Ugh sorry that I haven't been updating. I'm real bad about that sort of thing... Not to mention I got my SOLs to study for this entire month (basically important tests/exams for those who don't know. if i dont pass i can't move on to the next grade basically) but I'm gonna write and post this chap for y'all today. I'm feeling generous :3 (plus i got like 95% of my homework done so hehe)

oh! also I'm working on a new fanfic! If any of my dear followers like KnB please check out the first chap that i submitted~ I'll be working on that from time to time now also...anyways enjoy this treat lovlies~

Chapter 7

We traveled for hours. It's nearly sundown and still no sign of Julie. I was distracted at first by entertaining Naima and the others, but now I'm completely restless. I give Naima forced, weak smikes when she tries to get my attention. The only thing I can do is stare out at the passing landscape. Sand...Julie...and oh look more sand and no Julie.

"It's meaningless to get worked up. You'll see your friend soon enough." I looked towards Eluf, the same friendly giant from before. He reached over Naima, who was playing with a shoe I took off, and patted me on the head. I glanced over to him before returning my gaze outside the cart. It was still hot out, but the sun was starting to set. It's going to get cold soon. I sighed before proceding to take my other shoe off for Naima. She had started to pull at the shoelaces. I also took off my socks and put them in the back pockets of my jeans. Ah that's better. Not as hot and uncomfortable now. I continued to watch the passing landscape as the sun slowly started to dissapear behind the horizon.

-Few days later-

"Come on! Get in there!" I fell to the ground with a grunt protruding form my lips. Great yet another damn cage. I quickly stood up and sprinted for the open door but the gaurd closed it on me. I violently threw myself at the bars. "You're not going anywhere you little snake." The gaurd sneered at me from the other side. I gained the title "snake" for trying to escape, in the middle of the night, to search for Julie among the other slaves. But I oh so happened to run into Galum, who then returned me to my original cage. The gaured walked away with a snort and I flopped myself on the dirt floor. I was getting uneasy and extremely reckless. Being sick with worry is never a good thing for me to be experiencing.

"Um...Lia dear?" I turned my head around to see Ieshia. "You said that you're friend had long black hair and was wearing similar clothing to you, correct?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Hope surged through my chest, but I tried to ignore it. Don't get your hopes up.

"I believe we've found her. We think it's the girl in the corner b-" Ieshia pointed to the corner in the far left in the back of the cage, the farthest from the door. I scrambled past her in a blind rush. Julie. I weaved my way through the others, trying not to step on any limbs in the process. I saw Naima and Eluf sitting next to a girl in dirtied clothes. Black hair...dirty white shirt...jeans and sneakers. Only one person could possibly be wearing clothes like that and that's-

"Julie..." The girl jolted at the sound of my voice before turning around. It was her. Oh god my throat and chest are getting tight. I'm not gonna cry dammit. Not in public.

"Lia..." Julie sniffed while tears started to fall from her eyes a bit. I crouched down to her level and brought her into a hug. "Crybaby." I smiled when she gave a watery laugh. Everything is gonna be okay now. I'm not going to let us get seperated again. Even if it kills me.

After that reunion I had introduced Julie to the others. The welcomed her warmly as she tried to stop crying. But our happy moment didn't last long. A day or so later, the gaurds soon came to our cage to start escorting some of us somewhere else. Everyone looked worried and scared. I had asked Ieshia and Eluf what was going on but neither responded. That only caused me to worry more. Julie and I held eachother's hands tightly after that.

"They're probably picking some of us out to sell at the slave auction," whispered a middle aged man near us. My heart skipped. "Let's just hope we don't get picked today. I heard that a two of the nastiest slave owners in the country are going to be at the auction today." I could feel myself pale as Julie visibly stiffened. All of the families inside our cage were huddling together, while the solitary slaves sat in despair waiting for fate to make up its mind. It wasn't long until Fatima waltzed in the cage. My breath hitched when his gaze found mine. No...please not us...pick someone else. He started to make his way straight towards our little group with that shit eating grin of his. That grin really pisses me off, but it also scares me shitless...Heh looks like I need to get a bigger pair eh?

"Hmm...how about we show these two today? Might make a little gold." He stared right at Julie and I, thinking about what price we might go for probably. He sighed and waved his hand at the gaurd behind him, "Why not sell the big one, the woman, and the child too? They might bring us a fair price, especially the male." Fatima's eyes glinted darkly as he thought about the possible gold Eluf could put in his coin purse. He quickly turned away to pick out a few others while a few extra gaurds came into the cage to escort us.

