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Trigger Warning: Sexual violence, coercion, psychological manipulation, physical abuse, and extreme distress.

Author's Note: This chapter is very dark. So just wanted to add that it's not suitable for people under 15 years of age. If skipped, it's alright, you'll be able to understand the next chapters just fine. __________________

I waited.

For the perfect moment.

The females were being split into small groups.

Each group was sent separate ways.

With double the ferals.

Nia was pulled away from me.

No time to fight.

No time to resist.

I reached out, my fingers barely brushing hers before they dragged her away.

I whispered the only thing I could-

"We will be free again. Stay strong."

Her lips trembled.

Then she was gone.

Taken by a pack of snakes and scorpions.

I swallowed hard.

The rest of the females were being divided.

Some were handed over to the rootless.

The most terrifying fate of all.

The rootless-males whose bond had been broken-weren't looking for new mates.

No.

They were looking for something to unleash their hate on.

A target.

Something to destroy until the day they die.

I didn't want to imagine what those females would go through.

I forced my mind away from it.

Away from their silent horror-stricken faces.

This wasn't a random attack.

This was a planned move.

A full strategy.

The ferals.

The rootless.

The merfolk.

They all coordinated.

Attacking in the middle of winter, when most males were away to train.

A perfect, calculated strike.

My mind raced.

Where were they taking us?

There was a feral city in the south.

Was that where we were going?

No.

No, the way the air was changing, the terrain shifting...

We were heading north.

A feral city in the north?

I had never heard of one.

I clenched my jaw.

Tried to push through the fever, the exhaustion.

I had to think.

Think of escape.

I still had the poison Allmer gave me.

Small, hidden, but deadly.

I still had Allmer's power.

But it was unreliable.

I couldn't summon it at will.

I hadn't practiced enough.

Still-

I had to try.

I wouldn't sit back and wait for death.

I wouldn't let them win.

I wasn't done fighting yet.

I will wait for the perfect moment.

We traveled for hours.

By land this time.

No more air, no more freezing heights.

Just the rough, uneven terrain beneath us.

The females-just five or six of us now-were forced to sit on scorpios and snakes.

The scales of the snakes were cold and slimy.

The exoskeleton of the scorpios was hard and jagged.

Neither were meant for comfort.

We were not meant for comfort.

Random raw meat was thrown at us.

Muddy, murky water was shoved in our hands.

It stank of rotting leaves and decay.

I didn't want to drink at first.

But my fever was burning me alive.

My lips were cracking.

My throat felt like it was lined with sand.

So I drank.

I had to survive.

That leering scorpion made sure to bring me fruits.

His twisted version of kindness.

I hated it.

Hated every smirk, every glance.

But I ate.

Because I had to gather my strength.

Because my body had to fight the fever.

There was no rest.

No proper food.

No emeralds.

I had to endure.

And then-

Night fell.

And the true horror began.

A snake feral pulled a female behind the bushes.

A scorpion followed.

Another female was dragged away.

Then-

The screams.

The sobs.

The sickening, disgusting sounds.

I shut my eyes.

But it didn't block out the horror.

The female with the scorpion feral was being hit.

Brutal, sharp slaps that echoed through the silence.

A sadist.

He was hurting her while taking her.

The other ferals were laughing.

Enjoying the show.

Ogling at the rest of us.

Waiting for their turn.

For their chance the next night.

The leering scorpio came to me.

Grinning.

"We'll get our chance soon, dear."

Then he laughed and walked away.

I stared at the ground.

My nails dug into my palms.

At least tonight, I was safe.

But the others-

They were not.

By the time the two females returned-

They were destroyed.

One had all her clothes torn.

Her skin covered in red, swollen marks.

The other was bleeding.

From her lower body.

The snake feral who took her had just dumped them back with us.

Like broken toys.

Like nothing.

I felt something shatter inside me.

My vision blurred with tears.

But I held them back.

My body was too weak to handle crying on top of the fever.

We needed emeralds.

