The Given

CHAPTER TWO√The gift

Why? What did I do to deserve this fate? To end up here. In the forest of Gizah. I tried to recall what kind of people usually get this punishment. The murderers, traitors, rebels, associates of dark art, rapists. Am I also in that category? Do I deserve to be punished just like them?

The forest lived to its name. Gizah means darkness in our old tongue. The trees were tall with canopy at the top shadowing the whole forest. I could hardly tell if it was morning, afternoon or evening. Locked in this big yet inescapable cage, I sank to the floor. So today is the day I die, I thought to myself. Would it be painful? Or peaceful after it all ends? Is there an afterlife. Of course I was left prey to many unimaginable creatures that dwelled in this forest. By dark I would bid my last breath and old life goodbye.

I sighed. The future really was exhausting. I could see a big flock of birds flying away towards west and felt the ground shake.
" So soon?" I groaned inwardly. Turning to the direction where the folk was from I could see wild pigs. Lots of them ,heading towards my direction.
"Hell no!". I jumped holding myself up by the iron bars of the cage, giving me a higher ground. I watched as they raced pass me towards the other side leaving a heavy mist of dust in the air.

" Gods, am ready to die. But a death caused by wild pigs is not worth telling in underworld". Suddenly an arrow whizzed past my ear. I let go immediately falling like a rag on the ground. With the dust still on the air ,it was hard to tell who was out there. " who's there?". I asked and immediately regretted it. From the mist I could make out figures, a lot of them painted in white and carrying butchery weapons if you know what I mean. Machete's, axes, spears and big knives. I could feel my heart beat crazily against my ribcage.

" oh no! Please no! Can't I have a decent death!" I shouted to the heavens. Cannibals! I would die in the hands of cannibals! I had imagined every kind of death. Eaten by wolves or jaguar, trampled by a giant monster, poisoned by snakes. And cannibals never crossed my mind.

They cautiously approached my cage wearing only loin cloths. In a frenzy I tried to look for an exit. But of course there was only one which the cannibals were all approaching for. They shook the door but it did not bid to their will. I laughed. There was no where they could get to me. They stared at each other and spoke in vernaculars at least that's what I thought cause all I could hear was some click of the tongue.

My laughter died the moment I saw them swing the huge machete on the lock." Greedy man- eaters". There strikes got more fierce and I could tell with a few away blows the lock was going to give away. I tried to look for a weapon. Anything , a stick perhaps. But none. I collected sand in my fist and backed far away from the entrance.
" CLACK!" The lock gave away. I almost fainted as they barged in.

Gathering courage, I threw a fistful of sand on their faces. They backed away as they hissed in anger only to be replaced to other two. They caught me by my arms and I kicked fiercely. If I was gonna be served as their dinner then they would better fight for it. More barged in and I didn't dare give up. It was my last fight so I would give my all. I screamed when I felt something sharp cut through my flesh on my side. It was fucking painful. Somehow something snapped in me reminding me I was gonna be cooked alive, it was definitely going to be worse.

Thanks for the encouragement brain, I snapped angrily. Suddenly they both stood still. Like statues, which was very eerie.
" Am tired of hearing the girl scream, her voice is awful"a male masculine said and they turned to see a heavy mist settling in the area. Personally I cursed at the fates, the voice...

I could hear noises, screams of pain and snaps of bones accompanied by bone chilling screams. In the mist I could only see a body thrown this side, another one that side and one actually landed on top of my cage, eyes ripped out and neck snapped in an odd angle. Blood dripped down onto my hair and I almost gagged out of disgust. The cannibals holding me let go and ran outside and not long I heard one scream.

I couldn't dare to go out. I turned back only to face a dead end. Shit!
" there dead!" The voice was low but clear. It sent chills down my spine. I've heard it more times than I could keep count of. I feared to even turn.

" Your shaking" his voice held an amusement I could not pin. It was true I was shaking uncontrollably. " Face me!" He ordered. I couldn't. I would die one thing is sure. I felt his fingertips trace my arms. It left tinges. Before I knew it I was facing him. He had forcefully turned me. My gaze rested on his chest. Yap. I was at his chest level. His arms were rested on my back. They slowly moved down and tapped my small back sending a force that made me jerk and crash on his solid chest.

" Easy there, am just going to give you a gift". I could feel something spread around inside me. Dark energy surging towards my heart and I realized what he was actually doing. He was known to gift curses and whoever received it, was to be his follower. I raised my head and stared at him in shock. Our eyes met and I could see that his, also widened at the realization of what he had done. Was it? His eyes were a total black. Darker than any void discovered. His black coal neck length hair in waves, covered his forehead and partially his left eye. His lips were partially open completing his thrown off shocked look. His skin a pearly pale.

He was tall. And breathtaking. And extremely and dangerously mad." You are human?" His voice was full of resentment. I would have cowered if not for the pain that coursed in my systems. I held onto his arms digging my nails deep as I tried to swallow a cry.

Its like my veins were set on fire. Lava flowing in my streams and I couldn't hold it in. I screamed. I screamed more than I did all my life. It didn't relieve the pain but it made feel a little better. My vision was clouded. Red. I could only see red. I felt myself slip to the ground and crouch as waves and waves of pain took over my body until I lost myself. The last thing I heard was the man cursing really loud, cursing that I may never wake up and he was not supposed to do it but still deserved it. Sucks, death is painful then I thought before drifting to my old memories.

Second chapter down guys...xo the next one is originally about the GIVEN himself. I hope you like it
~Chorletta