December

Issue 26

“Stay still,” Yavar said. “It’s hard to apply the bandages with you squirming like that.”

“Sorry,” said Martin. He struggled against the urge to cry while his sister doctored his face.

“Why’d they do this?” She stripped more fabric from her shift, soaked it in a bowl of salty water and herbs before she applied it.

Martin clenched a fist to keep himself from flinching. “They chose to make me an example, I guess.”

“By scourging your face?” Yavar frowned, and her dark eyes became darker; a look Martin knew too well.

“Don’t even think about it.” He whispered.

“Someone will pay,” she whispered back.

“If you’re caught…” The images in his mind stopped him from finishing his sentence.
                                        
“Don’t worry.” She gave him a smile and a wink.

“They won’t even know it was me.”

Martin looked around at the rest of the slaves gathered in the dark pen; covered with dirt, weak from lack of food, many with scars and some with missing limbs. They would sell anyone out to make their hell a little more bearable, and he wouldn’t blame them for doing it.

Yavar mouthed the words, “Tonight.”

He mouthed back, “Be careful.”

“Now get some rest,” she voiced. She then made a convincing act of lying down and falling asleep.

He knew there’d be no sleep for him tonight, but he would fake being asleep just the same. He had to, for her sake.