Thanks to:
Mittzy, Atemu Yugi Lover34, ONIX-21, El loopy, sajsama, tavia454, BlueLotus & Shamise. I love you guys! Thanks so much.
Chapter 2: The Slave Market
We must all take a path in life, whether we choose it or whether it is forced upon them. Sometimes this path can bring us greatness, peace, a life of glory; sometimes it can bring us pain, destruction and death. Whatever our path leads us to we must follow, like sheep to the slaughter we can not turn back.
The trip to the capital was long and unpleasant. The four captive thieves were tied to the back of horses, forced to walk the way across hot sands, Ra beating down upon them with no mercy, bestowing his own form of punishment. He nights were long and cold and the four could not seek warmth from one another, as they were forced apart, dew clinging to their skin in the early morning hours.
Yugi feared he would die. Actually he knew he would die, whether from the journey to the capital or from the punishment that would meet him there. He feared the Gods and Goddesses, as all should, and would rather prolong his judgment in the afterlife. What if his heart could not match that of a feather? He would be damned to the worst punishment.
He had not much time to dwell upon the possibilities, for they had reached the capital, the city lively in busy in the afternoon. The streets were filled with merchants and performers. Children ran about, playing games and laughing gaily. Women talked together as they walked, men discussed business and other important matters.
As the guards and captive thieves past them, people turned curiously, whispered behind their hands while children openly pointed and gaped. Yugi didn't meet their eyes as he shuffled along. Humiliation before death, what thieves deserved right?
They were brought to a prison. It was filthy and the guards were laying around, playing a game as they waited for their shift to be over. As Yugi, Ryou, Malik and Joey were shoved in front of them, they quickly abandoned their game and malicious looks crossed their face.
"Pretty things," One commented, running a finger down Ryou's dirty, sweaty face. He flinched away and the others laughed.
"Doesn't seem too fond of you." Another guard sniggered. He was young and thin with a superior air about him. He looked down at Yugi with a hunger.
Yugi shivered and closed his eyes, willing himself to wake up from this horrible nightmare he had fallen into. When he reopened his eyes he was still looking up at the guards and his heart sunk further.
A man shoved his way forwards, he was obviously the officer in command. He had a round belly and thick, hair arms. He sneered down at them. "They're defiantly too pretty to just throw away; maybe we could make a profit from them."
The others gave cries of enthusiasm and agreement. They were hauled to their feet and taken deeper into the prison. The prison itself was a stone and clay building with three rooms. A flight of stone steps led down to where the actual captives were held in filthy small cells, their only bedding a pile of straw.
The room they were lead into was that of a bathroom. A large tub was in one corner and two guards appeared with buckets of water, which they didn't heat, but dumped right into the tub. It took some time for them all too be cleaned. Each in turn was stripped, laughed at by the watching guards, and thrown into the icy water, were they were scrubbed clean of grime and dirt.
Yugi whimpered as he was handled none too kindly, his body exposed to the cruel men. He hissed as his skin was met by the icy water, that seeped through him, filling him with an internal cold. They were dressed in fresh clothing and the real planning began.
"Slave markets are at noon." The young thin guard said.
The captain nodded. "We'll get them in, sell 'em at a high price." He smirked down at them. "They should sell high."
Malik moved close enough to Yugi to brush his wrist reassuringly. But nothing could calm Yugi; he was trembling from the cold and from fear as they discussed the four and the gold they were sure to receive. He wanted to runaway, to hide forever, but it was too late. He was stuck and there was no way out.
Noon came sooner then Yugi would like. His eyes were red and puffy from crying and he quietly sniffed as he wiped away the tear tracks down his cheeks. Ryou had been crying too. He kept his head down and let his hair shield him, but Yugi knew he had. His shoulders trembled.
They were taken to where the slave market was being held, on the South side of the city. Ra was hanging low across the sky and his light was no longer as brilliant as it had been that morning. Many people had gathered, Lords, Masters and their personal servants who would act upon their wishes. Yugi saw the many slaves, sitting in a line, chained together by the ankle, all wore looks of despair, dark circles under their eyes and haggard looks upon their faces.
Some were so young, hardly in their tenth year, crying and wailing. They were silenced by the whip of a guard and Yugi flinched as the leather made contact with the tender skin and a bloody welt blossomed across the child's shoulder.
The four were chained to the end, forced to watch the other slaves be haggled like cheap objects. Yugi was first of the four, Joey had tried to take his place but the guards pushed him back.
Yugi was unchained from the others and dragged onto the stage by his arm. He stumbled and almost fell from the platform. He straightened and looked into the crowd of faces, some eager, some uninterested, some bored and some watching him intensely.
The bidding started. The price was high and four seemed interested. One man in particular seemed very interested. He was tall, bald and dressed in gold trimmed silk clothing. He wore gold upper arm bands and an important seal on his belt. He was the only one who continued to bid, never giving up, even when the price was so high Yugi was sure you could buy a God with that amount of gold.
Finally the man won out. He looked smug as he made his way forwards to collect his prize. Two Palace guards followed in his wake, flanking his sides from behind. Palace guards, Yugi was headed to the Palace!
He had heard stories of the Pharaoh; stories that made his skin crawl. He did not wish to meet him, not under any circumstances. Maybe he would finally get a little luck and would not be forced to? There was no luck left for Yugi, he knew this well, he would be forced into meeting the Pharaoh, no doubt about it.
He was given one final look back at his friends, it would most likely be the last time he would ever see them. His new Master took him from the stage and looked him over.
"Very good." He nodded. "You will most defiantly please Pharaoh."
Yugi now saw death as a most tempting offer.
Our paths are dangerous and long, but sometimes we fall upon something great, something that makes a path so worthwhile. We just have to search for it and never give up, or it may pass us by.
There you are Yugi is close to meeting Atemu. Hopefully you've enjoyed the chapter, please REVIEW!
Angel Of Your Soul.