— Bowling?
— Yeah, you said we'd go this Saturday!
— Ehh…
Maggie, my college friend, is always coming up with something. How profitable is it for me? How much can I spend? Fine.
— Alright. Can you ask for your dad's car?
— Well… I knew it, so… (she waves the keys) I asked him in advance!
— Okay, see you tomorrow then!
— Bye!
Damn it, I forgot to buy condoms. Whatever, I'll say it tomorrow. Once again, the green door of my apartment opens with a creak, and moans can be heard across the room. The dorm walls aren't thick, but shouldn't they muffle the sound at least a little? A fat guy lives across from me, and he's watching hentai again. Better not shake hands with him. Instead of getting some sleep, I grab a book and read formulas and algorithms out loud. Not useless, but repeating the same thing day after day until you memorize and understand it is pointless. So I solve problems on the computer—practice makes learning easier.
Ding*
— Hm. Who's coming this late?
Half-asleep, I opened the door, yawning by accident. When I did, I saw the barrel of an automatic rifle aimed straight at me. I had enough time to react—too bad I wanted to finish my yawn more. The man in the white mask was clearly high.
Ta-ta
— Gheh… su… son of a—
— You should've paid for your dose, kid… you should've known what happens when you don't.
He probably got the wrong number. Or maybe he just made a mistake. I don't know. Too bad I never tried hard drugs—wouldn't have died for nothing…
I never thought it would hurt like this… I thought I'd die old, or by accident. Damn it. It's hard to breathe…
Warm… it feels so good. Where am I going? Who is this person? Why is it dark all around?
— Don't lag behind, brat! We've got a long way to go…
— No, let me go!
— That's enough! I don't need you crying here too. Come on, I'll carry you.
What, am I small? Damn it! Did I reincarnate?! That can't be… Not bad though—it looks like the Middle Ages. Great. Maybe he's my father?
— There's the city. Don't say anything stupid! Just follow me, got it?
— Yes!
— Good boy. Let's go!
So this is a city? Disgusting. The stench is horrible. People look dead… Huh? My consciousness… is drifting…
Looks like a lot of time has passed. Am I lying on grass? No—it's hay. Is this supposed to be a bed? Awfully hard. Then who was that man? And where am I? Whatever, I don't really feel like sleeping. I need to use the bathroom. But where is it?
— Hey! Don't go! Aunt Marta will scold you!
— Where are you?
— Shh! Here!
— What? A rock?
— Idiot! That's bread. You said you were hungry.
— No, I wanted to use the toilet.
— Toi-let?
— Ugh… to pee…
— You cried all the time, I thought you didn't need to pee… hehe.
— What? I cried?
— Yeah, you're really loud!
— Okay… where do you pee?
— Over there, the bucket… can you manage?
— I… can. What's your name?
— Alice. Yours?
— Umm… don't you know?
— There are lots of kids here, and you're new… don't you remember?
— No. You can call me Lou. What is this place?
— Lou? Let's be friends! This is the temple of the Great Emm Goddess… I just forgot which one.
— Alright. I'll go now! "I'm about to piss myself!"
— Go to sleep right after, okay? Or Marta will punish you!
— Okay, thanks!
What a mess… ahhh. Relieved myself. Now I can sleep… again, I'm losing consciousness…
— What did I say?! Stop crying! Or you'll sleep outside!
What the… why am I crying? Calm down! Great, so I'm a child. Why is she yelling at me? Damn it, I'm covered in snot. I wish I could wash up.
— Get up! I warned you!
— Ow!
— Faster!
Bitch! I'll—ugh… damn… what the hell is going on here? My head is boiling. Is she sick? A storage room? Damn it!
— Sit here and think about your behavior!
— Let me out! Hey!
Old hag! I'm so hungry… and cold. You could die in here. What's here anyway? A shovel, a rake… nothing but hay. It stinks. Haven't they invented socks yet? Damn it. At least there's a window—but it's too high.
— One… one, two… ugh.
This is exhausting. No sleep, no food. Exercising only made me hungrier. Seriously? It's still daytime outside, but time doesn't move here at all. She's insane! A shovel! I'll dig a hole and get the hell out of here!
…
Thirty or forty minutes later, I'm starving. No strength left. I'm like seven or eight years old—how am I supposed to survive here? No time to whine. I need to keep digging. It's terribly uncomfortable, but I have no choice. I'm not dying here!
— Yes, damn it! I did it! Screw this shit!
So this one-story wooden building is the orphanage. Unreal.
