The feeling was hard to describe. Ben could sense a thin fog swirling around him, carrying the scent of the Demonic Bear. 'Strange.' He wasn't smelling with his nose.
'What is this?' His mind ventured deeper, disobeying his instincts, pushing closer to the source. No. This wasn't a fog. It felt thicker, and it was pulsing. He was enchanted by the rhythm, his attention caught like a moth to a flame. It felt repulsive and yet somehow seductive. Somewhere deep in his heart, a voice gurgled up at him to flee.
His thoughts stretched out like a thick, sticky syrup and wandered past his mind's dark horizon. He couldn't remember the breathing technique, and his mind looped over the first part of the instructions, only recalling the first inhalation before everything else came back different each time. Finally, he chocked and his eyes opened.
'It's still there' he realized as the tips of his fingers grazed his abdomen. His chest rose and fell erratically. A cold stream of sweat trickled down his back, causing him to shift uncomfortably. He thought he had miraculously digested that piece of flesh. He realized it had been a foolish thought.
His hands slumped as his legs loosed. It seemed the energy in his body had suddenly dispersed. 'Well it wasn't supposed to be there after all these days of fasting...' he reasoned weakly.
'Maybe it's the strain...' he left the thought trailing, unwilling to exert his mind. He desperately stretched his neck so that he could blow out the lamp. It was all he could do to cover himself partially with the blanket before he collapsed into an exhausted sleep.
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"Let me go! Let me GO!" a 10-year-old boy shouted. His unwashed face revealed a mix of suppressed fear and exaggerated anger. He was surprisingly well-fed for a slave. His hands struggled to undo the hold around his neck. A pointless attempt as he was at least two years the junior of the youth who held him tightly in his lock.
A loud clap landed on his face, rudely silencing him. Another 12 year old looked at him mockingly, threatening another clap if he shouted again.
"Hmph. Rufus you brat, did you think you would get away with it forever, or maybe you thought your cousin Grunge would protect you always?" he spoke, extremely satisfied to loose the words. Yes, they had been waiting to catch this brat for a while now. How dare he blatantly steal the food from the kids from their hostel? Acting all tough whilst hiding behind the name of his cousin? Hmph. He would teach this brat a lesson we won't easily forget. If he couldn't do this today, he might as well change his name from Rodwell to Useless.
"Let me go you idiot! I am going to tell Grunge ab-." a hard punch from Rodwell forced the air out of his lungs. "Arrrgh" he groaned in pain as his body squirmed. The boy behind him firmed his lock, restricting his movements.
"Shut up you scum bag!" Rodwell ordered, thoroughly pleased with his work. "I don't think you understand. Grunge. Is. Not. Here." The two boys laughed loudly. Of course, Grunge was not here. They had made sure to strike while he was away. Why else would they be so brave when attacking this brat? They could afford to take their time. In fact, Rodwell secretly hoped Rufus would shout louder.
A young boy spied on the scene whilst hidden behind a tree. 'That is definitely Rufus from our hostel. And those two boys, that is Rodwell and the other is... Luther?' Their dirty grey clothes, similar to his own, sold them out as slaves. He felt a bit shocked to see someone daring to attack Rufus. Every slave from the junior hostels knew that Rufus was Grunge's favorite cousin. Why would they risk offending that brute?
"I'll knock your eyes out. Once Grunge -." Another slap echoed in the orchard.
"Tsk tsk tsk." Rodwell shook his head. There was something wrong with this kid. And he was getting tired of clapping him, his palm was rather sore now. 'What is the point of glaring at me with those tearful eyes? Trying to look scary with all that mucus flowing out of your nose? Ridiculous!'
"This is the part where you are supposed to beg for mercy like a good little dog," Luther spoke loudly in Rufus' ear, his high pitched, annoying voice, coupled with his wide stupid grin made him seem a bit retarded. It caused even Rodwell to cringe momentarily, but no one noticed.
"Keep dreaming you pig!" Rufus spat, missing Rodwell's foot, then he stuck his tongue out.
Luther's eyes widened in anger before he sent his knee viciously into Rufus' back.
"Forget it." Rodwell shook his head. This kid was too stubborn for his own good. Too bad. He picked up a nearby brick. It seemed out of place in the orchard, as if someone had purposefully placed it there.
"Maybe a few less teeth with make you less greedy. Who knows, it might even fix your brain..." Rodwell said mockingly as he swung the brick from side to side, looking to see Rufus' terrified reaction. He smiled happily. This would be payment enough. It would even pay for Rufus' future crimes. His grin widened.
"Haha. Did you hear that Dufus? It might fix your brain. Hahaha," Luther was delighted. Rufus desperately twisted his body, but that idiot Luther was simply too strong for him. Luther's long arms tightened their lock on him.
'These idiots, they wouldn't dare right?' his mind was wavering. Rodwell really looked happy to do this. Rufus' eyes opened threateningly, but it only caused Rodwell to laugh excitedly. He swung the brick.
"Stop!" A kid jumped out from behind a tree. The three boys turned their heads in alarm.
"Huh, who are you?" Rodwell asked in annoyance. The kid was only as old as Rufus and was much thinner and worse, a slave. Was there no end to idiots?
"Let him go..." he started weakly, not sure what else to say, then he suddenly remembered. "Or I will call Grunge!" he looked more confident after mentioning that name.
