I slowly open my eyes with a groan, only to shut them again when the sun practically burns my eyes. I blink a few times before looking around at my surroundings.
"Where the hell am I?" I wonder out loud, not expecting anyone to answer me. I jump when I hear something moving somewhere nearby me.
"You are about half a day's ride outside the palace." A voice says. I swiftly turn toward it, only to flinch away when I see a man leaning over me. "Do not worry, young one. I shall not hurt you as long as you pose no threat to my family." The man says, sitting back with a slight groan.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to sound ungrateful. I was merely shocked that I was not within my bed." I say, looking at the ground in my shame of how I greeted the man that most likely saved my life from the midday heat.
"Think nothing of it. I am well aware of why you acted like you did." The man says with a slight smile on his face. I look at him with a shocked look on my face.
"You are?" I ask, unsure of exactly what I should say. A sad look covers the man's face as he looks at me.
"One as young as you are should not have had to see something like that. Whoever decided to do such acts in front of you should be punished to the severest of the law." The man says, glancing toward the sun before bowing his head slightly in respect. "Unfortunately, there are those that even Ra (1) cannot punish before something happens." The man turns to look at me. "Thought we may wish that he did." The man says with a knowing look on his face like he's reading my soul through my eyeballs. I look away unconsciously.
"The gods do not help the unfortunately, like myself." I say as I get to my feet. I walk toward the exit of the tent before turning back toward the man. "I thank you for taking care of me, and I hope to be able to repay you someday for your kindness." I say before walking out of the tent. I sigh as I begin to walk toward the glimpse of the palace I can see in the distance.
"Wait! Wait a moment! You can't go there!" A voice sounds from somewhere behind me. I turn my head just in time to see a guy about my age trip over a rock. I chuckle as I walk toward him, shaking my head.
"And why can I not go home?" I question, looking at the guy with confused humor in my voice. He glares up at me for a moment before shrugging as he gets to his feet before dusting his wrap off.
"Because if you go back there, they will kill you." The guy says, looking at me with a look that clearly says he's not kidding. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
"Why would I be killed? I didn't do anything." I say in an unsure voice. The guy looks at me for a moment before recollection dawns in his eyes.
"You...don't know, do you?" He asks, looking at me with unsure eyes. I glare at him for a moment before collapsing onto the ground, completely ignoring the sand that's slowly creeping into places where it's most uncomfortable to have sand in.
"Does it LOOK like I know what the hell you're talking about? As far as I am concerned, you sound like you've been bathing in Apep's (2) shadow too long..." I say, shaking my head as I watch the guy with a wary eye.
"I have NOT! I would never think of doing something as indecent as such! To even suggest something as vile as such..." The guy mutters, glaring at me. I raise my hands in surrender.
"I am sorry that I insulted you...it's just that I've had a bizarre couple months...err...now that I think about it, it's been nearly a year since something decent happened..." I say, rubbing my temples with my fore fingers and middle fingers. The guy smiles.
"Well, on a lighter note. I just realized that I have yet to introduce myself." The guy says, causing me to look up at him in astonishment.
(Boy this guy sure has some severe mood swings. One minute he's happy the next he's pissed, the next he's jumping around.) I mentally tell myself as I watch him bounce around the area.
"I am Evan! I'm from Atlantis." He says, looking at me for something. It takes me a moment to realize he's waiting for me to say something to him.
"Oh, sorry. I'm Luka. I live in a small village just outside the palace walls...err..I did at least, until this happened." I say, gesturing around me. Evan looks at me with sorrow.
"I'm sorry your life has become such. Trust me when I say that Miran only picks people up that he feels need to be protected. He will take care of you until you're ready to get back up on your feet." Evan says with a hint of sadness in his voice. I'm quiet for a moment before something he said kicks me in the stomach.