《Uploaded》


 Chapter 1

    The equalizer that is what they call it.


    No crime will go unpunished.


    Yes, yes. That was the slogan that they had used over the last couple of years. Everybody was able to join him, inside this shithole they called a prison. No matter if you were a simple shoplifter, or a woman of delight doing her job, or a bloody killer. They all came here, with what. A half-baked promise of redemption if they kill, yes that is right, they need to kill the boss. As if they were inside a video game, which they were technically speaking. But in all his years that he had being here, and that was longer he cared to admit. He had not seen such a boss or savior, or how they want to call it. It was just a myth they tried to create to have some hope inside this, hellhole of a world. And people have looked for this, far and wide. But never found what they were looking for. He himself included, now if a green asked him about it, which they all did. He just told them the bloody truth, that they are never getting out of here. And that they better could join one of the many gangs that ruled the cities. Something that happened rather quickly after the source for the boss seemed to be a waste of time. He himself didn''t belong to a city, or a gang for that matter. He belonged to himself, and that was the way he liked it. But still he made it his job to go to the platform, to see who they had brought in this time. Something he believed more of them should be doing, but none of them did. Too busy saving their own asses, which of course he completely understood.


    ********


    Today was not different, he left his simple shack and walked over to the platform. His ever fateful maquette, rested on his back. Not that he was afraid to be attacked by one of the greens, no on the contrary. They were as harmless as newborn kittens, after their minds have being scrambled and placed here. No it was the fact that nothing in here was as it seemed to be, or rather said everything inside this world was designed to kill. The only save zones if you can currently call them that, were the cities. Who were run by gangs, yep one bright and happy world he currently lived in. That was why he went to the platform every day, to protect those greens. At least until they were on a road to one of the cities, after that they were on their own. Then they were not longer his problem. But then again, some will even argue that they were not his problem in the first place. Still he did it anyway, why? He didn''t even know the answer to that question himself. But those he has too? Maybe he was helping those greens, because he was nice. No he shook his head, he was not nice. Before he had taken up the job, of guiding greens to the first hurdle of the prison, few of them had stumbled into his shake. Something he didn''t like, he even killed a few for doing so. That often happened when they started to claim the place as theirs. So now to prevent that from ever happening again, he went over there, to fetch them and then push them towards the gangs. Who have not complained about it, and they complained very much about everything else. But that was again not his problem. The forest was quiet today, no tigers, bears or some walking plant that tried to eat him. Which was good, he hated those things. But he praised the person who had designed them, it was genius. Plant that could walk and eat anyoning people, so long it was not him. He made once the mistake of provoking one of them, it had cost him a life. But still they were genius. He arrived at the platform, which was just a large round metal plate, in the middle of a deadly forest. Who ever came up with that idea, deserved to be eaten by one of those plants. There were no greens on it now, that was great that meant that he was early. He looked around him a saw a large dent in the tree, he half smiled and half cursed at it. He had made that dent, the first time he saw a child on the platform. A child barely fourteen, a starving kid that had the poor luck of being caught. That was one occasion that he had brought the group of greens to one of the cities, the gang leader even praised him for it. But he had not done it to be praised, he had done it because it was the first time that a child was placed inside this hellhole. Which lucky for that tree didn''t happen often. He leaned against the tree and started to clean his fingernails, with one of his daggers. He was just finished with one hand, when he was greeted by a low hum. That meant, that the greens were currently busy with being uploaded. Which could take a while, so he just started to clean his nails on the other hand. The humming stopped. He looked up, and there they were, greens. Four of them, three duds and a woman. All of them looked around them, and specially the woman who looked like a deer caught in headlights. He started to clear his throat, pulling their attention to him.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Good morning everyone, no I am not your fairy godmother. Praise some designer that she is not here. The name is Orsino and I will be your guide for your first hour in this hellhole, and yes I am all you got. So who is ready to get the hell out of this forest." Orsino smiled at the group, and enjoyed their surprised faces.

 Chapter 2

    The group followed him like all good sheep will follow their shepherd. Again the forest was quiet and calm, which was a pleasant change. Yesterday he needed to go back to the platform multiple times to get those who were killed. Which he hated so much, but it came with the job. So what was he supposed to do. The woman of the group stayed close to him, which he did not mind. Something he normally would have, but she was not too bad for the eyes. With her slightly tanned skin, brown hair that just came to her shoulders and those beautiful bright blue eyes. It made him long for some alone time with her, not that he would grab her then and there. He was not that kind of man, but is she was offering herself to him as a thank-you. O the designers knew that he was not a saint, being here in this place was proof of that. But he had his morals, more or less. It would not be the first time he would forsake them, he wanted to shake his head. This was not the time and place, to think about sex. Also, there were other men around them, and he was not the type to share a woman. At least not at the same time.


    "Hey Orsino." One of the men said. He wanted to sigh, there it comes. The question about the boss.


    "Forget it." Orsino replied before the man could ask it. "It is a myth, a fairy tale. Many have tried to fight him or her. But all of them returned empty-handed, and back in that forest. And I will not pick you up the second time around." The man''s hope deflated right then and there. But it was better to know it now, than to keep his hopes up.


    "Why do you think they do that?" The woman asked, he shrugged. He didn''t know and he didn''t care. "You must have some idea."


    "Of course, I have." He said. " I just think that it is to keep people outside the prison quiet. There are some with families outside this hellhole, and if all of them knew that they are never going to see their loved once again. Well you fill out the blanks." The woman nodded, as if she understood. For a very brief second he wondered if she had family. And if he had crushed her dreams of ever seeing them again. He wanted to smack himself against the head, why the hell did he care. She was just another poor unfortunate soul, that was dumped in here, because some sick mind thought it was a good idea.


    "Thank you, for getting use out of that forest." The woman then said. Which surprised him. "But may I ask where the hell are you taking use."


    "You may, and the answer is simple. I am taken you four to the crossroad. From there you may figure out where to go next. Every road leads to a city, which means there is food, clothing, roof above your heads. At least as long you are willing to work for that." He said. "I will not be your boss, thank the designer for that. But most jobs are pretty standard, hunting, cleaning, building, cooking and most time for woman, well I think you get the picture." She narrowed those pretty bright blue eyes. He always got that reaction when he told them this. So she was not a woman of delight, good to know  "Hey I once again point out that I will not be your boss. One of the gang leaders will be, and maybe he will assign you a different task." Which is rather unlikely, every gang leader with a good set of eyes would want to bed her.


    "Are you crazy?" One of the man said. He wanted to curse the man, and silently he did.


    "Shut up, Benny. He tried to comfort her." One of the other man said. But the man called Benny didn''t listen to him.


    "O he will comfort her, but he just told me that I will never see my wife and children again. He is not the type of man that comforts people." Benny said, and right about that.


    "I am not going to sleep with him." She snapped, and he would not force her to do so. And he hoped silently that Benny would keep his mouth shut. But it seemed that Benny was happy to disappoint him.


    "I am not saying you would, not willingly at least. But there are others inside this prison who do not have a problem with forcing you." Benny said, and once again he was right. There were some man and woman inside this prison who would force her, even to the point it would cost her a life. "Maybe that is why he fetched use, to sell you to the highest bidder." Alright now he was disgusted, he would never do such a thing.


    "Oh Benny shut the hell up. You do not know what you are talking about. You do not even know the man." The other man said. But Benny was not done, only he had heard enough. He pulled his maquette, and placed it against Benny''s throat.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "If I hear one more word out of you, I will kill you. But you will not die, as long you are in here. But it will cost you a life, and now I hear you wondering what do I mean by that. It will cost you a year of your lifespan, so with every life you lose here, your body who is in a facility somewhere in the real world would age one year. You only will truly die, if those years are up and spend. Am I clear." Orsino said, through gritted teeth. To his relief Benny started to nod. "Good, and as for you." He pointed at the woman. "Benny here is a bastard, who deserves a good fuck in the butt. But he is right when he said that there are people who are in her who are happy to break you in. And there is nothing I could do about it. I am here only to place you on that damned crossroad, and for the rest is all in your own hands." The woman again narrowed her eyes.


    "If I have nothing to fear from you, I will go with you." She said, and Orsino''s eyes grow big. Why didn''t he see this coming? O wait because this has never happened before. She was not the typical woman that normally would enter this prison. And he started to wonder what she had done to get here.


    *****


    Her name was Tamora, and that was all she knew. Besides the fact that she was inside the Digital Prison, but what she had done to get her, she didn''t know. But she knew one thing for sure, she would not be used as an amusement for some unknown man, or woman. But Benny was right, there were people here who would force her into it. She didn''t know this man, the only thing she knew about him was his name and that he brings new arrivals through the forest. But she decided then and there that she was going to trust him. She needed to trust somebody in this Godforsaken place, and she hoped she made the right choice.


    "I will go were you are going." She said, and he was taken it back by that. Good then at least, she could use that in her favor. "Otherwise you need to sell me off to one of those gangsters, but know that I will come back again and again." She looked at him with raised eyebrows. Benny started to whistle, he was impressed. She hoped it was a something good, but then again she was not here to impress him. Orsino stepped forward and started to laugh.


    "I am going to say, that you have some balls. But I am more of a loner." He said, she was not put off by that.


    "I can see that." She said, tilting her head a little. "But you said that we needed to choose our own way. When we arrive at the crossroad, and I am not going to one of those towns where they are going to use me, to warm their beds. Maybe she was now suspected to warm his bed instead, but she could handle him. At least that is what she thought, she had no idea what he had done to get here. But it could be because of innocent shoplifting, dealing illegal drugs, or a huge bar fight. Of course, she knew that he could have committed another crime, the possibility was there. But right now she didn''t want to wonder about that, if that was the case she would worry about it later. Right now she needed to keep herself out of harms way. Orsino nodded slowly.


    "Alright then, I can use some maid for in and around the house." He said. "But only you." He said this to the man.


    "I am wondering if she needs to work on all fours, or on her back." Benny said.


    "Oh shut up Benny." One of the man said, and she now wondered if they know each other from before. She was sure as hell, that she didn''t know these men. But that was something she could ask Orsino later. For now, she had a place to stay, and maybe he would learn her to defend herself. Not only against man, but also against the monsters of this world. Somehow they seemed the one and the same in her mind. Again that were worries for another time and place, first they, when this they become that? Maybe when he had decided to take her with him, o well it didn''t matter for now. They needed to bring those men, including Benny to the crossroad, and then she would hope to never see Benny again.


    *******


    That woman, he did not know her name, but that would change soon. She had balls, maybe not down there, were he had them, but still. He admired her for that and that was always a right thing in his book. She was scared, but she did her best to let the likes of Benny not know that. But she had made him, the great loner of this prison do something that he had sworn never to do. He had taken someone up in his shake. He had not even done that when Aurora begged him. Aurora was the first child that he had found on the platform. But he made his bed, and now he must lay in it. But for now he needed to get rid of that piece of shit, Benny. Well that would not be so hard, because there was the crossroad. He pointed to it.


    "Alright, gentleman. There is the crossroad, follow one of those paths, and you will end up in one of those cities. Do as you are being told and everything will be fine." He wanted to turn around and to walk away, but then turned around again. "I just want to say, that I will hope to never see your faces again. Only in this place you will never know." All three men nodded, and they went their separate ways. Well that was deep even for him, well now he needed to deal with the lady. "Well, woman let''s go home then." The woman nodded and they went home.

 Chapter 3

    Tamora didn''t know what to suspect, but he had told no lie when he called his home a shake. It was a building made out of rotten wood, surrounded with a metal fence. Which was probably electrocuted, for the many predators inside this world. Inside the fence were a few places of farm land, which were overgrown with weeds. But still she could see the veggies between them, the inside of the shake was not much better. It had two rooms, one of them was a bedroom. There was no bathroom, so she guessed that he probably took a shit outside. Most likely inside a hole in the ground. There was no kitchen inside, but she had seen a fire pit outside, far away from the shake. At least he had safety covered, but if she had to guess. She would do a lot of work outside, cleaning up the garden. Maybe helping out repairing this shake, to make it more livable.


    "So woman, this is our humble home. You can see what needs to be done, so I will not tell you what to do. But let use start with your name first." He said.


    "Tamora." She replied, quickly and he nodded.


    "Well Tamora, like I said to Benny. I am not going to force myself on you, I am not that type of man. But if you are going to offer yourself to me, I will not hesitate to take you up on that offer. Do not go outside that fence without a proper weapon, you can find those inside the basement. Later today I am going to teach you how to use the weapon of your choosing, because tomorrow you will come with me to pick up the greens." She nodded, that sounded good in her ears. And she would not offer herself to him, of that she was sure.


    "I will grab a weapon first, and after that I am going to work in the garden." She said he nodded.


    "Then I will make a place where you can take a shit in private." He started to grin about his own joke, she didn''t find it funny at all. But instead of saying that to him, she simply walked inside the shake, it was not hard to find the basement. The wooden stairs were half rotten way, and would collapse at any moment. And she thanked who even was listening that it didn''t when she made her descent. Or when she came back up with a sword on a stick, and a set of daggers on her hip. "Ah you have chosen the glaive, fine and nice choice. Keeps your enemy at a save distance, and you are still being deadly." Orisino said, he hummed. "I am looking forward to our training, this afternoon. But now you need to put that pretty ass of yours in gear and earn your keep." She narrowed her eyes and looked him over. Did he really just said that? Well if she was going to life here, she needed to put up with it. Somehow. Because she knew that she was not able to change him.


    ********


    Tamora just emptied the bucket with weeds on the freshly made compost pile. She was almost done setting the carrots free from the weeds that hold them captive. The loud noise of something slamming on wood had filled the air. Some animals had visited them, but they didn''t get any closer. Indicating that the fence was indeed electrocuted.


    "You freed the carrots, nice." Orisino stood behind her, and she almost jumped out of her skin. "If you want to survive here, you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Even when you sleep." He growled, she rolled with her eyes.


    "Do you ever sucker coat things?" She asked, he shook his head.


