The Dreamer's Epilogue-Chapter 23: Only one hour
Chapter 23 – Only one hour
Anara lay on the bed, her naked body wrapped by the black dirty blanket given by the Troll tribe.
Her face was soaked with beads of sweat, making her blue hair plaster on her stunning face, partially hiding her oceanic blue eyes.
But maybe it was for the better, her eyes looked like ones belonging to the dead.
She lifted her head, showing her Asian features, taking in once more the sight of this room, where her nightmare only continued — even escalated — after the end of Earth.
The room was made of dark woods mixed with leaves, creating a rather interesting sight. It was empty beside the bed she was lying on, and a small wooden table at the far end.
A weird smell drenched the room, a mix of sweat and something else. Something Anara didn’t want to recall.
However, it seemed no choice was given to her, as soon enough the door of the room burst open, and a man stepped inside.
He was tall and muscled, black skin riddled with gang tattoos, a bald head coupled with a well-shaved oiled beard.
He wore the clothes a professional bodybuilder would wear, flexing his muscles for all to see.
Doubtlessly, he was a handsome man.
But Anara only trembled at the sight of him, and he grinned widely, enjoying the terror dripping from the twenty-year-old woman. He walked towards the bed, slow and steady, each step making the wooden floor creak.
Reaching it, he sat beside Anara.
"How was your sleep?" He asked in a low tone, raising his hands where veins slithered like angry snakes, caressing her hair.
Anara trembled, finding her throat sore from crying and shouting all night. However, she knew better than to leave Amadi unanswered.
She did it one time. And it was the first time she was beaten.
"G-Good," Anara stammered, not even looking at him, "I slept well. Thanks for asking, Ama—!"
"What did I tell you about manners?" Amadi cut her coldly.
She rapidly corrected herself, "Master! I am sorry, master!"
He regained his smile, then continued to caress her gently as if nothing happened. He leaned his face over her left ear, his perfume slamming into Anara, then whispered,
"Now tell me, who is the best?"
Anara’s eyes widened, her body unconsciously spasming at the question. Amadi acted like he didn’t notice it.
"Answer me." He ordered, taking her jaw between his gigantic palm, "Who is the best between my brother and me?"
"I...I..."
Anara didn’t know what to say.
If she said him, then when it would be his brother’s turn, he would be harsher on her. She didn’t think she could survive it with how weak her body was.
Yet if she didn’t do that, then she might not survive the next seconds.
The brothers were just that cruel.
To them, she was nothing but a plaything to play with; something they could use to show one was better than the other.
Her body was being used and broken since the beginning of this quest. But she would not give up.
’Survive the next hour. Not year. Not month. Not week. Not day. Only the next hour. Step by step, Anara. Just survive.’
She thought, then raised her head towards Amadi’s handsome yet demonic face. She parted her dry, cracked lips:
"You are—!"
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
Both Anara and Amadi snapped their heads outside, where the gruff voice of a troll boomed all around.
"BALAR ATTACK! BALAR ATTACK!"
The words were followed by a sudden burst of noise, with the Troll Tribe of Kakaru jumping out of their dwellings ready to protect their homes with their weapons in hand.
At the same time, in front of the room a man appeared in haste.
He was identical to Amadi, the only difference was he was leaner, with a piercing on his nose and earrings on both ears. He wore a sleeved shirt rolled past his elbows, showing well-defined forearms.
He was Alou, brother of Amadi.
Alou appeared with a bow in his hand, his black eyes looking at Anara and Amadi.
He scowled, "It’s not the time to take care of the whore, Am. Get the fuck up, we are being attacked."
"Lower your voice, man. And am I hearing wrong or are you ordering me?" He said with no humor then clasped Anara’s cheeks and kissed her lips, her eyes dilated by the suddenness of the action.
Alou’s face darkened, eyebrows knitted together so hard a chasm formed between them.
"Who, or rather what, is attacking us?" Amadi asked while getting up, looking at his brother with a taunting smirk.
"Lizards." Alou’s voice was a growl of anger, "and the trolls are waiting for us."
"Then let’s go, little brother."
"Can...can I come?" Anara asked, trying to get up. But her body was in such bad shape that she fell the moment she tried to stand up.
Amadi looked at it with pride, he turned toward his brother and whispered, "I guess you can see who is the best. Once again, you fall behind me, little brother. Just like how I did with her."
"Don’t forget about Emma." Alou grated, grinning with spite, "You enjoyed watching, that day, huh?"
Amadi locked his black eyes into his brother’s own, "I will let you watch us next time."
He laughed then got out, not sparing a glance at Anara.
Alou’s face flushed red, his hold on the bow tightening so much a cracking sound reverberated around.
He stared at Anara trying to get up, and spat venomously, "Just fucking stay here. You have no other use except using your body."
He turned his body and stormed out, but he stopped just at the entrance. Without turning his head, he spoke again,
"Tonight you are mine. And I will be pitiless."
Then he disappeared, leaving behind Anara who managed to lean her body on the bark of the bed, sitting on the floor, body barely covered.
Her blue eyes stared listlessly at the outside where big green trolls were shouting, giving orders, preparing for the battles to come.
At that instant, remembering the last words of Alou, the urge to just let go overpowered every other resolve.
However, Anara shook her head weakly, biting her lower lip until blood blossomed.
"Survive each hour. Step by step, no matter what." She muttered, closing her eyes. There, the memories of her father giving her the last spot of the portal flashed through her mind.
The memories of him smiling at her, telling her to survive.
And survive, she would.
That was all she needed to do. For her life was no longer her own. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
So she would not give up on it, no matter what.
Tears swelled then fell.
"Survive each hour, Anara. Just an hour. Step by step."
Anara muttered again before forcefully pushing herself up.
Today would be a day of chaos and battle, few to none would have the time to care about a whore.
And she would be damned if she didn’t take this opportunity to survive one more hour.
So she got up, trotted out of the room, going towards the room of the Troll Shaman — who was fighting with the others and Amadi and Alou — in perfect stealth.
However just before entering the room, a strange yet pleasing sight presented itself to her.
—End of Chapter 23—
