He started walking towards me and my shaking body began to shake more violently. I am sure my legs will give out anytime soon. l opened my mouth to scream or say something but nothing would come out. That moment, it felt like the world around me has stopped. It felt like l was falling and there was no one to save me. I was beginning to give in to the fall when l felt a strong and rough hand grip me so hard. l gulped hardly as the hand began to drag me out of the shed. My body did not protest as they kept dragging me. l looked back at where l was leaving and l saw Mrs Osward wide eyes staring back at me coupled with other eyes as well. l looked around thinking l will see my aunt or anyone that might be of help but there was no one. The hand kept pulling me forward and forward and forward and l kept looking around for help until the market began to fade slowly till it disappeared into thin air. It was at that moment l realized that l was done for. l faced where l was being dragged to and l pictured a life of suffering, infliction, pain and brutality ahead of me.
The walk to wherever we were being taken to is taking too long as we have been walking for a very long time now. l was beginning to get out of breath as my legs now feel heavy. Lord this is just the beginning and l am already complaining. How then will l cope? l asked no one in particular. l looked around to see the six other people that were being taken captive all looking tired and stressed out. Some were still lamenting while others like me just want to rest a bit before continuing the journey. The guard that dragged me out of the shed had long left me to go to the front so l am walking on my own now. Three guards were at our back while two are at the front. The guards do not seem to be tired at all as they kept cracking random jokes at the top of their voices
"Hey! You! What are you looking at?" l was jolted out of my thought by the voice and my head turned tentatively to the source of the voice. The guard that questioned me kept ogling at me like he was expecting something from me. That was when l realized that the question was directed to me
'Nothing' My voice came out cracked
"You better don't think of running away or we will be forced to tie you in chains" The guard barked.
'l am sorry' l replied hastily
"In few minutes time, we will get to our destination. l advice you all to be in your best character and not attract attention to yourselves" A guard announced from the back.
"Walk faster" Another guard from the front barked and l wished to spit on him but l know that l dare not do that. l don't want to be killed now, do l? l increased my pace and others increased theirs to and in no time, a huge building came into view. A building l never knew l would see. The one l only hear tales of. The magnificent, gorgeous, exquisite, splendid, lavish building of the Minister's. lt is an estate where the minister's of the country stay. l am sure the building is occupying hectares of land. How come human beings like myself live here while l live in a tattered cottage that looks like it will crash anytime soon? l wondered. On seeing the gate, the guards became more strict, probably to give off the impression that they are doing their job well. The guard that was formerly beside me found his position beside me again and l am now. A slave to the cruel ministers. What is my aunt doing? What is uncle Ruford doing? Are they yet to receive the news of my captive or...l gulped down nervously...do they plan to use me to pay off? Never! My aunt will never allow that. l trust her to the core, l assured myself. The gate of the huge estate gate was pushed open by one of the guards and l felt the urge to runaway. Somehow, l have a feeling that whoever enters this building will never come out. lt is not even a feeling because the people l know that were taken captive never came out instead, their family members join them. l sighed exhaustedly. Running away won't solve the problem as light be killed in the course of running away. New set of years ran down my face and l felt numb. It is the end? Is this how l will start living my life from now on? It is not like l am comfortable with my previous life but at least, l had my freedom and l was slave to no one!
We were pushed roughly inside the building and l gnashed my teeth in pain. Our legs are already heavy, they shouldn't have pushed us We kept marching to God knows where u til we get to a particular field. One of the guards left while the others stood guard. Shortly after, a man in a very expensive cloth that smelled wealth walked majestically towards us. He stopped right before us and examined each and everyone of us like a predator checking out its prey. After what seems like forever, he pointed to a woman and asked her to move to the right. He pointed to someone else and asked him to move to the left. He separated everyone and l was left alone feeling agitated and nervous. 'Did they think l am not strong enough to labour and they want to kill me?' l prefer being a slave to being killed. l whimpered silently.
"Take these ones to the right zonal a this these ones to the left zonal. This one should be taken to lady Quinn. Tell her to accept my small gift" The man in rich cloth commanded.
What?! Small gift? Me? Do this people value their fellow human? How dare he call me a gift? l was not given time to access and digest my situation when a strong and firm hand gripped me and began to drag me. l succumbed to him and let him drag me. There was no point in picking up a fight or being arrogant now is there? We walked deeper into the estate and l was awed at the beauty of the estate. We passed through buildings that were painted in black, purple, blue, name the colour! The carriage that is commonly used by the rich were parked neatly here and there. We passed by a well trimmed garden and l felt the urge to play in it. 'Who am l to even think of such?' l scolded myself mentally. We walked for a while before we took a turn by the right after which another gate was opened by the guard. l tried as much as possible to take in every turns, nook and crannies of the estate but l failed woefully..The estate is just too big! How then will l be able to escape? It finally dawns on me that l am entering a place of no return. The guard kept dragging me like the slave that l am until we got to a certain part of the estate. The houses were painted in grey, giving off a remote, isolated and creepy aura. l became frightened immediately. 'Is this where my soon to be owner lives? l began to push myself backwards in an attempt to free myself from the guard but it was just impossible! This guard is too strong for me. He applied more force on his grip and his fingers sunk painfully into the soft flesh of my arm resulting in the affected area turning bright red. l whimpered in pain as l felt fresh tears run down my face. He kept dragging me until we reached a certain mansion that was painted in grey. The mansion is effortlessly bigger than the whole commoner's market where my aunt sells her goods. The guard pushed open the iron gate of the mansion and shoved me inside. He walked behind me, pushing me forward until we got to a huge wooden door that is twice as tall as me...
Please read my other novel 'Corrupted Minds'
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