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Chapter 2-

I know we have reached our destination when the boat has stopped rocking. The men have begun moving around on the top deck and there is a lot of shouting. I can't shake the horrible thoughts that fill my mind. As bad as being held captive on this ship has been, the unknown of the destination is worse. Panic sets in amoung the women when they too realize that we are getting close to shore, some sit with their heads in their hands while others cry and scream out. All of the noise and wailing has me ready to jump out of my skin.

I want to be strong, but my trembling body shows me my true nature. I am just as scared as the rest fo them, weak and a prisoner. I thought I had no control over my future before, now it will be determined by the men that placed me in chains.

“What do you think they are going to do to us?” The youngest amongst us and my bunk mate Ava asked. She is tall probably a few inches taller than me, around 5’8 or so and slender with a long black braid. Ava has pale lovely skin and beautiful blue eyes. I am frightened, but I don’t want her to feel more afraid so I try to comfort her as much as I can. Maybe my desire to protect her will strengthen my resolve and help me to be brave. I have taken to her; she reminds me of my little sister Anne back home and she is only a year older than her. Anne and I were so different and often didn's see eye to eye, but thinking about her now makes my chest ache. I miss being little girls and whispering under the covers when we were supposed to be sleeping. I should have been kinder to her, more understanding.

“It’s going to be okay we are together, and they haven’t done anything too horrible to us yet. I will protect you.” I say in my calmest voice. I know I have no business promising her anything. I can’t protect myself let alone anyone else, but I need to feel close to someone. I need to keep my humanity, even when treated like livestock.


Before I was taken, I was in the middle of working towards getting my teaching certificate, teaching was the only thing I was passionate about. I had worked hard throughout my schooling and had taken great pleasure in excelling and being able to help others who had a harder time learning. I loved reading about far away places and other cultures. That was another reason why knowing I'd be stuck in the same place hurt me, I want to use the things I've learned to help other people. If the only thing I had to look forward to was marrying a man and working my own farm with him, while of course bearing him children then at least I would be able to teach as well. This would give me a sliver of my own idenpendence.

My mother had always told me reaching for the sun would only get me burned and that I had been born beautiful so I should be thankful for my lot in life. She had not been supportive of my desire for higher education. “Many girls have it worse” She would say “At least you’re pretty and will snag a well-bred boy.” I know it makes me sound un-grateful, but I want more than to just farm and rear children my whole life. I want adventure and to be a part of something great. My mother would say that I’m living in a fantasy land, but I didn't care I wanted more from life.


Footsteps stop above us and the hinges from the hatch sqeek as it's lifted at the top of the stairs; they are coming for us. I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe, and Ava grabs my hand. I give her a small reassuring smile and straighten my spine. Now is the time to be strong I tell myself, both for Ava and myself.

“Ladies we have reached the shore. Stand in a straight line and follow me off the ship. Don’t get any ideas about running off, I promise we will catch you and you will be punished. This transition will be orderly. Any disobedience will result in swift and severe consequences.” The commander looks fierce as he speaks to us. He was the type of man that even if I were not in chains I wouldn’t challenge. He’s enormous, very tall and strongly built. He has a sword and whip at his side that I’m sure he has made use of before.

We all lined up with clanking chains, wobbly lips and wet eyes. Ava’s behind me and we are situated towards the front middle of the line. As we walked off the ship I noticed a lot of men, more than were on the vessel with us and large horse pulled carts all lined up. The men looked similar to the commander’s soldiers on the ship. All of them holding a large stature and either sitting on horses or standing near the carts and all with some form of weapon. This scene does not bode well for our future. I can only hope that this has been some kind of mistake and they will send us back home. I know that the thought is foolish, but I don't want to die by the hands of one of these terrifying men so far from home.

