Vengeance and Betrayal

[Dab]

Izanami woke with a start as the barracks was filled with the shrill pinging of a bell. The men and women around her, for there was no separation of genders, jumped out of bed and stood silently in front of their cots. Following their lead, she pushed herself up and stood.

She watched as two men walked along the line of slaves. As they got closer, she could hear them giving short commands to the slaves as they passed. The majority she heard were "to the fields," with a very small minority being "servant," which she took to mean in the owner's mansion.

As the two men reached her they slowed, and she felt fear creep into her. The first man held his hand out, which the second deposited a small metal device onto. The first man took a step closer to her, "New?" She nodded. "Hold out your arm." She hesitated, then reluctantly complied. The man grabbed her by the wrist, then twisted until her palm was facing upwards.

He pressed the device's head to her wrist just below the palm. Almost immediately it began to burn and she instinctively tried to pull her arm away, but the man held it in an iron grip. After several more seconds he released her and she dropped to her cot, pressing her burning wrist to her stomach. She clamped her eyes shut and waited for the pain to subside.

The man was still standing before her when she cracked her eyes open. "Stay here when the others leave and we'll find out where to put you." She glared at him as he continued down the line of slaves. When he was several meters away she looked down at her wrist and found a small symbol and four numbers burned into her skin, the surrounding tissue still cherry-red from the heat and pain.

Her wrist was still throbbing when the man returned, this time alone. The other slaves had been filed away, leaving the barracks empty. "So what are we to do with you? I'm told to make sure you're not killed at least, so I guess that means I can't send you out to the fields. Hmm.." He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet, then scrutinized her face before running his gaze up and down her body. As he circled her she felt a fearful tingle run up her spine. She felt very exposed and vulnerable.

"Hmm.. Attractive enough, you may do. I think I'll have you work in the mansion until we find out if there is somewhere else you'd be useful. Come on."

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