cloth. Her voice had got so scratchy; it was painful to even hear her. These days I could easily smell the infection from her throat which was just getting worse every day.

I put my dirty clothes in the small corner of room in a small box to wash at night. I went out of room searching for Mariel, the oldest woman in the building. She just talked if it was necessary and didn't seem to care for others, only doing her work. Mariel's knowledge was more than all of us together and she was the only one able to help me and mom. Over years mom had got close to her as they worked together and sometimes she sat with us for meals in silence. She was like the grandmother I didn't have.

I found her in her room at the end of the hall, as she was sewing her torn shoes. I stood in front of her.

"Mariel...Can you check on my mom? I don't know what's wrong. Her coughs are getting worse and she has problem breathing properly."

She didn't raise her head to look at me. She just hummed and I knew it meant she would do so and I had to take my leave.

I went back to my room. Mom was awake sitting and rubbing her chest. I ran to her and sat beside her. She smiled at me weakly and took my hand in hers.

"I'm fine...Don't worry about me." Her voice was scratchy and so low, I had to get closer to her to hear.

"How can you tell me not to worry mom? You're getting weaker... and....and there's nothing I can do for you..." I went out of words. I couldn't stop the tears running down my face. I was frustrated. She was my world.

She wiped my tears with a shaky hand and hugged me, cradling my head on her chest and rubbing my back.

"I will never leave you." She said with a promising voice and kissed the top of my head.

I came out of her arms and wiped my tears with the back of my hand roughly.

I have to be strong for her. Not for me... for her...

"I'll be back at night with food. I promise." Mom wanted to say something but I stopped her. She had to save her energy as much as possible.

"I know. I'll take care of myself and eat first."