The Moonlit Desires: Bound by Blood

Emma

Sitting on the bed, I couldn’t help but stare into the thin air. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, and the pain swirling in my heart was overwhelming. I was so lost in my own world that I didn’t even notice when someone entered the room.

“Emma!”

Startled, I instantly jerked up as I felt someone shaking me gently, snapping me out of my thoughts. With a sudden burst of energy, I forcefully turned around, my dull eyes locking with Alma’s. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. Scrambling towards my side, she looked at me, her face etched with worry.

I shake my head at Alma, tears welling up in my eyes, before tearing my gaze away from her. “I… I mean nothing is wrong with me,” I manage to say, my voice trembling. But shaking her head, and giving me a doubtful look she holds my hands tightly in hers, concern etched on her face. “You’ve been acting strange, always absentminded for days now,” she says softly, her words filled with genuine worry.

“I understand if you don’t trust or want me around, but please believe me when I say that you can confide in me. I genuinely want to help,” she says, her voice filled with sincerity. She reaches out and gently places a hand on my shoulder.

I heard her words, but they felt like running water, flowing through my mind without any destination. Memories of my last close friend came rushing back. We used to confide in each other and play around, and she felt like the sister I never had. But then, something changed in the end. It all turned into my worst nightmare, and the memories vanished in an instant.

Gulping hard as memories flood my mind, I slowly withdraw my hands from hers. “I’m… I’m fine, Alma,” I managed to speak out, my voice strained. My throat hurts, and I feel sore all around my mouth and down to my throat. Even water or food feels like poison to me.

“You don’t Emma, you look pale and for days you haven’t eaten anything or even taken water,” Her voice barely a whisper. Alma’s concern is evident as she squats down in front of me, trying to get a clear view of my pale appearance. It’s been days since I’ve eaten anything or even taken a sip of water.

Why does she care? She just has to stop pretending like she cares about me! As long as I know nobody gives a fuck about me, last time that huge pr***k was shoved forcefully down my throat without my consent. Maybe next time I might end up dead…… so you have to get used to the fact that I said that nothing interests me anymore.

“Emma,”

“Look, just leave me alone, okay? I don’t need your fake concern,” I snap at her, my frustration boiling over. The weight in my heart feels unbearable, and my life feels like a complete mess.

“I know it might be hard to believe, but I genuinely care about you, Emma,” she yells back, her voice gradually softening into a whisper at the end. “I really do care… I understand you’re going through a tough time, but I can’t help if you don’t open up to me.”

And that’s when I looked up at her, seeing the concern etched on her face. But sometimes appearances can be deceiving. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine,” I replied, blinking back the tears in my eyes. I didn’t want her to see me cry.

I needed someone to confide in, someone to talk to but unfortunately, I have long lost my trust since that day. So right now I have only me and my pains buckled up inside.

“No, you’re not fine… Well, if you insist, then explain what happened that day. They came and took you away for days, and you only showed up at the door recently, looking battered, weak, and in pain. And obviously unconscious for three whole days,” she replied, a mix of pain and anger in her words.

“Stop being cranky and start learning how to mind your business,” I shot back, angrily standing up from the bed and heading toward the door. Her questions and unnecessary concern are starting to make me uncomfortable, can’t she just stay on her own tongue-tied?

“I’ve been in this situation before, Emma,” my hand is already on the doorknob. But then her voice broke through, causing me to freeze in my tracks. “I know you’re hurting,” she said, and I couldn’t help but gulp back the tears, feeling an emotional wave wash over me.

“I just need some fresh air outside,” I said, not bothering to look back or wait for her response. I hurriedly made my way out of the room.

I felt so pale and weak, probably because I hadn’t eaten in days and everything I was going through. As I walked down the corridor, I couldn’t help but notice everyone rushing towards the entrance, some with excitement and others with fear. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

“No, no… I can’t seem to find my name on the list,” I heard a werewolf female cry out, her voice filled with tears.

“Wow! My name is there, thank goddess,” another group of girls swirled in happiness while pointing their fingers at the paper that was pasted on the entrance door.

My curiosity got the best of me as I dragged myself towards the entrance, ignoring the awful looks and glances I was getting from everyone around. What’s this about a name? Is something happening?

“What a pathetic girl?” I overheard one of the girls mutter, sounding irritated. If I’m not mistaken, I think she’s from the dragon race.

“She looks awful!”

“Um, excuse me,” I stammered as I quietly made my way towards the entrance. Everyone kept glaring at me, but I gulped hard and ignored their looks. I’m already used to people hating me, so those looks don’t seem to affect me.

Stopping in front of the paper with a long list of names written down on it, I curiously scanned the paper for my name or that of Alma. Suddenly, I heard someone mutter, “Not again.” I turned to see Alma standing beside me, looking sadly at the paper in front of us.

“What’s happening?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. Letting out a sad snort, she turned to spare me a quick glance before looking back at the paper. “Remember when I told you about getting sold out once a year?” she mumbled. I nodded quickly, recalling our conversation earlier that day when I first stepped foot in here.

“That’s it, this list,” she pointed her finger at it. “It’s the list of those who might allegedly be sold out in two days from now,” she explained, earning an “Oh” from me. “Still the same slavery?” I asked, looking at her.

She seemed sad as she turned around to face me. “But at least it seems better than here,” she murmured, but I just nodded. I know how much she wanted her name to appear on that list. However, I still can’t understand why everyone seems anxious about leaving here when they’ll just end up as slaves again. Yeah, I want to leave too, but not as another slave. “Come on, chill! It’s still the same old slave stuff,” I hissed, stepping away from the place as people eagerly closed in. Some were happy to see their names, while others seemed sad… I think they have the same case as Alma, their names didn’t appear there.

“Do you mean that those on the list will be bought by those men?” I asked as we made our way out of the building to continue with our daily morning chores.

“No, if you’re lucky and pass the task,” she explained. “Task… What task?” I gave her a quick glance, curious to know more.

“You’ll see it that day, Emma,” she said with a downcast tone. I just rolled my eyes at her, noticing how pained she seemed.

“Why go through all this stress just to end up as a slave? It doesn’t make any sense to me, no matter how much I try to understand this nonsense,” I blurted out, hissing at the end. Alma looked at me and sighed. “It’s better than staying here, Emma,” she said, trying to explain her perspective.

“Just wait until you’ve been here for like two years or even just a year,” she mumbled. I shook my head at her and confidently replied, “I won’t stay here for that long.” But all I got in response was a mocking laugh from her.

“Hmmm… We all say that, but at the end of the day, our only hope is that paper being pasted on that entrance door with our names on it,” she patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I believe you’ll understand my frustration one day.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I couldn’t say much but just watched her walk away, sighing. I wondered how it would have been if my name had appeared on that list. What would have been my fate? I guess it would have been another traumatic experience because nothing good comes from being a slave. As I looked back at those girls, swimming in happiness, I smiled sadly. At the end of the day, it seemed like they were running away from the very thing they were still getting into… slavery!