Eric's vision cleared, he noticed his surroundings. He was inside some kind of dormitory. There was a row of ten beds on each side. The ceiling was old and had holes in it. Water dripped down and landed on his head. 'What happened why am I in this shit hole' thought Eric.
Eric stood and then fell back down his head was throbbing. He tried to stay as still as possible as any movement would make want to vomit.
"We have a new one" a voice came from the entrance. It was a man in dressed in rags, he looked like he had not eaten in a week and covered in dirt. " You better sharpen up fast lad, if the guards catch you lying around they will beat you" the man said.
"Ahhh my head" Eric said while holding his head.
"That will be the Magic they used on you, so you can understand everyone "
"Magic what are talking about, like Harry Potter stuff that's only in the movies, right?" Eric said confused at what this man was talking about.
"I dont know what a 'Harry Potter' or a 'movie' is, we don't have those where im from," said the man.
"What where are you from the jungle or something" Eric thought this man must have been locked away somewhere for a long time, or from a remote place to not know a what a movie was.
"Jungle??" questioned the man. " Im from the planet Ianus, we don't have any of the stuff you are talking about there"
Eric's head was hurting more now, 'from a different planet, what is going on' thought Eric
After talking with the man who names himself Zorv for few minutes, he learned that they were in a slave camp, and had become slaves for a business called Distantsteel. Zorv told him don't speak to the guards, don't even look at the guards or they will beat you. Also, do as much work as you can or you won't get food.
A big fellow entered the dorm. He looked to be around 6ft, broad shoulders. He was wearing scaly black armour that covered him fully and holding a spear in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.
"Slave 10392 get to work, no food for you tonight if I don't see some progress in the mines" said the man with the spear. Zorv stood and ambled to the exit, "Hurry" the man shouted as he hit Zorv in the head with the rear of his spear. Zorv fell to the ground and tried to pick himself up. But fell down again because of the blow the man had given him. "Fucking Slaves" the man said with disgust. He slashed his spear horizontally in a motion unseen by Eric. Blood sprayed up, and a head rolled towards the door.
Eric upon seeing the head instantly vomited. The guard noticed Eric in this moment. Looking at him, the guard said, "You.. I don't care who you are, or where you come from. From now on you are slave 10401, Distantsteel's property and you will follow rules or..." motioning towards the beheaded Zorv, "that will be you, do you understand".
Eric stared blankly, as the guard approached him. *bang* the rear of the spear hit Eric in the stomach. "I said, do you understand?" the guard roared. "Ye... Yess.. I understand" Eric said, his voice shaking. "Good, now take his body outside and dump it with the rest" the man said.
When the guard left, Eric stumbled to his feet his head no longer pained him as fear penetrated his bones. Walking towards the body and head, Eric vomited again. 'Why me, why am I in this hell' thought Eric. Holding the head in one hand and dragging the body in the other, Eric exited the dorm. Heat hit him hard. The sun was high above, blazing, ready to scorch everything in sight. Scanning his surroundings, Eric saw a large hole. The smell was enough to know what was inside. He walked to the hole and vomited again, rotting bodies filled the hole. It was a tragic site to see, Eric threw the head in the hole then dragged the body and pushed it in.
"Slave 10401, go to the big guy over there and follow his instructions" a guard said while pointing towards a giant of a man at around 8ft tall. The giant man had a horn protruding from his skull at the center, just above his eyes. He looked like a man with a rhino horn. Eric approached the rhino man. He was holding a piece of paper as he overlooked slaves carrying stone from a mine. Most of the stone was normal white stone, but some had a red glow to it.
"Whats your number Lad" the rhino man said.
"W... Whhat " said Eric staring at the man's horn.
The rhino man heaved a sigh and whispered, "Your Slave number lad, I know your new and afraid but just do as your told and you will ok".
'OK' thought Eric 'im a fucking slave im going to be here until I die'
"I know what your thinking lad, as long as you do your job and don't go against the guards you will be ok, I was like you once, then I became a team leader and now im a supervisor and don't get treated as bad as the rest." The rhino man said softness in his eyes regarding Erics situation.
"Now what is your number Lad" the rhino man said, the softness gone from his eyes replaced with dominance.
"10....erm 10401" said Eric, struggling to remember his number.
"Okayy.... 10401 you will join 10020 team do as he says, follow me." said the rhino man with finality.
Eric followed him to a man who looked worse than death in a ragged out clothing. "10020 got a new one for you" said the rhino man. "Yes sir, come with me" he said to Eric leading him towards the mine.
Eric entered the mine and the smell of shit and piss hit him hard. "Smells bad right, we don't have any toilets here and we must keep working for food otherwise we starve. Don't worry, after a few days it will be the same for you. My name is Horton," said the man, smiling.
Arriving at the end of the mineshaft Horton passed Eric a pickaxe and said, "right there you go, now hit the rocks and pass them along the line. What we need are the glowing rocks, Distantsteel needs them and we get them. Food is at dark, we only eat after reaching the daily goal. If we get more than the goal the leaders of the teams get more food to distribute"