But there were none.

So we did the only thing we could-

We washed their wounds with warm water.

We lent them clothes.

I couldn't give mine.

It was made from Allmer's skin.

It would only make the ferals more jealous.

So the others gave up their wool cloth.

And then-

We huddled together.

All five or six of us.

Bodies pressed close.

Seeking warmth.

Seeking comfort.

Seeking something-anything-human in this nightmare.

No words were spoken.

Only the quiet, broken sobs of those who had survived the night.

But the horror continued.

Night fell.

The same routine.

The same nightmare.

Only this time-

It was my turn.

The leering scorpion approached me.

His smirk wide.

His hand outstretched.

Waiting.

Expecting me to flinch.

To fight.

To cry.

I did none of that.

I took his hand.

I smiled up at him.

Soft. Sweet. Obedient.

I had to make him believe.

They thought females were simple creatures.

They thought we only acted on instincts.

That we didn't think.

So I had to make him believe that.

He took me.

Behind the camp.

Into the damp, cold bushes.

The air was freezing.

The ground was muddy.

My body was aching.

I didn't let it show.

Before he could do anything-

I pushed him down.

He followed.

His eyes widened in surprise.

And then-

I straddled him.

Purposely grinding against him.

Like I wanted it.

Like I needed it.

"Mmm."

I made the sound.

Let him hear it.

Let him think I was enjoying this.

I was disgusted.

I wanted to tear him apart.

To run.

To end this.

But no.

I had to endure.

I had to survive.

So I pretended.

I imagined.

Allmer.

Ace.

Anyone but him.

And then-

I kissed him.

Put my hands on his disgusting face.

Let our tongues intertwine.

I almost gagged.

But I didn't pull away.

I made more sounds.

More sweet lies.

Then-

Slap.

His hand struck my back.

Hard.

The air left my lungs.

I gasped.

Tears pricked my eyes.

"Ah~"

I moaned.

Not in pain.

Not in fear.

But like I enjoyed it.

Scorpios hit females while mating.

That's what they did.

That's what he wanted.

So I gave him what he wanted.

I captured his hands.

Intertwined our fingers.

Held him down.

So he wouldn't hit me again.

Still kissing him.

Still enduring him.

Then I broke the kiss.

He was smirking.

Pleased.

I guided his head to my neck.

"Smell that?"

He paused.

Then licked my skin.

I bit back a shudder.

"Hm?" he murmured.

"My cycle's coming soon."

He froze.

Then hummed in agreement.

"Sweet. So sweet," he said.

Disgusting.

But I forced myself to smile.

"I want our first time to be then, Gale."

I whispered it sweetly.

I had heard his name in passing.

It did the trick.

His chest puffed up.

Pleased.

Proud.

His female remembered his name.

"Hm? Let's try to have your mark appear here that day," I said.

I guided his hand to my heart.

I used his fingers to cup my face.

His eyes glazed over.

He was enchanted.

Good.

"As you say, my dear," he purred.

I felt sick.

I felt filthy.

But I had to do it.

So I did it again.

Kissed him.

Made sounds.

Whispered about having his babies.

About how it would be my first time giving birth.

His hands roamed.

Chest.

Stomach.

I let him.

It was better than the alternative.

I escaped rape.

But my soul felt stained.

No I am a tool.

Tool.

When I returned-

The other female wasn't as lucky.

She was silent.

Blank.

Her eyes empty.

The females stared at me.

Shock.

Confusion.

I was untouched.

How?

Someone pressed my hand.

Soft. Warm.

A silent gesture.

"I'm glad you're safe."

But I wasn't.

None of us were.

The scorpion feral was boasting.

Laughing.

Telling the others how his female was so willing.

How she begged for him.

How she whispered sweet nothings in his ear.

They believed him.

They mocked the others.

"See? Some females know their place."

I kept my face blank.

I stared at the fire.

Burning.

Crackling.

Destroying.

I felt nothing.

Nothing but hatred.