Chương 4: Queen's order
I felt a rush of fear and confusion as we were led into a dimly lit grand hall, with a sea of faces all turned in our direction, their gazes like icy daggers cutting into my skin.
My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced around, taking in the eerie sight.
Rows of people sat on either side, with short walls in front of them, creating a barrier that prevented them from directly stepping out.
"Don't forget what I said earlier," the man who held me from behind whispered in my ear.
"The Queen's really nice, so listen to whatever she says."
He pushed me to kneel on the cold, hard floor alongside my fellow captives.
A wave of pain shot through my body as my knees made contact with the ground, but I bit back a groan, unwilling to show weakness in front of our captors.
My gaze eventually lifted to the woman seated on a magnificent throne, her regal aura almost tangible.
Her luscious golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, and though I couldn't discern the color of her eyes from afar, her ethereal smile and undeniable beauty shone brightly, captivating my attention.
But I immediately shook my head, trying to wave off the distraction. I couldn't let my guard down, not now. Revenge was my priority.
"Why did you all do that?" she asked, her voice gentle as a summer breeze.
I shook my head again, fighting off the mesmerizing effect of her words.
"Why wouldn't we?" I yelled.
"Oh," she paused, then smiled once more.
"I won't let you all leave without a punishment from me," she declared.
I frowned, sensing trouble. "However, don't worry - it won't be severe. You'll simply remain here and work as indentured servants for a period before returning home."
"WHAT?!" Olivia's outrage was immediate.
"You can't be serious! I'd never agree to work as a slave in our own land!" she yelled, her words sparking gasps from the seated crowd.
The woman remained composed, her gaze calm, despite our defiance. Her smile never wavered.
"Me neither!" another person in our group shouted.
But before they could say more, a guard from behind kicked them hard, eliciting a pained groan.
"Easy there, don't kill him," the woman intervened, as if she was simply reprimanding a child.
"We'll be the ones to kill you, not the other way around! Your sympathy is not needed!" Mariam shouted.
"We'll take back what's rightfully ours, just like you took from us years ago!" another person in our group yelled.
"Kill us if you want, but our spirits won't rest until we've achieved our goal!" someone else shouted, their voice trembling.
The woman's expression remained calm, but her voice took on a hint of curiosity. "Oh? What happened years ago has already happened. Why bring it up now?"
Her words struck a nerve, and anger and pain pierced through my soul in an instant.
The past, which had been simmering just below the surface, boiled over, and I felt my emotions erupt like a volcano.
"You still say that, even with all the deaths that occurred?" I spoke up, my voice echoing through the hall.
Annoyance crept in as the hall remained silent, and I continued.
"People died, parents lost their children, and kids became orphans at a tender age. Yet, you sit on your throne, spewing such trashy nonsense?"
A man kicked me from behind, but I stood my ground, refusing to back down.
The queen sighed, "Haaa... I understand how you all must be feeling, but this isn't necessary. You should let go of the past and move on with your lives."
I tried to speak, but she interrupted me, her tone gentle, like a mother guiding her young ones. "You all should be good children, okay?" she cooed.
"Take them now," she declared, and the men moved forward to collect us from the floor.
I straightened my back and clenched my teeth, bracing myself for what was to come.
"I'll make sure I fulfill what I'm here for, and that's the only thing I'll work for," I muttered to myself.
The man's tight grip on my arm propelled me towards the imposing door, and as I glanced back, I caught a glimpse of the man from earlier.
He sat at the front, a smug smile spreading across his face, as he watched me being taken away.
Is he trying to mock us?
If he knew how much I wanted to kill him, he wouldn't be smiling like that.
"It'll be okay," someone whispered beside me.
I turned to see Mariam, her eyes filled with a concern.
I nodded, offering her a smile as we continued walking.
After a long walk, they stopped at a black, shiny gate and led us through.
As we entered the compound, I was taken aback by the sight that greeted us.
Beautiful gardens and small buildings surrounded us, making me feel uncomfortable.
I couldn't help but wonder, "Is this the land we once lived in? Why does it look so different?"
Confusion crept in as I turned to one of the guards behind me, seeking answers.
"Why are we here?" I asked, my eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"This is where you all will be staying," he replied, his smile seeming to hide a secret.
I couldn't understand why they would show us kindness after what we did.
This had to be a trap. I wouldn't let my guard down, I couldn't trust any of these people.
"Go around and pick the one you like!" a guard yelled.
"You should be grateful the queen has shown mercy on you, or you'd be dead by now!"
I exchanged a confused glance with Mariam. What did they mean by "pick the one you like"?
Were they planning to use us as slaves, or worse?
But one thing was clear: we were trapped in a place where even the queen's mercy felt like a cruel joke.
I knew I had to stay strong and find a way to protect myself and the others.
Our only hope was to understand the twisted game our captors were playing and outsmart them at their own game.
The guards finally left, leaving us to ourselves, and I felt relieved. But I knew it was temporary. We had to act fast.
I turned to Mariam, and the anguish in her eyes was clear.
She threw herself into my arms, and I held her close.
"Why did this have to happen?" she cried, her voice trembling.
I stroked her hair, trying to comfort her. "This isn't the end, Mariam," I whispered.
