Part 5

It was finally her turn. Anya was dragged to her feet and forced to walk between the empty rows of shackles that had once held her fellow comrades. She was the last. She couldn't keep from trembling as she followed behind Tryk, stumbling whenever he jerked the chains that connected to her wrists. "P-please! I was your friend. Don't do this."

Anya stumbled to her knees and gasped as the warrior-rabbit whirled around and grasped her, jerking her to her feet. He snarled into her face, "Friend? You were never a friend. You dared come into my presence, enter my world. You, thinking you were superior to us Rabbits!!!!" Anya shook her head desperately, "No, that's not it. Please! I ….I brought you carrots!"

Tryk threw her from him with a snarl. "Walk, Slave."

Anya fell into step behind her captor, eyes downcast. She couldn't understand why he thought she'd had cruel intentions. She bit her lip, praying to the gods…any gods…for rescue. She was led to a large door that led to a huge room, mostly buried underground. She was taken to the wall and chained standing, with arms out at her side. She swallowed hard. "Please." She pleaded again.

"Would you like to know what's going to happen?" Tryk asked, grinning wickedly, twitching his nose in a so-not-cute-anymore way. "Not…really." Anya answered as the last shackle was snapped in place with a loud metallic click.

"The young ones have been blessed. Now they must change. You will be here for them to hate…and….to eat. After all, all young need nourishment. You will help them grow to be fine warriors. Demon flesh is very rich. You are good for something, at least."

"Eat?" Anya repeated in shock. "You cant…"

Tyrk smiled and turned to walk away. "Don't worry, it will not be quick." With that he stepped into the shadows and the door closed, throwing her into darkness. She bit back a scream, pulling desperately at her bonds. "Please!" she called out. A tear fell from her eye as she stood silently in the dark. Slowly, she realized that it wasn't completely dark. Her eyes accustomed to the lack of light and she noticed a few slim lines in the walls that allowed the sun to shine in.

The demoness stood there for what seemed like centuries before she became aware of a sound. As the din grew louder, like a torrent of water or a thousand people whispering at once, she began shaking her head slowly. "No…no…" Metal scrapped on metal as three small grates opened opposite of where the victim stood. A flood of small rabbits poured into the room, their eyes glinting eerily in the vague light, their mouths dripping with saliva as they stared at the demon wildly. They hopped slowly, whispering, sometimes screaming out.

From time to time, one or more would shake violently as it changed, growing larger, paws growing fingers, muscles rolling under their fur. A voice from a loud speaker informed the Young Ones that they were being blessed. The one causing the pain was there, in front of them.

"It's not true!" Anya cried out. "It's not true."

She stared in horror as the rabbits grew bolder, pausing only when a wave of pain hit them and their body mutated. When they could move again, now three times larger than when they first entered the room, they advanced on their prey. Pain and hunger filling them, fueling their rage. Anya struggled again in her chains, crying.

Anya screamed as a furry half-formed hand touched her foot. She kicked at the creature, watching it skitter back, then roar as it mutated more. The loud-speaker continued playing its message over and over. Another paw reached her, then the first rabbit lunged for her again.

TBC…