In this manner, they were led along with other supernatural creatures of all kinds.
One look at the direction they were being led to and Gray could guess that they were being led to the ocean—the way to the Aztec empire.
Under the desolate night sky, the siblings, Gray and Cherry, were dragged toward the menacing old ship, their young bodies buffeted by the cruel wind.
Heavy chains, cold and unyielding, were wrapped around their necks, hands, and feet, the metal links cutting into their skin with every movement. The Aztec hunters, their tattooed chests glistening with a thin sheen of sweat, showed no mercy as they pulled the children forward, their faces and moustache twisted into cruel smiles.
"Move your skinny legs mudblood!" One hunter screamed.
'Mudblood' was the term given to any person that was not of the Aztec bloodline. This included supernatural creatures and humans alike. These people did not just care. Any that was not of them was prey in their eyes.
For this trip, supernatural creatures and humans alike were hurled together like sardines in a can.
The journey to the ship was a nightmare in itself. Gray and Cherry stumbled over the uneven terrain, their feet bruised and bloodied, the pain a constant reminder of their captivity. The Aztec hunters, their eyes devoid of humanity, yanked the chains with callous disregard, forcing the siblings to move forward, their bodies weighted down by exhaustion and despair.
As they were led onto the ship, the metal chains clanged loudly against the wooden deck, the sound echoing ominously in the cold, damp air.
The ship itself was a grotesque relic from a darker time, its hull covered in algae and barnacles, as if the ocean itself rejected its presence. The creaking of the ship seemed to merge with the cries of anguish from the supernatural creatures, creating a discordant melody of suffering.
Inside the cargo hold, the siblings were thrown into a corner, the impact jarring their already battered bodies. The air was thick with a nauseating scent—a mixture of brine, decay, and the metallic tang of blood. The ship, despite its apparent decay, held a sinister aura, its very presence a testament to the horrors it had witnessed and the darkness it harbored.
As the days on the ship wore on, the conditions grew increasingly dire. The supernatural creatures, weakened by confinement and hunger, withered away like dying embers. Their moans of agony filled the air, intermingling with the harsh laughter of the hunters who reveled in their suffering.
Some of the creatures, unable to bear the torment any longer, succumbed to madness, their screams piercing the night like banshees wailing in the wind.
In the midst of this hellish nightmare, Gray and Cherry clung to each other, their bodies providing the only source of warmth amidst the cold, merciless environment.
Gray's hands, once smooth, were now calloused and stained with the blood of those sick and dying around. Surprisingly, the pain in his chest had once more been roused.
It thrummed heavily, aching like dumbbells stringed to his heart. Gray endured as much as he could.
It was here that he leant to control pain as it seeped into his body. His skin was like a sponge, ever hungry and never full, taking in all the anguish from the slaves around him, begging him for the solace of vengeance.
They were many times that he thought he was going to run mad, but his endurance built from thousands of battles kicked in to save his mind from going berserk like his brother had did.
Here and now, Gray was forced to learn by the hands of the employer that was Suffering and Pain to learn about his bloodline ability.
This was a very painful process. But he endured. By reversing the theories he knew about soul energy, he took control of his meridians. Of course it was a daunting process that had its own torturous process for days unend. Many times during the process, he vomited blood for wounding his meridians.
And other times, he nearly gave up. But biting his lips to bleeding point, he resigned himself to not giving up.
Cherry remained by his side through out the ordeal. Her once vibrant eyes were now dulled by the horrors she had witnessed, her innocence forever tainted by the darkness of their captivity and the death of their mother and father before her eyes.
She had been thrusted into a very unforgiving world at a very young age and the gory details of their ordeal were etched into Cherry's memory—the hunters' sadistic grins, the agonized cries of the dying creatures, and the metallic taste of fear that lingered in the air.
Each day on the vessel that swayed continually felt like an eternity, a never-ending cycle of pain and despair. There were many amongst them that threw up again and again until their stomachs only spat out stomach fluids.
Food was not given to them except for dried black moldy bread, a generosity that most of the salves fought for to the point of beating one another.
This naturally amused the hunters and they laughed and played, making bets at who would win in the little skirmishes.
However, the journey was long one and little strength was available to engage in battles for survival.
It was disheartening to watch.
Yet, amidst this brutality, a flicker of resilience burned within Gray's heart. He swore to protect his sister, even if it meant enduring the unimaginable. His grip on Cherry tightened, his fingers digging into her skin as if to anchor her to the last vestiges of their humanity.
At different times, he poured his own blood into her mouth for her to find the strength to keep going, weakening himself again and again.
In this strange world, she was his responsibility.
In the face of the ship's relentless cruelty and the hunters' unyielding malevolence, Gray found a relentlessness he never knew he possessed. He was determined to survive, not just for himself, but for Cherry, for she was the beacon of hope in the suffocating darkness, a reminder of the humanity they desperately clung to in a world that seemed to have abandoned them.
However, things took a sudden turn when some of the slaves, driven by their hunger had Cherry in their sight.
(Author's note: I beg your forgiveness... A family member went to the clouds. I remain the first son. I have only had chance to release for one of my books. But I'm back from my home town now. Thank you for your patience.)