They quickly put cuffs on our wrists before hauling us away. I need to resist. I need to fight. Resist, fight, break free...Anything. But I couldn't do anything as they dragged us away. We just followed like broken dogs would follow its abusive master's orders. The gaurds took Eluf to a seperate area than us females. As they pushed me along, I threw one last remorseful glance behind me to see him dissappear down a different corridor. The gaurds lead us to a large room filled with a good number of other females and little girls. There were other gaurds lining the room as the women huddled together. They had dark looks in their eyes as they stared at the female slaves. Why is that? Because all of the slaves were bare naked.

I could feel all the air leave my lungs as I watched in disgust. The gaurds forcibly stripped us and ripped our clothes apart in the process. Jackass that was my favorite hoodie...But you served to amuse me when you had trouble ripping it, so I guess that it served its purpose. But still, this is highly embarrassing. Julie and I did our best to cover ourselves as we waddled our way over to Ieshia and Naima.

The pigs procceded to take each one of us one by one. They started with the younger girls before moving onto the older women. They even took Naima away. All three of us were held back by gaurds when we tried to fight them. Her and Ieshia's screams tore my heart apart. After some time I noticed something. Odd...it seems as though they are saving the pretty and fit ones for last...

"I wonder why they haven't taken us yet," Julie mumbled. I glanced over at her. Her cheeks were still tinted in a blush as she sifted uncomfortably. My face is probably red too...

"They're probably keeping you two for last," Ieshia whispered. It was the first time she spoke since Naima was taken away.

"Why would they do that?" I nodded in agreement with Julie. Ieshia is beautiful so I can see why she hasn't gone yet. Sure Julie is beautiful in her own cute way...But me? Pssh I'm pretty average...okay scratch that. I'm below average. I feel so outclassed surrounded by all these beautiful and fit females. I shrunk back a bit as my self confidence lowered into negative ground.

"Well...this is a guess but," Ieshia paused as a gaurd came near us to grab another slave to take her outside, "But, I think it's because Fatima hasn't seen anyone who quite looks like you two." Okay that just served to confuse me, Ieshia.

"What do you mean? We're not exactly the prettiest faces in the room," I whispered back.

"You might not be the prettiest," Ieshia started, "But both of you are both unusual, exotic even. I haven't seen anyone who quite look anything like you two." I gave her a blank look in response. "Seriously?" This is so stupid.

"Hate to break it to you Ieshia, but we're pretty normal," Julie responded back. I sighed. This really is stupid.

"No, I'm serious. Girls who look like you, Julie, sell for a very high price with slave owners. They like the girls with the appearance of the girls in Kou." My mind fixated on that last word. Kou...great. Mister fancy goatee and the mother witch are confirmed. I frowned. I'm not exactly fond of that country. "And you, Lia. You have very unusual hair. I don't think I've seen anyone with that shade of gold before. It's very beautiful," Ieshia smiled. Oh god don't blush.

"Yeah well it's a pain to take care of with all these damn curls," I glared at one of the said curls on my shoulder. It really is a pain. Damn hair. I looked back to Ieshia but she had gone rigid. I heard Julie gasp. Before I could turn around, a pair of arms wrapped around me. No! Let go!

"Let go, damn you! Let go of me! Bastards!" I screamed as I kicked and writhed with all my might. Julie's screams were muffled by the gaurd's hand that was holding her. Ugh this feels so wrong. Clothes. I need clothes dammit. The gaurd dragged me out of the room. There I was blinded by the bright sunlight. I had been in a dark building for days and wasn't used to the sun. I squeezed my eyes shut. Way too bright... The gaurd put me down and after a few moments I opened my eyes again. He was putting shackles on my ankles now. I looked around to see Julie next to me, but I was quickly distracted by something else.

We were standing off to the side of a giant stage. Fatima was up there; auctioning the slave that was grabbed earlier. But what frightened me most was, the giant crowd of buyers that were shouting their bids.

Ohhh man. This chappie is about 2,000 words long. God that was tiring. But eyy we got to meet up with Julie again didn't we? Hehehe...(i just know that all of you are gonna kill me for this chapter i'm sorry guys.) Alright! I wanna say something! For those of you who are wondering when we are going to see the actual amin characters of Magi...DON'T WORRY THEY WILL SHOW UP EVENTUALLY I'M JUST LAYING DOWN SOME SERIOUS FOUNDATION FOR OUR CHARACTERS OKAY? THEY NEED THIS EVEN IF IT'S LONG AND BORING. I'M SORRY. BEAR WITH ME. Anyways...this chappie was made with the help of youtube :3 and wow its 6 o'clock now...jeesh I need to eat supper...

R&R YOU NERDS I NEED WRITER FOOD IF YOU GUYS WANT MORE CHAPTERS (also I might be making chapters this long from now on so we can get to the actual magi story okay? ahh i just wanna skip to magnostadt with Titus and all the other precious bbies already...)