— Blegh… (vomit)
Children's corpses. Scattered behind the shed, torn apart by animals. Crows were pecking at the eyes of a five-year-old boy. Some kind of hell. I'm not staying here. Going into the forest would be the dumbest idea—better follow the path. I still feel the stench. I need to distract my thoughts. I'm tired. Very tired…
— Hey, wake up!
— Huh? Who are you?
— Well, boy, you're incredibly lucky. Finding free merchandise is rare. Here, eat.
— Merchandise? What do you mean?
— You're smart too? Can you read?
— No… I guess not.
— But you talk like nobility. I think you'll be valued!
— What are you talking about?
— I'm a slave trader. Don't be afraid, I won't sell you for slaughter. You'll live in noble estates, if you're lucky…
— Fuck! Why is this happening to me?
— Ha-ha, eat up. Save your strength for the auction. That's where you must shine! And I'll hit the jackpot!
God… those were the orphanage children! They're for sale too? So I'm smart and I'll be sold to nobles—does that mean it's good for me? I can't escape the cage. I'm completely helpless. Damn it, I want to go home—to my time, without slavery and violence!
— Hey boy, who taught you those words? Can you read?
— My dad taught me. Reading? No…
— Damn it, the price would've doubled! Fine. If you have any talents, show them to my master. If you play dumb, I'll kill you on the spot. Got it?
— Yes…
It's getting dark. The sun is huge. What if I'm in another time? Maybe English exists here? Or maybe it's just another era? Either way, I'm screwed. Completely screwed. Fanatics, sick people dying of plague… Wait—then why are these people well-dressed and healthy? Maybe it's another country? Uh… I'd better ask.
— What's your name?
— Call me Theodore. Hungry?
— No. What country are we in? And what year is it?
— Country? What's that? The year is around thirty-one thousand, I don't know exactly.
— What?! Thirty-one thousand? How many months are in a year?
— You don't know? Ha! Nobody counts years anymore. But even kids know months. You disappoint me, boy. There are seventeen months in a year. Now sleep, and stop bothering me with stupid questions! (He poked me with the sheath.)
— Ow!
Seventeen months? No countries? This isn't my world. Damn it hurts… I don't want to go to that damn auction. What if no noble buys me? What happens then? Slaughter?! No! Better sleep—it feels like the food's coming back up.
Next day
— Itab, check the children. Take the stronger boys and prepare them for the master.
— Yes. And the auction one?
— Yeah, I'll show him with the beauties. Ha-ha, the master will like it!
Hugging my knees, I warm myself in the sun. I've calmed down a bit. We're near the Virmir Dominion—that's what I learned from other traders. Theodore punched me hard in the face, so my lip is swollen. Because of that, he kicked me in the stomach this morning. Stupid bastard. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe not—but the wound will heal before we arrive. Still, I'm a mess. So many questions, and no one to answer them.
— We'll make camp here!
— Caaamp! (the last one shouted)
They're organized. Unfortunately, slaves aren't allowed out of the cages. I didn't notice at first, but I'm not alone—two girls were thrown into my cage yesterday morning. They don't talk at all. They silently pee and poop. I don't have anywhere to go either, and the stench is horrific. If only they let us out sometimes. I force myself to try again—it'll be a problem otherwise.
After about six hours, we move on. I noticed the horses here are strangely muscular. At first I thought it was because I'm a child, but then it hit me—they're insanely strong. One horse was pulling a wagon with six cages full of people. The people were different ages and genders—no half-humans, just humans. What pissed me off was the iron chains on everyone's legs—heavy as hell. We're already in cages!
Two days later
Fourth day. The city is visible. Two things worry me: the stench and my ruined backside. I learned nothing new except that magic is a fairy tale. I really hoped for a miracle. No system either. Everything feels like the Middle or Late Middle Ages, but different. Cities are Estates—belonging to one family. Countries are Regions. They said the Roke dominion has 36 families, etc. Science and medicine are considered heresy, while knighthood and aristocracy are righteous in the eyes of the gods. Auctions sell slaves as beautiful pets for rich families—cute boys and girls for perverts. Being a labor slave is worse—certain death. How hasn't their population collapsed? Maybe their "cities" are just villages? Too bad they don't talk much.
Strange that the blonde girl from the orphanage doesn't talk to me. What was her name… Alice? Yeah. She looks completely lost. I tried calling her, but those bastards kept shutting me up—they just want to beat someone.
— Excellent! Just a bit more and we'll arrive before sunset!
— Yes, Master!
Thud
— Theodore, look!
Looks like your little one died.
— Really? Forgive me, sir!
— Fine. But next time I won't let it slide. Throw her away.
— Yes sir, sorry!
Bastards… they raped her. Damn world. Looks like only death awaits me.