She sat against the cold stone wall, her hands bound tightly behind her back, and her mouth gagged with a rough cloth that muffled her cries. Her heart raced as the three men loomed over her, their expressions a mix of smugness and calculation. She could feel the bite of the ropes cutting into her wrists, her fingers growing numb from the strain. Every breath she took was shallow, the cloth pressed tightly against her lips making it difficult to breathe.
Despite the fear gnawing at her, she refused to remain still. She struggled against her bonds, twisting her wrists in an attempt to loosen the ropes. But each effort only tightened the knots, sending fresh waves of panic through her. Her movements caught the attention of the men, who stood a few feet away, muttering amongst themselves.
"Look at that hair," the shorter one said, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with interest. He reached out, grabbing a lock of her platinum golden hair and twirling it between his filthy fingers. She flinched at the touch, disgust rolling through her.
"Never seen anything like it," he added, leering at her.
The tall man nodded, his eyes narrowing as he studied her closely. "And those eyes. She's gotta be noble—or at least from a rich family."
Her stomach churned. She didn't know what her appearance looked like, but hearing them talk about her as if she were an object to be appraised made her feel sick. Her mind raced, desperately searching for an escape, but the ropes and gag kept her helpless, bound to their whims.
The third man, the one who had found her, chuckled darkly. "If she's noble, that makes her worth a pretty coin. We could sell her to a slave merchant. Bet we'd make enough to set us up for months."
The others nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with the promise of profit. "No one's gonna come looking for her," the tall one added with a cruel grin. "And even if they do, it'll be too late."
Her heart sank. The realisation of her fate hit her hard—she was no longer just a prisoner, but a commodity, something to be sold off like a piece of merchandise. Panic surged through her as she twisted harder against the ropes, trying to free herself. But it was no use. All she could do was watch in horror as the men casually discussed her like a piece of property.
"Tomorrow, we'll head to the nearest town," the shorter man said. "Someone's bound to pay top coin for a girl like her."
Their laughter echoed through the empty mansion as they left her tied and gagged, their cruel plan set in motion. Her mind swirled with fear and anger as they disappeared to loot the place. She knew she had to find a way to escape, but with her strength fading and the ropes cutting deeper into her skin, hope seemed like a distant dream. But even so, she refused to give in. She wouldn't want to be sold without fighting to find out who she truly was.
The men ventured out of the mansion, dragging the poor girl behind them as they moved through the darkening woods. The trees loomed ominously around them, the shadows growing longer as dusk settled in. She stumbled across the rough ground, her wrists still bound by the same tight ropes. Every step sent a fresh wave of pain shooting through her arms, her legs burning with exhaustion. Each tug of the rope bit deeper into her skin.
The wiry man glanced back with a cruel grin. "She's quite the catch, ain't she? Maybe we should have some fun with her before we hand her off."
Her stomach twisted in revulsion, but before she could react, the leader spun around and smacked the man hard across the back of his head. "Idiot," he snarled. "Unspoiled goods fetch a higher price. Touch her, and you'll cost us a fortune."
The man grumbled but didn't argue, rubbing the back of his head as he shot her a dark look. She glared back, her disgust and defiance clear. Though bound and gagged, she refused to submit to their cruelty.
"Relax," the tall leader said with a smirk. "We'll be swimming in coins soon enough. Just get her to the merchant, untouched, and let him do the selling."
The shorter man, now looking up at the darkening sky, added, "It's getting late. We should camp for the night."
"Fine," the leader agreed. "Tie her to that tree and keep an eye on her."