SHACKLES

Chapter 6: SHACKLES 

"Hahahaha! Look at this idiot sleeping in a monster-infested forest!"

Yep that's an idiot alright 

A deep, guttural laugh echoed through the thick foliage of the forest as a scruffy man in tattered leather armor crouched near an unconscious figure lying on the forest floor.

Noel.

His body was battered, covered in bruises, dried blood caking his face and torn clothes. His breathing was shallow, his lips parched and cracked. But despite the pain that racked his body, he remained unconscious—completely vulnerable.

"What's a guy like him doing here? Must've lost his damn mind!" Another man, burly with a crooked grin, approached. He had a large scar running down his cheek and a sick gleam in his eyes.

"Heh, bird-for-brains probably thought this was a safe place to take a nap. Idiot!" The first man, whose name was Drog, chuckled as he kicked a small pebble toward Noel's body.

"Wait."

A third man, thin and rat-faced, squinted his beady eyes. His name was Marek.

"Look at his armor."

The others leaned in, their eyes narrowing as they took in Noel's worn, but finely crafted armor. Though battered, it was evident that it had once belonged a warrior 

"Hah… a knight?" Drog's eyes lit up with greed. "Shit, Marek! If we sell him to Gustavo, we'll be drinking tonight with beautiful big boobs women

Marek licked his lips, eyes gleaming.

"Yeah… Gustavo pays high for this kind of people. And look at him—young, strong… He'll fetch a good price.**"

"But what if he wakes up?" The scarred man, Varl, shifted uneasily. "If he's a knight, he'll tear us apart."

Drog sneered.

"Are you stupid?" His grin widened, revealing rotting teeth. "We don't need to fight him. We just need to bind him…"

"A slave mark."

Marek's lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Ah… right."

A slave mark.

A forbidden spell that bound a person's soul, making them nothing more than a puppet—a slave with no free will.

Marek's fingers traced ancient symbols in the air, his voice murmuring the incantation.

SLAVE BIND … I bind this soul…

A dark light enveloped Noel's body, and the spell settled on his chest—leaving behind a sinister black mark that pulsed like a heartbeat.

"Done." Marek's voice was filled with satisfaction. "When he wakes up… he's ours."

When Noel finally stirred, the first thing he felt was pain.

A searing pain.

Every fiber of his body screamed in agony. His wrists were bound tightly, the coarse ropes digging into his skin. His body rocked unsteadily—

A carriage.

Noel's eyes fluttered open, and he was met with the dim light filtering through the gaps in the wooden planks.

"What…?" His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

Memories came crashing down.

Rome…

Natasha…

"Dad… Mom…!"

His heart pounded as panic surged through his veins. He struggled against the ropes binding his hands, his breath quickening.

"Whoa there, kid."

A mocking voice called from the front of the carriage.

"Relax. You're not going anywhere."

Noel's eyes darted toward the voice.

It was Drog, the man sitting at the front of the carriage, guiding the horses. His face twisted into a cruel grin as he turned to glance at Noel.

"What the hell…?!" Noel growled, his voice filled with desperation.

"Where am I?! Let me go!"

Drog snickered.

"Look at your chest, kid."

Noel's gaze dropped to his chest—

And his heart froze.

A black mark.

It pulsed… a sickening reminder of what had been done to him.

"A… slave mark…"

"Hahahaha!" Drog's laughter echoed in the forest.

"You're ours now, kid. That little mark means you can't do shit without our say."

"No…" Noel's eyes widened in horror. "No, this can't be happening…"

"Oh, but it is."

"LET ME GO!" Noel roared, thrashing against the bonds. "I NEED TO FIND MY DAD AND MOM!"

Electricity surged through his body.

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!"

The slave mark retaliated, sending excruciating pain coursing through his veins.

His body convulsed, and he collapsed to the floor of the carriage, panting.

"Shout all you want, kid." Drog smirked. "But nothing's gonna change."

Noel's teeth clenched, his fists tightening despite the pain.

"If I escape…" His voice was filled with raw hatred. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Drog's grin widened.

"Hah! I'd love to see you try."

Desperate Struggle

The carriage jerked to a stop.

Drog stood up and walked toward the back of the carriage. He yanked the door open, his cruel eyes gleaming as he loomed over Noel.

"Ready for another beating, kid?"

"BASTARD!"

Noel lunged.

Despite the pain, despite the odds—he moved like a wild animal. His eyes burned with fury, his body screaming in agony as he threw himself at Drog.

But—

"ARGHHHHHHHH!"

The slave mark retaliated again, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Tch. Persistent little shit."

Drog's boot came down—hard.

CRUNCH.

Noel's face hit the floor, pain exploding through his jaw.

"You wanna kill me, huh?" Drog laughed as he pressed his boot harder against Noel's face.

"I'd like to see you try."

"You… bastard… I'll… kill… you…" Noel's voice was muffled, but the rage in his tone was undeniable.

"Oh, you're gonna be fun to break."

Drog grabbed Noel by the collar and dragged him out of the carriage.

THUD.

Noel's body hit the dirt hard, but he didn't stay down.

He got up.

Blood dripped from his nose, his face swollen and bruised, but his eyes burned with relentless determination.

"Come on, then…" Drog sneered. "Show me what you got."

Noel lunged again.

CRACK!

The shock surged through his body.

But he didn't stop.

He fell.

He got up.

He fell again.

But he got up.

Over and over…

"AGAIN!"

His body convulsed in pain, but his spirit refused to break.

"You little shit…" Drog growled, his patience wearing thin.

"STAY DOWN!"

Drog's fist crashed into Noel's face, followed by another…

And another.

Fists.

Pain.

Blood.

Drog's fists rained down like a merciless storm, each blow breaking Noel's body—

As the world faded, Noel's mind drifted.

"Noel! Faster! Catch me!"

Natasha's laughter echoed in the fields.

A younger Noel chased after his mother, his tiny legs stumbling as he ran.

"Come on, son! You're almost there!"

Rome's encouraging voice guided him.

Noel could feel the warmth of their love.

But then…

The scene changed.

The world darkened.

The air grew heavy.

Blood.

So much blood.

Natasha and Rome stood before him, their faces pale, their bodies covered in wounds.

"Mom…? Dad…?" Noel's voice trembled.

Their eyes were hollow.

"Kill."

"Kill. Kill. Kill."

"KILL. KILL. KILL!"

Their voices echoed, growing louder, more twisted.

Noel's heart pounded as their bloodied hands reached toward him.

"NO!"

Noel's eyes snapped open.

Darkness.

The air was damp, the smell of rot filling his nostrils.

He was in a cell.

Alone.

His face was swollen, his

body covered in bruises. His wrists were shackled, and the chains clinked softly as he moved.

"Why…?"

Tears streamed down his face as the crushing weight of reality settled on his shoulders.

"Why me…?"

His body shook as silent sobs wracked his frame.

"Dad… Mom…"