Another Day

Chapter 2

The taste of blood

Kai felt like he had hardly slept at all when he was torn awake by a loud racket. A guard was walking down the hallway and banging his club on the bars of the cells to wake the prisoners. "Get up, people. It's your big day."

They were shackled together and led out of the dungeon in a long row. Kai tried to keep track of Mariah, but she was stationed up front while he was pushed to the very back of the line.

After the darkness of the cells the daylight was sharp and blinding. It was extremely hot outside, and it didn't take long before sweat was dripping into Kai's eyes and making his hair stick to his neck. The prisoners walked towards the Amber market in sullen silence. Behind Kai walked the boy with the black ponytail. Kai turned his head and glared at him as best he could, "Thanks a bunch for getting me arrested. I can hardly wait to repay you."

The boy turned those golden orbs on him and Kai had to suppress a shiver; they were like pools of molten sun. "In this world it's every man for himself. I am surprised that you have lasted so long if you have yet to learn that." Kai didn't reply.

There was a much bigger crowd at the market now than it had been the previous day, and many heads turned when the slaves came into view. They were herded up on the platform by guards with whips and clubs. The slave trader, a bald, fat, little man, called the attention of the crowd as soon as the slaves were arranged in rows on the platform. "Good people. Gather here to see some of the finest slaves yet this year. In all shapes and sizes. One of these is sure to be just the one you are looking for. So gather 'round and let us start testing their strength!"

The man at the very right of the front line was released and brought in front of the crowd. There he was pushed down on his knees and bent over a wooden block. He was big and hairy, but looked more like a friendly bear than a dangerous criminal. The slave trader read up his sentence of thirty lashes of the whip, but the crime was not mentioned. The poor man was screaming his innocence, and eventually the guards gagged him.

What proceeded was something that Kai would never forget; the cracks of the whip, the chilling screams, and the blood that ran from angry welts. He felt sick, but couldn't look away. It took forever to get to thirty. The man had fainted a long time ago, but the crowd seemed pleased and many shouted their bids for him.

The slave trader rubbed his fat hands together and his beady eyes shone with greed. "Now, now good folk; the bidding does not start until everyone has been served their punishment, but keep your eyes on the one you want or he might just slip away from you!" He chuckled to himself.

The young Hiwatari felt panic rise in him as more and more men were brought forth to be beaten, whipped and taunted. He snuck a quick glance to the left him and saw that the black haired boy was looking pale and that his eyes were slightly wide.

On the right side of Kai stood a tall, blonde boy who looked to be about twenty years old. He began to cry when they unshackled him, and he shouted for his parents. As he was bent over the block he wetted himself in fear. The crowd booed, but the other slaves shared his pain and fright, and there were many young boys there who missed their families.

Kai's heart went out to the boy as well, but there was nothing he could do to help and when the screams died down it was his turn. The man who wielded the whip came over to him and unlocked the irons around his wrists. Kai shook uncontrollably; warm and cold waves travelled up and down his body. He had never been so afraid in his life. A simple rope was tied around his wrists and he was pulled forward, but then a single, desperate thought made its way to the front of his mind.

'NO!'

He pulled hard. The torturer, who had not expected the young teen's strength, stumbled backwards, but he quickly regained his balance and pulled back, sending Kai flying into his arms. A well placed fist to the stomach made Kai topple over and groan in pain. While he regained his breath, someone pulled off his vest, so that his back was bare.

"Get on the block, kid," one of the guards growled, but the sight of the block, and the fresh blood that coated the planks around it, triggered another wave of desperation in Kai; he got up and tried to run. Once again his attempt was made futile by the rope. Someone grabbed it and he was forcefully dragged back in front of the mob and pushed down on the block.

The slave trader frowned at him, but smiled at the crowd, "Well this one is feisty folks, but we'll see if he doesn't calm down after tasting his just punishment."

There was some spread laughter when a guard looped another rope around Kai's neck and fastened it too the block, so that he was completely secured. Kai looked at the crowd. There were sympathetic faces there, and sad faces, but most were just watching.

Then Kai saw, in the very back of the crowd, two familiar faces watching him with worry. Lee and Kevin. He prayed silently that they would not come to the rescue of him or Mariah. It would be futile with all the guards, but he still thought the two of them stupid enough to try; Kevin was way overconfident and Lee's temper was legendary! Unfortunately, Mariah was the precious gem of the family; the male felines would not let her go without a fight. His attention was pulled away from the two when the slave trader read out loud his punishment. He fisted his hands and closed his eyes, waiting for the first strike.

The sickening sound of the leather whip meeting soft, yielding flesh resounded over the crowd. For a second after it was dead silent. Another strike broke the spell and Kai's vision flashed brilliant white. Nothing, not the worst of his nightmares, could ever have prepared him for this pain. Screams of torment were torn from his very core. Again and again the leather whip was driven into his back. Again and again the sound echoed over the crowd, followed by Kai's pained scream. He cried, cried for death and mercy and oblivion, but none came. The tormentor was not going easy on him. Blood was running in forking paths down his sides.

Kai's head spun, and for a second he thought he was falling, until another crack split the air and he came back to earth for another flash of unbearable pain. Darkness closed in on him. This was hell.

'*'

Lee held Kevin tight and closed his eyes against the world, willing it all to go away. This was the worst day of his life; first he had seen Mariah amongst the slaves and now he had to stand helplessly and listen to Kai's horrible screams. He had seen people being whipped before, but somehow the Hiwatari took the meaning of pain to a whole new level; his voice tore through the crowd, cut your ears and resounded in your head. Kevin sank to his knees, and pressed his hands over his ears. "Make them stop!" He begged, but what could Lee do? His heart burned with anger and sorrow, but his head was calm, and knew the futility of interfering in the punishments.

"There is nothing we can do for Kai now. Come on." Together they left the open space and headed for the alleys they called home, Kevin sniffling and wiping tears from his cheeks. But Lee vowed silently to come back and save both Kai and Mariah.