章 2: Across the sea
They were loaded into the ship, into a small compartment in the ship. There was barely enough space for all the captives. When Aria looked around, she saw both aged and young people, her people, who were captured and taken for slavery.
She thought of her dead mother and started crying, cursing the soldiers and their masters. She thought of her grandmother, unknown to her that she's also dead.
Cold breeze blew against her from a window opened in the compartment, causing goosebumps on her skin. She didn't want to accept her fate, "I'll come back home for my grandmother", she said to herself.
The wind kept blowing her hair, as she held on to a pole. "We are starving", one of the female aged captives said, banging on the door of the compartment.
Two of the soldiers came and one said, "Who said that?", as he turned towards Aria, who was closer to the door.
Fear bounded her as she answered, "No...no...I'm...I'm not the one, I swear", with a trembling voice.
The soldiers gave her a stern look and went back. They came back a few moments later and said "Here are some canned corn, three of you will share one, there's not enough for everyone and the journey is two days long. Unless you want to starve for the rest of the journey", he said, and dropped the canned corn on the floor.
Most of the captives scrambled around trying to get one can for themselves, one rolled down to Aria's foot, she picked it up, and the older woman who yelled at first snatched it.
"Hey, it is mine", Aria said.
"Looks like it's mine now. Didn't your parents teach you to respect elders. Whatever elders want, elders get it.", she said as she spat on Aria.
Aria felt devastated and thought of the care and support she usually get from her mother and grandmother. Hot tears rolling down her cheeks, she fell asleep.
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In her sleep, she dreamt of her dead mother.
"Aria, my daughter. I know the journey is tough, the future is bright ahead. Endure and you shall reap the benefit of your hard work and perseverance. Think of the future and of me and your grandmother."
"But Ma, this people killed you, it isn't your time yet, there isn't a proper burial for you, your corpse is laying helplessly on the floor. This heartless people killed you. Curses to them and their masters.", she said to her mother.
"Aria, everything is for a reason and you'll discover it soon", her mother said, as her ghost went away.
"Mother! Ma!", she yelled, trying to reach for her mother.
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"Mother!!", she yelled out of her sleep, her heart beating fast and her legs shaking, with teary eyes.
"You stupid girl, who is your mother? Is your mother here? Why are you disturbing us sreams of your mother?", the older woman who was screaming the other time yelled at here.
She shrugged off the woman's word, leaned her head against the pole and fell asleep.
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She was woken up by the gists of the older women, their loud laughter, and the stench coming from the sweaty and dirty women. She prayed hoping for the journey to come to an end.
"Just a day left", she said, assuring herself that she can endure it. "I hate these women"
"Did you say something?", one of the women asked Aria.
"No...no, no ma'am. I didn't utter a word", she answered with fear, unsure of what the woman would do to her.
"Calm down, I'm like a mother to you, don't be scared. I'm not like the others.", the woman said to her, as she patted her back.
Aria smiled meekly, still not sure if she can trust the woman. The woman smiled back.
The woman seemed to be in her late thirties, she is a brunette, with spots all over her face. She seemed calm and acts like a caring mother to Aria. She is also a captive.
The day went by slowly, with Aria still mourning her mother.
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Night fell, and the soldiers brought the usual canned corn. The older woman and the little ones took them all. Aria was left starving, her stomach grumbled loudly and the nice woman offered to share her meal with her.
"You seem hungry, dear. I can share mine with you if you don't mind", she said, offering her some of the canned corn.
"Tha...thank you ma'am", Aria answered, expressing gratitude.
"Do you stammer? No offense.", the woman asked.
"No ma'am", she replied.
"Your eyes are red and teary, what's wrong?"
"Nothing ma'am, I'm fine, thank you ma'am", she answered, wiping her eyes.
"If you say so, eat well, so you can have strength", the woman said to Aria.
"Thank you ma'am"
The nice woman kept Aria's company till the end of the journey. They got to their destination and was ushered out by the soldiers.
"Out! I said out! On a line, do not attempt to run away", one of the soldiers said, leading them to an outer room, where the people were blindfolded with their arms tied behind their back.
"Do not attempt to run away, i repeat. Any attempt to run away will result in death. And no one, i mean no one will come for your corpse or give a hoot about you", one of the soldiers said to the captives.
They were blindfolded and tied, then led into a big truck and taken to a huge castle.
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