It all happens so quickly.

One moment I am stumbling along as best as I can, trying to not let the fact that I haven't had water in four hours not effect me, the next I am watching a large figure appear over the horizon. It looks hellish, something out of a person's darkest nightmares. It only continues to look worse the closer it gets.

Its a ghoul.

He strikes up a conversation with my owner. Me and the three others I am linked together with stay quiet but hopeful. This ghoul looks terrifying, but any of us would be lucky to be bought into his service. If anything it would be a change of pace. Maybe he would be better, maybe worse. The most important thing for a slave to do is stay optimistic.

The ghoul seems to work out a negotiation with my owner, one of us will be bought today. I have often heard my owner say nasty things about these strange humanoid creatures. I suspect the only reason he intends to do business with this one is out of fear. This ghoul is too big for even all of us together to fight off.

"Any one will do" I hear the ghoul say. My owner smiles at his lack of concern for us. We are property after all. He turns and goes straight for the only female of our group, small blonde headed woman who only recently became part of our pack. Sadly I do not know her name, we aren't allowed to speak to each other. Her eyes are filled with fear, she will surely become this sick ghoul's plaything. Although I barely know her, I feel for her. We all have a common plight, and in some ways, I am her. I have known this fear, I will know it again and other fears like it. The other men and I have not been chosen today, but no one is ever safe.

"I'm sure you want this one." My owner says, shoving the girl up towards the ghoul. She falls on her knees, just as weak and dehydrated as we all are. I don't have to see her face to know she's crying, the small shake in her shoulder's gives that much away.

Something seems to turn, the ghoul's face holds a disgusted expression.

"You're sicker than I thought." He whispers. Before I know it the ghoul pulls the shotgun from his back and unloads two shells into my owners head.

My collar feels tight as I can barely wrap my mind around what my eyes have just seen.

As if nothing has even happened the ghoul calmly puts his shotgun away. He pulls out a copy of a map from a pocket in his armor.

"Take this." He holds it out towards the blonde woman. "It leads to The Temple of the Union."

The Temple. The place all of us have only ever heard about. A place that seems too good to be true.

The woman takes it with shaky hands, still unsure if she can trust our unlikely savior. Once his hands are free the ghoul produces two small pistols and three boxes of ammo from his pack. He slowly walks over and hands them to the two other men beside me.

"This should get all of you there. They will be able to remove the collars when you arrive." His voice is raspy, but strangely friendly. I wonder why he is even helping us.

After our shackles have freed us from each other he tells us to get going. The other three take off almost immediately, but something keeps me grounded.

I am staring at the unknown ghoul that just ended my fifteen year enslavement. With two shells he took down the man I was taught to fear and obey above all others. This ghoul, who has no attachment to me or anyone else that I served in slavery with has given hope and new lives to four souls today.

It occurs to me that I do not want to follow my fellow newly freed slaves to The Temple of the Union. I do not want to live in hiding as they will, only growing as strong as they can.

I want to be strong, I want to be feared.

I want to be like this ghoul.