    "I would not dream of it." He replied. "Come on, it is time for your training." She looked at the garden, which was not even being near done. But he had said that he would train her, something she wanted. "I am not going to say it again, so get up. Or I will attack you right here and now, and you will learn to fight that way." He said, and somehow she knew that it was not an empty treat. She jumped up and grabbed the sword on a stick from her back. She had forgotten how he had called it, so she named it how it looked like. He nodded, and he showed her how to hold it. "Keep your hands apart, so you have balance." She did what he just said, and again he nodded. But then he grabbed his maquette and swung it her way. She quickly blocked it with the stick, he did it again and again. How was this going to teach her anything? She learned how to block an attack, but that would mean nothing when she would come face to face with one of those animals. They didn''t attack with just one weapon, they would attack with their claws and teeth. Still she kept on blocking his assaults. Without complaining, but still she started to get angry. He swung with his maquette again, she blocked it with the stick. And then started to attack him with the sword end of the stick. But he ducked out of the way, but then she attacked him again. And this time he could block her assault in the nick of time. "Good, you are doing good. You are light and quick, which you can use in fights." He said, when she attacked him again. "Do not use your anger as fuel for your attacks, it makes you lose focus." He then slammed with one clean swoop the sword on the stick out of her hands. "Pick it up." He did not need to say that. She was already all on her way to do that. "Again." And they started the whole process over, and over until her whole body started to ache. But once again she did not complain.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    *****


    "Alright that is enough for today. Go to the other side of the house there is a shower stall. Do not stand under it too long, the water is not limitless." He said and walked away. She nodded and went to the other side of the house. There was indeed a little wooden building, from which she could swear was not there when she had arrived here. Maybe it was one of the things he had built when she was working inside the garden. Inside the wooden building she found two compartments, one with a tray were she could place her cloths on, and one that was separated with a simple plastic screen. Quickly she undressed herself, until she was only in her underwear. She was going naked all the way, at least not for now. The shower was a rusted bucket with a shower head attached to it, briefly she wondered how she got the water out of the bucket. But then she saw a little cord. She pulled on it softly, knowing what Orisino had said about the limited water supply. The water started to pour down, it felt good, she would not say that she was clean after that, but still it was nice to know she could was away some of the dirt and sweat. She moved the screen away and then had the shock of her life. In the other side stood a plant, which filled the room. A plant she had never seen before, it had a large red flower as head and cup as body. It was beautiful, but then she wondered how it got here. She had not seen it being there before. Not knowing why she grabbed her sword on the stick, which she had taken with her. She grabbed in the way Orisino had showed her, and she attacked the plant. Yes she was going crazy, she was attacking a plant. Or maybe not. Because as soon she trusted the sword end towards the plant, it started to move and to attack her. She needed to get out of this tiny space, or maybe she needed to start screaming. Which in her mind sounded like a good idea. She opened her mouth and screamed, it was loud and long, she was sure Orisino would get the message that something was wrong. Still she was not going to wait for him to rescue her, she trusted with her weapon Again and again, the plant tried to snap at her with his bright red flower head. She somehow menaced to get it out of the little building and into the garden. From the corner of her eyes she saw Orisino running towards them. "How did it get in here?" He asked.


    "Do not know, but is that really a question you want to have answered now? Or are you going to help me kill it?" She snapped at him, and he grabbed his machete as the answer. He swung it towards the plant''s head, which fall off. And the fight was over. She started to gasp for air. "What was that thing?"


    "Paracidic Dazzler, a spawn of someone''s genius but sick mind." He replied, he now looked at her with large eyes. "Did it attack you when you were under the shower?" She just now remembered that she was only wearing her underwear.


    "No, I was just done, and it stood in the place where my cloths were." She said, her cheeks started to burn up. "This is not an invitation." She said quickly before running back to the little wooden building to put on her cloths.


    "You did good. You hold it off, long enough for me to kill it." He said when she stepped out, this time in her short and tank top. She wanted to thank him for that compliment, but then she remembered his question. Had he already figured out how the creature got there in the first place?


    "How..." She started.


    "Like all living things get in here, simply through the gate. Someone had left it open. And I do not point fingers at you, it was most likely me." Orisino said. Her eyebrows shot up. It would have being him, if he was not pointing a finger at her directly. Something he would have done, about that she had no doubt. "Alright, I will clean this up." He said. "You keep a watch on the fire." She nodded.


    *******


    There was not much she could do when she sat by the fire. He already had placed wood on it, and it burned brightly. Cooking the water and meat inside the cooking pot. So she looked at the man, who was busy carving out the plant. Were they going to eat that thing? Probably, it would make sense. Eat or been eaten. She stopped wondering about it now. She just wanted to take in the man, who she is now sharing a shake with. He had a sunburned skin, dark brown curls on top of his head. A three-day stubble, covered his chin.


    "Place another piece of wood on the fire." He said, and she quickly did as she was told. Had he noticed that she was staring at him instead of watching the fire? If he had, he had not said a thing about it, until now that is. But if that was the case, then that meant that he was staring at her too. Her cheeks started to heat up again. What was this, was she blushing? She was and she had no idea how to stop it. She didn''t know this man, at least not yet. But that would chance rather quickly.

 Chapter 4

    He sighed, of course she had to kick him out of his king-size bed. Which was a pain in the butt to get, but she was a woman and his mamma, he taught him to be nice to one. At least he thought she did, and he was never nice to those other women. But there would be a first time for everything, especially after he saw her fight against a Paracidic Dazzler. Like she has done it before, which could be because he had drilled it into her, a few minutes before the attack. But he knew that was not the case, he had only showed her how to trust and to block. But the piece of fighting she had showed was a piece of art, and by only thinking about it made his blood boil, but not in the right place. He sighed again and turned, maybe it was time he remodeled this piece of rotten wood. At an indoor bathroom, an actual kitchen and most important of all, an extra bedroom. Because he would gladly spend a live then to sleep another night on the too small couch. Which stood outside, so if it rained there was no place to hide. But he would not care about it now, he could dream about the changes he could make on the shack. To make it more livable, something he never thought he would be doing. Because he did not need all that fancy, that the people inside the city had. But now there was a woman, for some reason unknown to him. He wanted to take care of her. Was this maybe the gentleman in him, he started to laugh. Who was he kidding, he was no gentleman. He was a low-life, scum of the street, a thief, he frowned. That was strange, he did not know anymore what it was that put him in this shithole.


    ********


    He did not know how, but he had fallen a sleep. The early morning sun now stung his eyes and he started to yawn. It was time to stretch and get an early warm-up before he would go to the platform. But then he remembered the reason why he had slept outside. There was currently a woman laying in his bed. He growled as he remembered that, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Beside''s the fact that he needed to wake her up. Which he did, he walked into the shack straight to the bedroom. The door was closed, but it hung inside its hinges. Another thing that could be added to the list of thing he needed to fix, but he was not here to make that list. He was here to wake her up. He opened the door, and was not at all surprise to see her sitting upright, with a knife in her hand.


    "Good, you listen to me when I said that you need to be aware of your surroundings." He said, she dropped the hand with the knife.


    "That is one way of putting it. I didn''t sleep a wink." She said, when stiffening a yawn. Did he need to feel sorry for her? He wanted to shake his head, it was just something she needed to get used too. Like the fact that she needed to carry weapons everywhere she went, or the fact that nothing inside this hellhole came for free.


    "Get up, it is time for the warming up." He said, and she nodded. Getting up without any complaint. Something he had noticed, the day before. She is not a woman that complains about anything. Something he can live with, if it would stay that way.


    "Alright I am up, and ready. Is there coffee?" She asked, and he shook his head. Coffee was a luxury, breakfast in general is a luxury. Something he thought he didn''t need it.


    "There is jerky." He said, and she nodded. Another thing she needed to get use too. They stepped out of the shack and started to stretch. "We will leave when the sun gets above the trees. Which gives use enough time to get to the platform. Yesterday was an exception to the rule, there were no predators at all. Not on the way to the platform, or on our way back. But not that this will not always be the case. You have a weapon now, but still stay close to me." He said, she gave him a simple nod. He hoped that she would listen to him, otherwise it will cost her a life. It was something that was about to happen at one point, but he knew that the first time was always the hardest. And he hoped to prolong it for her as long as possible. Still he could not and would not make any promises to her. "Alright, grab a piece of jerky, and then it is time to leave." Again she did as he told her without any complained. Maybe he should a coffee maker to the list. As a reward, but then he also needed to add coffee beans to it. Maybe he should plant a coffee tree inside his garden, but how long will it take for that to grow. He shook his head, why did he care so much about making that woman happy. She decided to tack along with him out of her own free will. She could take what he had to offer right now, but he would not go out of his way. Or would he, he was not sure about it. Yesterday around this time he would have said no, but now.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Alright I am ready." She said and he nodded.


    "And no moment too soon, let''s go." He replied and they left.


    *******


    "Shit."  He cursed, he should have known that the road to the platform would be crawling with predators today. After the peace and quiet they had yesterday. But this many was a bit of an overkill, bears, tigers, even some Paracidic Dazzler''s. The most crazy thing off all was that they didn''t attack each other, they only attacked the humans inside this prison. But one thing was clear, they needed to fight to get through this forest. He wished that he had left her inside the shack, this was too dangerous for the both of them. But then again, if they were killed they would regenerate at their destination. But then after that the whole hell would start all over again. He could not think like this, before they even started the fight. He was grabbing his machete, but he needed to duck away. A tiger jumped towards him, he almost could feel the claws sunk in his back. Almost, but then he heard a loud bump. He looked up and saw that the tiger was death in front of him. A glaive stuck out of its body, she had thrown her weapon to defend him. What the hell was she thinking, now she was not able to defend herself. Was really that stupid, or didn''t she saw the other predators. What ever it was, he needed to get up and started to fight himself. He jumped up, and swung towards the first predators he saw. Which was of course a bear, of course it was a bear. And not a cute black bear, but a big ass grizzly bear. The animal stood on his hind legs, which made him only bigger. Still he didn''t back down, he couldn''t back down. Hell it was not only his life in the balance, and she had misplaced her weapon. He ran towards the monster without thinking, or maybe all his thoughts were just set one thing, kill.


    "So that some piece of work."


    "Fuck." He silently cursed, he knew that voice. He really wished that he didn''t know it, but he did. "What do you want, Lu." He asked.


    "I do not want shit. At least from you, from the skirt, however." Lu said and this pulled the attention of Tamora.


    "What do you want with me?" She asked, just right before he did. Lu was from one of the cities led by a Dona, a female gang leader.


    "I have a better question for you. What those Marissa want with Tamora?" He said instead. Lu looked a bit shocked, but Orisino was not fooled by this. "Or better yet can it wait? We need to pick up some greens from the platform, and we are running a bit late." Lu just shrugged.


    "I can come with you, if you want. Marissa just wanted to know if the rumors were true. She had heard from a green that you took in a very pretty woman." Lu said.


    "So she sent you, her number one hitman. To do what? To kill her if the rumors were true, like you did with those other women?" Orisono said, if Marrisa saw Tamora as a treat that chance was still a possibility.


    "The last time I checked. You didn''t care about what happened to those, who leave your care." Lu said, and he didn''t care. But that did not mean that he was blind or deaf. "What was that little girl''s name again?" O fuck, he was going to bring up Aurora. "O yes, Aurora. You dumped her ass inside Chris''s crib."


    "And Chris takes good care of her." Orisino said.


    "How can you be so sure, I thought you didn''t care?" Lu replied, he was playing him, and he knew it. "But no I am not here to kill her, at least not yet. Marrisa just offers her a place inside her city. There she those not face the treat of being used as a sex-slave."


    "No there she faces very hard labour, or if Marissa finds her too pretty. She would kill her over and over until her lives run out." Orisino snapped. "And do not pretend otherwise. But like I said, Lu. We have a job to do." He walked towards Tamora. "Believe me, the last place you want to be is inside Marrisa''s city." He said softly to her. It was of course her choice, but she was still in his care. On that Lu was right.


    "Thank your Dona for the offer, but I stay with Orisino." Tamora said and then walked away from Lu towards the platform. This will bite them in the ass, but he will worry about that some other time.

 Chapter 5

    "Who is Aurora?"


    He had expected this question as soon that asshole of a Lu brought her name up. But she had waited to ask him about that, until they were back at the shack.


    "Aurora was one of five children, that were placed here. She arrived her some three years ago, and she was the first child I ever saw in here. Which by the way is a crime, the one who came up with it should be put in here. This is no place for a child, no matter the crime. But like Lu said, I delivered her to the town where a man named Chris calls the shots. He is one of the old-timers in here, and he told me once that he was a gang leader outside this hellhole. But he hated the fact that some gangs had used kids. So it sounded reasonable in my mind that I would bring her to him. And he promised me that he would take good care of her, and he has. At least from what I hear." He said, and she gave him a small nod.


    "So you do care." She said, and he sighed.


    "I am not made of out of stone." He snapped. "She is only fourteen." He said if that would explain everything. "I was not leaving her anywhere I thought I would not be safe for her. The same went for those other kids, which I also pointed towards Chris. I have never seen them back in the forest, which is something good in my books."


    "And why..."


    "Because that means that he didn''t, got them killed. You will see in time that you will see familiar faces inside the forest from time to time. And now I need to carve out some of the animals, we have killed. The trader comes at sun set, and maybe he carries coffee with him. And if that is the case I need furs and meat to pay him." He said and walked away.


    "But I want..." He couldn''t hear the rest, because he was already too far away. He needed to let go of some steam. Lu had to bring up Aurora? He just could kill him, and he would not even feel the pain. But he knew he had failed Aurora and the other kids. Nobody, and he meant nobody, especially that scum back Lu didn''t need to tell him that. And he didn''t need to hear it from Tamora, or worse what if she agreed with him. That he had not seen those kids inside the forest didn''t mean shit, it just meant that Chris didn''t get them, killed, that was all. He growled softly, he always stocked by the rule, out of sight out of mind. But now he started to worry about Aurora and the other kids. And that was thanks to her. "Orisino." Her voice was like thunder, and he almost jumped out of his skin. Almost, but still she had noticed it. "You need to be aware of your surroundings." Of course, she threw his words back at him.


    "I was just deep in thought." He said. He lowered his shoulders. "You make me question things."


    "What kind of things?" She asked. It was a simple and honest question, but still it made his blood boil.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Everything, about the well-being of the greens, the kids." He snapped at her, but she didn''t back down. "I am not a Jimmy Two-shoes, and I never claim that I am one." He said.


    "You may not be a saint, but still you go out of your way to help the greens." She said, and he started to laugh.


    "I started doing that after a few idiots walked into the shack, and started to claim that it was theirs from now on." He said. "I killed them without a second thought, sending them a clear message that everything in here most be earned." She looked at him and nodded.


    "Well at least after that you showed them the way to the cities, were they can work their ashes off." She said, calmly. He nodded and laughed even harder. They had arrived at the road, and the corpses of the animals and plants were still on the ground.


    "So let''s grab as much of them as we can." He said, pointing towards the cart. She nodded and started by dragging one of the tigers. He grabbed a bear.


    "What are we going to do with them?" She asked. When he helped her with lifting the tiger on the cart.


    "I am going to clean them, the pelts can be used for clothing, bedding, and as rough. The meat I do not have to explain. The bones, are used to make soup. Do I need to continue?" He asked, and she shook her head, she got the picture. "We do not keep everything for ourselves. A merchant, one I love to kill until his lives run out, comes every month to ask if I need anything. Until this point I never made use of his services, but now there are some things I need. Like coffee and stuff." She looked up in surprise. "When we get back to the shack I will explain my plans."


    *****


    The gate closed behind them, and he made sure it was locked this time. He brought the cart next to his working bench, where he cleaned the Paracidic Dazzler yesterday.


    "Alright, I am going to make some changes to the shack. To make it more livable for two persons. I was thinking about an extra bedroom, indoor kitchen, and bathroom." He started, and she nodded, with every he said. "I do not want to brag, but I am very good at building stuff. So that would not be a problem, but there are some elements like a toilet, or a coffee machine that I can not make." He said. She nodded for a second time.


    "Alright, yell if you need my help. I am going to work inside the garden." She said, before she wanted to walk away. He could use her help with cleaning the animals and plants. But they needed an extra working bench for that, he looked at the large pile of corpses on the cart.


