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a jabbing motion low into their guts.
    "And then I saw them begin to pick off the women. The girls who were young and beautiful, as all of you are now, were slung over their shoulders after being grabbed or bludgeoned on the head and knocked nearly unconscious. I saw these men throw themselves on top of our young girls, raping them. I listened to them scream and watched them bite, pinch and claw at these men. But nothing could stop them. When they were determined to have a woman, they would take her. I fought as best as I could with no weapons and no preparation. And then I saw something that convinced me my life would be dedicated to defeating men like these animals. These beasts of the desert. I saw a man who snuck up behind a girl a few years younger than all of you. She was crying, motionless, in a heap on the ground. He grabbed at her in his blind passion. He couldn't make contact with her without enduring her swipes to his face. And finally, when he had her wrapped in his arms, she bit down hard on his neck and drew blood from him. He screamed and let her go, throwing her to the ground, not before slapping her across her face so hard that her nose began to spout blood. He was so enraged, he took her by her hair, swung her around and laid her out on the ground, flat on her face. Quicker than I could realize what he was about to do, he pulled his sword out, swung it around his own head and down on her neck. Her screaming stopped instantly, and what was once a farmer's daughter, was now little more than a head rolling away from her body."
    The harem women had stopped in place. Their eyes were wide, their mouths slightly agape.
    Briar screamed, "Nico! That is enough!"
    Elbi began to sob. Something inside her snapped. Whatever had been holding her fragile mind together, now crumbled. A deep well of madness took over. She had no choice but to leave the courtyard in a quick sprint.
    "You don't want to hear this," Nico began, "but you need to know what it is you are up against." His voice faded as she ran—deeper, and deeper into the darkness.
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    "Come on, Elbi," Briar pleaded, as she stood on the other side of the bathroom door. "It's okay to let me in. It's just me."
    Elbi sat, blocking the door with her crumpled body on the floor, quickly running her hand through her blonde hair. She held her hands close to her, afraid to let them be anywhere else. Her wide eyes tried to take in as much as possible and they kept darting around, taking in everything in the room. She could barely breathe. The pain in her chest made her wonder if she was dying of fright. Sweat formed on the top of her lip, yet she shook uncontrollably.
    Briar knocked on the door again. "Nico was just telling the story so all the women would take training seriously. Don't let what he said scare you. Our situation is different. We will be prepared, so nothing bad will happen to us." She knocked on the door again. "Please let me in."
    "Elbi," she heard a deep male voice call from the other side. "It is Malachi. I'm coming in." Without waiting for a reply, he slowly opened the door, pushing against her body that sat against it.
    Elbi looked up through her tears and began to cry even harder. Sobs rocked through her body as she gasped for whatever air her tightened lungs would accept. The ringing in her ears grew louder and darkness edged her vision.
    "It's all right, Elbi," Malachi said, as he carefully lowered himself to his knees. He extended two hands hesitantly. "Everything is going to be all right now. I want you to look me in the eyes and know that you are not in danger."
    She did as he asked, looking into his deep brown eyes.
    "I want you to take a deep breath and try to calm down." He turned to Briar, who stood in the doorway with terror painted on her face. "Go get me a glass of water," he directed softly.
    Elbi continued to look into his eyes and took a deep breath. The effort caused a pain in her back, and the tightness in her