Chapter 1: Deserts

I sat on the back on the camel, wondering how this could have happened to me as I remembered how I got to this point in my life. My eyes drifted to the four people in front of me, settling on the tall man in front, leading the way to our destination….our doom.

**Six Month Ago**

I twirled on my toes, dipping down and swaying my hips as I tried to block out the hoots and shouts from the men drooling at me. I rolled back further away from them, trying to get their nasty smells as far from me as I could, leaping with a hop, causing the roar of cheers as my body moved in time with the music. Finally I finished with a flourish and huffed out a breath, bowing and heading off the stage. "Hey, you got another dance." I shook my head, looking at the man that towered over me. "I'm done for tonight. I can't take another minute of being out there."

He laughed and grabbed my arm, forcing me to wince at the pain as the gold bangle pinched against my skin. "You're done when I fucking say you're done." I pushed at his arm, but it was just making his grip harder. "Get the hell off of me!" I shouted and used my free arm to punch him in the solar plexus. He released me and I took off running, I knew what would happen now, for what I did. I darted between the buildings and carts, trying to avoid lit areas since I was still dressed in my dancing outfit, I would stick out so fast. I saw a small boat with a young boy in it, I headed for it, I would take it and finally escape.

I was almost there, then suddenly there was a sharp pain in my head and I came to a stop. He was there again, my hair wrapped tight in his hand and his face filled with anger as he jerked me back, slamming me against the ground. I struggled as he began to pull me back by my hair, shouting and screaming. No one came to my help, everyone around here knew what this was. A enslaved dancer tried to escape, is being taken back for her punishment. It was normal in these parts, I knew that, why was I stupid enough to do this? I was always quiet, kept my head down, did my dances and went to sleep. What came over me tonight that I just couldn't do it anymore?

It was as if I was being called away, my body just reacted without allowing my mind to act in my best interest. We were almost back as I struggled still, begging him to let me go, that I was sorry. "Too late little bitch. Now you're going to see what happens to bad dancers. You'll be doing a different dance tonight." my eyes widened as I knew what I was about to be forced to do. I didn't want that, it was brutal and barbaric. "No! I'm not! Please don't!" I screamed, wishing my hair would just come out so I could get away again, so I wouldn't be punished like that.

He tossed me into the empty room and slammed the door, locking it. I rushed forward, banging my hands and begging to not do this. After an hour of that, I sank to the ground, tears falling freely as I felt my heart drop, this was it, there was no escape. I heard footsteps after a while and I ran back into a corner, pulling my body to myself as much as I could, locking my legs and arms together to try to protect myself. The door swung open and I glanced up, seeing his sneering face, he was happy that I was about to get what I had coming in his eyes. "Let's go." I shook my head quick, tightening the grip I had on myself. "Make this harder, that is fine with me."

He came over, grabbing my arms and flipped me over, dragging me toward the door. I fought but it was useless with his tight grip on both of my arms, I was tossed into a different room, this one had a bed in it. "This is your new stage." he laughed and shut the door as I ran for it, "You knew the rules, you know the punishment. You made the mistake of attacking and running. As the person attacked, I get the honor of choosing your first dance partner." he tapped his finger on his chin as if he didn't already know. He grabbed the back of my neck and forced me onto my feet.

"I know…since it is your first dance…I'll show you the way." I pulled at his grip, swung at his body but he knew I was fighting it now so it was useless. He tossed me onto the bed and grabbed my top, ripping the thin fabric to shreds. I screamed and covered myself and didn't realize that his hand was on my pants, doing the same. I kicked at him, but he grabbed my foot and ran his hand up my leg, forcing them apart. I felt his fingers enter me as I screamed in pain and fought against him. His other hand grabbed my wrist and forced both of them above my head.

His face hovered over mine before his gross tongue reached out and licked my neck and cheek. "You are lovely. This is going to be….mmmm…" he trailed off as I turned away, kicking and trying to get his dirty fingers out of me. "Now now, you don't like that? Let's try this." my face filled with horror as he dropped his pants and forced himself into my body without warning. Tears ran down my face as I screamed, the pain becoming unbearable. I fought and fought as he continued but it was impossible, he was too strong, I was powerless. He grunted and groaned, dripping sweat onto my naked body until he got up suddenly, pulling himself from me with more pain. He began to pump himself a few times and then his cum shot out, landing on my stomach and chest.

He dressed himself as I pulled my legs to my body and curled into a ball, sobs coming from my mouth. "Ah, yes. Just lovely. You will be a main attraction now. You will be most popular." I hid my face as I felt him coming toward me. "Of course, I will have to make some adjustments to the room. Can't have you attacking customers. Some ropes, rings to tie you down to. That'll make this perfect." he whispered in my ear before I heard him laughing and his footsteps fade. The door slammed and I didn't move, I couldn't believe that this had just happened to me, I felt incomplete, I felt broken and I just wanted to die.

**Three Weeks Ago**

I was tied down once again, my body already feeling numb so I could block out the thing that was about to happen. I couldn't even remember how many it had been, he had been right, I was a new one, I was fresh and everyone wanted a taste. After the first couple times, I began to block it out, forcing myself to not feel it as much, but it was still horrible. The ropes had been tighten more, after the first week, I had fought them so much that they loosened and I was able to injure a couple of them. I had less people wanting me after that, but they still came for me, forcing myself open and taking another piece of my sanity.

The door swung open and I glanced up, seeing the drunken man stumble in, his smile at he took in my naked body, waiting for him. I turned away, closing my eyes as he drew closer and I could hear his clothes being dropped. I shuddered at the fear and knowing the pain was coming. I waited and waited, looking when it didn't happen and seeing him face first on the ground, passed out. I sighed with relief, I was saved…for now. I tried to get out of the ropes, it was the only thing stopping me from running in this one chance I had.

I was unable to break free before they came to tell the man his time was up and realized he was out. "Well, take him away, I'm sure he had a good time anyways." the men hauled him off while the master came over to me. "You think you're getting out of this tonight? You will dance every night." I realized what he was going to do and began shaking my head, begging for it to stop. He was undoing his pants when the door banged open and a masked man dove in, rolling and knocking him away from me. The master recovered and pulled out a gun, but the sword buried into his stomach before he could get off a shot.

He fell down dead and the masked man turned to me, tied down, naked and completely terrified. He put away his sword after slicing the ropes, allowing me to pull the bedding around me and backing into the corner. He didn't speak or try to come toward me, just stared. After a minute, he took a step and I flinched, screaming, "Get away from me!" he dropped his half-raised hand and then took off running, leaving me alone with the Master's dead body. I would be blamed for this, and put to death. I grabbed my clothes from the table and dressed, my entire body shaking as I realized how much pain my legs and arms were in from the tightness of the ropes and the fear.

**Present**

I shook my head and looked at the desert around us as they spoke, how the hell did I end up here with these people? I knew the legend, I knew the curse. How was I roped into coming along with them to the City of the Dead? Oh right, they rescued me from death, I owed them my life and I would find a way to repay it…and then I would run from this land and into a new one where I could remake myself into someone else. "Hey, are you alright?" Evelyn asked and I blinked, smiling and nodding. "Just tired." "O'Connell, say my good man, are we almost there?" I looked back, a shiver in my spine making me feel like someone's eyes were on us.