Culling

"Everything happens for a reason Haelyn, you were born to serve this family and remember darling when you do this it guarantees your brother's health and your mommy's sustainability it is your turn to pay us back" she said pulling Healyn in for a hug.

Her embrace was cold as she was. Before that, she always thought that the woman was a good mother but all this was proved wrong when Healyn's papa died.

Death. Why?

The sole provider of the family was gone for good. She could have been the heiress of The Howler Fortune but unfortunately her father hadn't written a will.

And her mother had unknowingly signed some documents (during the period of mourning) which said that all his wealth should be given up for donations.

And three months later, here she was.

She felt empty taking a step back.

"And I promise they'll take good care of you just do as they say and you'll be just fine"

Zippy, the woman's daughter and Haelyn's f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶ stood by the stairs with a bored expression.

"Ok, Miss Klara will I be back soon I need to see my family soon" Haelyn asked wiping the tears from her face with the sleeve of her sweater.

Her left eye twitched, her mouth opened to scold her for being a disgusting cry baby but hesitated and walked behind her to the couch and took her bag containing her belongings which could be called less than little.

"Yes you will be back, let's go they're waiting Howler"

Haelyn quietly followed Klara walking past Zippy who patted her on the shoulder saying, "You'll be just fine, you're strong".

As a eighteen years old she wasn't that strong to head into the world.

✿✿✿

"What is this?" Neera whispered to Haelyn who hadn't spared her a glance since the left that godforsaken room.

"Stop.speaking.Neera Please, for the love of your life" Haelyn whispered back angrily not particularly nicely.

What had changed since the room?

But what she hadn't noticed was that none of the girls (since there were more in other rooms) with them were friends or acted friendly to each other.

They acted hostile.

Other than she and the other girls they were with, she expected some supervisors (except the one who led them out of their rooms) but there were none. It was just them and the door that they had all walked into.

A forest now. Just like the one she had been running in when she was escaping from the dealer.

Dry, scarce and scary. Sending a chill down her spine.

"Sorry, just run when the bell rings and run until it rings again" Haelyn whispered again readying herself to run. She did that by tying her shoes.

"Why?" this was confusion at her highest.

"Just don't be the first one"

Twisted. Her mind was Twisted and she was lost. Literally.

"Ok"

The bell rang and they sprinted.

They not she. She still stood there not knowing what to do since her feet had a mind of their own.

Some laughs came from above her.

"Look at her, stupid bitch!" then she felt the graze of an arrow on her arm.

'Run Neera, Run' that was enough to get her sprinting.

Those whispers had been a great help so far but they were scary since they came out of the blue.

She ran deeper into the forest any time she thought of stopping to breath an arrow came from behind her. Always behind, beside or infront of her.

As if someone was deliberately urging her to run faster.

She overlapped some few and tripped on some who were on the ground, some crying, some angry and holding onto her leg to stop her from running.

Her breath hitched every time that happened.

All this was cruel and evil. It was her one last time and here she was being chased by people she couldn't actually see

Cruel people who reveled in making them run like some mice from cats while they had the vantaged position of shooting arrows at them.

Her vision blurred as tears brimmed her eyes. Was her father looking for her or was he just...

What could he be doing?

Maybe throwing a party for her sister for her latest achievement for gaining him new allies.

Or training his brothers and their conversation would be;

'Father do you not want for Neera to come back?" her brother woulds ask drawing his sword from the scabard and he would say,

'Oh she's not a very important asset in this family compared to the rest of your siblings Eliott, she can dissapear for good for all I care" he would say then continue to spar with Eliott with no worry.

OR;

He had sent out some soldiers and one of her brother's to find her.

Who knew anyways, she just had to survive this and escape this place and go home soon. Right after she found Izan.

Hope found a way to her chest at the mention of Izan the stranger, the corpse and handsome man whom she'd ran from.

Some distance from her she saw Haelyn on the ground crying.

She must have been in pain.

Quickly, Neera quickened her feet to reach her and help her. In her lord's graces she'd trained enough back at home to run as quick as she could and and no arrows were shot at her.

How lucky was she after all. Some goddess had seen her tears.

"Neera, please just run" she panted breathily but there was no such thing as leaving her behind. If she couldn't save them all, she could save at least one who was a friend.

She let Haelyn wrap an arm around her shoulder and pulled her up.

"Go to the right there's a way out, I just-" she groaned holding on tighter. Neera couldn't say she was a strong girl so the times that Haelyn fell from her shoulder were a couple.

"Why didn't you escape if there's a way out?"

They both hurried out and got out through the small thicket. They had to crawl out instead of walk out.

A scream rippled from behind them so they stopped.

"What was that?"

"That was me" a cool voice replied.