Desperate Freedom

"Let go of me!" a wail rang out across the sky.

"Chain this fucker's legs!"

In the middle of a large group of clothed men stood a naked young boy. They pinned him down, treating him like a stray animal.

Animal—that was what he was to them. Perhaps even less.

"Shut the fuck up!" One of the men raised his hand and struck the boy—who looked no older than seven—squarely in the face.

Instantly, the boy's vision blurred. He didn't pass out, but he was barely conscious, his small body limp on the ground.

"S-stop…" he slurred, his mouth throbbing from the impact. A tooth had been knocked loose, ripping his lower lip. Swelling and blood followed.

"Drag him to the boulder." Another man, dressed in worn cloth and carrying a cruel smirk, wiped his sweaty brow. "And lay out the bait for animals."

"Yes, sir."

The boy felt someone seize his arms, then yank him across the rough, jagged terrain. His naked skin scraped against stones, the friction and pain keeping him awake—but only just.

He could see only blurred faces and muffled voices.

"War… demons… it's getting worse… heard beasts… gaining power."

Their words drifted in and out as his mind flickered on the edge of darkness.

Blood trickled from his nose, mixing with the dirt and pooling at his chin.

"S-some…one…" he groaned, but no one cared. His wrists and ankles throbbed under loose-fitting chains, clearly not made for a child.

"Alright… throw him… lock… chains."

He felt a fleeting sense of weightlessness before his body slammed against something hard. Finally, his consciousness failed him, and the world went black.

————————————————————————

Bolts of lightning flashed across the horizon, their yellow light revealing a skinny boy perched on a jagged boulder.

Long scars and whip marks marred his bare body, evidence of relentless torture.

Though his body shivered violently in the cold downpour, he refused to move, sitting there frozen in place.

Chains clamped around his bony ankles, and deadly spikes circled the boulder beneath him.

It's cold, he thought, desperation taking hold. So cold… someone… anyone… get me out of here!

Yet all he could do was hug his arms around his meatless chest. His stiff fingers brought no warmth, and every raindrop felt like an icy needle drilling into his skin, compounding his misery.

His vision blurred under the relentless rainfall. Soon, exhaustion won.

He laid back against the boulder's razor edges—each fresh cut grounding him, keeping him from sinking into numbness.

What's the point? A ragged sigh tore through his bruised throat. Every time I bend my head, I end up here.

Gagging on rainwater that slipped into his mouth, he coughed hard. Slamming his fist against his chest, he slumped, energy depleted.

Am I not a person? Am I some different breed? Aren't I human too?

Frustration churned, and he trembled violently. He flung his arm aside, lifting his head to glare at the storm, teeth bared.

The chains scraped his bony ankles, rattling like mocking laughter.

"Bastards!" he yelled, voice wild. "When I find you, I'll do worse!" Fresh blood seeped through the pinching metal, but he didn't care; rage swallowed everything.

Suddenly, he sensed a shift in the air—a noise from behind.

Twisting around, he spotted a snake slithering up the rock, tongue flicking hungrily.

Panic clamped his small gut, and although he tried, he failed to scoot away.

"Go!" he shouted, fury melting into terror. "GO AWAY!" Despite his cries, the snake advanced with unblinking eyes.

Its tongue hissed as it suddenly struck, jaws wide.

He lurched aside, narrowly dodging the fangs, his hands clamping around the slick, coiling body.

"S-stop moving!" he pleaded, heart pounding. The snake squirmed and hissed, its scales too slippery for any real grip.

Why me?

His gaze darted around in desperation for a weapon, but there was nothing.

Driven by panic, he hefted the snake, trying to smash it against the boulder, yet its heavy weight—and his own weakness—dragged him down.

Rain hammered his eyes, blurring his vision.

Mind blank, he snarled, "AH!"

With no choice left, he shifted his grip, and his brittle teeth sank into the snake's body.

Hot, bitter fluid trickled into his mouth as the snake convulsed. He bit harder, feeling flesh tear. Then the snake went limp.

Panting hard, he flung the carcass off the boulder.

I did it! I saved myself!

A flicker of triumph stirred in his chest.

No one came, but I'm still alive!

His eyes lit with sudden excitement as he stared at the steely gray sky. Rain washed blood and scales from his face, and a small smile cracked his lips. His gaze shifted downward to his legs, bound by the loose chains. 

Gritting his teeth, he shook his legs with all his might. "Get out!" he roared. Freedom was near—he had saved himself, but these chains were his final bonds.

"Freedom! I want freedom!" he repeated, his voice raw. The chains rattled more fiercely as his legs began to bleed, the searing pain wracking his brain until it numbed.

His skin tore, and his ankles bled profusely. In a final, desperate surge, he flexed his legs and began to maul at his battered ankles, straining to break free…

And then—his anguished cry was swallowed by a deafening snap as something clamped onto his ankle…