Rodwell and Luther laughed at this retard. Rufus sighed disappointedly. Then his eyebrow rose a bit. 'This is... Ben!' he mentally sighed. They were both from the same slave hostel.
"Hey, aren't you that kid who is always babysitting that tiny brat" Luther. with his loud voice, said in recognition.
"Ah, that one!" Rodwell remembered. "What are you doing here? Scram!" Rodwell was annoyed. Then his eyes lit up; "Can't you hear that?" he cupped his hand by his ear, "Your baby is crying." They both roared with laughter.
Rufus half wished he could cover his face. What was the use of this boy appearing? Couldn't he instead call someone more useful? Rufus forced a smile on his face. "Sorry, Eh, I'm a little busy right now," he said, rather apologetically, hoping Ben would leave.
Ben's face wrinkled up in confusion. 'Busy doing what?' he wondered. 'Maybe they hit his head too hard?'
"Another idiot coming to play, heh?" Rodwell said, hitting the rock on his hand as if it were a stick.
Luther laughed.
"Try calling Grunge then. Let's see if he answers." Rodwell mocked, looking at Ben dismissively. He made a show of relaxing his shoulders.
"Oh yeah!" Ben's nostrils flared, "Well, well-" he stuttered at a loss, then he stuck his chin up, "Grunge didn't go to the field today!"
Luther looked at Rodwell his mouth agape, fear visible in his eyes.
"You, you are lying!" Rodwell shouted out, but, his voice trembled. He hoped Ben was lying.
"I am not."
"Are two."
"Am not."
"Are two."
'This is not good' Rodwell frowned. Luther was beginning to loosen his hold. At this rate, today would be a waste, even if the kid was lying. He walked towards Rufus and spoke in his ear, loud enough for Ben to hear. "Grunge. Is. Gone," his gaze switched between Ben and Rufus with each word, forcibly smiling at the end.
"But look," Ben said stubbornly, "There he is!" he pointed.
All the boys turned to look. Luther got ready to flee.
"Where -" Rodwell was interrupted by a stone that flew at his face, he had no time to dodge. It missed. His eyes widened in rage. "You little -" Rodwell yelped, collapsing onto his knees his hands tenderly covering his crotch. "Mother..." tears involuntarily formed in Rodwell's eyes. He turned to look at Rufus, his expression a mix of pain and anger. His heart demanded vengeance but his body crumpled in on itself as he tried to nurse his nuts.
Taking advantage of the loose grip, Rufus struck Luther with the back of his head. "Oww" they both groaned, but Rufus wriggled out of the weakened lock. Ben charged forward to join.
Luther looked between Rodwell and Rufus, unsure of what he should do. He seemed to forget he was significantly taller than Rufus. He also failed to notice as Ben crashed his shoulder into his stomach. The pain forced his attention on this skinny late comer. He struggled to stay on his two feet whilst pushing the kid away. "Let me go!" he shouted frantically before he brought his fist down on Ben like a hammer. The kid coughed but kept on pushing. Rufus rushed in and kicked Luther behind his knee. The move dropped the giant to the floor, yet he somehow managed to hold Ben away, pushing his face away with his extra-wide palm. Ben grabbed the giant's hand and bit down.
"Haa!" Luther cried out and struck Ben with his other hand, before kicking him away. But there was no rest for him as Rufus fell on him with a barrage of punches.
A high pitched buzz rang in Ben's ears. His small chest heaved up and down as he coughed out the dirt that had somehow found itself in his mouth. Choosing to ignore the pain, he tried to stand up but fell unexpectedly, his foot firmly stuck... somewhere?. He turned to look at his legs, and immediately wished he hadn't landed here.
Rodwell held his ankle in a vice-like grip, and he dragged pulling himself closer to Ben whilst holding a brick in his other hand. His eyes were focused on Ben's crotch and a wicked grin was plastered on his face, half twisted in pain. Ben tried to pull his leg away but it only seemed to pull Rodwell closer. He desperately tried to shake his leg out but to no effect.
Rodwell began to chuckle like a mad man as he pulled nearer again. He lifted the brick and brought it crashing between Ben's legs.
"Ahh!" Ben screamed in horror, before realizing the brick had missed. His breathing was frantic as he looked into Rodwell's face. Rodwell crawled forward. He lifted the Brick again, an ugly smile stretched his features as he anticipated the strike. This time he wouldn't miss.
"Let go! Let go!" Ben shouted in panic as his other foot crashed repeatedly into Rodwell's face. His heel dug into Rodwell's nose. The brick fell to the ground and Rodwell cried out in pain, his hand finally loosed, allowing Ben to pull his thin leg away. His he scanned the orchard, looking for a quick escape route. He didn't want to wait for Rodwell to come after him again.
Ben noticed Luther run away from the scene whilst yelling in pain, deserting his partner. 'Rufus?' he thought.
"Get up! We need to run!" Rufus yelled at him. Voices were approaching them. They would get into trouble if they were found out. He struggled to rise.
"Get up slowpoke!"
Ben's hands felt heavy. He struggled to lift his body from the floor. Meanwhile, there was loud thumping ringing out from somewhere.
"Get up boy!" a much older voice shouted, annoyed.
Ben opened his eyes. Master Forbes was banging on his door.
'That dream again' he thought.