Broken And Bound Together

PART ONE- CHAPTER 1

"Tell us another tale, Leon!" the shout rings out loud and strong.

It wakes me from my campfire side daydreaming and I raise my head, to find there are many faces, all around me, staring directly at me. I give a nod and the camp erupts with cheers.

Truth be told, I didn't feel much like spinning a yarn, but entertaining the troops is my job, beside which, the entire company is soon to be plunged headlong into a battle that has no perceivable end. How could I possibly refuse?

So, I spin a tale for them, a simple one that will leave them with something to ponder. I begin, using both my words and gestures to bring the story across, but as I carry on, my mind drifts back to an earlier time in my life, back to a woman, who changed my life forever. Her name was Jada and for a time, she was my woman.

We were a happy couple, despite us never experiencing a physical union, which we were saving for a special occasion. An occasion that would be marred by a non-consensual and complete violation of body, mind and soul.

I watched helplessly as my body beat and raped my lover, destroying any chance we had for a future together. Why? In this case, the devil made me do it, or more specifically, the spirit of a crazed fiend, who had deep roots in Jada's past. How this occurred I am still not certain, all I know is what it did to me, as I remember that night.

Marissa was an old friend of Jada's and a fellow warrior, but something happened to her on the field of battle, leaving her an empty shell. She barely responded to outside activity, but Jada stayed by her side, feeding her, cleaning her, insisting that she could still see the proud warrior, behind her eyes. She was convinced that, one day, her friend would return to her. If only she had the chance.

It happened one night, Jada and I returned, having just been to the market and found the front door kicked in. She dropped the shopping and bolted inside. I held still, unable to move, until I heard the most soul shattering scream, blast from inside the house. My body moved outside of my compulsion and I ran inside, to behold a tragic scene.

My woman was kneeling on the floor, cradling Marissa's lifeless, bloody body. I stared unbelieving, as she rocked the body back and forth, tears streaming from her eyes. I could not believe what I was seeing.

Jada, the fierce, warrior woman, was down on her knees, crying her eyes out. The sight drove me to my knees and I desired to take my woman and soothe her sorrowful soul, but I simply could not work up the nerve.

It disturbed me seeing her so vulnerable, but I tried as best I could. I placed my hand on her shoulder and she clasped it. Slowly, she raised her face and her eyes went wide. At first I thought she was looking at me, then I realized she was looking through me. I turned and my jaw fell open.

"YOU'RE NEXT COMRADE," had been written in big, bold letters, with what I assumed was blood, Marissa's blood.

I stood absolutely still, unable to move, as I read the inscription over and over again, trying to discern who would do this and why? Jada also did her own staring, as she rose from her seating and gently set the body on the floor.

I watched her step in front of the inscription, the fire rising within her, as she clenched her fists so hard they started to bleed. She screamed aloud, a terrible war cry, before spinning around and I swear, I could see fire burning in her eyes. She wanted blood and she wanted it now.

Jada stormed out of the house and I followed behind her. Why? I still don't know. All I know is that I followed her. The perpetrator had employed a local citizen, on pain of death, to tell us where we could find him. It seemed he had no fear of being found out.