    "Tamora, bring me two buckets. One for the blood and another for the things we can not use." He said, she said nothing. She just walked away, to get back later, with two buckets. "Alright, look closely." And he started to clean the tiger. "Alright, the pelt we are going to hang here." He placed the hide on a metal wire. So that it could dry. "Place the meat inside, shit I forgot to pick the bucket from the smoke house." He said, before he stormed off. The meat house was near the little shower stall he had built yesterday. He grabbed the bucket and run back to the table. "Place only the meat inside this large bucket. We''re going to dry and smoke it for the jerky." He said, while he cut a piece of meat and placed it inside the bucket. Tamora watch as he showed her every step. "Place the bones on the piece of cloth and then there is nothing left of them. We burn the rest later in the day and the ash will make a good fertilizer." He ended the lesson. "Now it is your turn, I will be nearby. Making another working bench." She nodded and started to work on another tiger.

 Chapter 6

    "Hello, hello. Is there somebody home?"


    Orisino started to growl, there was that piece of shit. He was earlier than usual and that could only mean one thing. He knows about Tamora. Tamora looked up, she was busy with the last Paracidic Dazzler.


    "Keep on working, he will come to use." Orisino growled again. She shrugged and went back to work.


    "O my, o my. Did you kill the entire forest?" The merchant better known as Dink walked around the shack.


    "You are early." Orisino replied. "This here is Tamora, she is my new assistant and roommate. And you know full well that I do not kill something, unless I am being attacked." Dink nodded quickly.


    "Of course, of course. But are you keeping this all to yourself?" Dink said, with his slimy tongue. Orisino wanted to snap that piece of shits neck so badly. But he really needed him this time.


    "No." Orisino replied. Dink looked at him in shock, yes Orisino knew it was a shocker. "I am going to sell, meat, bones, pelts and poison." Dink''s eyes grew even wider, if he would keep this up his green eyes will pop out.


    "You are..." Dink started.


    "Do I really need to repeat myself? Yes I am selling. Do not look so surprised." Orisino said. "But I only sell it for the right price, of course." Dink nodded. And grabbed a piece of paper out of his pocket.


    "Fire away." Dink said, and Orisino did. Dink nodded by every request. "It is good to hear you are going to upgrade that shack. And specially when there is a lady involved." Dink said. Of course, he was just saying that, to up the price.


    "So what do I own you?" Orisino asked. Dink looked at the pelts and the meat.


    "Two pelts and one bucket of meat." Dink replied. Now it was Orisino''s turn to look surprised. Only two pelts and a bucket of meat. What about the poison, and the bones? "With the courtesy of Chris." Dink added. "He had heard that Marrisa tried to steal your roommate away." Of course, he had heard that.


    "What those Chris want from me?" Orisino asked, knowing there is always a price tag on the gang leaders gifts.


    "Nothing, much." Dink said, and shrugged lightly.


    "What?" Orisino growled at Dink, did he already menace that he hated the guy?  Dink looked at Orisino.


    "Just sent the next bounce of greens towards his city. It those not matter if they are male or female." Dink said, that sounded reasonable. But Orisino knew better than tho jump on an offer.


    "Is he planning a war with Marrisa?" Orisino asked. But Dink just shrugged, as if it was nothing.


    "It was a long time coming, no worries. The kiddo''s will be out of harms way." Dink said and looked then at Tamora. "Man, I hope for you that she is sharing her bed with you."


    "Dink." Orisino warned the man. And Dink looked at him in horror.


    "Do you mean that you are sleeping on the floor?" Dink said, and Orisino nodded. There was no point in lying to the man.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "I made her a promise, but what are you waiting for?" Orisino said. Dink shrunk a little, good.


    "I will bring everything in the morning, and then I will pick up the meat and the pelt." Dink said and he left.


    "So that is handled." Orisino turned towards Tamora who was just done with the plant. "Good, let''s bring that meat to the smoker."


    *****


    "Why those everybody asking if you are bedding me?" Tamora asked, when he just put the last bite of the soup in his mouth. He almost chocked on it, almost. How was he going to answer that?  She was a pretty woman, that was indeed clear. Her shoulder long brown hair, here piercing blue eyes, sun kissed skin. Yes she was a vision to be hold.


    "They have nothing better to do I think." He replied. "Do not forget what the task of most women is, inside the cities." Tamora nodded. "They are mostly there to clean, cook food, and to lay on their backs."


    "Did they ever ask you to stay with you?" She asked, and he shook his head.


    "Nope, most of them already knew what awaited them inside the cities. Mostly because they were already doing it outside this place." He said. "I do not blame them, it is sometimes hard to make end meet. When there are children at home, screaming for food and the next best toy."


    "It sounds like you know what you are talking about." Tamora said and he simply shrugged.


    "Not really, to be fair. I lost track of the time that I have being in here." He said. "It looks like I have being here forever." He has not admitted this to anyone. "I do not even know what I have done to deserve such a faith." She looked at him and gently biting on her lip. "But it most be something right?" She nodded slowly.


    "I guess." She said softly. He looked at her and sighed.


    "And what did you do to end up in here?" He asked, no longer being able to keep that question in.


    "I do not know." She said. That is why he frowned, she did not know why she was here.


    "Did they not tell you?" He said and she shrugged.


    "I do not know, I remember nothing before my time in here." She said, and his jaw dropped. Her memory didn''t go back until two days ago, that was just crazy. He had heard about it, it only happened when somebody got uploaded, without knowing that they were going to be. Or if someone jumped into the uploading tank. But something like that is not supposed to happen, because that could mean that somebody innocent could end up here.


    "Do you not remember anything? Husband, kids, other family." He asked and she shook her head. "Only your name?" She nodded, and then shrugged.


    "Eddy and the others got pissed when you told them that they will not see their loved once again. But somehow I felt relieved when I heard it. Is that strange?" She asked, and he did not know how to answer that.


    "No I think it is not strange, only it makes me think that you run away from something. And I think this was the only place you thought was safe." He said after a while. "And if that is the case then that is pretty fucked up." She nodded in agreement. "That is probably why you looked like a doe caught in headlights. And why you looked so out of place between the others." She sighed.


    "What ever it was, I am glad I did it." She said.


    "You are!" He screamed. "Look around you, you have bought yourself a one way ticket towards hell!"


    "Asumming I was not already in hell." She said calmly, she had a point there. If she had run from something or someone.


    "I am sorry, for yelling at you." He said. She looked at him and sighed deeply. "I just couldn''t help but think, that you do not deserve to be here. Hell nobody those deserve this place. Not even the serial killers, giving them some kind of hope that they will be free one day, if they could kill the boss."


    "How does not exist." Tamora said and he nodded.


    "Give them then the chair, the gallows, the fire wall, and the designer knows what they have invented to get rid of those people." He said and she started to giggle. "What is so funny?"


    "You know for a person that claims that he those not care about it all." She started, and he could see where this was going. "You care a lot."


    "I do not care." He said, although it was for not. "Alright I care about one person, inside this Hellhole."


    "Yourself." She said and he shook his head. "Aurora?" He shook his head again. "Then who?"


    "I care about you." He replied. And she frowned a little.


    "You do not know me." She said. But she was wrong there, yes he didn''t know about her past. But he didn''t have to, he knew that she knew her own mind. She could fight, and she cared about him otherwise she would not have saved him earlier that day. He told her all of this, and he wanted to tell her so much more. So much more. But for some reason he couldn''t get the other words over his lips. "Thank you, I guess."


    "Your welcome." He replied.

 Chapter 7

    It was strange to hear all of those things out of his mouth. The one man who claimed that he couldn''t care less what happened to the others inside this prison. She was glad that she had told him about her memory, something she doubted to do when she arrived here. But now he knew, and he didn''t think that she was stupid. Alright for a very short moment. But that was when she told him that she was glad to be here, and she meant it. Here she knew it what kind of danger she was in. She knew how to fight it. With her gliave, she finally knew how to call it. She lay under a bear pelt on the one and only bed, his bed. The evening had brought some kind of chill with it, and she felt sorry for Orisino, who lay on the crapy built bench outside the shack. The room itself was dark, although there was nothing in front of the window. But there was no moon, she was hiding behind a thick layer of dark clouds. The sound of the deadly animals and walking plants filled the air, but she also heard something else. She jumped out of the bed, grabbed her daggers and her gliave and stormed out of her room.


    "Orisino." She said, he jumped up from the crapy bench.


    "What is it?" He asked.


    "There is something out there." She said quickly, looking not at him but at the gate.


    "That is probably some kind of animal." He said, his voice thick of sleep. She was glad that he at least got some sleep.


    "No it is not an animal." She snapped at him.


    "I would listen to her if I were you." A female voice said in the dark. Orisino''s gaze snapped towards the gate. A woman stood near it, her black long hair and white skin made her almost made her look like a ghost.


    "Marissa, what in the designer''s name are you doing here." He growled.


    "I wanted to if your lady friend here is alright." Marissa said. He grabbed his maquette from the ground.


    "Did your boy-toy not tell you?" He said. "O yes I forgot, you do not trust men."


    "That is not true, I do trust them. But not when it comes to women." Marrisa said and she finally locked eyes with her. "You are indeed a vision. Lu didn''t lie about that." Orisino started move in front of her.


    "She is not a tread to you, Marrisa. She declined, remember." Orisino said, with a low growl in his voice. "She wants to stay here."


    "I have heard that, but I found it a bit odd. That a woman refused to join her own kind, so I wanted to see it for myself." Marrisa snapped towards him.


    "Maybe she has heard about how you gained the position of Dona? I do not know, or how hoe you treat your competition." He growled. "Maybe she those not want to end up on that platform, again and again until her lives run out. I know I wouldn''t like it." He blocked her now completely, was he suspecting something. "Tamora, if something happens run to the basement and lock the door. You will be safe in there." He said this in a whisper, so that only she would hear him. She didn''t say anything, or she didn''t move. Afraid that she might give away something. "Or she heard about you getting tired of being a fuck hole for the gang leader of that time. Afraid that he might get bored with you, so you made sure that he lost a life." Marrisa checked her fingernails in the meantime.


    "Is that really the best insults you got, I am hurt and bored at the same time. Which in my case is never a good combination." She said. Tamora did a step back towards the shack. "I have one for you, I have heard you made a deal with Chris to send all the greens towards his city. Why would you promise him that?" Orisino pointed to the shack.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Is this a place to house a woman?" He answered her with a question of his own. "I think not, so I need some stuff to fix it up. I was ready to sell meat, bones, pelt and poison to Dink. But he instead offered me this deal, and I would point them towards Chris''s city, I will not deliver them."


    "Really, well glad I checked. Because I heard a different story. You see you really can''t trust man. But then one little thing why?" Marrisa asked.


    "I think he wants to build an army, to start a war with you. Apparently he is still not over it." Orisino said while shrugging.


    "And you are aiding him?" She said in shock, although Tamora suspected that she was faking it, big time. This woman didn''t become a Dona by asking it nicely, or stayed a Dona by playing it by the rules, if there were any in here.


    "I am not aiding him, I just point some greens towards his city. When I am at the crossroad, like I always do. I will also send some to you. But that it is, what the greens do after that is no longer my concern." He said, and Tamora knew that he meant it. Only Marrisa was not buying it.


    "Like I said, I do not believe men." She snapped towards him. Tamora heard something fly, and the next thing she knew Orisino shrunk to the ground. This was her sign, she ran into the house and towards the basement. How in the name would that place keep her safe. She did not know, but she trusted Orisino. "Follow her, and kill her. Lu will be waiting for her by the platform." So she was planning to kill her until her lives run out. She heard the gate flew open and the stamping of footsteps echoed behind her. This was not happening, she opened the door that lead to the basement. She ran through it, and slammed the door shut. A small click was audible.


    "You can run, but you can''t hide." A male voice said from the other side of the door. She stepped on the first tear of the stairs, which collapsed. She didn''t know how she survived the fall, and specially with her gliave on her back. But she did, only she was not able to move for quite some time. "Fuck, I can''t get this fucking door open." The male voice said.


    "Well then rest use one thing, we burn the whole place down. And where in the hell is Frank?" Marrisa said with a loud voice. Responses of the other that they do not know followed. "What ever, he was a lousy fuck anyway. Burn this piece of crap to the ground."


    *******


    Tamora could barely breathe, through the smoke that slipped through the door. The fire didn''t reach her, and she couldn''t feel the heat. But if she stayed here, the smoke will kill her. She was finally able to get up, but her back was still hurting. They should have fixed the stairs after she came down here for the first time. But she hadn''t, and now she was paying the price for it.


    "Holy shit, what happened here." A voice upstairs said. "Dink look for Orisino and that woman." Wait was Dink here, she knew that Orisino didn''t like the guy. And she did not trust the man, but this was maybe her ticket out.


    "They are not here, Chris." Dink said. "But I saw Marrisa''s man run from here, their hands filled with pelts."


    "That bloody bitch." The man called Chris cursed. "I should have killed her, years ago."


    "Chris, Dink?" That was Orisino''s voice.


    "Orisino!" She started to yell. The door flew open, and the smoke started to escape. "Orisino, the stairs." She started to cough.


    "Fuck. Chris, give me a hand." Orisino called. She did not know how, but the next thing she knows was that she was in Orisino''s arms outside the burning shack. "Hello there." Orisino said, when he saw that she had opened her eyes. She gave him a painful smile.


    "I am sorry, Orisino. But there is nothing left to save." Chris said, from behind Orisino, so she couldn''t see him. "How is she?"


    "Awake, but still weak." Orisino replied. "Which is not surprising." She couldn''t hear a response from Chris. "She is tough, she survived that fall and all the smoke."


    "She indeed is, but let us go back to my city. So that the two of you can get some rest. We will figure out your housing in the morning." Chris said.


    "I do not trust you Chris. But everything is better than to stay here, out and in the open. With Marrisa on a murdering spree." Orisino said.


    "Fair. I do not trust you either." Chris replied and that was the last thing that reached Tamora''s ears.

 Chapter 8

    Orisino didn''t know Chris''s city that well, he had only being there once or twice in his time inside this hellhole. One of those two times was to bring Aurora here. It was Dink who brought them to a chamber inside a large skyscraper. The main building of the city and Chris home base of operations. The room could be locked from the inside which was in his book a plus, the only downside was, there was only one bed and no couch for him to crash on. Or extra bedding to crash on the floor, nope that bed was the only place they could sleep. He lay Tamora on it and he himself sat down on the end, on the cold concrete floor. But he didn''t care, Tamora needed the rest more than he did. She would have died in that basement if Chris and that creep Dink were not there to help him. They had probably seen the fire from this tower and Chris knew where he lived. He hated Marrisa for what she had done, she had cost him a life, almost killed Tamora and stole everything of value in this hellhole. At least according to Dink. All because Lu had told her that Tamora was pretty, and she felt threatened by a woman that she didn''t know. Also, the deal that he had made with Chris, of pointing greens towards his city didn''t help much either. But he would have done the same thing for her, if she had offered to help him. It only seemed fair in his eyes, it only did not matter anymore. His shack was gone, just like everything he worked his ash of to build. The weapons in his basement will be gone at the beginning of the morning, Chris will make sure of that. He sighed and closed his eyes for a second.


    *****


    "Orisino." He felt a slender hand on his shoulder. He knew one thing for sure, it was not Tamora''s voice. "Orisino." Said the young female voice again. He opened his eyes and looked straight into dark brown eyes. The young woman looked at him with a big smile. The golden blond hair was still held together by a rubber band.


    "Aurora." He said, and the dark brown eyes started to twinkle. "Who in the designer''s name did you come in here. I am pretty sure that I locked the door."


