She shot up to her knees, ignoring the excruciating pain. There was no time to waste. Though she felt dead, she had to rise to her feet and help Segfried. He needed her. She quickly used her hands to search the ground for Segfried, as if she were blind. Now that the four men were gone along with the torch, there was no light except what little was starting to return as the moon began to shift to the other side of the sun. Eventually, she found him face down in the dirt with his pants down and his rear-end exposed. She pulled up his pants, covering his rear-end.

Please be alive. Please be alive.

She flipped over his body and gasped. There was a huge vertical slit that went across his left eye socket and eyeball. There was blood and dirt all over his face and clothes and the wound was still bleeding profusely. She leaned into his chest; checking his heartbeat. It was faint. She felt her own heart skip with joy.

“There's a chance!”

His silence is what had frightened her the most. The fear she felt when she realized what those men were going to do to her, was nothing compared to the fear she had felt when Segfried stopped whimpering. She had even found herself wishing the fourth man would finish quickly so that she could check on him.

She tore a long piece of cloth from the bottom of her dress and attempted to clean the dirt out of the bleeding eye. She then pressed the cloth hard into the bleeding eye and tore another piece of cloth from her dress and wrapped it tightly around his head and eye and tying it into a knot. She tried to stand but collapsed from the pain. Her entire body throbbed and ached. The pain was unbearable. She struggled to rise again, and this time succeeded. She grabbed one of his arms and began to pull, but his body only moved a few inches before she collapsed to the ground again.

“AAaghhhh!” She screamed in pain as tears flowed from her eyes.

“I can’t! It’s too hard. It hurts too much...”

She then leaned into his chest and checked his heartbeat again. This time, she couldn’t feel or hear anything. Her heart raced faster, and she felt dizzy as the knot in her stomach grew heavier. She wrapped him in her arms and cried helplessly. Tears fell from her eyes and snot ran down her nose and dripped onto Segfried’s lifeless body.

He’s not going to make it. He’s going to die!

“Please Mother-Earth, help me save him,” she begged, as she applied pressure to the wound with all the strength she could muster.

She rocked back and forth holding him in her arms. “Please, please, please” she begged, sobbing heavily. “No Segfried! Please don’t die, I can’t lose you! Please Mother-Earth, give me strength. SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!” She screamed.

Suddenly, she felt hot all over her body. Her heart, chest, shoulders, back, hands and head felt burning hot; like they were on fire.

What's happening to me?

Part of her was scared and wanted to panic, but another part of her was calm, as if she knew what was happening. Puzzled and paralyzed, she sat holding Segfried close, his face pressed tightly against her breast as she waited.

Suddenly, her hands erupted into orange and red flames. Frightened, she squeezed Segfried tighter. The orange and red flames traveled up her forearms and exploded onto her shoulders and back. Before she knew it, her and Segfried were completely engulfed in the flames. She closed her eyes awaiting her fate, but for some reason there was no pain. She thought she would be burning up into ash, but there was no heat, no pain, no nothing. Only a feeling of relief... She slowly opened her eyes; neither her nor Segfried appeared to be harmed by the flames. Curious, she pushed Segfried a little distance away to examine him. Something was different, but she didn’t know what it was. And somehow, she felt a little better. Stronger. She slowly peeled back the torn cloth from Segfried's left eye socket and gasped. The bleeding had stopped, and the huge gash had already begun to seal.

But how!? What’s happening?

And just as suddenly as the flames appeared, they disappeared all at once.

There were so many questions running through her mind, but there was no time to waste. She let his body drop to the ground and forced herself to her feet. A wave of pain shot across her entire body as she stood, but suddenly the pain was bearable.

I must get him to a Haido, or he won’t make it. Yes! Haido-Fariq! Haido-Fariq will be able to save him.

Haido-Fariq was a kind elderly man who came to the orphanage once every season to check on the health of all the children in the orphanage free of charge. She had even overheard Mother Nora say that he refused to receive payment from the Kingdoms for it.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Niyeighty reached out and grabbed Segfried by one of his arms and pulled again. This time his body moved a couple of inches more than it had before.

I can do this! I can save him!

She pulled his unconscious, and seemingly lifeless body, across the dirt; each time groaning in pain....

She dragged him for what seemed an eternity. Through the sticks, through the dirt, past the trees, and back to the dirt road headed into the village. The distance from their favorite spot at the lake was somewhat far, but now it had seemed 100x farther. Her arms burned, her legs burned, and her entire body ached and felt like it was on fire. Not the literal fire that she and Segfried had just experienced, but the figurative fire as in pain. She ignored the pain from her busted top lip, the bites on her breast and neck, her swollen cheek, and her sore throat and jaw; but the worst was the throbbing between her thighs and rear. That she couldn’t ignore.

