Unchained

Chapter 6: Scarlett

With her eyes shut, she could hear things moving around. Plastic crinkling, cold draft then touched her bare body. She didn't want to open her eyes; her hands and ankles strapped down. Scarlett gulped slowly, her breath shaky as she was wheeled farther and farther down the hall. "P-please.." Even though she begged, she had lost all energy to fight back. She heard a door open and shut from behind, getting sick of the squeaking wheels.

Oxygen was placed over her nose and mouth. She knew what was going to happen. It was a conmen practice done to slaves, both male and female.

Forced sterilization.

They didn't need consent. Scarlett had no rights. Only fourteen at the time, she knew from a young age that she was marked to not have children. Slave owners often decided early in the slave's life, normally having decided by age ten. Scarlett knew when she was only eight.

A ring light floated over Scarlett, causing her to open her eyes. She didn't look around her. She was just too frightened. She's heard of the procedure being done to humans, but not forcefully and also while one would be asleep. However, Scarlett would be wide awake.

She shivered, goosebumps rising on her skin. Her breath fogged up the oxygen mask, chest rising and falling quickly as her emotions took over. She didn't know if the ones performing the procedures were professionals. Even if they were, it didn't matter. It would still be painful, and, life-changing.

"D-Don't! P-please... I.." But no one was listening, not even the ones in white coats—the ones supposedly going to cut her up. Hurt her. Destroy her chance at having what her mother had—to have children of her own. That's the one thing she wanted, but, was never going to have. Scarlett was convinced she'd die by the hands of an owner like her mother did. Scarlett shivered again, people rushing by her. She closed her eyes once more, hoping she would never wake up.

Before she got any further, Scarlett woke up in a pool of sweat. She heaved, frantically scanning the room. When she realized she was safe, and that it was just a nightmare, she leaned back, laying down again. Every now and then, she would get phantom pains, almost like she was reliving the experience—a cruel reminder.

She bit her lip, whimpering. She laid alone, still getting used to it. By then, she was used to waking up beside Jax, or, at least being greeted by him early in the morning. Instead, it was always someone else waking her. She had found a group of former slaves—women, men, and children—on the edge of the kingdom, living together in freedom. Whether they were freed or escaped on their own, they were *all* once slaves. Some, she related to and got along with very well. Others, she hadn't spoken to yet, still trying to get comfortable with everyone.

It's been a year since Scarlett had left Jax. So far, she's only traveled beyond the border of the kingdom, afraid to go any farther by herself. She just wasn't ready to travel on her own yet, but instead, she would wait and travel with the group—as they often did.

Finally, she arose from her bed, the sun just barely over the horizon. Her eyes were bloodshot and twitching with exhaustion. She hadn't spent a night peacefully since she left Jax. Often, she dreamt about him; the dreams reoccurring for more than a few nights. She missed him, but, she continued to stick by her decision that she needed to learn to be independent, completely on her own.

❧

"Oh, hey, Scarlett. The kids and I are making some brownies. Do you want to help?" A woman asked, not much older than Scarlett herself. The woman smiled, who went by the name of Justine. Her two children, Gabriela and Samuel were six. "Please?" Samuel asked, running up to hug Scarlett around the leg. She chuckled softly, petting the boy's hair.