(Zorya)
I slipped into consciousness and unconsciousness; I don’t know how long my battered body remained in that state.
Was it days?
Weeks?
Someone cleaned me up and covered my body.
Every time I gained consciousness, the memories of what that monster did to me surfaced.
Screams and tears erupted from me.
One of the maids I had met earlier gave me a potion to drink.
My physical pain eased, but the horrific memories would never leave me.
What did I ever do to deserve this fate?
My parents had died when I was a child under mysterious circumstances.
My elder sister had raised me.
Working hard so I could get a quality education and become a doctor.
Two years of my education had passed when this calamity befell me.
They took my sister.
They sold me as a sex slave.
They took my dignity.
Finally, I awakened without screaming.
Tears still rolled down the side of my eyes, disappearing into my hair.
“You are awake,” someone softly whispered.
My eyes slowly wavered to my left, and I found the girl who had been feeding me medicine, water and had cleaned me, sitting on a broken chair.
She had a wounded smile on her face and the shock collar around her neck.
“How are you feeling now?”
I sniffled.
“Used, broken…” my voice hardly came out; my throat hurt from all the screaming.
She bit her lower lip and placed her trembling hand on mine.
She had smooth chocolate-brown skin and luscious curly hair.
“I am sorry that happened…,” She whispered as if afraid someone would hear her.
The fear in her eyes was terrifying.
“I wish I could say it gets easier…” she barely mumbled, and my heart drowned in a sea of despair.
I understood what it meant to be a sex slave to a fiend like him.
This was not going to be the only time he had ravaged my body; it was going to continue.
“If you have some skills.
It will come in handy.
You can join the working slaves and,” she hesitated, her voice barely a whisper.
“Alpha Caliath will let you work.
Otherwise….” She didn’t complete her sentence and lowered her eyes.
I reached with my hand and grabbed her delicate wrist.
“Otherwise, what?
Will this continue?” I asked in a hoarse voice, even though I knew the answer.
“Please!
Tell me.”
Slowly and sadly, she nodded, her face pained.
“Yes, you will be lent out.
To other Alphas, warriors and even guards.
If someone is unable to keep Alpha’s attention or lacks skills, that’s all they are reduced to.”
The pained sigh that left me carried my fears, my agony, my shattered dreams.
I wanted to become a doctor and serve my village and the people of the world who needed help.
Now that dream was merely a distant reality.
“Any skills?” She hopefully asked again.
“I was studying to become a doctor.
Does that count?”
With a faint smile, she nodded.
“Yes, the warriors need help with stitching and medication all the time.
Not all of them can self-heal.
You will be a great addition to the medical team.
Tatiana will take you under her wing.”
“Who is Tatiana?” I asked, trying to get up and sit.
She helped me, placing a pillow behind my back.
“She is the only doctor of Sunken Pit.”
I nodded, not knowing what I was getting myself into.
“I am Ewera.” She faintly smiled, offering me a bowl of soup from the table.
I had knots in my stomach, but I accepted it.
I had to keep my strength if I wanted to survive and escape this place.
“Zorya,” I introduced myself, making her nod.
“Zorya, remember to keep your head low and obey whatever they command you.
Don’t try to rescue anyone you have not been asked to.
That’s the only way to survive this place.” Her voice wasn’t threatening; instead, she was trying to look out for me.
She was also careful not to say anything that could implicate her.
I took a small sip and tried to gulp, but it seemed to have gotten stuck in my throat.
I knew she was holding back and not revealing all the horrors this place held.
“Drink; you need your strength before you are assigned to ‘The Clinic.’ This is your room, so rest and get your strength back.”
The room was small with a single bed, a small wardrobe, a vanity mirror, two chairs, and a table.
There were no windows.
Getting up, she walked away but halted in her step.
Without turning around, she said, gravelly.
“Whatever you do, don’t try to escape this place.” With that, she was gone.
I placed the bowl back.
My appetite had completely died.
My stomach ached, and I didn’t even want to lift the dress and inspect my intimate area.
Instead, I slid down on the bed and glanced towards the ceiling, with a thousand painful thoughts and memories.
Whenever I used to be sad or miss my parents, I would sing.
It brought me comfort.
So I began to weakly hum a melody I had created.
Suddenly, the door opened again, and Beta Hadis entered.
With face set in stone, he spoke without a flicker of emotion in his voice.
“Did Ewera speak to you?”
“Yes.” I left my bed and slowly stood up.
“She told me that you were becoming a doctor.”
Quietly, I nodded at his statement.
“I will take you to the clinic.
You will be serving there.
But make no mistake, when Alpha calls, you will answer, leaving everything there.
Understood.” His voice was calm, like the stillness before a storm.
I shuddered at the prospect of seeing that heinous Alpha again.
My legs shook, and I wished to heap to the ground and disappear.
Either Hadis didn’t notice or didn’t care.
“Let’s get moving.
I am going to introduce you to Tatiana so she can test you and give you your first assignment.
Follow me.”
He moved out.
On shaky legs and aching body, I quietly followed Hadis, keeping my tears at bay.
I couldn’t let them see me weak and shattered; that’s what they wanted.