But all she cared about was getting Segfried to safety. All that mattered was that he lived. She looked down at the unconscious Segfried.

He’ll survive! Unlike me, he’s strong. I could have never stood up to those men and fought the way he did.

Light was returning to the sky, and she could hear a celebration a little distance away. She could also see the village in the distance. People were wandering around, still celebrating the Dark-Sun.

When she arrived at the village, she continued to drag him through the dirt of the main road, while bystanders watched in shock. She even saw children from her orphanage staring at her, mouths and eyes wide open. She looked down at herself and noticed that her dress had pretty much been ripped to shreds and her breasts were hanging out for the entire village to see. There were many gasps and whispers; but no one offered assistance. She could hear the mutters.

“What happened?” One voice whispered.

“Oh, Mother-Earth, Father-Sun, have mercy!” Another said.

“What happened to her?” Another asked.

It was as if they were an audience at a play, and she was the main act. A fool for their entertainment. A naked, beaten, bloodied fool. She felt so foolish and embarrassed, but continued pulling Segfried, until she suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Get up, we’re almost there.

She slowly rose to her hands and knees, and then back to her feet. She grunted and moaned as she gave Segfried’s body another tug. She felt like she was going to faint, and then felt a hand touch the back of her shoulder. She jumped with fear and turned to face who it was. It was the Marked-one from earlier, towering above her.

“Please, allow me to assist,” he said.

Niyeighty stared at him puzzled.

“What about your master Ellagio? I don’t want to make trouble for you.”

“Blink Ellagio, it would not benefit him to bring me any harm if he is looking to fetch a good amount of coin for my sale,” he answered.

She looked down at Segfried’s dirty, unconscious body. He was heavier than he looked. It was surprising how much that small boy weighed and how hard it was to drag him.

“He’s my responsibility.”

The marked-one nodded. “He is still your responsibility, just allow me to assist.”

She didn’t know what to say, she was too tired to fight with him. She nodded slowly, as if in a trance. The Marked-one bent down and lifted Segfried off the ground and held him in his arms.

“Lead the way lil miss.”

As she turned to continue toward Haido-Fariq’s clinic, she realized something.

“What about your iron ball and chain,” she asked pointing to his foot.

The marked-one smiled faintly. “It’s alright, I think your burden is a little heavier. Surely, if you can carry yours, I can manage mine.” He said, flashing her a faint smile.

She nodded, and together they walked toward the Haido’s clinic.................................................................................................................................................................

“This is close enough, turn back.” Niyeighty said, breathing heavily.

The Marked-one looked down at her unsure.

“I can assist you the entire way,” he replied.

She shook her head. “No, I do not want trouble for you, please return. I will manage the rest of the way lonesome. We are close, thank you.”

She could see the doubt in his face. He shook his head, refusing to listen.

“Please,” she begged.

He shook his head again; she could tell she wouldn’t be able to convince him to go.

“Go you blinking fool! Get out of here! She snapped angrily. She was surprised at how easily she was angered. “If you don’t listen, I will tell them that you did this! That you attacked us! And they’ll stone you to death in the middle of the village! “You’re just a foolish Marked-one! Go! Get out of here Marky!”

He stood firm and unphased by her threats and insults.

Suddenly, she realized how to make him leave.

“I command you to go! Leave us!”

A light flickered in his eyes, and she knew she had found the answer.

“You’re a Marked-one, you’re less than fly mud; you must do as I command. Now go! Return to your master!

The Marked-one’s pale face turned pink as he looked at the ground avoiding eye contact with her. He bowed his head, and slowly kneeled; softly placing Segfried’s body on the ground. Without so much as a glance or a gesture, he turned and walked away.

She felt guilty as she watched him walk away.

Thank you, Marked-one.

She continued to drag Segfried the rest of the way to Haido-Fariq's clinic, and before she had realized, she had arrived. She banged on the door and moments later the door swung open violently.

“What is it?” A lean, average height, dark-skinned man with mild wrinkles asked. After his brain processed the sight of her, his eyes widened, and a look of surprise came to his face.

“Child, what happened?” He asked, looking as if staring at a ghost.

“Haido-Fariq, we were attacked, please help him” she whispered with the last of her strength.

“Him?” he questioned.

She stepped to the side and revealed Segfried’s body lying on the ground behind her.

Haido-Fariq gasped. “What happened!? Who’s responsible for this!?” He asked.

“Please, help him,” Niyeighty repeated, ignoring his question as her vision went black and she fell backwards. She knew her head hit the ground hard, but she didn’t care, she couldn't even feel it.

She stared up at the sky, struggling to keep her eyes open. The previously black sky was now replaced with a big blue one; fully illuminated by the large bright golden sun. The darkness had finally left the earth, taking everything good and pure with it.