    "Oh you did, but when I heard from Chris that you were here. Well let just say that a locked door can not stop me." Aurora replied, again with a large grin on her face. "Who is the woman on the bed?"


    "Tamora, she is my roommate and companion for the last two days." Orisino replied and Aurora nodded slowly.


    "So the rumors are true?" She said. "I am glad that you found someone. At least to share that piece of ..."


    "Hey, be gentle. Besides that, the piece of thrash is gone." Orisino said and Aurora frowned. "Marrisa burnt it." Aurora slowly nodded.


    "I never liked the bitch." Aurora said.


    "Hello, missy you are fourteen." Orisino said, and he started to giggle, what did he expect that she would speak proper English. She just shrugged it off and looked at Tamora once again.


    "She is pretty, are you sleeping with her?" Aurora asked.


    "Would I be sitting on the cold concrete floor, if I did?" He asked in return and she shook her head. "I am not going to force her." Aurora tilted her head slightly, did he see a glimmer of hope in her eyes. For fuck¡¯s sake, she was fourteen, a child. "No, Aurora." She started to pout at first, but then sighed.


    "Alright then, have it your way. I really hoped that you would be my first." She said, so nobody here had touched her. That was a relief, but how long will that lest. If she is starting to offer herself to men, he would talk with Chris about that. Maybe he could talk her out of it. "I have being here for four years, Orisino. That means that in the real world I would have being an adult."


    "Yes, but in here you are not an adult, you are still fourteen." He reminded her. "You really should be grateful that you are not seen as an adult." She looked away. Forget Chris, he would try to talk some sense into her. "Aurora, do you know what happened with a lot of women in here?" She nodded.


    "They get fucked until they can''t see straight." Aurora replied.


    "Do you really want that happening to you, because it will when you are become sexuality active." He said and she shook her head.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "No, I do not want that happening to me." She said and she lowered her head. "Why in the designer''s name did they send children into an adult prison." He said and she smiled at him.


    "Because, the equalizer that is what they call it. No crime will go unpunished." She said with a playful voice. "And with that they count stealing a bag of chips and a can of soda." That was it, that was why she was in here? For some freaking snacks. He knew what she looked like when he first saw her, she looked like a freaking skeleton with a thin layer of skin. She was starving and instead of punishing the ones that needed to feed her, they punished her.


    "You look a lot better than we met." He said and he meant it. She nodded, slightly and sighed.


    "Chris is a man of his word, he treats me and the others well." Aurora said, he wanted to sigh in relief. "I will bring you some extra bedding." She stood up and left the room.


    ******


    Aurora kept her word and came back with a sleeping bag. And with some help of the other children a mattress.


    "Here you go." A boy age ten said. Orisino has forgotten his name and if he was honest he remembers none of their names. But he was glad to see them, all of them looked better than when he had found them.


    "Thank you." He started.


    "That is Alex." Aurora said. "It has being years since you pointed them towards this city. And besides that you see new faces every day." Sure, that was it. Not. But he was not going to tell them that. "The others are Justin, Cindy and Jo." Everybody waves towards him when they heard their name.


    "That woman is very beautiful." Alex said, or rather squeaked.


    "Thank you." Tamora said, she sat right up and smiled at the children. "Do not worry you didn''t wake me." She said quickly before any of them could apologize. Aurora smiled at her.


    "You are nice." One of the younger girls said. He didn''t know how old she was, but if he had to guess. Not much older than Alex. Tamora looked at them and then at him, and he shrugged.


    "I already said that they may kill the one who send them here." Orisino said and she nodded. Agreeing with them.


    "To be fair, we were all arrested for stealing food." Aurora reminded him. And he shook his head.


    "That is not your fault Aurora. Do not forget that I have seen you all when you came in here. You all were hungry, and instead of punishing you. They needed to punish the ones who needed to feed you." He didn''t want to sound angry, but he was. He still couldn''t wrap his head around the fact that they placed children inside a prison full of murders, rapists and what not. But it was no use to get mad about it now, they were in here and there was nothing he could do about it now. Well he had done something about it, at least Chris kept them safe from harm, and he was feeding them well.


    "Well we better go before Chris finds use here." Aurora said.


    "To late." Chris his voice echoed through the room. "I already found you, and it was nice of you to bring our guest an extra mattress. But I am pretty sure that this door was locked, and I doubt that Orisino opened it." Aurora looked at her feet, busted. "What did I tell you about boundaries."


    "I just wanted..." Aurora started.


    "No, it is not about what you want, missy. It is about what Orisino and Tamora want at this point. They are guests, and they had their door locked, that in itself is a simple message." Chris said stern. Aurora nodded slowly. "Go back to your rooms and think about what you have done." The children left the room and Chris sighed. "Children." He smiled. "They are the reason that I have not .... myself." Tamora gasped for air. "Do not worry it will only cost me one life."


    "But you do not know how many lives you have." She said and Chris nodded.


    "That is true, but that is the beauty of it all. You do not know how long you have to live and when you are in here, that is all you can think about. That is why everybody those what they want, or at least tried to do it." Chris said, and Tamora nodded.


    "Speaking about that, before Aurora came in here with the mattress, she was talking about having sex. I already talked to her and told her that this would not be such a good idea. But she is thinking about it." Orisino said and Chris sighed.


    "The joys and burdens of being a parent." He said. "Thank you for talking to her, I will keep an eye on her from now on. But you two get some more rest." He said stepped out and closed the door. Orisino turned the lock once again, and then moved the mattress right in front of it.


    "So now at least I will notice, when somebody sneaks in." He said with a grin, but Tamora''s eyes looked at him, worry clouded those beautiful blue eyes.


    "You never told me they were that young." She said and he lowered his head. He had indeed not told her about their age. "It is criminal." She slammed her hand on the bedding. He nodded and sighed.


    "At least now I know that Chris sees them as his own. He treats them well and feeds them. You should have seen them on the platform." He said and she shook her head.


    "I believe you, that they looked horrible when you found them. Still these are children, and you are right. Instead of punishing them, they needed to punish the once responsible for them." She said and he nodded again.


    "Get some more sleep. We will talk more about it in the morning." He said softly, and he lowered himself on the mattress. Doubting he will get any more sleep tonight, but still sleep came for him and Tamora.

 Chapter 9

    Tamora woke up, the sun was shining through the window. And was she seeing this right, was it really snowing? Yes little flakes of white fall down. She didn''t know why, but she knew that she loved snow. She pulled the sheets off of her and stood up. They were in a large skyscraper, one of the larger buildings inside the city. The streets were well-kept there was no litter on the ground, no cracks in the pavement. The children were playing in the snow, throwing snowballs to each other. And some women that just walked by, the women didn''t shout at them, no instead they started to throw snowballs themselves. It was a fun and an innocent display, in this digital prison. What would she not give to go down there and join them. But for that she needed to wake Orisino. She sighed and besides that her outfit was not suited for this weather. She looked at her short and tank top, this was all she had. And of course her weapons, but they will not help her to keep warm. A knock landed on the door, and Orisino shot up, with a knife in his hand.


    "What, where?" He said, still half a sleep.


    "We are inside Chris''s city, the shack was burned down. And there was just a knock on the door." Tamora answered. "Probably Chris, or one of his gang members." Orisino mumbled a few things, while he stood up and moved the mattress, so he could unlock the door. It took all not more than minutes, but still those were all steps they didn''t need to take if they were in their own shack. Al though there was nothing of that left. The door opened and Chris together with a young woman entered the room. She was carrying a tray filled with breakfast and most important of all coffee.


    "Good morning, you two." Chris said, while the woman placed the tray on the bed. "I see that you got some rest." Tamora grabbed the cup of coffee, the smell alone was a warm welcome. Just then she saw that Chris looked at her. "You can not wear that, if you want to go outside." She already knew that of course. "Angie, please go and search for some warmer clothing." Chris said to the woman. Who said nothing, or didn''t even nod. "She is a lovely lady, a bit quiet I am afraid. But still lovely."


    "And she must do wonders in bed." Orisino growled. "Chris how long do I know you?"


    "Years." Chris replied, and Orisino nodded.


    "And tell me, in those years did you do anything for free?" Orisino asked, and Chris replied by shacking his head. "Good to know, so be not offended. What the hell do you want from use." Tamora put the cup of coffee down, she had not taken a sip from it.


    "I do not want anything." Chris said.


    "Cut the crap, and just spit it out. Do you still want greens? Too bad. The only reason why I escorted them out of the forest was burnt down. Do you want a night with Tamora, well that is her decision to make. Do you want me and Tamora to fight in that war of yours, not going to happen." Orisino said and Tamora tilted her head slightly. She knew him not that well, and she knew for a fact that he was direct. But she had not seen him like this, so worked up. Chris sighed.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "You have a point there, I do nothing out of the kindness of my cold heart. And I know I can not ask you to fight, of to get those greens for me." Chris said and he looked at Tamora. "Are you willing..."


    "No." She said, before he could finish his question. And he nodded.


    "Fair enough. So that is also of the table. Then I only have one other thing. You already menaced the war, and that was about to happen sooner or later. Marrisa thinks that her power is not limited to her own city. Which it those and I am sick of her. But I can not guaranty the safety of the children when the war breaks out." Chris said and Orisino nodded.


    "You want me to take them." Orisino said and Chris nodded. "To take them were?"


    "There is a small village, near the city of Douglas." Chris said. "I already talked with Douglas and he those not mind if I use it to save guard the children."


    "But those he knows about use?" Tamora asked. She didn''t know Douglas, but she knew that the only one who she could trust inside this world was Orisino. Chris nodded.


    "He knows I am not sending the children to live there on their own." Chris said, that was not answering her question at all. But apparently she needed to take it because he walked towards the door. "Discuss it and enjoy your breakfast."


    *****


    "I am not a fucking babysitter." Orisino said through gritted teeth. Before he took a sip from his coffee.


    "Well you and I already said no to the other things, so he needed to have another price." Tamora said, and Orisino nodded.


    "I know that." He breezed. "But I am still no babysitter. I am a hunter, a killer, a low life."


    "And that is why he asked you. Because you brought them here, you brought them to him. Gave him somebody to care for, and now he is asking you to keep them once again from harm." Tamora said. "He would not have asked you if he didn''t believe the children would be safe in your care." This didn''t help, it just put only more oil on the fire.


    "Well that is great, you are really thinking about doing this for him. He is placing use at Douglas mercy, which is more dangerous than Marrisa''s wreath." Orisino said. "Truth, the two man respect each other. But what if Chris dies on that battlefield, and he those not come back what then?"


    "Then we need to run or hope for the best." Tamora said, as if it was nothing. "Chris will not place those children in danger." She was not so sure about that, but she needed to hope that this was true. "I think we need to do this."


    "Why?" He asked.


    "Because we are the only once I trust with them." Tamora replied, and he lowered his gaze.


    "Are you sure about that?" He didn''t look her in the eye, so she placed a finger under his chin, pushed it up and nodded.


    "I do."


    "Well then I have no choice in the matter, where you go I go." He said, and he snatched a bun from the tray. "Let''s eat." He took a bit and grinned for the first time that day.

 Chapter 10

    Angie had brought warmer clothing for Tamora, and he had left the room, so she could change. He was not surprised to see Chris waiting for him.


    "So you made a dissension?" He asked, Orisino nodded.


    "We are doing it. Are your man willingly to prepare the house for use. With electrical wall and all?" Orisino asked in return. Chris nodded and sighed.


    "They are already on it." Chris replied and Orisno looked at him with narrowed eyes. Did he already suspect that he would say yes? Or was he just prepared? "Orisino may I ask a question?"


    "You already have asked it, but what is the next one?" He replied, with a small grin on his face.


    "Why is she here?" Chris asked. And Orisino didn''t like were this was going. So he was going to try his tactic from before.


    "You invited use." He replied and Chris sighed.


    "Are you really going to play that game? You know that is not what I meant. Why is that woman inside our prison? Even a blind man can see that she those not belong here." Chris snapped at him.


    "That also can be said about the children downstairs." Orisino replied. "But alright, you have a point. We do not know why she is here. She those not remember anything from her life outside the prison."


    "Nothing?" Chris asked.


    "Nothing." Orisino confirmed his own words. "She has what I would call reflex memories, she fights like she has done that all her life." Chris slowly nodded.


    "To my knowledge that has never happened before." Chris said. "Although, I have heard the same stories as you. About this kind of things." Orisino nodded and sighed. "Or there went something wrong with the uploading. Or she was uploaded rather quickly, as if she was running for something or someone." Orisino nodded again. "Have you considered looking it up in the data bank?"


    "She only told me this yesterday, and of course I have. But there was no way that I would leave my shack unguarded." Orisino said. "But now my shack is gone and there is nothing holding me back now." Chris shook his head. There was indeed nothing holding him back anymore. Not his shack at least, Marrisa made sure about that.


    "Do you know where it is?" Chris asked and Orisino nodded, he knew where that stupid building was placed. Inside the most designer forsaken place, Frozen Hell. At least that was he had named it, after his source for the boss. It was like the name suggested, cold as hell. And if the cold didn''t kill you those freaky Bigfoot monsters would have their turn. It was also home to a few tribes, that couldn''t find a place inside the five cities. All their members just as deadly as the Bigfoot''s, maybe even more deadly. "You know, planning a war will take time. I need to recruit new man and woman. Train them of course. Enough time for you and Tamora to take a trip up north." Orisino frowned and looked at Chris.


    "What, we need to take the kids to that village. I need to train them, we can not leave now." Orisino said, and Chris started to laugh loudly.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "And here I was, thinking you didn''t care about anything." Chris said, it was meant to be a joke and Orisino knew that. But he couldn''t appreciate it. Chris raised his hands up in surrender. "Hey, do not shot the messenger. But like I said, planning a war takes time. Preparing that house will take time. Train the children, they just have to train with everybody else. Just go to the data bank."


    "If I didn''t know better, I would say that you are trying to get rid of me." Orisino said and Chris shook his head.


    "Not at all. I just figured that you have deserved a break. You have in the past years guided greens through the woods. You never took a day off, you never complained." Chris said.


    "And this is your idea of a vacation? You know that the north is the most dangerous place of this prison." Orisino said and Chris shook his head.


    "No, the most dangerous place, will be in this city and Marrisa''s city. I would be surprised if there would be one single building still standing. I have seen my share of wars, in the real world. And I know this will not be pretty."


    *********


    "So we are going up north." Tamora said when she opened the door. She was wearing a long leather pants and, a warm with fur lined coated and some comfortable boots, also lined with fur. Her short hair was held back in a ponytail, by a leather cord. "Now I can see why those pelts are so important." She said when she noticed that he was checking her out.


    "Indeed they are." Chris answered in his place. "There are no places to plant cotton plants, alright there are places only they are not so safe. And the designers have forgotten to place sheep inside this hellhole. So we need to do with what ever is offered to use. In the beginning some of the soft-hearted inmates have voiced their concerns, about maybe we kill too much. But they never seemed to die out." Chris looked at her and nodded.


    "You look..." Orisino stammeled.


    "O by the designer, that I live to see the day. Orisino here is at a loss for words." Chris started to mock him.


    "You know that I can kill you here and now." Orisino growled and Chris stopped with laughing. But Orisino lost focus on him and looked again at Tamora. "You look good." Hell, she looked more than good. But he indeed couldn''t find the words to say that to her.


