Sacrifice

Have all those years been for nothing?

Freedom. 

About time, honestly. 

I rose and stretched, letting out a long, drawn out yawn. I heard an unintelligible groan in response as my stretched arm collided with a soft, fleshy surface lying beside me on the narrow bed. It was my cellmate, Mana. She recovered almost as quickly as it happened and looked at me with sleepy eyes. 

“You’re awake. Good morning.” I said. 

“Good morning my little Inori! Freedom at last huh?” She said in a sleepily alluring tone. She too was aware that it was our last morning together. 

“Yup!” I chirped. She kissed me, and we embraced, as was customary of each morning we spent here. 

I loved Mana. When I was new, she took me under her wing. Without her guidance, I wouldn’t have lasted a week in this wretched place. After all, I was too used to the trappings of a slave in a noble household and was unprepared for the rigors of a life behind bars. Compared to myself, she was a hardened veteran while I was fresh meat. 

Mana taught me the greatest lesson of all. 

Survival. 

The guards and other girls often mistook us for sisters. We both sported pink hair and eyes red like fresh blood. The only thing that set us apart was that her hair was flowed freely while I tied mine with two red hair spools, relics from the life I had left behind. 

Perhaps that was why she took a liking to me. Mana’s name was spoken by the other girls and even some guards with a measure of dread and respect borne from that fear. It seemed as though I was the only person she had opened her heart to. 

Suddenly, Mana gripped me by the shoulders, her crimson eyes fixated on mine. She had suddenly turned dead serious, a stark contrast from her usual teasing self.

“I want you to live a happy life, not just for you, but for us. Promise me this now, won’t you?” Mana’s usual sultry tone had changed to one that betrayed her sorrow after our lips parted. 

“I.... I will.” My voice cracked upon realising this was the last time we could be together. I could feel tears flowing down my face freely. Her eyes too, displayed a sadness that words could not do justice. 

“I’ll miss you, Mana!” I cried out. Suddenly freedom did not feel good. 

Mana, unlike myself, was to be here for a lifetime, compared to my five years. I never knew exactly what she did. It was the only thing she kept from me. I did not mind that too much, considering all that she had done for me over the years. She too, never asked what I was in for. We had an unspoken agreement not to touch each other’s past. 

“Hush, pet. Leave this place and don’t ever come back no matter what, alright?” Mana smiled at me. It was a big, bright smile, the same smile she would use to comfort me whenever I was sad. This time however, I could see that her eyes were glistening with tears. She did not cry though. Not now, and not ever. 

I never saw Mana cry. It was always her comforting me. I still remembered all those nights where she would forsake her place on the top bunk to spend the night with me. It was cramped, sharing that bed with her, but I didn’t mind. It made the passage of time that much more bearable. 

Slowly, I stopped crying. It was hard to cry with her smile right in my face. It was like a beacon of hope in this desolate place. She would always smile until I too, reluctantly smiled in response whenever tears came to my eyes. 

“There, much better.” She coo-ed with delight. 

Another kiss. It felt so much better than the first. Reluctantly, I left her arms. It was time to go. 

I took out a small box meticulously tucked underneath my mattress and handed it to Mana. My worldly possessions of five years. Not that it mattered now. 

“Farewell, sister.” I croaked. Mana smiled again, as radiant as ever despite the doom and gloom and squeezed my shoulders tightly. She then turned away, a clear sign for me to leave, as the guard had arrived to escort me out. 

“Prisoner 45098. Follow me.” 

I gave a curt nod to the guard to show him that I had acknowledged his command and walked in step behind him. I could see Mana from the corner of my eye as I walked further and further away from the cell. She never moved an inch and she continued to face away from me even as I went out of her sight. 

As I walked down the aisle, I spotted the room where prisoners entertained visitors. My heart ached at the memories the place held for me. I remembered him. 

Him. I am loathe to even mention his name. 

The man I had given everything for. My heart. My soul. All for him. I bought his sweet nothings and sugary words. He promised me freedom and true love, and I believed every word of it. I took the rap for him when he slaughtered his mother in cold blood and was convicted of manslaughter, a crime I did not commit. 

I loved him once. Not anymore. Especially not when he never responded to my letters nor made any attempt to visit me, his sacrificial lamb. 

I had forsaken my place in society for his sweet nothings and empty promises. My master, a man of my age, did everything in his power to stop me, but I was blinded by my own lust and infatuation to listen. 