Looking out into the crowd that has obviously been waiting for us to arrive I notice there are no feminine faces among them. The men starred at us with hungry, leering eyes unnerving me further. The warrior like men all seemed very serious no longer having side conversations but eyeing everyone of us women as we walked toward them. I hear Ava start crying again and I look out at the crowd giving them my best "fuck off" look. I don't know what came over me, I'm normally not so bold but I hate the thought of cowering before them especially if we're doomed anyway. Maybe I can scare them off with my attitude since physically I wouldn't stand a chance with even the smallest of the men here. Although the men had a hardness about them and were very intimidating, they were all very handsome as well as terrifying. Whatever tribe this is they have incredible blood lines.

As we neared the wagons the commander met with a man and had a seemingly serious conversation, this particular man stood above the commander and held a slightly larger frame. Suddenly I felt flush and my heart started to race, I was nervous but this possible panic attack came out of nowhere. So much for my brave feirce face. I got a better look at the face of the large man speaking with the commander, I noticed that he was exceedingly handsome, possibly the most attractive man I had ever seen.

What is wrong with my brain? I am possibly marching to my death, but all I can think about is how beautiful this enormous man is. It does make me wonder why they would take us. Surely women would flock here if they saw these men. Do they plan to sell us? As my head fills with the possibilities of why I am here, I can't help but stare at this curious man who has captured my attention.

His eyes are dark, almost black in color and his hair a sandy blonde color hanging long down his back. He has a sharp defined jaw with full lips and a short blonde beard covering the lower half of his face. He looks stoic and fierce. He carries a large sword at his side and all the men seem to look to him when they aren't staring at us with their leering gaze. He finished his conversation with the commander and ushered us forward and into the wagons. As we walked by him, he seemed to study each woman looking them up and down. When Ava and I walked pass him his eyes met mine, I felt a chill run down my spine and my heart began racing again. I can only attributue this starnge reaction to him as curiosity and fear. My body seems to have a mind of it's own, knowing this man must be dangerous but being drawn to him all the same. After my unsettling interaction with the man I assumed to be in charge the strange new men began loading us into the horse drawn wooden carts by groups. I heard a rustling sound behind me and turned my head.

One of the women had tried to escape but was slammed down to the ground almost immediately. I see her face down in the dirt and feel the fear trying to invade my mind again. Where did she think she would go? We are surrounded by warrior men, the ocean and woods. Even if she managed to get more than a few steps the men all have horses, she must know she can't get away. The commander stepped forward grabbing the woman whose name I believed to be Missy making an announcement. “You will all learn a lesson now. Disobedience will be punished!” Missy was thrown back to the ground and her shirt ripped from her earning the cheers of the men surrounding us as her breasts were exposed. I grabbed onto Ava’s hand and told her not to watch. She received three lashes from the whip that I had seen attached to his hip before, each one bringing out another cry from her. Seeing this brutality makes my stomach turn and I feel only hatred for the men who took us from our homes.

When the commander was finished whipping her, he handed her back her shirt and carried her to the cart that Ava and I had been settled into. I was surprised to see furs in the cart for us to cover with, it was definitely winter or nearing winter with the frost hanging in the air. Missy was seated next to Ava and me and I helped her wrap her furs around her as she had a hard time moving on he own. The ride was long but silent all of us taking in the new scenery and wondering what our fate would be. Who were these brutes of men were that had stolen us, and what did they want from our group? My heart sank further seeing no other people or towns, only the thick dense forrest that surrounded us. Hearing Missy's pained sobs as we journeyed on set me on edge. I wish I could take a whip to them and see how they sob in pain each time they are justled around.

Were we to be slaves for these men? We had certainly been treated as such so far, but the new warm furrs that we were huddled under didn't seem like something that would be given to a slave either. I had always loved the thought of the unknown until I had been captured and now with my future feeling so bleak I wished with everything in me that I was back home on my family's small farm, waiting to marry someone I didn't love. I wanted a better life but now who knows if I'll make it to see tomorrow or if I'll even want to.

Even with all the depressing thoughts flowing through my head if I'm honest with myself there is a spark inside me that hopes for something great to be waiting for us, the probability is slim. I guess I'll just have to stay alive and find out.

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