    "Thank you, I guess." Tamora said, that was maybe one of those memory reflexes. She could not take a compliment.


    "You know that I mean what I say. I do not waste my time by telling lies." Orisino said, and this was only half true. But he promised himself then and there that he would tell her the truth, always.


    "Then thank you, for real this time." She said with a smile and he nodded.


    "But you are indeed right about the two of you going up north. Orisino here just told me about your memory loss." Chris said, and she looked at Orisino. "I know how to push some in to tell me everything. He knows this, so he saw no point in hiding it from me. Although he tried." But Tamora still looked at him and he shrugged. "It is not the worst thing that can happen in here. Having everything in the out and the open, I mean. But good, there is a building up north called the Data bank. It is basically a computer filled with everybody''s files. So if you have done something to end up here, it will be on that computer."


    "So if I have not done something, then we at least know that I tried to run from something, or someone." Tamora said and Orisino nodded. "Why didn''t you tell me that such a place exists?"


    "Because he had a job to do." Chris again answered for him. "But now that job is gone, and he is free to go where ever he wants. Figure of speech." Orisino rolled his eyes, he was indeed not free to go were ever he wanted. Otherwise, he was already out of here. But he could indeed go to Frozen Hell, to that Data bank and look for answers. Maybe that thing could tell him once and for all who the boss was. Not for himself, but for the kids. He sighed and lowered his head.


    "Are you willing to come with me?" He asked, Tamora. Again she looked at him. "Before you say yes, please know, that this will be dangerous. More dangerous than Marrisa or the forest."


    "Well in that case, sign me up." Tamora said, with a wide grin on her face.

 Chapter 11

    The sun was now above the sky, and if they wanted to leave today they needed to get moving. But Chris was holding them here, for some reason unknown to him. He respected Chris, he was one of the inmates and gang leaders who still acted human. Not like Marrisa how thought that she was a goddess. But Orisino would not go any further than respect, he didn''t trust the man with his life or with that of Tamora''s. Who was currently playing in the snow with the five children. Throwing snowballs, building snowmen and making angels. The joyful screams of the children filled the air, some men, hunters by the looks of it, stopped to look at her. With such hunger in their eyes, that it was not very difficult to know what was on their minds.


    "Do not even think about it." He said to the men, when they came into ear shot. One of the men snapped his attention towards him. But then his gaze changed into something else.


    "Sorry, Orisino. We didn''t know that the girl was spoken for." He said, and the others echoed their excuse. O, how he loves to say that she was not spoken for. But that she didn''t want what they wanted to do. But he knew better if he did that she would be hunted down. The men continued their journey outside the city gates, to hunt the monsters who normally hunt them. Orisino''s watchful gaze went back to Tamora, who had noticed nothing. Which was a good thing, but he would tell her when they were on their way. Maybe he needed to make some piece of jewelry, he had seen it on other women who were claimed. But maybe that would send the wrong messages. Or maybe he thought too much, and he needed to ask her what she thought about it. She was thrown a snowball towards Aurora, who ducked out of the way. The ball smashed into Chris''s face. The children all stopped in their tracks, dropping their snowballs in an instance.


    "Who did that?" Chris asked calmly. The children all pointed towards Tamora, the little traitors. But Tamora in turn raised up her hand.


    "Sorry, it was me. But I was aiming at Aurora." Tamora answered. Chris nodded and whipped the snow from his face.


    "Well that teaches me to walk into a snow battle, without any protection." He said, with a wide smile on his face. Who grew even wider when he saw the snowmen, angels and even a snow fort. "You have being busy. I am sorry that I have missed all the fun." And for some reason, Orisino believed him. Chris truthy cared for the wellbeing of these children. Orisino had no doubt that he would join their game, once Tamora and he were on their way. "Well then now the reason why I stepped into this war zone." He threw a bag towards Orisino. "This bag is filled with jerky, gloves, and some tool to get clean water." Orisino opened the bag and it was indeed filled. There was even a flashlight in it, something that was very rare inside this hellhole of a prison.


    "Thank you..." Orisino started, but Chris raised his hand to stop him.


    "There is no need to thank me, you have done so much." Chris said. Orisino frowned was he talking about the greens? How many times did he need to tell people that he did it for selfish reasons. He was tired of people finding his shack, claiming that it was theirs. And the only way to stop it was to get those greens from the platform and bring them to the crossroad. There was nothing noble about that, nothing. He knew that he probably saved the children from a fate that was worse than death. But that was the one humane thing he had done. O, he almost forgot. He had taken Tamora under his wing. For what it is worth, that was maybe for selfish reasons too. He didn''t know, something that happened a lot the last couple of days.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Well then we probably need to get out of your hair." Orisino said, instead. But Chris shook his head.


    "There is no need." Chris replied. "You can leave whenever you want, if it is not to close to the war." He pointed out and Orisino nodded.


    "Come Tamora, the north is waiting for use." He said, Tamora nodded and walked over to him. "Until we meet again."


    *******


    The left the streets of the city behind them, the normal mossy road was covered under a thick layer of snow.


    "Keep your eyes and ears wide open." He said, and she didn''t say anything in return. His gaze went towards her for a brief moment. Her hands were on her belt where she kept her daggers. She was prepared, something that made him proud. "The snow is both friend and fow."


    "That almost sounded poetic." She remarked. But he couldn''t see the joy in that, he was about to explain what he meant by it. "I know what you mean, it will show use tracks of the monsters and other people, but then in return it will show ours." She said, and he nodded, again a sense of pride was glowing inside him. She was a quick learner, something he needed to keep in mind. They continued their journey in silence, keeping their attention on their surroundings and on each other. The road went to a bare part of the landscape, there were no trees or bushes to hide behind. Something that was both in their favor as in their disadvantage. The sun was almost blinding on the white snow.


    "There is a city on the horizon." She said, breaking the silence. He nodded and looked at the large buildings.


    "That is Marrisa''s city, we better stay far away from that as possible." He replied. She nodded and they went on. As they came closer to the city, trees and bushes started to appear. But also small ghost villages, the houses were covered with ivy and some other plants. The rooftops were almost collapsing under the added weight of the snow. The sun was almost gone, and they needed to started up a camp soon. One of those houses might be a perfect solution to that problem. He grabbed a fallen branch, with enough leaves on it. And started to drag that after him, covering his tracks. He pointed towards the village and Tamora simply nodded. They walked past a few houses before entering one in the middle. The roof seemed stable enough and the ivy was covering the front door, there was however a backdoor. But that one was not touched in years, still he grabbed his machete before entering. There was no monster inside the house, no tiger, bear, plant or human. There was no smell of rotting flesh, or wood. No sound other than their footsteps on the floor, and their breaths. The walls and floors were bare. The shutters were firmly placed before the windows. Allowing no light to pass through. There was a simple chair and table placed in the kitchen. A perfect place to boil snow, so that they can drink it without getting sick. He pointed towards the snow just outside the backdoor, she nodded and started to scoop it up. He stood guard, but there was nothing inside or outside that moved. After she was done collecting the snow, he placed the cooking device on the table, who was surprisingly stable. They drink the boiled water and eat the first piece of jerky. He pointed towards himself, and raised one finger up. Telling her that he would take the first watch, she nodded and started to lay down on the kitchen floor. He looked at the moon, if that one was all the way up he would wake her. And so he did. He lay down on the same spot as she did and closed his eyes. Not suspecting that sleep would take him, but it did. But he was wakened much too quickly for his taste. He looked into Tamora''s bright blue eyes, she placed her finger for her lips. Motioning that there was something, or someone outside the building. He rose up and heard something too, it was not a human, but an animal or plant. The door was closed off, probably Tamora had shut it when she heard something. Which was only clever, so would it become harder for the one outside to come into the house. He moved slowly to one of the windows, and looked past the shutters. He couldn''t see anything, but that didn''t mean that there was nothing. His hand was on his machete, just in case the thing outside busted in. But nothing happened, absolutely nothing. Still they left through the front door, just to be on the safe side. And they started to move passed Marrisa''s city without any sound.

 Chapter 12

    She didn''t know when they agreed on staying silent, but after they left the city well behind them, she saw no need for that anymore.


    "Do you know what that was?" She asked. It was good to hear something else than the silence and the wind that blow around them. He shook his head.


    "No clue, but it was good of you to wake me up." He said and sighed. "I only do not know if we get another chance to rest like that. I already told you that the north, or Frozen Hell as I like to call it, is not a very save place to be in. That is why every sane person stays away from there."


    "What kind of dangers will we face?" She asked. She desperately wanted to keep the conversation going. They were again on open ground, no trees no bushes. Only snow and them.


    "The cold, there are a lot of people who have died from that alone." He said and looked up. "Then are there the Bigfoot''s and the unwanted. People who didn''t fit in one of the cities. They live in tribes, up there. They are the most deadly thing you will face up there." She nodded.


    "Why didn''t you move up north?" She asked, he also didn''t fit in one of the cities. Which made him an unwanted.


    "I do not like the cold, and besides that I had my shack. So there was no reason for me to move up there." He replied, and it sounded reasonable in her ears. "I also want you to know that the unwanted are all men. No women would even survive in their midst." Something that she really needed to keep in mind. All women were viewed as property, if they didn''t take the power for themselves, like Marrisa had done. "I also made the impression inside Chris''s city that you were already spoken for." She knew he had done that to keep her safe from the men inside the city. But that would not apply everywhere.


    "Thank you for doing that." She said, hoping that those men spread the news. He frowned, was he thinking that she was going to be mad about it. She was not stupid, but before she could say anything she spotted a Paracidic Dazzler. This one looked strange do, the body and veins were light blue instead of green. She pointed at it, and he nodded.


    "It changes color when winter arrives. So that it will blend in, only the red flower stays the same fucking color." He explained. The Paracidic Dazzler didn''t notice them, and started to growl the other way.


    "They are pretty quick, for a plant." She said and he started to giggle softly.


    "Alright, we need to keep on moving. We are almost at the Dreadful Channel." He said.


    "The what?" She replied. And he motioned with his head. Great the silence was back again, but after seeing the Paracidic Dazzler she didn''t mind. It was clearly that those plants couldn''t hear them, but the same can not be said about the other animals and humans.


    ******


    They entered an area with trees and bushes, something she didn''t like seeing. That meant they needed to be extra on guard, and she was already tired as fuck. A half night of sleep was not enough, although she had gotten more sleep than Orisino. Still it was not enough, she also started to hear the sound of rushing water. She suspected that the sound belonged to the Dreadful Channel. All her senses were at high alert, she almost could feel that there was something about to happen. It was wishful thinking that this trip would be without fighting, but still she had wished for it. A tiger jumped from the bushes, on the path in front of them and one behind them. They didn''t have the orange coat like the ones inside the forest, these had white coats with black stripes. They were so beautiful and dangerous at the same time. The tiger behind them started to attack and Orisino cut the animal off with his machete. The animal in front of them on the other hand did nothing. It was staring her down, and then she heard something in the bushes.


    "Orisino, do not kill him." She said.


    "Are you kidding me?" He replied, clearly out of breath. No she was not kidding. She stepped forward to the tiger in front of her. Placing her weapon on her back, so that she didn''t seem treating.


    "No I am not. They didn''t attack use because they are programmed to do so." She said moving towards the bushes. A loud noise came from there. "They attacked use, because one of their young is in sneered in a trap." She saw the little white tiger, its little paw stuck in a rabbit trap. "Are there rabbits in this prison?" She asked.


    "Not so far as I know. But in the beginning we hoped that there were. It can be one of the old traps, that people placed back then." He said, between breaths. He was still fending off the father. She nodded and took one of her daggers.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Don''t be scared little one, I am not here to hurt you." She said with a soft voice, it was no use. The little one tried to run away. She grabbed it in his neck and cut the robe, the little one was free. But there was a wound, small but still it was there. She inspected it and sighed, it would heal in time. The little one could still use its leg. It even used it to swap at her. "Alright, alright I got the hint." She said, before she put the little one down. The little tiger ran to his mother, giving her head bumps and small strokes with his tongue. The father stopped attacking, as soon as he saw his son. The tiger ran past Orisino and joind his family.


    "How did you know?" Orisino asked, she started to point to the mother.


    "She didn''t attack us." She explained and he nodded.


    "So you gambled?" He asked and she shook her head. No she didn''t gamble, she hated gambling.


    "No, after she didn''t attack use. I heard some noise coming from the bushes, that was when I knew." She said, and she smiled when she saw the family. "I didn''t know it was possible in here."


    "I didn''t either. We always assumed that they spanned overnight. But that they are being born, well that is something else. It those not change much, if they keep attacking people." He said. She nodded.


    "Lets continue. These are happy to be together, to notice use leaving." She said and she was right about that. The family did nothing as they walked past them.


    "You really have the hearing of a bat." He said, after they left the forest area. "You heard Marrisa and her men, where I heard nothing. You heard something outside the house, before I did and now again with the tiger cub." She shrugged.


    "I think I am just lucky, that is all." She said and he snorted. But he said nothing more as they continued towards the Dreadful Channel.


    ********


    The Dreadful channel was not much more than a small creek of rushing water. She couldn''t see anything dreadful on it. But she knew that the river didn''t get the name for nothing. Maybe there was something inside the water, a creature of some kind that made it dreadful. Or maybe it was so deep and the current so strong that it was really difficult to cross. Or all the above, she didn''t know. Orisino seemed tense, and when he was tense it was not without reason. Slowly they moved towards the river, nothing happened when they reached the shore. Which was a bit of a let-down, still she was alert and didn''t lose focus. She was ready for anything, except...


    "We are going to camp here for the night. Please gather some firewood, then I will get some water from the river." He said, and she looked at him with wide eyes. "What?"


    "We are going to stay next to the river, you called the Dreadful Channel?" She asked and he nodded. "Why in Hell''s name is it called the Dreadful Channel?" He started to laugh.


    "Well that is a nice campfire story, so let use first do our chores, and then I will tell you." He said. She looked at him with narrowed eyes, but still went to work. Now she really wants to know. She shrunk down to grab a branch, when she heard something. Her gaze snapped towards it, it was not anything she has seen before. The monster was huge, ran on his behinds and had white fur. Probably one of those Bigfoot creatures. She grabbed her gliave and swung it towards the creature. But he was not faced by it, he still kept on coming.


    "Orisino, we have company!" She screamed on the top of her lungs. Making sure that he had heard her. And everybody else in that area, for that matter. But she didn''t care about that at the moment. She was facing something she never faced before. But then again, she never faced tigers, bears and plants before. She swung her gliave towards the creature again. This time the sword and of the weapon broke skin and a streak of black blood poor out of the wound. The creature screamed out and swung his trunk thick fist towards her. Nobody needed to tell her that she didn''t want to get hit by it. It probably hurt as hell, if it didn''t kill her right away. She dove out of the fist''s way, and rolled over the ground. Jumping up on her feet ready to attack again. But when she turned around she was faced by the other fist. She jumped back, and just in time too. The ground where the fist made contact had now a dent into it. "Alright, do not get hit. Good to know." She said to nobody in particular. She again swung her gliave towards the creature. This time hitting him in his arm pit. Blood spate like a waterfall out of the wound. But that didn''t slow him down. "Orisino!" She called him again, before she needed to jump out of the way.


    "What the hell." Orisino said, when he finally arrived at the scene. He probably wanted to trow in a remark about the creature.


