Free Web NovelChapter 158: The Prince Of Ego
The group exchanged grave glances, the weight of the revelation settling upon them. The reality of slavery, even in a zombie-infested world, was a harsh reminder of the depths to which humanity could sink.
Stepping aside from the group, Shinon motioned for them to give him a moment. Selena and Kira exchanged concerned glances, their curiosity piqued by Shinon’s reaction. As the group moved away, Shinon turned his attention back to the girls. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"Can I ask you something?" Shinon spoke softly, his voice filled with empathy. "Those scars on your bodies... were they caused by something other than the zombies?"
The girls shared a brief, hesitant glance before the eldest among them spoke up, her voice trembling.
"Yes... that’s true."
The eldest of the girls, Lily, hesitated momentarily, her eyes flickering with fear and uncertainty. But as she glanced at her companions and saw the unwavering support and determination on the faces of their newfound allies, a spark of courage ignited within her.
"We were taken from our families," she continued, her voice quivering slightly. "Forced into labour, treated as property. The scars... are reminders of the punishment we endured for the smallest mistakes."
By this time, Rico, Selena and Kira joined them, leaving the guards to keep watch.
The girls exchanged glances before Mia, the youngest of the three, replied, "His name is Lord Aric, but he’s known as ’The Prince of Ego.’ He rules over a territory nearby, and he had hundreds of women as his slaves. He treated us as he pleased like we were nothing."
"I’m so sorry you had to go through such horrors," Selena said, her voice filled with genuine empathy. "But please know that you’re safe now. We won’t let anyone harm you."
Kira nodded in agreement, her eyes determined. "You’re not alone anymore. We’re here to protect you and ensure no one ever mistreats you again."
Rico’s eyes burned with intensity. "We won’t let him get away with this," he vowed, his voice filled with determination. "We’ll make them pay..."
Shinon placed his hand on Rico’s shoulder and shook his head. He knew Rico was angry, all of them were, but they had no information about this so-called prince. Getting all fired up in the situation wasn’t right.
Kira placed a comforting hand on Rico’s arm, her voice steady. "First, we need to ensure the safety of these girls and end this operation," she said. "We can’t do it alone. We’ll need the support of our community."
Shinon nodded, his gaze filled with empathy. "You’ve been through so much," he said softly. "You don’t have to face it alone anymore. We have a settlement where you’ll be safe. You can stay with us."
The girls looked at each other, a glimmer of hope shining through their tear-stained faces. Mia managed a smile amidst her tears.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "We’ve been alone for so long. It means the world to us."
"We’ll need to stay here for the night," Shinon affirmed, his gaze sweeping across the group. "Moving around in the darkness with such a large number of people would be risky and impractical."
The group nodded and got to work.
~~~
The flickering flames of the campfire cast a warm glow across the faces of those gathered around it.
Shinon leaned forward, his gaze focused on Lily, Mia sleeping peacefully with her head on her "sister’s" lap. Rico, Kira, and Selena sat attentively, their curiosity evident in their eyes.
"So," Shinon began gently, "can you tell us about your escape from the southern city? It must have been quite difficult to escape from someone like Aric or whatever his name was."
"It was six months ago when our small settlement was attacked by Aric’s ruthless army," Lily began, her eyes distant as she recalled the past. "They killed everyone, men, kids... only the ones Aric deemed ’beautiful’ were left alive and captured."
Mia stirred in her sleep. Lily stopped talking and gently brushed a strand of hair from Mia’s face, a protective gaze in her eyes, before continuing their tale.
Emily, her voice trembling slightly, continued the narrative. "We had seen others try and fail to escape before. Aric’s punishment was harsh, and he ensured everyone knew it."
She continued, "He once had a woman’s limbs chopped off and fed those to zombies right in front of her before allowing his guards to have their way with what remained of her..."
Lily continued, "Even then, the desire for freedom burned within us, and we couldn’t bear the thought of living our entire lives as his slaves."
Mia stirred again, her eyes fluttering open, and she gazed up at Lily. Lily offered her a gentle smile, a silent assurance that they were safe now.
"We planned our escape for months," Lily continued, her voice filled with determination. "We knew we had to be careful, as any misstep could cost us our lives. We waited for a time when Lord Aric was away, attending to his affairs in a neighbouring town."
Selena interjected, her voice filled with concern. "But what about the guards? Surely they would have noticed you leaving."
Emily nodded, a sombre expression crossing her face. "The guards were a constant threat," she admitted. "We had to be vigilant and avoid their gaze at all costs. We used every opportunity to learn their routines and find moments of vulnerability."
"And how did you manage to slip away undetected?" Rico leaned forward, his eyes shining with curiosity.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Lily’s lips. "We had discovered a hidden passage beneath the city, a network of tunnels used by Lord Aric’s spies. It was risky, but it allowed us to escape unnoticed."
Kira’s eyes widened in surprise. "You mean you navigated through those tunnels?"
Lily nodded, her gaze meeting each of their companions’ in turn.
"It was no easy task. The tunnels were dark, damp, and treacherous. But our determination pushed us forward. Even though it took us three days to get out of the tunnels."
As the stories came to a close, Shinon’s eyes glistened with admiration for the girls’ courage and resilience. He sat upright, a proud smile forming on his lips. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"You three are incredibly courageous," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "To have faced such hardships and yet find the strength to escape, it’s truly remarkable."
Lily and Emily exchanged glances, their faces displaying a mix of gratitude and humility. They had endured so much, but being acknowledged for their efforts felt good.
As the night pressed on, Shinon rose to his feet, stretching his limbs after sitting for so long.
"Well, it’s time for me to take over the night watch duties," he announced. "You should all get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us."
Everyone nodded and bid goodnight to the girls, who settled in the corner of the room, finding comfort and safety among their new friends.
Meanwhile, Shinon walked to the broken balcony, looking into the darkness beyond. "Prince of Ego, huh? It’ll be fun toying with you..."
