Cries and Fears

Chapter Five

As the cart rumbled onward, its wooden slats creaking in protest, a young girl's piercing wails cut through the air. She was no more than ten years old, her small body shaking with sobs as she huddled in the corner of the cart. The soldier guarding the cart, his face twisted in annoyance, raised his whip and brought it down across the girl's face. The crack of the whip echoed through the air, followed by the girl's terrified yelp. 

"Keep your mouth shut!" he roared, his voice dripping with malice. "One more sound from you, and I'll rip your head off your body and feed it to my dogs when we get to our destination!"

The girl's cries ceased abruptly, replaced by terrified silence. The soldier's eyes gleamed with a malevolent light as he towered over her, his whip still trembling with the force of the blow. "

The girl's eyes went wide with terror as she wiped her eyes and cheeks, her small body trembling as she leaned against the cart. The other captives watched in horror, their faces pale and frightened.

Nearby, the three daughters of Nella - Selena, Isolde, and Adrielle huddled together, their faces etched with fear and worry. Selena, the eldest, wrapped her arms around her sisters, trying to comfort them as they wept silently.

"Don't cry, Addy," Selena whispered, her voice barely audible over the creaking of the cart. "You saw what that man did to that girl just now. I don't want anyone to hurt us," Isolde comforted her younger sister as she sniffled, her eyes welling up with tears. "I want to see Mama and Papa," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I want to go home and give this to the baby when Mama gives birth."

Adrielle pulled out a small, delicate crown made from seaweed, her eyes shining with tears. Selena quickly covered her mouth, silencing her cries before they could attract the soldier's attention.

The three sisters wept silently, their bodies shaking with sobs. Selena hugged them tightly, trying to offer what little comfort she could. "We'll see Mama and Papa and hold our sibling," Isolde promised, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adrielle's eyes looked up at her sister, filled with a mixture of fear and hope. "Are you sure?" she asked, her small voice trembling.

Isolde nodded, trying to sound confident. "Yes," she assured her sister, though her own eyes betrayed her helplessness.

Just then, one of the soldiers turned to face them, his eyes scanning the cart's occupants. "Comport yourself well, or be thrown out of this cart!" he barked, his gaze lingering on the sisters.

Adrielle's eyes flashed with defiance, and for a moment, it seemed she might protest. But Selena and Isolde held her tight, silencing her before she could speak. The soldier's gaze moved on, leaving the sisters to their despair.

As the cart continued on its journey, the sisters clung to each other, their hearts heavy with fear and uncertainty. They knew they had to stay strong, for each other's sake, and for the sake of their unborn sibling. But as the hours ticked by, and the cart rumbled onward, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being taken further and further away from the only home they had ever known.

As the hours dragged on, the soldiers and their captives finally arrived at a large wagon, its wooden slats weathered and worn. The cart came to a stop, and the soldiers ordered the captives to disembark. Selena, Isolde, and Adrielle climbed down, their hands bound behind their backs, and gazed up at the wagon in trepidation.

As they entered the wagon, they were met with the bleak faces of fellow Marinians, already imprisoned and awaiting their fate. The air inside was thick with the stench of sweat, fear, and desperation. Selena's eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, and she saw that the wagon was crowded, with barely enough room to stand.

The soldiers bound the new captives' hands, their ropes coarse and unforgiving. Selena felt a surge of panic as the wagon's doors creaked shut, plunging them into total darkness. The silence was oppressive, just like a heavy blanket that suffocated all sound. No birds sang, no wind rustled through the trees; only the creaking of the wagon's wooden slats and the muffled sobs of the captives broke the stillness.

As the wagon lurched forward, the captives stumbled, their bound hands flailing wildly as they struggled to regain their balance. Selena's stomach churned with each jolt, her sisters' terrified faces etched in her mind. The wagon's relentless galloping seemed to stretch on forever, the captives' bodies shaking and bumping against each other like rag dolls.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the wagon came to a stop. A soldier jumped down, his sword clanging against the wagon's side, making the wooden slats vibrate against their bodies. The captives cowered, their hearts racing with fear.

"Everyone, down!" the soldier bellowed, his voice echoing off the surrounding trees. "Form a single line and take your food!"

The captives hesitated unsure of what to expect. Slowly, they began to move, their bound hands making every step a struggle. Selena, Isolde, and Adrielle exchanged fearful glances, their hearts heavy with doubts. 

As the captives wearily descended from the wagon, their exhausted bodies formed a sluggish single line, driven by the gnawing pangs of hunger and fatigue. The prolonged deprivation of sustenance had taken its toll, leaving many with stomachs that growled and churned with emptiness, the dull ache of hunger a constant reminder of their dire circumstances. Some captives swayed slightly, their energy sapped by the relentless journey, while others rubbed their tired eyes, the grittiness a testament to the lack of rest.