Alvina walked through the forest in silence. She could see a lot of bodies there too, butchered mercilessly. Some of them were without heads and some of them were without body parts. The stench of blood was heavy in the air. These might be the people of her village trying to outrun the masked troupe but were eventually killed.
Alvina held her breath and covered her nose with her left arm. She silently crept along the dead bodies without making any sound. Her knees were shaking, and her heart was feeling so heavy that she just wanted to lay down there. It was becoming impossible for her to walk.
Alvina saw something sparkling under the moon rays. It was slightly hidden under the rags, on the ground. She looked around her and went towards the shiny object and pulled it out. It was a dagger, a very sharp one. She found the dagger's belt near it and wore it on her waist and secured the dagger in the belt.
*******
After two days wandering in the forest without eating and drinking, Alvina was exhausted. Finally, she could hear the bustling of people from afar. She felt a bit energized and began running towards the source of the sound. It was a city. What was its name? Who cares. All she wanted was to get some food to eat and water to drink. She smelled a heavenly scent of fresh loaves of bread being baked. She approached the vendor and asked, "How much is it? I will have one, anyone."
"Three coppers." The vendor replied haughtily.
"I don't have them with me. But I can work for you." She pleaded.
"Now piss off boy. Go on." The vendor rebuked her.
"Do you have any stale bread from yesterday or a half baked one or nearly burnt one?" She asked the vendor hopefully.
The vendor gave her a long hard stare and said slowly, pressing each and every word, "I said piss off boy."
Alvina felt defeated. But the hunger in her stomach rose to another level. She couldn't take it anymore. She silently walked towards the next shop silently without arousing any suspicion.
It was a butcher shop. As soon as the butcher turned around to do some work, she quickly stole a small piece of meat and hid it in her bag. However, her small action was seen by the butcher and he caught her hands.
"Now what are we hiding there, aye boy," he asked shaking her arms roughly.
"Nothing at all," Alvina said. She knew stealing was a sin and a crime but she was very hungry and without any penny. She had no idea how to handle this kind of situation.
The butcher snatched her bag and turned it upside down. A small piece of meat fell from it.
He laughed picking the piece up from the ground and slapped Alvina right on her cheek.
"Now what we do to the little thieves, aye?" he said mockingly. He was a sadist man who was feeling elated punishing a little child.
Alvina remained silent and looked at the man in horror.
The man chuckled seeing her fearful eyes and said, "You have beautiful eyes. But alas you are a boy. So, you will be handed to the guards of Ammon. It is my duty as a just citizen of Ammon to wipe the crime from its streets."
"Please don't. Please, no. I would do anything. Please don't hand me to them." Alvina pleaded for mercy but the butcher remain unmoved. The more she begged, the more his black eyes shine with cruelty. He called the patrolling guards and said, "I found this pest roaming around and stealing from the shops. he was a pain in the a*s for over a month now. Thank gods that today I was able to catch him."
"Liar, I came today" Alvina shouted in her defense.
"Today? Where are you from?" One of the guards asked.
Alvina remained silent. Her village was ambushed just a few days ago and the news of ambushed had spread too. She can't tell anybody the truth, hence she remained silent.
"See my lords, he is a thief and a lair too. Just punish him already." The butcher said gleefully.
"Let's take him with us." said one of the guards.
They dragged Alvina by her arms towards the rows of carriage. She looked inside the carriage in horror. Every carriage was filled with vile looking men. Without any doubt they were criminals. Their thick chains can be considered as a proof that they were not just any criminal, like thieves or something. They were rapists and murderers. They were the people who had done more crimes than they had ever blinked in their lifetime.
All the carriages were completely filled to the brim so one of the guards tied her hand with one of the carriage and they started moving. Alvina wanted to cry but she knew better not to. She knew she was surrounded by humans who have lost their humanity. It can happen anytime when she would be killed or rap*d for their enjoyment. And maybe it wouldn't matter whether the person is a boy or a girl, she will die a horrible death.
Alvina gritted her teeth to stop the tears from escaping her eyes and kept walking along the wagons.
******
The wagon exited the city's main gate and stopped to take rest. Alvina plopped on the ground and started taking long deep breaths. Her leg muscles were burning from walking for hours. She was tired and her throat was dry. She had no energy to even ask for water. She remained lying there when someone offered her a pouch of water.
"Here, have some." He was a tall man with brown eyes and brown hair. He looked 'normal' compared to the other beast she was traveling with. Alvina looked at him and then she looked at the water pouch and without giving it any second thought she started chugging the water. She didn't care whether the water was poisonous or not. She didn't care whether it was a freshwater or a dirty one or somebody's piss. All she wanted was to quench her thirst.