    "No time for that." She said, he nodded and circled around it. She could see his machete cutting in the creature''s thick neck. But that made not any divergence, except that the creature now focused on him instead of her. Something she used in her advertise. She swung her gliave towards the same spot as Orisino hit it earlier. She did not know if she used more force than he did, or that the spot was bigger than it seemed. But she cut off the creature''s head, with one swift swoop. The creature collapsed, and the fight was over. She sat down heavily panting for breath. "That was fun, but let''s not do that again." She said between breaths.


    "Uhmm, you will incounter more of them when we getting up north." He said and she glowered at him.


    "Alright, but not before then." She said. He wanted to nod but then looked at the creature.


    "I wished I could promise you that. But I can''t." He said and she could see that it pained him. She was the only person in this hell-hole that he cared for and he wanted to do everything to keep her save. Which was sweet of him, she stood up and walked to him.


    "Alright, then promise me this. The next time I call, get your ash in sooner." She said, but before he could say anything. She kissed him.

 Chapter 13

    She was kissing him, he couldn''t believe it. And still it was happening right now. Maybe it was because they just had fought a Bigfoot without dying, or she really wanted to kiss him. He didn''t know, but he had warned her. That when she would offer herself to him, he wouldn''t hold back. Still he was holding back, he didn''t want to. But he did. He didn''t know how, and he honestly didn''t care about that. But he would take the kiss for now, but he put his arms around her and embraced her. His heart skipped a couple beats, and he loved every second of it. She stepped back breaking the kiss, he groaned softly. Why did she break the kiss, it was¡­? He couldn''t even describe it and that was something new for him. But again he would take everything she was willing to give him.


    "I am sorry." She said softly.


    "For what?  The kiss?  There is nothing to be sorry for." He said, a bit confused. She gave him a smile.


    "I know what you said about this, and I am not ready to give you anything more for now." She said and he nodded slowly. He wouldn''t ask for more.


    "Then I will not ask for more." He said out loud to her and her. She nodded and then looked at the Bigfoot.


    "What are we going to do with it?" She asked. He noticed the subject change, but he didn''t say anything. At least about the kiss and the rest what rushed through his mind.


    "Nothing." He said, he noticed that he had not let go off her. And he wanted to stay like this for a few moments longer. She wanted to step further away. "No, please." He said and she froze. "Let me hold you for a moment longer. That is all I ask. I do not ask for another kiss, or for more. Just the chance to hold you in my arms." She relaxed, and started to lean in to him.


    "Alright then." She said and he relaxed too. Not knowing why he was so tense in the first place. He closed his eyes and placed his noise in her hair. She smelled like a winter''s day, maybe because it was a winter''s day. But that couldn''t be it, he knew one thing. He was falling hard for her, and he could only hope that she felt the same way about him.


    ******


    He was the one who broke off the hug, much to his own dismay. But they couldn''t stay like this forever. They needed to pick up some fire wood, to cook the water and to stay warm for the night. But this time he didn''t let her out of his sight, afraid that mister Bigfoot here had any friends nearby. But they were not disturbed by any creature this time. And he had a theory about why. In his turn to keep watch he spotted the tiger family, just outside the light of the fire. The little one however sneaked closer with the second, and curled up next to Tamora. He smiled at it, it was almost adorable and disturbing at the same time. The parents kept their distance however, looking up by any form of sound they heard. Which made him relax, knowing that they will alert him if there was any danger. Or even will attack the one treating their little cub. Which still surprised him, this was the first time he had seen a cub in here. Other than the children inside Chris''s city there were only adults in here, or so he thought. Would this maybe be an evolution in their programming?  He didn''t know, but it worried him slightly. If the tigers and other animals could procreate, then not soon after that humans can too. He knew for a fact that none of them used any protection. And until this point there were no babies born. At least not to his knowledge, which was pretty much limited to his shack until now. But he had not heard something that would hint at it, from Dink or Chris. He sighed, and his attention went back to the two adult tigers, who lay with their heads between their paws. He couldn''t see if their eyes were closed or not, but their ears moved from side to side.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ******


    He didn''t know how, but he had fallen asleep. During his watch, how did he know that. Well the little tiger''s tongue over his nose woke him up. Tamora looked at him with narrowed eyes.


    "I thought you would wake me up when it was my turn to keep watch." She said. He nodded and sighed.


    "I would have done that, but for some reason I have fallen a sleep." He was just stating something she could see for herself. "But it seems that we were not that defenceless." He pointed to the tigers, who still lay near the camp and then at the little one. Hopping around them. "They would protect this one with their lives." She nodded and sighed.


    "I should have taken first watch anyway. You barely got any sleep last night." She said and this was true. But it was no excuse, he should have waked her when he felt himself drifting away. The only problem was he didn''t feel it, or he couldn''t remember it.


    "Well let''s get some breakfast and then let us be on our way." He said, and she put her hand in the bag. Grabbing a piece of jerky out of it. As soon as the smell of the meat hit his nose the little tiger turned towards her and started to bag for it.


    "You have your parents to take care of you, and fill your belly." She said, giving the piece of meat to Orisino. "We on the other hand are not so lucky." She took another piece of jerky out of the bag and put it in her mouth. The little one however didn''t give up. Orisino killed the embers of the fire with sand, snow and water, just in case. Then they went on their way, crossing the Dreadful Channel without any incident. "Why in hell''s name is it called the Dreadful Channel?" She started to tell him her expectations, and he started to laugh.


    "It is just called the Dreadful Channel, because it is a border between the south and the north. Which means just the safer lands with the dangerous lands." He explained. And she looked at him with narrowed eyes, which made him even laugh more. But when he saw that they were followed by the tiger family he stopped. "We are being followed." She looked over her shoulder and sighed.


    "Will the other monsters attack the little one?" She asked, and he shrugged. He really did not know, time would tell.

 Chapter 14

    The Frozen Hell did honor its name, as soon they set foot in the mountain range. Which was just behind the Dreadful Channel, when a snow storm hit. Tamora had put on her gloves, but still she could feel the cutting cold on her skin.


    "We need to find cover, otherwise we will die in this storm." He said. She didn''t answer him, afraid that her voice would die down in the wind. Instead of that she grabbed his hand. He looked at her and nodded, he had his answer. She would follow his lead in almost everything. He had being here before, so he would know this kind of things. It took a lot of effort to get to a cave, and even then they were not sure if the cave was safe enough to hide in. But it was empty for now, and it had to do. The tiger family followed soon after, the parents lay themselves down at the entrance of the cave. The little one ran towards them and started to head bud her legs.


    "Hello sweetheart." She said softly and started to pet the little tiger.


    "You know it is a wild animal right. No kitten, or house cat." He said, oh how he wanted to give her something like that to her. Something she could raise and call her own. Something they both could raise, he quickly added. Something so normal and for them right now not possible. He wanted to say all this to her and more, but the words didn''t leave his lips. As he watched her petting that little fluffy head.


    "I know that, but he is so cute. And besides that I now can check his wound." She said while looking at one of the little tiger''s legs. There was nothing he could see, and apparently she didn''t see something either. "That is strange, I would swear that there was a wound on that leg." And he believed her.


    "Maybe it is already healed." He said, and she shook her head.


    "I do not even see a trace from the wound." She said and that was indeed strange. But after he had seen the little tiger, he was not sure if that is something he should be surprised over. "Well at least that means that he is not bothered by it." He nodded and walked further into the cave. It was not large and was except for the opening closed off. The dark gray, almost black stone painted a bleak picture. It was cold in here, but not as cold as outside the cave. Figures the wind had no excess to this cave. But Tamora still shivered.


    "Come here." He said wrapping his arms around her, sharing his body heat with her.


    "T-t-thank y-y-ou." She said, she almost ducked into him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, again almost chocking him. But he didn''t mind, she was freezing and if this would comfort her... Also, it was a nice chance to get close to her. He smiled and lay his head on hers.


    "Feeling better?" He asked and she wanted to nod. He could feel it, but instead she shook her head.


    "Y-y-y-ou didn''t j-j-oke, ab-ou- ou-t the c-c-co-ld." She said, and he started to rub his gloved hands over her arms. But she didn''t stop shivering. They had no wood to make a fire.


    "Tamora, I know away to keep you warmer. But I am afraid you will not like it." He said and she looked at him. The questioning look in her eyes spoke volumes. She knew what he was thinking, and he was indeed right she didn''t like it. But what other choice did they have. She nodded and started to undress herself.


    "B-b-but, I w-w-ill keep m-y un-under-we-we-ar on." She said and he nodded. If that made her feel more comfortable than it was fine by him. As long, she didn''t get sick or worse. He started to pull off his clothing, except for his pants. And he again wrapped himself around her, she felt like a living . He started to rub her skin with his bare hands. First as soft as possible, he didn''t want to scare her. But when that was not working, he put some force into it. Still she kept on shivering. "Am I go-going to d-ie?" She asked, her chattering teeth were slowing down a little. That was a good sign, at least he hoped.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Not if I can help it." He said, and he pushed himself closer to her. He meant it, he didn''t want her to lose a life. But she needed to get warm and soon, otherwise she would lose a life. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Kiss me." He said, desperation was audible in his voice. He knew that she heard that, and he hated himself for not hiding his fear better. "I''m grabbing at straws here." She nodded and pushed herself up, so that she could reach his lips. The kiss was just like the one before, soft and tender. Without any promise for more, but then she started to change that. It became one with some kind of need, the need to get warm, maybe. But he answered his own need, pushing her chest to his, his hands rubbing over her skin. Her hands started to do the same thing on his skin. "Tamora, if you do not stop..." He growled softly. He was sure that she got the message, but still she didn''t stop, and neither did he.


    *******


    Orisino woke up slightly over her, their bare skin touching each other. Small bolts of desire shot between them, but she was fast asleep. He smiled when he thought back, he had showed her as much compassion as he could. He pushed himself slightly up, the tigers were still lying in front of the cave entrance. It was good to know that they were well guarded. At least for now. He stood up, Tamora shivered. But he would return as quick as he could, he went towards the tigers and kneeled down by the father.


    "Thank you for keeping an eye out for use. But after this cave you and your family need to go back. Where we are going is not a safe place, not for use. And specially not for your little boy." He said, and the father tiger looked at him. Orisino could swear that the tiger nodded. As if the animal understood him. "Again thanks." And he walked back to Tamora. He lay a hand on her shoulder, but what would he call her?  Sweetheart, darling, or just by her name? He didn''t know. "Tamora." Her name, apparently. She opened her eyes, and smiled at him. "The storm has lied down, and we need to go." She pushed herself upright and looked at the entrance. There lay a thick layer of snow outside, but there was no more howling of the wind.


    "Alright." She said, and started to grab for her clothes. Which lay in a pile, together with his own clothes. She threw what was his towards him, he caught it without any difficulty. He tried to make eye contact with her, but she looked towards the ground. That made him slightly terrified.


    "Are you mad?" He asked. She shook her head, still he was not able to breath. Not yet at least. "Are you having regrets?" He had warned her, but still he would hate himself if he went too far.


    "No." She said softly, but still she didn''t look him in the eye.


    "Then what is it. Please sweetheart." O now he was calling her sweetheart. "Tell me what is bordering you. I would hate myself if I did something to upset you." He pleaded. Really was he really pleading? Where was this all coming from? He did not know, he never pleaded with anybody before. And he never has felt this type of insecure before.


    "There is nothing wrong, I am just thinking." She said. He looked at her, thinking about what. He could guess, but he really didn''t want to. "I am just thinking about where this leaves us, are we now lovers, or friends with benefits." He frowned. Those are good questions, and he was not sure how to answer this.


    "Why do we need a name for that?" He then said. "Yes we had sex, something wed both wanted. I hope." He said, really hoping that he was right about that. "If you are not comfortable putting a label on this, then we don''t." She nodded and then looked him in the eye.


    "Sorry." She said and he shook his head. There was nothing she needed to be sorry for. He told her that, she went over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Did you not just tell me that we needed to go?" He nodded and started to put on his pants.


    "I have thanked the tigers for guarding use, but I also asked them to leave. It is a dangerous path, for use. But more so for the little one." He said, and he nodded with his head to the adult tigers. She nodded, and sighed.


    "That is good." She said and he could hear her voice tighten. She really had fallen in love with the little tiger.


    "I am sorry, sweetheart." He said. "But it is for the best." She nodded again. She walked towards the little tiger and petted him on the head.


    "Goodbye little one." She said, and she stepped out of the cave.

 Chapter 15

    It didn''t snow that much, but the wind was still cutting through her clothing. She didn''t know how much further they needed to go, but she didn''t mind the silence. Something that has being a theme over the last couple of days. Still what would she not give to have Orisino''s strong arms around her, to have him whisper words into her eat. She quickly shook her head, she really needs to get that idea out of her head. They could be attacked by anything, at any moment. She could not think about sex or any other hint of romance. If it was romance and not... She shook her head again, what the hell was wrong with her. She looked at Orisino''s tense back, his hand rested on his machete. His eyes were focused on their snow covered road. The sound of the cracking snow, under their boots was deafing in their world of silence. Tamora banished her inner thoughts, and focused on the task at hand. Finding that illusive data bank, what ever that is. Or where ever that is. Orisino grunted, and she looked up. Not noticing that she had lowered her gaze to the ground. In front of them stood two Bigfoot monsters, those white furred giants. They just stood there and didn''t move, as if they were waiting for them. Orisino stopped walking until she joined him.


    "We have only one option." He said, and she only nodded. She was new to this area, hell she was new to this world. But he knows the way and if he said that there was only one option, she believed him.


    "So we need to fight." She replied, softly. He nodded and she sighed. The last time she had fought one of them it was not easy. "What is the plan, I take the one on the right, and you take the one on the left." But he didn''t reply, he sprinted forward, and she rolled her eyes and followed him. She grabbed the glaive from her back and jumped up. Cutting the Bigfoot closest to her, black blood poured out of the wound. But the beast didn''t seem face by it, not that she expected to. But it would have been nice, the beast however didn''t wait to respond. He swung his giant hand towards her, but gravity pulled her out of the way. "Alright big guy." She whispered and pierced the beast right under the armpit. Again black blood poured down, but she needed to jump quickly out of the other arms way.


    "Tamora, behind you." Orisino yelled. Oh, he could communicate, that was handy if he had done that earlier. She again jumped out of the way. The other Bigfoot has joined their fight.


    "I thought you were supposed to keep him busy." She snapped at him. Orisino did not reply, again. And swung with his machete, but the weapon didn''t make any dent.


    "Shit." He cursed and jumped out of the way, what the hell was wrong with his weapon. She looked at it and cursed. It was dull.


    "Is there a way to fix it?" She asked, loudly he nodded. And jumped further out of the way. SO far that he left the battle completely. "Wait, what are you doing. I can not handle two of them on my own."


