Page 24 of Garden of Ashes & Hope

I bare my teeth in a feral grin. "Bring it on."

Everything happens in a blur. I lash out, my fist connecting with the nearest attacker's jaw. I hear the satisfying crunch of bone and cartilage. I hear Eve scream as the others rush in. I fight like a demon possessed, which, in a way, I am.

But I'm holding back. The rage demon inside me claws to be set free, but I resist. Eve's here, and I can't risk losing control, can't risk her seeing that side of me again. It's a mistake that costs me dearly.

A sword tears through my shoulder, the searing pain momentarily throwing me off balance. I roar in anger and pain, grabbing the attacker and hurling him into two of his comrades. They go down in a tangle of limbs and curses.

"Mordakus!" Eve cries out. I see her struggling against a man twice her size, trying to break free and reach me. The sight of her in danger fuels my rage, but it also divides my attention.

I'm so focused on getting to Eve that I don't see the attacker coming from my blind spot. A heavy piece of wood connects with the back of my knee, sending me stumbling. I lash out, catching the man in the chest and sending him flying, but the damage is done.

They swarm me, realizing that together they might stand a chance. Fists and weapons rain down on me from all sides. I fight back furiously, every blow I land taking one or two of them out of the fight. But for every one that falls, two more seem to take their place.

A particularly vicious blow catches me in the temple, sending my world spinning. I taste blood in my mouth, feel the warm ooze trickling down my face. Still, I fight on. I have to. For Eve.

"Eve!" I roar, trying to fight my way to her. I see her being dragged away, terror etched on her face. The sight nearly breaks me, and for a moment, I consider letting the demon take full control.

But before I can make that choice, a blow to the back of my head sends me reeling. Stars explode in my vision. I stumble, my legs suddenly weak beneath me. More blows rain down, and I feel bones crack under the onslaught.

I'm on my knees now, my body failing me despite my desperate will to keep fighting. Through swollen eyes, I see Eve struggling against two men dragging her away. She's screaming my name, tears streaming down her face.

"Mor...dakus!" Her voice sounds distant, like she's underwater. Or maybe I am. Darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision.

The last thing I see before consciousness slips away is Eve's terrified face as she's dragged around a corner, out of sight. Zane's laughter rings in my ears, a cruel, victorious sound that follows me into the darkness.

As the world fades to black, my last coherent thought is a promise: I will find you, Eve.

17

EVE

The darkness of the tent envelops me, broken only by slivers of moonlight seeping through the canvas. The heavy chains binding my wrists and ankles bite into my skin, a constant, cruel reminder of my captivity. I shift, trying to find a less painful position, but it's useless. There's no comfort to be found here.

My mind wanders back to the ambush, replaying the horrific scene over and over. The sudden appearance of Zane and his gang, the look of fierce determination on Mordakus' face as he fought to protect me. The sickening sound of fists connecting with flesh, the sharp crack of bones breaking. Mordakus falling, overwhelmed by sheer numbers. His anguished roar as they dragged me away.

A sob catches in my throat. Mordakus. Is he even alive? And Vincent... my heart aches for my little furry companion. I pray they both somehow escaped, that they're safe. But the memory of Mordakus's battered body, lying motionless on the ground, haunts me.

The tent flap suddenly opens, and I squint against the harsh light that floods in. A figure enters, and my blood runs cold as I recognize Zane. His eyes, glittering with a sickening mix of lust and cruelty, rake over me. "Well, well," he drawls, crouching down in front of me. "How's our little guest doing?"

I turn my face away, unable to bear the sight of him. But he grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"Now, now," he chides, his voice deceptively soft. "That's no way to treat your new family. Because that's what we are now, sweetheart. Your family."

"You're not my family," I spit out, surprised by the venom in my own voice. "You're monsters."

Zane laughs, the sound sending chills down my spine. "Oh, you've got spirit. I like that. It'll make breaking you all the more fun." He leans in closer, his breath hot on my ear. "You see, we've got big plans for you. This world needs repopulating, and you... well, you're going to help us with that."

The implication of his words hits me like a physical blow. I recoil, my stomach churning with horror and revulsion. "No," I whisper, shaking my head frantically. "No, I won't. You can't make me."

"Oh, but we can," Zane says, his voice filled with cruel amusement. "And we will. You're going to be our little breeding bitch, pumping out babies to build our new world."

As if on cue, several of Zane's men appear at the tent entrance. Their eyes roam over me, filled with a predatory hunger that makes my skin crawl. I curl in on myself, trying to become smaller, to disappear.

"Don't worry," Zane continues, standing up. "We'll take turns. Wouldn't want to wear you out too quickly."

The men laugh, a harsh, grating sound that seems to suck all the air from the tent. I close my eyes, feeling the last vestiges of hope slipping away. How did I end up here? Just days ago, I was dreaming of a new life, of gardens and peace and love. Now...

Unbidden, the image of my little rugen cutting comes to mind. That tiny sprig of green, stubbornly clinging to life despite the harsh conditions of our journey. I had carried it so carefully, nurturing it, seeing in it the promise of a better future.

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