I remembered how he begged me on the night I was to turn myself in with tear stricken eyes not to be so foolish. At that time, I thought him mad and brushed his pleas aside. After all, what kind of master begs his slave for anything? 

Despite all this, my master made the effort to visit me at least once a month. I declined him every time. I couldn’t bear to face him after what I had done. 

And now, as I walked towards the gate, towards my freedom, I wondered who awaited me on the outside. The thought of those sappy theatre plays where released convicts had tear-filled reunions with their loved ones after years of captivity came to mind. I wanted one too, as unworthy as I was. 

By now, it was late morning, as I trudged towards the gate. The creaking noise the gate made when the gate opened was like music to my ears. Freedom at last. I could feel the rays of the morning sun radiated a warmth I had not experienced for what seemed to be a lifetime. 

In my heart, I wanted to see him, despite everything that happened. I wanted to fall into his arms, to know that all those years and the sacrifice I had to make were not for nothing. 

However, he was not there. He was not there and never would be there. It was nothing but a ridiculous dream. If he never came for me all those years, why would he be here for me now? 

I saw my master standing there, waiting for me. The truth dawned on me. My sacrifice was all for nothing. It was all a lie. My dream of a free life with the man I loved. Mana. All gone forever. 

I had merely traded one cage for another. 

“Master.....” I cried out in despair. 

“......” 

Silence. I was not even worthy of even the most venomous words of my master’s vocabulary. 

I walked up to him, undignified and ashamed. He stood there, his face not betraying any emotion. I fell to my knees and started to sob uncontrollably in his arms. My vocal cords could not form coherent words. Not that there was anything to say at this point. 

I cried for the years I had so foolishly thrown away over the promise of love, when the one who truly loved me was right there the whole time. I cried for Mana, the sister I could never see nor touch ever again. 

I felt him embrace me while he gently caressed my hair. He never said a word the entire time. 

He was not angry with me. After all, I had suffered enough for my foolishness. 

Perhaps it was not too late to make amends. After all, there was nothing left for me now but to go forward.

Author's Note

Hi!

Do let me know what you think! If you've enjoyed this story, do check out my book on the Amazon Kindle Store, The Best of Aurafiex - A Short Story Collection.

Buy it now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GX7EVLC

Have a nice day!

Reviews

[Bala Gorthi]

You do have a very good story telling skill. A beautifully written piece...
If only we have many compassionate people like the master of your story around us, the world would look more beautiful..
I liked the way you ended the story..

[Ms. Kitty]

Def draws you in, take the story somewhere!

[TheMalady]

The relationship between the two girls made me fall of my chair, especially with the line 'Mana’s usual sultry tone changed to one that betrayed her sorrow after our lips parted...'

I was really grinning wide at this, however, this made the story interesting. Conflicts! I love conflicts. The character, Inori doesn't struggle just with the people around her, but with herself as well. However, I am really curios with her Master. If you could elaborate about him further, it would satiate my curiosity. Your characters are well-established. (This is just from my own opinion. You can keep the story at ease, though.)

Just my friendly suggestion. Keep up on writing! :) Nice work! :)

[David Marsden]

I think you have a fleur for writing. There is lots of passion in this story that the reader can sence. The detail is descriptive, I get a picture in my mind of the two girls through the dialogue and the descriptive narative. I would like to have had more description of the two main characters though.
I can feel how the girl is feeling herself by her thoughts, you have brought the main character to life well. The writing flows along nicely and the story has conflict and a good plot. The end is strong and thought provoking.
Another thing that could have been added is the scenery. The cell, the prison, the surroundings outside, the weather when she gets out. These all set the scene for the reader to focus on.
Having said all that, the story was really good and technically also. If this is your firs attempt, wow...
I always think the first piece is the starting piece where all that follows improves. Keep on writing.

[Aurafiex]

Thanks! I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Be sure to check out my other stuff too!

[La Cigale Rose]

Strangely, this makes me miss Orange is the new Black.

Really not bad for a beginner. This deserves to be written in a novel.
I like the emotions extricated from your story. Keep it up ! :)

[Aurafiex]

Thank you!

[SquinklaPsyOps]

With your flair for the technically sound and the emotionally arresting, you have created a superb story.

[Aurafiex]

Thanks! Glad that you enjoyed it!