    "Keep them busy." That was all he said. Really that was great, now she faced not one but two of the deadliest creatures inside the Digital Prison. Alright all what she needed to do now was keeping them busy. But for how long, she started to dance around them. Avoiding their thick fists, hoping and praying to what ever god was out there that she could bring in an attack as well. But that almost seemed imposible. She jumped back and slammed against the unforgiving stone wall of a mountain. One covered with a shitload of snow. The Bigfoot in front of her looked at her with his black marble sized eyes, it was almost as if he smiled at her. He raised his thick fist up, ignoring the one with the wound. She looked at it and a bit softly on her lip, she needed to jump at the right moment. The fist started to fly, and she ducked out of it''s way. It slammed against the wall of stone cracking it. A deafing silence followed and then the loud cracking of snow and ice. She started to run in the direction she saw Orsino disappear, she could hear the monster behind her bellowing it out. Before the snow and ice slammed on top of him. The other Bigfoot tried to flee for the snow, but he was simply too slow, and he too became covered with snow and ice. Orisino choose that moment to jump out of his hiding place, she grabbed him and pulled him back. "What the hell..." He started to the roaring of the avalanche interrupted him. The other mountain, gave them enough protection. She hoped and prayed that the snow on this mountain stayed were it was. The roaring and the falling of the snow stopped after what seemed forever. "By the creator, what were you thinking." She looked at him and sighed.


    "To be fair, I didn''t think." She said and this was the truth, at least most of it. He sighed and looked at the thick layer of snow. She panted heavily and looked down at her shaking hands. He followed her gaze and grabbed her hands.


    "I am sorry." He said after a short period. She wanted to ask him why he said it. But he let go of her hands and stepped past her. Anger flared up in his eyes, her gaze followed him. " Borachio, Fenton. What an unpleasant surprise." Orisino said. The two bulky man with their scar covered faces looked at him, with the same anger in their eyes.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "It is no surprise at all. You are in our teretory for Designer¡¯ sake." The smaller one of the two snapped at Orisino. Orisino just shrugged the words from his shoulders as if they were nothing. "Didn''t we tell you to never come back here, the last time we saw you." Orisino nodded slowly.


    "O yes, that was it. I thought I forgot something important. Well never mind, I am here for the data bank." He said, Borachio and Fenton, she didn''t know who was who looked at each other. Clearly they were not ready to believe Orisino on his words. He grabbed her by the arm, and he was dragging her towards him.


    "You are not going anywher, not before you pay our toll." The larger of the two said and he reached his hand towards her. But she jumped back out of his reach, her glaive ready to attack.


    "Do not even think about it." She snapped at him. The large man with dark green eyes and short blond hair looked at her in outer shock.


    "This bitch has claws, Fenton." He said, so he was Borachio, good to know. Orisino nodded slowly and looked at her. She nodded, towards him.


    "Not every woman in here goes belly up, when a man says so." Orisino said, with a half smile on his face. Borachio looked at him and started to growl.


    "And she those not have to." Another voice from behind her said. She quickly turned around, there was another man standing behind her. This man was short and slim, but there was something dangerous about him.


    "Gremio." Orisino said, there was no mistake that he didn''t like the guy. Or even respect him like he did with Chris. The man nodded towards Orisino, but focused his attention on her. Which gave her the creeps. "She is already being claimed." Orisino said.


    "By you?" Gremio asked.  "My, my. Things have changed." But the sarcasm was not far from his tone. "Well you know that your claim means nothing up here in the Frozen Hell. But strenght those and this woman just defeated two Bigfoots on her own." Tamora looked at him, with narrowed eyes. He had seen her fight, so why didn''t he help her. O yes every man or woman for themselves. He still looked at her with interest. "Come let''s discuss your plans in my village. It is getting late, and it is not wise to wonder in the dark."


    "We already know that." Orisino said.


    ********


    The village was not far, which surprised Tamora slightly. The village was nothing more than a group of tents. Ten or twelve, all randomly pleased. There was no sense of order, in the middle was a large fireplace. A few women were busy with carving a piece of meat. Two of them looked up to look at her, their eyes were dull and the fire that once burnt in them was vanished. Not even a smoldering ember was left.


    "Go back to work, bitch." Fenton walked over to one of them. She quickly looked away, and did what she was told. "I will fuck you so hard, that you will plead for mercy." Somehow Tamora knew that this was not an empty tread. Orisino lay a hand on her shoulder, and the warmth comfort her slightly. But she had the feeling that she will not get any rest.


    "Please, sit." Gremio said, his voice reminded her of a snake in the grass. Orisino stepped over a rock and sat down, and she followed him. She felt everybody''s eyes on her while she did so. She almost got up again, but to do what? Help those women how were busy with the meat, or to see if there was another task for her. One that those not include being on her back. But Orisino again lay a hand on her shoulder. "This woman here is a warrior. Her strenght is a gift from the creator." Gremio''s words didn''t carry as much weight as he would like. "She has defeated not one Bigfoot, but two." This time the hateful stares, changed to ones with admiration.


    "She had help from Orisino. No man inside this prison has defeated more beasts." Said one of the men.


    "I couldn''t help her, my blade was dull." Orisino said. The man slowly shook his head in disbelieve. It didn''t matter if they believed her or not, alright she was not the one claiming these things but still. As long everybody kept his hands to himself. Except for Orisino that is. The firepit was light, and the meat was put in a pot above the fire. It didn''t take long before the air was filled with fumes of stew. It has been a while since they had something else than jerky and cooked water. Her stomach started to growl, like a starving beast. Still she was not sure if it was wise to accept the food. Maybe they should stick to their jerky and cooked water. The men all sat down, but kept enough space between them and her. They all started to speak, the conversations all revered to the hunt or women. Some even spoke about other choirs around the camp, one of them even started to speak with Orisino.


    "Really, she burnt it with. Well we all know Marrisa, and know how jealous she can be." The man said and he looked briefly at her. "And I can not blame her. Your ladyfriend here is a beauty."


    "She is taken." Orisino growled low. The man raised his hands in the air.


    "Hey I already figured you had claimed her." He said.


    "Or rather I claimed him." Tamora chimmed in, a small smile appeared on Orisino''s face. He approves, good because it was to late to back down now. The man nodded slowly and slapped Orisino on the shoulder.


    "She is indeed as strong as Gremio claims. Hey my name is Jackel, nice meeting you." Jackel said.


    "Tamora." She said quickly.


    "So Tamora why are you in this hellhole of a prison?" Jackel asked. She looked at Orisino who nodded.


    "I do not know, I lost my memory of my life outside." She said and Jackel looked with a open mouth to her. "That is why we are looking for the data bank. Hoping to learn why that is."


    "Well then Jackel and I will bring you and Orisino to it." Gremio said. "To make sure you two make it." He looked at one of the women. "Ladies, give use food and then prepare a tent for my geusts."

 Chapter 16

    After diner everybody turned towards their tent, the women went with the men and the sound of their moans and cries filled the evening air. Orisino hated the sound, because he knew that the moans were fake, and the cries were real. After his night with Tamora, their shared passion and commitment at that moment was so real. It was something they might not get it back, not after her reaction the following morning. But he was glad that she stayed close to him when they had entered the camp. And before dinner how she told Jackel that she claimed him. In truth, they claimed each other, but it made her look stronger. And he loved her for it. He frowned, was he really into that idea? Yes he was, he was in love with her. She lay next to him in one bed, dressed. Their hands on their weapons. He didn''t trust Gremio, and everything in Tamora''s behavior told him that she didn''t either. Which was good, but something in him told him that it was not Gremio that they needed to fear tonight. Gremio lives by a curten code, and if he invites you into his home you are safe. It were his men that worried him, he didn''t fear for his life. But for Tamora, he had seen how the men looked at her. Like a group of hungry wolves, ready to pounce on a piece of meat. Tamora breath softly and moved a little with her head. Which lay on his chest, his free arm was wrapped around her. Like a shield, knowing he couldn''t do shit to protect her. She needed to fight hard if they attacked them. And he was worried that it was more a question of when. Tamora again moved in her sleep, she was restless. He was too, but were they restless for the same reason. His question was however quickly answered, as her head snapped up. She was wide awake, and her hand with her glaive was raised. He pulled his machete from under the pillow. He didn''t need to ask if she had heard something, he already knew to trust her hearing. Both of them stood up and waited in silence, the moaning and cries have stopped. And he wondered when that happened, had he fallen asleep for a brief period or did he at one point stop paying attention to it. Tamora pointed towards the entrance and he nodded. Knowing that their attackers were just outside the tent, after the fight he had sharpened his machete, so this time he could fight. The fabric of the tent was pulled from the wooden frame, and Orisino wanted to curse loudly. They were surrounded, by almost every man in the camp. Except of Germio and Jackel. All of them licking their lips, they all wanted a piece of Tamora. Orisino looked around and turned his back to her, he would cover that.


    "I will cover yours if you cover mine." He whispered. This time he would not abandon her, this time he would fight until he gets killed again. The men grabbed their weapons and started to attack them all at once. He swung and pounced, injuring one man after the other. Thinning out the enemy, Tamora did the same thing, by the sound of it. The cries of pain, were all male. And he heard her sweet breaths. He injured another, and a new man took his place. After a brief period, he compared them with weeds. But after a whole day of walking in the snow, the brief moment of fighting with the Bigfoots and of course the lack of sleep, was weighing heavily on him. And he knew for a fact that the same could be said about Tamora. The swings with his machete became slower and sloppy. Some of the men started to laugh when they noticed it, clearly they have been waiting for this. Because all of them started to attack them at once, he tried to injure as many as he could. But there were simply too many of them. Behind him he heard Tamora scream, quickly he turned around and saw her unarmed in Borachio''s arms. His hands on her breasts and somebodies else hands started to join them. Orisino started to run towards them, but he got knocked down. "Tamora!" He screamed. The surrounding man started to laugh, loudly. Tamora screamed, when the hands traced every inch of her body.


    "Yes scream, bitch. We promise after we are done with you, you will scream for more." Fenton said loudly. Again the sound of male laughter filled the air.


    "What in the Designers name is going on here?" Gremio''s voice was loud and clear. Everyone else fall silent, the man stepped away from him. "Well?" But nobody answered, they all looked like school children to the ground.


    "We wanted to make her feel good." Borcahio said, he was still holding Tamora in his arms. Gremio narrowed his eyes.


    "Are you really thinking I buy that crap? Let them go!" Gremio snapped. "Whose idea was it to attack my guests?" He asked loudly this time and all the men pointed towards Borachio and Fenton. Orisino felt lighter, one of the men had being sitting on him, and he hadn''t noticed it. This was not that strange, he only had eyes for Tamora. Who was still held captive by Borachio. Gremio walked towards them. "I said, let her go."


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


    "Why would I, she is just like the other bitches inside this camp. They serve only for one purpose." Borachio said, so that everybody could hear him. "They are here to serve..." His sentence was cut off by a knife against his throat. Jackel stood behind him, the young man needed to do his best to keep the knife there. He was smaller than the brute. Fenton wanted to attack Jackel, only Orisino grabbed him as well.


    "The boss said let her go, Borachio." Jackel whispered in Borachio''s ear. Orisino could only watch as Borachio let Tamora go. She stumbled straight in Gremio''s arms.


    "Orisino, let the bastard go and collect your woman." Gremio said, without making eye contact. Without a second thought he let Fenton loose and sprinted towards Tamora. Wrapped her in his arms, buried her face in his shoulder, she didn''t weep or say a word.


    "I am so sorry." He whispered in her ear. "I was not able to protect you, again." He hated himself for it. But he held on to her, he needed her there. He didn''t pay attention to what happened around him.


    "So that is done, let this be a warning for everybody." Gremio said. "Jackel, take the two to your tent."


    "Yes boss." Jackel replied. Orisino noticed a hand on his shoulder. "Come with me. My tent is standing near Gremio''s, it will be safe there." Orisino wanted to shake his head, they will never be safe inside this camp. But what other choice do they have, it was still dark. Tamora broke a way from him and looked him straight in the eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes, he could drown in them.


    "Let''s go with him." She whispered, and started to pull him with her. "Maybe then you are able to get some sleep." He wanted to say that would not be possible, not after what just happened. But instead he said nothing and just went with her and Jackel.


    *******


    To his surprise he fell a sleep after the moment his head thatched the pillow. Tamora and he again shared a bed, and they both woke up when the sun started to sting in their eyes. Jackel was sitting in the entrance of the tent. Nibbling on something, he didn''t look over his shoulder when he said.


    "Good morning, I am glad that the both of you got some rest after what happened." Tamora suppressed a yawn behind her hand, and pushed herself up. Before he knew what he was doing he grabbed her, he just wanted to look her in the eyes.


    "Are you alright?" He asked and she nodded. "Are you sure?" He looked in her eyes, and he could see that the events of last night still bothered her. Hell it was bothering him. She said nothing, instead she wanted to break eye contact. "I am so sorry, Tamora. I wish I was stronger." A tear escaped his eye, what was this? He didn''t cry, at least he never cried since he entered the prison. Her hand went towards to it, and she pinked it away.


    "You can''t protect me from everything." She whispered softly. "They were simply with too many." He shook his head, no they were not with too many. They have fought more monsters on her first day inside the prison. "And we were trying not to kill them." She said and this was where he nodded. That was true.


    "But still." He said, she kissed him.


    "No, Orisino. Stop blaming yourself." She said stern, easier said than done. He nodded again and let go of her arm. She pushed herself up and crawled past Jackel. Orisino followed her and sighed.


    "She is right you know. Stop blaming yourself, this was not your fault. You fought every man inside this camp and there is no one in here that escaped the fight without a scratch." Jackel said. "And if there was somebody to blame, then it would be Gremio." This surprised Orisino, he knew that Gremio saved Jackel in the outside world, and that made Jackel extremely loyal to him. "You two were his guests, He should have protected you two better. Giving you a tent nearby his own, or let you two sleep in mine." Orisino nodded slowly. "But it those not matter now, what is done, is done. Now it is time for breakfast and after that we are going to the Data bank." He slapped Orisino on the shoulder.


    ********


    The area around the fire pit was deserted, none of the men or women were around.


    "Gremio has sent the men on a hunting trip, to cool off. And the women have his permission to sleep in today. We can take care of our own breakfast." Jackel said, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "I never liked the way how women are treated inside this camp, but there is nothing I can do about it." He looked at Tamora who sat down on the same spot as yesterday. "I will be right back with some bread, and left over stew." Orisino walked over to Tamora and sat down next to her. He opened his mouth...


    "Don''t" She said. "Do not ask me how I am doing." He closed his mouth, he was indeed about to ask her. Although he already has asked her, and he knew that she was not fine.


    "Did the two love birds sleep well?" Gremio joined them, and both of them sighed. "Sorry I couldn''t resist. I have killed Borachio and Fenton, by the way. No one disrespects me in my own camp. By attacking you, my guests, they disrespected me." He sat down and looked them straight in the eye. "I am sorry of course none of that should have happened at all."


    "Here is the bread and stew." Jackel said, and pushed them a cup and some bread in their hands. How in the designers name did they have bread? Orisino asked himself, but he did not complain.


    "We will leave, after breakfast." Gremio said, before he took a bite.

 Chapter 17

    Gremio kept true to his word, they left the cam right after breakfast. The scent of the stew and male sweat will hunt her for a couple of days. But she needed to go on, there was no time for her to stop and think about everything that has happened since she entered this prison. Gremio took the lead, followed closely by Orisino. Jackel on the other hand walked next to her, but he said nothing to her. All of them said nothing, because once again they traveled in silence. There was no sound other than the cracking of the snow under their boots. Gremio took them straight to a mountain, and Orisino didn''t contradict him. Which meant that he was going in the right direction. Jackel was holding a double-sided axe, and Gremio a crossbow. Both impressive weapons, but they didn''t carry them on their back. No they had the weapons in hand ready to attack anything, that might attack them. Which was maybe not that strange, they lived in this area. They knew it better than any other, maybe even better than Orisino. She looked at the glaive in her hands, it felt strange to held her weapon again. She looked up and saw that Gremio wildly motioned towards the mountain, it didn''t look far. But then again maybe this was something like that door in a dark hallway. It those not get any closer, no matter how many steps you take or how fast you run. She blinked a few times with her eyes, what was wrong with her. They were so close to get some answers, and now she was thinking about something that only happens in cartoons, and bad movies. She frowned, at least she thought that thing appeared in there.


