"Hurry! This carriage must arrive before nightfall!" The crack of a whip pierced the air, accompanied by the shouts of the guards overseeing the slave caravan. Lian Xue clutched the thin blanket wrapped around her body. The cold air bit into her skin, but that wasn't the worst of it. The pain in her wrists from the iron shackles was far more agonizing.
"Lian Xue, wake up! We have to get ready for the meal," whispered a girl beside her Mei, a girl around her age. Mei's voice was gentle, yet Lian Xue could sense the tension in it.
Lian Xue nodded weakly. She knew they would only be given a thin, tasteless porridge, but it was better than an empty stomach. Slowly, she sat up and glanced out through the gap in the wooden carriage. Rocky roads stretched ahead, dense forests flanked both sides, and armed guards accompanied their journey. The entire atmosphere was suffocating and ominous.
The sun had begun to rise, but her spirit remained heavy. Waves of sorrow and helplessness surged within her. Memories of her past life flooded her mind happy days at home, moments with her family, and all the dreams that had now been stripped away. She let out a long sigh, trying to push away the dark thoughts.
Suddenly, a scream echoed through the air.
"Attack!!"
Arrows rained down from the trees. Some struck the guards, causing them to collapse instantly. The horses neighed wildly, the carriage shook violently, and the slaves screamed in terror. In an instant, chaos erupted.
"Bandits!!" Lian Xue froze in place, horrified by the scene unfolding outside.
Mei clutched her hand tightly. "Lian Xue, we have to"
The carriage door was kicked open. A masked man leaped inside, swinging his sword. Slaves screamed, some tried to flee, but their chained legs made it nearly impossible to move.
"Get them out! Quickly!" the masked man bellowed, ordering his followers to act fast.
Fear slithered deep into Lian Xue's heart. Her body felt frozen, unable to move. She could only stare at the man with wide, trembling eyes, trying to grasp what was happening.
Someone roughly dragged her out, her body crashing onto the hard ground. Her vision spun. Around her, slaves were being hoisted onto horses and taken away one by one.
"This one?" another voice asked, deeper and more commanding.
Someone nudged her body with a foot, checking if she was still alive. "No need. Look at her too weak. She'll die before we reach anywhere."
Lian Xue wanted to speak up, to resist, but her voice caught in her throat. She could only watch their silhouettes fade, leaving her alone on the road, swallowed by silence. Despair crept into her heart, smothering what little hope remained.
She tried to rise, but the pain in her wrists made it difficult to move. Around her, bandits scrambled about, gathering the remaining slaves. The few guards left tried to fight back, but they were vastly outnumbered.
Amidst the chaos, Lian Xue spotted Mei. The girl was tangled in shackles, visibly terrified. Lian Xue wanted to call out to her, but her voice was lost in the turmoil.
"Mei!" she cried out, struggling to stand.
But Mei was caught in the midst of the confusion. She looked so vulnerable, and Lian Xue felt a fierce urge to protect her. Without thinking, she began crawling toward Mei, even though the chains on her legs made her movements painfully slow.
Outside, the clash of steel and screams grew louder. Lian Xue felt the tension thick in the air. It was like a never-ending nightmare. She had to do something. She couldn't just stay still.
"Lian Xue!" Mei's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "We need to get out of here!"
Lian Xue looked at her, seeing courage and sincerity in her eyes. "But how? We can't even move!"
Mei bit her lip, trying to think. "We have to find a way to break free. If we can get out of this carriage, maybe we can escape."
Before Lian Xue could respond, the noise outside grew louder. A bandit wielding a large sword jumped onto the carriage. He looked ferocious, eyes filled with rage. "Who's left in here? Get them out!"
Lian Xue's heart pounded in her chest. This was it. They had to act.
"Mei, we have to fight!" Lian Xue said, trying to ignite some courage in herself.
Mei nodded, though fear still lingered on her face. "Okay! Let's find something we can use as a weapon."
Lian Xue glanced around. In the corner of the carriage was a broken wooden plank, sturdy enough to strike with. She crawled toward it, ignoring the pain that screamed through her body. With effort, she gripped the plank tightly.
"This will do!" she said, feeling a small spark of bravery.
Mei took a deep breath. "We have to wait for the right moment."
They hid behind a pile of sacks in the carriage, waiting in silence. Each heartbeat felt heavy, and Lian Xue could almost taste the tension in the air. She prayed for strength, for just a sliver of courage to face whatever would come.
Moments later, the fierce bandit entered the carriage, scanning for any remaining slaves. Lian Xue gripped the plank tightly, ready to swing if needed.
Suddenly, the bandit turned toward them, raising his sword. "Come out, now!" he barked.
Lian Xue's body trembled. In a flash, she lunged from her hiding spot and swung the plank at him.
"No!" Mei cried, but Lian Xue had already made her move. The wood struck the bandit's arm, staggering him briefly. But the bandit only grew angrier and swung his sword.
Fear gripped Lian Xue. She stumbled back. Mei, seeing her friend in danger, rushed forward. "Leave her alone!" she screamed, trying to shield Lian Xue.
"What are you doing, you fool?" Lian Xue shouted, but it was too late. Mei had already thrown herself forward to distract the bandit.
The bandit turned, slashing his sword toward Mei. Lian Xue felt the world around her slow down. "No!" she screamed, but everything happened too quickly.
With incredible bravery, Mei shoved Lian Xue aside, taking the hit herself. The blade sliced through her, and she collapsed to the ground.
"MEI!" Lian Xue cried, running to her friend's side. Her heart shattered as tears streamed down her face.
The bandit sneered. "You're all the same weak and useless!"
Lian Xue felt fury rise within her. "You can't hurt her!" she shouted, trying to shield Mei, even though she knew it was hopeless.
"Run… Lian Xue…" Mei whispered her final words, then exhaled her last breath.
Lian Xue glanced once more at the bandit… and then ran tears falling as she fled into the forest.