"We'll use this as an opportunity to find their weak points and take them down. Together, we can overcome this."
Mariam hugged me even tighter, then pulled away, her eyes locked on mine.
"Yes," she nodded, her eyes shining with tears, and she embraced me once more.
We eventually pulled away and walked closer to the houses, our eyes scanning the surroundings, taking note of every detail.
The compound seemed to loom larger than ever. But I refused to let fear paralyze me.
It was time to strategize, to plan our next move in this dangerous game and take them down.
I pushed open one of the doors, the creaking sound uninviting, with Mariam closely following behind me.
I peered cautiously inside before stepping across the threshold.
The room was a revelation, utterly unlike anything I had ever seen.
Its beauty and grandeur were a far cry from my humble abode back by the sea.
With Mariam trailing behind me, I took hesitant steps further into the room, my wide eyes drinking in every detail.
The bed, the windows adorned with delicate lace curtains, the cupboard polished to a warm sheen, and the little wooden tables decorated with an array of strange and wondrous objects - everything looked pristine and unfamiliar.
I felt as though I had stepped into a different world, one that was both captivating and intimidating.
"I'll go check on the one beside this one," Mariam announced before quickly leaving the room, leaving me to explore on my own.
I stood there for a moment, feeling a little out of place and unsure of what to do next.
But the curiosity got the better of me, and I began to move around the room, touching things lightly and marveling at the intricacies of it all.
I cautiously approached a neat brown door at the far end of the room.
With trembling hands, I turned the knob and pushed it open, revealing a space even more dazzling than the bedroom.
Silver pipes lined the walls and a strange, white, round object rested on the floor.
What is that?
I tentatively reached out and touched the round thing, marveling at its smooth surface.
Then, my attention was drawn to a knob on the wall.
Without hesitation, I twisted it.
Suddenly, cold water gushed out from the circular surface above me, drenching my hair and clothes.
I gasped in surprise and hurriedly stepped back, my heart racing with confusion.
What mysterious place have I stumbled upon?
I walked out, and back into the bedroom.
My gaze was immediately drawn towards the wardrobe, it stood tall and sturdy, a stark contrast to the simple one I had back at home.
I walked over to it and reached for the handle.
Opening it, I wasn't surprised to find it empty except for a huge, soft brown towel.
I took it out and gently dabbed at my wet hair and went to sit on the soft comfy bed.
I wonder how Mariam is doing.
I stood up, returned the towel to the wardrobe, and walked out of the room.
My curiosity got the better of me as I noticed the door to the house next to mine was left ajar.
I pushed it open and stepped inside, finding Mariam wandering around the room with a look of wonder on her face.
"It's so different," she remarked.
Our eyes met as she noticed my presence, and I smiled in agreement.
"Indeed," I said, my smile mirroring hers.
Then I turned around and walked out of the room with Mariam by my side.
We scanned the area, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, until my eyes landed on Noona, wandering aimlessly in the distance.
"Noona!" I called out, my voice carrying across the space.
She heard my call and hurried over to where we stood, wrapping us in a warm, enveloping hug.
"What are we going to do now?" she asked.
"We'll come up with another effective plan," I assured her.
As we conversed, I noticed the rest of the group starting to gravitate towards us.
We settled down on the floor and delved into discussions about our next steps, strategizing until the late hours of the night.
"Let's get some rest," I suggested.
The group hummed in agreement and slowly dispersed to their respective rooms.
I was about to retreat to my own room when someone called out to me.
I turned around to see Jackson approaching me with a relieved expression.
"It's really good to know nothing happened to you," he said, enfolding me in a tight hug that was both comforting and fleeting.
He pulled away, as he smiled.
"I'm fine," I assured him, offering a reassuring smile in return.
He gave my hair a gentle pat, his smile lingering as he gazed at me.
"Good night," he said softly.
"Hmm, good night," I replied.
He turned around with a nod and walked away, leaving me to watch his departure before I turned away and made my way to my own room.
I lay down on the bed, surrounded by the oppressive silence of the unfamiliar room, the only sound my own ragged breathing.
I wrapped myself tighter in the warm embrace of the thick blanket, the soft fabric a comforting shield against the cool night air.
Closing my eyes, I willed myself to drift off into sleep, to let go of the worries and uncertainties that plagued my mind.
But the light, that persistent glow, isn't letting me fall asleep.
It stubbornly refuses to let the darkness take over.
I don't think this sleep would come so easily.
With a sigh, I pushed the covers aside and sat up.
I pulled off my jacket then stood up and grabbed a chair.
I dragged it over to the wall that had the big white lamp positioned above on it.
Steadying myself, I climbed up on the chair, reaching up to cover the light with the jacket.
The room dimmed slightly into a more manageable darkness.
"Fair enough," I said, then jumped down from the chair and returned to the bed, the blanket awaiting me like a welcoming cocoon.
I settled back onto the mattress, the darkness now soothing and calming around me.
The gentle embrace of sleep began to near, and I pulled the blanket closer, the soft fabric enveloping me in warmth and comfort.
And with a contented sigh, I let go of the worries and fears that had plagued me, allowing myself to drift off into a peaceful slumber.
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