    "Are you alright?" Jackel whispered, so softly she almost mistook it for a breath of air. She nodded, and quickened her step. Until she walked next to Orisino, his presence comforted her. Something she needed right now. Without thinking, she took one hand from her glaive and grabbed his free hand. He looked shocked at her and then to their hands. She squeezed it a little, and he squeezed back.


    "Are you alright?" He repeated Jackel''s question, and she shook her head. "Getting second thoughts?" He asked and this time she nodded. She didn''t know why, but she was afraid of what the data bank would tell her. If it recognized her DNA, then she would find out what she had done to get in here. Or worse she could find out that she has a family. But what if it those not recognize her, that means that she was running for something, something terrible. "No matter what happened I will be there." She nodded again. Gremio looked over his shoulder and smiled.


    "We are almost there shield maiden." He said, his voice sounded so loud in the world of silence. Orisino and Jackel had whispered to her, but Gremio seemed not to care that creatures nearby could hear him. And what the hell was a shield maiden? But before she could ask him, he again turned around and kept on walking. Leading them towards a hole in the mountain. "This here was a mine, or at least we thought it was one. Could you imaging, here we are inside this prison and there would be a gold mine just on the edge of this world?" No she could not, that would mean that the Designers would give the prisoners something for free. Something that would not happen, not in here. "So of course there were a few members of our group understandably pissed off, when we found out that this was just a tunnel leading towards the center of the mountain." They now entered the tunnel, it was so dark that Tamora needed to do her best not to trip over her own feet. "Which is nothing more than a death volcano, with in the center a small building." Gremio continued his story without missing one bead. "So numerous members of our group turned around and left. But not Orisino and I, no we went inside and there we got eaten by one of those stupid plants." He started to laugh, loudly. His laugh also echoed against the tunnels walls.


    "Nice story, but can you please shut up." Jackel said. Tamora agreed with him, but Gremio scoffed.


    "Do not worry, Jackel these tunnels are safe. No monster has entered them, when we were looking for gold." Orisino said. Which didn''t calm her nerves at all. She was so glad when she saw light at the end of the tunnel. "Hold your weapon ready." Orisino whispered in her ear. She wanted to roll with her eyes, but he couldn''t see it. Still she let go of his hand and grabbed the glaive with both hands. She was blinded by the light when she stepped out of the tunnel, but she could hear the growls. So she closed her eyes, and waited until the growls came closer. Which didn''t take long.


    "Orisino, left." She said, opening her eyes. They were facing a pack of wolves. Orisino already had slain one of them. The others were low by the ground, which was not covered in snow, showing their teeth. They were ready to attack, and they were with many. Jackel looked at them and cursed, and again she agreed with him. "Is it too late to go back?" She asked.


    "Go back, are you crazy?" Gremio asked and let one of the arrows fly. She cursed and, the wolves all jumped up and attacked them. It was so similar to her fight last night. Only this was with actual beast programmed to kill them, the other was, well with another type of animal. She swung with her glaive, killing one wolf after the other. This time it was not her virtuous on the line, this time it was one of her lives. She kicked one of the wolves, before piercing another with her weapon. Gremio let his arrows fly, how many does he got? She rather didn''t want to find out, but for that they needed to end this fight quickly. She killed another wolf that came too close.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "Try to make a path towards the building!" Orisino screamed above the noise. She nodded and placed the first step forward, not looking at what she was standing. She really didn''t want to know, but she could guess it was a dead wolf. It was a slow process, but the building at least came closer with every wolf they killed.


    "By the Designer, I am almost out of arrows!" Gremio said, which made her grince. She really did not want to know that.


    "You should have brought a second weapon with you." Orisino snapped at him and she nodded.


    "How could I have known...." Gremio started.


    "Stop talking crap, Gremio! We have being here before, you knew the pack was here. So keep that mouth of yours shut!" Orisino said. Tamora killed another wolf, and she was almost at the door. That is when she heard it, a loud scream from behind her. Quickly she glanced over her shoulder, to see Jackel disappear in a large pile of wolves. The group around her and the others slimmed down.


    "This is our chance." Gremio said and stormed past her. Jackels screams still filled the air, and they will hunt her for the rest of her life. Of this she was sure. "Come on shield maiden." She looked at him in horror, this was his friend, or at least she thought Jackel was his friend. Orisino growled, but grabbed her by the arm and dragged her inside. Gremio closed the door, which stopped Jackel''s cries.


    ********


    The building was not large, it was nothing more than a single room. The large servers made a soft zooming sound and produced a lot of heat. She could feel the sweat streaming down her back. Now those warm clothing were simply too warm. But there were no plants, no other creatures inside the building except for them. In the middle of the room was a small podium, with a desk. On that desk stood an old-fashioned big monitor. One that they would have used in the 1980-ish or somewhere in that period


    "I think you need to place your hand on that, to scan your DNA." Gremio said. Tamora rolled with her eyes. But she said nothing, got up the podium and placed her hand on the square. It became hot under her hand. It became even hotter inside the building, all the servers decided to start working. The monitor light up and there was not much to see then a blinking green stripe, for several minutes. She looked at it while holding her breath, afraid to move even an inch. All of them looked at it with the passion to know. But the blinking stripe kept on blinking, she almost lost it. But then the blinking stopped, the dark green screen kept itself empty for a couple of seconds, which looked like minutes. The servers went back to their soft zooming. Then finally the screen flickered and the words ''NO DATA'' appeared.


    "Fuck." Orisino cursed. She started to breathe again, it was as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders. The feeling of feeling guilty of not remembering her past. Now she knew for sure that she used the prison to get away from something, or maybe even someone. She did not know.


    "Well that is a bummer." Gremio said with a sigh. She looked at him and just shrugged. But then she saw Jackels double-edged axe in Gremio''s hands. Before she could ask how he got it, he started to swing with it. "Our agreement is over, Orisino!" He yelled. Orisino ducked away from the axe just in time. "I told you to never come back North." He swung again, this time the axe landed in one of the servers. "I will kill you, and then I will do my best to keep the shield maiden happy." The axe slammed again in one of the servers, small sparks of electricity started to spring out of the gap. But Gremio''s words set Orisino off.


    "The hell you won''t!" He screamed, he blocked the axe with his machete. Sparks started to fly of that as well. Tamora jumped from the podium, with her glaive ready to defended her own honor. Hell she didn''t need Orisino for that. Gremio swung with his axe again. This time she blocked it, like Orisino showed her all those days ago. She even kicked Gremio inside the crown jewels. Only that didn''t slow him down, because he swung the axe again. Orisino pushed her behind a server, not much later the server got hit by the axe. What was he thinking, if he kept this up. The whole building would explode, with them still in it. She didn''t know how she knew that, but she did.


    "Stop fighting!" She started screaming, but it was to late Orisino''s manchete was inside the monitor. He duck out of the way of the axe once more. But this timne he was to late. "NO!!!" He shunk to the ground, and fall face down. She started crying.


    "Do not cry shield maiden. Orisino is a weakling, a strong woman like yourself is wasted on a guy like him." Gremio said, with a smug on his face. "You are better off with a guy like...." He could not finish his sentence, because he was gone. No where to be seen. The axe was still in Orisino''s chest, but Gremio was gone. Where could he be? She started to look around, but then she got hit by a memory of Frank who also vanished after he killed Orisino.


    "Wait a freaking second." She said. And then everything exploded, she only felt the intense heat on her skin for a brief seconed.

 Chapter 18

    Tamora opened her eyes, she knew that she was no longer in the North. She was no longer in the building which exploded a few seconds ago. Still she could feel the heat on her skin, but she had lost one of her lives.


    "Fuck." Someone next to her said, her gaze snapped to the one who said it. Orisino stood there with his heavenly blue eyes, brown curls and sunburned skin. There he was the Boss of this prison, the one people needed to kill, to escape this prison. "Did he kill you too, or did you take your own life?" He asked.


    "Neither." She said. "After he killed you, he disappeared into thin air." Orisino frowned.


    "Then why are you here?" He asked.


    "The building exploded." She said, while shrugging. He was clearly not amused by it. "But that right now is not important. I have found something more important." He frowned and narrowed his eyes.


    "Did you found something from your past?" He replied, and she shook her head. Quickly she looked around, there was nobody nearby to hear her words.


    "I think I have found the Boss." She said and he sighed. Tamora knew that he was going to do that. By the Designer she knew him well. "Orisino, I mean it."


    "I know you do, but I already told you he or she those not exists." He explained, trying his best to keep calm.


    "He those exist, I am looking at him right now." She said. His mouth fall open, in shock or disbelieve it did not matter. "After Gremio killed you, he disappeared without a trace. It was as if he was never there, and this is not the first time this happened. The night that Marissa burnt down the shack, the guy that killed you, Frank, also vanished." Orisino narrowed his eyes.


    "So you are saying that when I was looking for the Boss, I was looking for myself?" He said, a bit loudly then she would like.


    "Well that is deep in someways." Jackel said, while he stepped out of the clearing. "But then again, I am not surprised at all." Borachio and Fenton joined him. Orisino looked at them, and she stepped behind him. The memory of Borachio''s hands on her body, was still too fresh.


    "Meaning you three are going to kill me? To test this crazy theory?" Orisino asked, and to her surprise they shook their heads.


    "Believe it or not, we like it here." Fenton said. "Even with all those crazy ass monsters."


    "And don''t forget the coming war." Jackel said. All three of them nodded.


    "But your families?" Orisino stated.


    "You mean those dumpster fires in the real world, their lives are better if we are not in it." Borachio said. "But I do not want to become a party pooper." He looked around. "But I think it is our time to split this place." Tamora nodded, she agreed with him. They started their walk through the forest, somehow she was glad to be back here. The creatures didn''t attack them, which surprised her. She could see them, from the corner of her eye. But they didn''t come towards them. "Hey, Missy. It is not safe here." She had stopped walking, without realizing it.


    "The monsters." She pointed towards one of the visible plants, the others looked at it. "They do not attack use." Orisino lay a hand on her shoulder, she knew it was him, without looking.


    "I think that is because of the fence." He said while nodding towards the fence. "The cities needed to do something to get the greens safely through the woods." She nodded that sounded logical. "Come, sweetheart. Although the fence keeps the monsters away, that will not say that we are safe here." She nodded again, and she loved the way how he said sweetheart. It made her heart melt, with joy.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Uhm, Tamora." Borachio said. He was walking in front of her, he only turned his head to look at her. "So that you know, I am sorry about what happened last night." She bit her lip, she wanted to forget his hands, the smell of his sweat. But he was right in front of her, and now he was sorry. Where was the sense of guilt when he attacked Orisino and her in the middle of the night.


    "It was not completely their fault." Jackel chimed in. "At least that is what they told me, after Gremio stole mys axe, delivering me to the wolves. Gremio had told them that it was a shame, that such a strong woman was claimed by a weakling." Which sparked their actions.


    "It is the truth, it is no secret that Gremio saw Orisino as a weakling." Fenton said. "And we believed it. But we also saw how hard he fought to get to you. That was not the actions of a weakling. Those were actions of a man in love." Orisino lowered his head slightly. "Which is not a bad thing, mate."


    "I didn''t know we were mates?" Orisino said.


    "We weren''t, but we have nowhere to go." Fenton said, as that explains it. Which crazy enough did, they have nowhere to go. They were outcasts to those inside the cities, and now they were outcasts to those in the North as well. They didn''t want to go home, because of reasons of their own. So now they just stick with them, their fellow outcasts.


    "We are going to the city." Tamora said. Hoping that they change their minds, but Fenton nodded.


    "We know, Tamora. Jackel told use about the war and your deal with Chris. First I did not believe that there were children inside this hellhole. But then again at first I didn''t want to believe that there were women inside this place either. Until the first one showed up inside our camp, that is. So we are going to help you protect them against that bitch Marissa." Fenton said, like there was nothing she could do, or say to change their minds. And she doubted that they ever will change it.


    ********


    "By the Designer, what am I glad to see you all in one piece." Chris said, at the entrance of the large building. He looked for a brief moment at Jackel, Borachio and Fenton, but said nothing about them. "And have you learned anything?"


    "The data bank didn''t have any data on me, so that means that I have run away from something." Tamora said, and Chris nodded.


    "That is a shame." Chris said. Angie stood behind him her arms folded behind her back. Chris looked exhausted, was that because of the war?


    "Chris, can I get one of my weapons back. I lost my machete during my fight with Gremio." Orisino asked. He had given the axe, that somehow stuck with him back to Jackel.


    "What makes you think that I have them?" Chris said.


    "Those it seems that I am in the mood for games?" Orisino asked and Chris shook his head. "Good, because I have really a shit ass day. So let someone bring me to the weapons you took from my basement." Chris looked over his shoulder to Angie, and she nodded. Orisino followed her, without a second thought leaving her alone with Jackel, Fenton and the worst of them all Borachio.


    "So Tamora, how was the rest of your trip? " Chris said, while motioning her to follow him. She did that without any hesitation, she trusted Chris and he was not the type of man to attack his guests. The same couldn''t be said about the other men in her company, how also followed Chris. The building with the office look downstairs, but with apartments upstairs. But instead of taking them upstairs they stayed on the ground level. Walking past the offices where women were busy with sowing clothing, in another office there were men busy with extracting poison. All with all, everyone inside was busy to prepare for war. Chris entered what seemed to be a meeting''s room, with a large wooden table and a mismatch of chairs. "Sit down, please." And they did. Food and water were brought in, and Tamora didn''t wait she grabbed the first bread she saw and put it in her mouth. "You were killed." Chris stated, and she shook her head.


    "The data bank exploded, with me still in it." She said, between bites.


    "I see, well. The preparations for the war and the residence are going. But I fear we do not have much time left." He said, grabbing the bridge of his noise between his fingers. "Marissa already attacked hunting parties." He sighed, but didn''t look up. "I am sorry, you are tired, and hungry." She wanted to say that she didn''t mind. But a large explosion interrupted her. The ground under her chair started to rumble.


    "It seems to me that the war is here." Jackel said, grabbing her by the arm. "I think it is time to collect the kiddo''s and quiet this place."


    "Good idea." Fenton chimed in, and he grabbed a piece of bread from the table before sprinting towards the door. Which swung open, Orisino burst into the room. Followed by the children. "Dear Designer. There are children inside this hell-hole!"


    "Indeed, Chris they need you inside the war room." Orisino stated. "The rest of you follow me." He turned around and run away. Without a second thought or some other stupid argument, everyone else followed. Borachio even grabbed Alex up and carried him out of the building. Jackel did the same with Jo and Fenton grabbed Justin. Cindy grabbed Tamora by the hand, she was clearly scared. But Tamora couldn''t comfort her, because she there was no time. They needed to get out of the city, they needed to get the children away from this war.