Shelomith: “From Her Perspective, Part One.”

The sand spun around again, shifting and changing, and making a new environment; as Ezrae's attention shifted.

Now; it was earlier that day, before Shelomith had gone out to meet up with Divora and Reyna, and Ezrae saw her in the city. And the surroundings were Shelomith's room, in her old house in Egypt.

Shelomith stretched, trying to relieve some of the stress and tension in her back. Tomorrow marked 6 months since she and the girls had separated themselves from the Rat-Pack;

and yet, day by day, the pain of missing The Boys, (and especially Ezrae) hadn't quite lightened up.

As for Shelomith herself, it was her idea to "free the boys from them." She knew it was for the best… There was only 3 more months until Reyna finished her training as a priestess, and then she and Divora would be shipped off to serve in a Temple of Set. In addition, Shelomith's parents had set up for her to be married off… to an Egyptian.

As she recounted these memories, silent tears streamed down her cheeks. She sat by the window, anxiously fiddling with her braid, still struggling to convince herself what she did was the best thing TO do.

The sand shifted position again and began to spin in the opposite direction, once more creating a new environment, building off of a memory.

This time, Shelomith was sitting in her chair, looking out of the exact same window; absentmindedly enjoying the outside; and watching a couple of children play a game.

Suddenly, there was a commotion, as someone came running down the street from behind them, yelling something incomprehensible. In response, the children playing in the streets scattered to allow the man through.

As he got closer, Shelomith could begin to better make out what he looked like and what he was saying, and she recognized her name, her mothers name, and a repeated plea for help. The man was pulling a rickshaw behind him, and he seemed to be frantic, terrified, and crying.

Shelomith went downstairs to her mother and told her what was going on, "Mama, there's something going on outside!

A man is running down the street yelling for us." Chaya gasped, and grabbed her emergency kit, before running out the door, Shelomith hot on her heels. However, they were shocked and horrified at what they found.

When they went outside, they saw the man who was pulling the rickshaw, as he came to a stop on the street outside of their home. They were able to recognize him fully as another Israelite Slave, who worked with and was friends with, Shelomith's Father Dibri; who went by the name of "Chaim."

Now that Chaim was closer, they could see that he was filthy, covered in dirt and blood, and had a few wounds as well; but that wasn't the most horrifying thing there...

On the rickshaw that Chaim had pulled, was what looked to be the lifeless body of Shelomith's father, Dibri; an Israelite Slave Male, from the Tribe of Dan.

Shelomith and her mother, Chaya, immediately rushed to the rickshaw and began to tend to Dibri, asking Chaim what in the world had happened to the two of them.

Chaim carried Dibri inside, ushering the rest of the group in as well, saying it was safer inside. He then immediately launched into an explanation about what had occurred in the mines.

"Dibri and I were working in the mines, helping to carve out the Labyrinth of the Serpent, and the guards were on their very worst behavior.

We were digging, and they kept pushing us harder and harder, forcing us to dig faster, and work quicker. They were rather free with their whips, to any of us who weren't keeping up to their standards."

He stepped to the side, so Chaya could gain better access to her husband; and began to help her clean up his wounds, while he continued his story.

"One guard, the Egyptian peasant-boy, from corridor 33; He's about 23 years old, and goes by the name of Jabari. You know the one? He was working there, with his brother and father.

He had been particularly harsh on Dibri that day, and was right in his face, hitting him, striking him with his whip, and yelling at him. He belittled poor Dibri, hit him across the face, and began to insult us Israelites, and Father Yahweh…"

He took a deep breath, as he felt a small and warm hand on the middle of his back, and he turned to see Shelomith's smiling face.

"Please, Uncle Chaim, you're hurt too. Please, sit, and let me tend to your wounds, while you tell us more of your story. Papa will be okay, he's looking much better now."

Chaim smiled back at her, and sighed heavily, as he settled into a chair nearby. Shelomith began to tend to him instead, cleaning up his wounds, and wiping the dirt from his face; While Chaim continued telling them the story.