By the time they reached the small township, night had fallen. The place was alive with noise and light, a stark contrast to the abandoned village. Merchants called out from their stalls, drunken laughter spilt from taverns, and people moved about in the bustling streets.
The thieves led Athena to a hidden corner of the market, where they began asking around for buyers. "Fresh slave," one of them called out quietly to a merchant. "Healthy and young. Worth every coin."
Athena's stomach churned as she listened to them haggle over her like she was livestock. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. I can't let this happen, she thought desperately. I have to find a way out.
But as the night wore on and her hope faded, one thing became clear—Athena was truly on her own. And if she wanted to survive, she would have to rely on herself.
As the thieves bickered over her price, Athena saw her chance. The shadows of the bustling township provided enough cover for her to slip away unnoticed. Without hesitation, she bolted into the maze of streets, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Hey! She's running!" one of the thieves shouted.
The others scrambled to chase her, their angry voices rising above the hum of the marketplace. Athena didn't look back. Her bare feet slapped against the cobblestones as she weaved through the crowds with surprising speed and precision. The streets of the township were familiar to her—she had been here many times before her 15th birthday. Back then, her brother Nathan had brought her along on his trips to sell potions and magical artefacts, their small secret away from their father's stern gaze.
Athena ducked into an alley, her body pressing against the rough stone wall as the thieves thundered past her hiding spot. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her bound wrists burned from the ropes digging into her skin. She waited until their footsteps faded before moving again, her mind racing.
The memory of an abandoned hut near the outskirts of the township came to her. She and Nathan had once used it as a resting spot during their trips. She turned toward the edge of town, her legs aching but her determination stronger than ever.
The hut was smaller and more run-down than she remembered. Its wooden walls leaned precariously, and the roof had patches where the straw was missing. Athena pushed the door open, her steps hesitant. Inside, the faint glow of a dying fire illuminated a simple room. A boy, no older than twelve, was curled up on a thin mattress near the hearth, snoring softly. Beside him was a donkey, lazily chewing on some hay.
A girl, probably younger than Athena, appeared from another room, her sharp eyes immediately landing on Athena. Her face softened when she noticed the girl's tattered clothing and bruised face. "You're hurt," she said urgently, stepping forward. "Come in, quickly."
The girl introduced herself as Jea. She guided Athena to sit on a wooden stool and began inspecting her wounds. The boy stirred awake at the commotion, rubbing his eyes. "Jea, who's that?" he asked, his voice groggy.
"This is Athena," Jea replied as she worked, her voice calm but firm. "She needs help."
Juan shuffled over, his curiosity piqued. "I know about healing plants!" he announced, grabbing a small pouch from the corner of the room. "I can help."
Jea smiled and nodded, letting Juan apply a paste made from crushed leaves to Athena's cuts. The paste stung but quickly numbed the pain, and Athena felt the swelling in her wrists ease slightly.
"Thank you," Athena whispered, her voice trembling. For the first time in days, she felt a glimmer of safety.
When Jea finished tending to her wounds, she sat back and studied Athena. "You can stay here with us," she said firmly. "But only if you promise to tell me who hurt you and why."
Athena hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Jea's kind but determined expression reassured her. "My father sold me to the King as payment for his debt," she admitted quietly. "Then thieves tried to sell me here. I ran away."
Jea's face darkened, and she placed a comforting hand on Athena's shoulder. "You're safe now," she said. "No one will hurt you here."
As dawn began to break, Jea grabbed a small woven basket and handed it to Juan. "Stay with her and keep the fire going," she instructed. "I'll be back before sunset. I need to buy flour and meat for your grandmother."
Juan nodded, his face serious. Jea glanced at Athena. "Rest now. You'll need your strength. There's a village far up in the mountains called Old Jasmine. If we have to leave this place, we'll go there."
Athena watched as Jea disappeared into the morning light, her heart heavy with gratitude and fear. Though she had found temporary refuge, she knew the world outside was still dangerous. But for now, she was determined to trust Jea and Juan. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself a small flicker of hope.
As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, Athena sat on the floor, wrapping her arms around her knees. Juan watched her with wide, curious eyes, his young face both serious and kind. After a moment of silence, Athena decided to speak. Maybe it was the safety of the little hut or Juan's earnest expression, but she let herself share a part of her past.
"My family is the Green family," she began softly. "They're the most powerful witches and warlocks in Greenland Village. My father, Jose, is the chief leader. He's a powerful warlock, feared and respected by everyone." She hesitated, her voice tightening. "After my mother left, it was just my brother Nathan and me for a long time. My father married Eva, a high witch from a nearby village, to help strengthen our family."
Juan frowned, leaning closer. "Was your stepmother nice?"
Athena's gaze dropped to the floor. "At first, she was. She treated me kindly, almost like her own daughter. But everything changed on my 15th birthday." Her hands clenched into fists. "That's when I was supposed to manifest my magic. But… nothing happened. I didn't have any magic. My father, my stepmother, the entire village—they started to see me as worthless. A disgrace. Eva turned on me, made me a slave in my own home."
Juan's face fell, his brown eyes brimming with sadness. "That's not fair," he said quietly. "You didn't ask for that to happen."
Athena offered a weak smile. "Fairness doesn't matter when you're powerless. They beat me, starved me, locked me away. And when my father owed a debt to the King, he didn't even hesitate. He sold me."
Juan looked down, gripping the edge of his seat. "I'm sorry, Athena. You didn't deserve any of that."
Athena nodded, her heart heavy. "I just want to be free. To have a life of my own."
After a pause, Juan cleared his throat. "Can I tell you about Jea?" he asked.
Athena tilted her head, curious. "Of course."
Juan's face brightened slightly as he began. "Jea came to our village a few months ago. She came from the forest, no one knew why and where she came from. Now, she was our marketer—someone who sells goods and trades during the market seasons. She's not from the mountains like us, but she's really kind. The children and the elders love her, and she helps everyone when she can. But…" He hesitated, his voice dropping. "My grandmother hasn't fully accepted her. She says Jea's not like us, that she doesn't belong. But I don't care. Jea's the best person I know."
Athena smiled softly, touched by Juan's obvious admiration for Jea. "She does seem kind. I'm lucky she found me."