Memories of Childhood pt. 2

Kaballa spoke to his other partner, they both looked to be older men. They weren't the most attractive and some could even call them ugly. They had differing degrees of beer bellies and they were clearly out of shape. "Hey, let me get this one, he's just how I like em." He licked his lips as he thought about his new catch.

The stepped into the caravan and it drove off into the distance. Kaballa whipped the horses and with each whip, their speed would increase….. the pain in their eyes would increase as well. As the caravan was dipping below the horizon... if you looked closely at the back of the caravan.... You would see 7 pairs of eyes. They were different colours but they all had an unexplainable purity to them. Some looked dirty while a few seemed to be cleaned and dressed up fairly nicely. Little KJ was apart of the latter group.

The caravan met with a multitude of bumps before it reached its destination. It slowed down and it entered a cave far off from other civilizations. The cave was dark but as the men stepped out of the caravan the cave lit up. A shadowy figure peaked out. "Oh, you're back already?"

The man's figure was shrouded in darkness but his eyes were shockingly malicious.

Kaballa: Yes we've had a great harvest. I've brought a special one back, he's all mine so keep your dirty hands off

The shadowy figure billowed in his crooked voice. "Aren't we all dirty in one way or another." He stepped into the light for a moment and his garments could briefly be seen. He had countless jewels. His garments were lined with the finest of them, they had lifelike designs made with gold and silver. He looked like royalty. "Kaballa did you clean your tracks if anything is leaked because of you...." His voice grew more sinister with every passing second. "Well, if anything happens you know what'll happen to you…. However, no one else will know of course." A devilish smile played on his face and a Fiery Phoenix symbol glistened on his shoulder. With those parting words, he delved back into the shadows.

Kaballa sighed.

UGHHH

Kaballa turned to the other man and gestured towards the caravan. "You take 4 of them and I'll take 3. You already know who I want. I want that little boy we just got….. the freshest one. I also want that little foreign couple….. you know the pair of 13-year-olds." Kaballa was truly a demented man. He used his rough hands to snatch the kid by their collars. He dragged them into a den. A stench immediately filled Little KJ's nose and it woke him up from his slumber.

Little KJ: Ewwww what's that smell? It smells like a mix of animal feces and... is something rotting mister?"

Kaballa was slightly startled. "Oh, you do have more fight in you than the rest. They don't usually wake up this early. I knew I made the right choice with you. You're veeeeeeeeery special." Kaballa had a creepy smile and he didn't try to hide it at all.

Little KJ: Hey instead of dragging me you know I can walk right?

Just as Little KJ was finished speaking…..

WOOSH

He was tossed into a cage and the steel bars slammed shut.

Kaballa held onto the cold solitary bars and spoke with a chilling tone. "This will be your home from now. Do as I say and I can send you back home. If you don't listen to me I can't guarantee anything. Get it, kid?"

Little KJ nodded his head up and down enthusiastically. He was still young and hadn't seen much of the world. He was exceptionally naive and carefree. His head couldn't possibly wrap around what was happening this quickly. Remember, he was only around 8 years old.

The pair of 13-year-olds were roughed up to a greater extent. Kaballa didn't take care of them nearly as much as he did with KJ. He tossed them like rag dolls. "I'll have fun playing with you two later. Who knows…. Maybe there won't even be two of you left. After speaking Kaballa turned and marched towards the cave entrance and made his way out.

Little KJ was now more confused than ever. He looked over at the pair of 13-year-olds but they wouldn't even make eye contact. They were slightly injured and they were visibly trembling. Something was wrong but they wouldn't say a word or even look in KJ's direction. Little KJ gave up on that effort and turned to his other side.