THE ALPHA'S PAWN

The scent of rotting flesh clung to the air like a curse, thick and inescapable. In the damp shadows of a crumbling cell, Ingrid Hearst sat motionless, her wrists bound by rusted chains that had long since worn grooves into her skin. She had stopped counting the days, she had lost count - it was easier that way.

Her gaze drifted to the sliver of moonlight creeping through the cracks in the stone wall, its pale glow a mockery of freedom. The thick chains around her ankle clinked, sinking to her flesh like sharp claws. Her once vibrant coppery hair hung in matted strands around her face, its color faded from days spent in darkness. Dirt and grime coated her skin, tattered and torn clothes offered little protection against the biting cold that seeped through her bones.

Footsteps.

The heavy thud of boots shattered the silence, each step a warning. Ingrid's breath hitched, her raw nerves sparking to life.

"The eclipse will begin in an hour! I don't see anyone to sacrifice but her!" It thundered, reverberating off the wall. "Let this worthless fool serve as payment, her existence doesn't matter to us anyway!"

One of the women named Kaya exclaimed, as they came close to the cell, Ingrid recognized them, their eyes were fueled by disgust locks onto Ingrid's. The cell door creaked open. Ingrid's breath caught in her throat as the dim torchlight revealed the taunting silhouettes of the two women stepping into the cell.

"I just don't get why my useless father even took this bitch where we can't even fill our belly with food." The other named Lara replied. "He was too good of a man. Well, too bad, good weeds die early."

She stepped forward and splashed the bucket of water over Ingrid's. The shock of the cold jolted her, drawing a sharp gasp from her dry, cracked lips. As the cold seeped into her bones and the chains tightened around her ankle, she could only pray for a miracle to save her from this living hell.

"There. That should wake her up." Lara smirked, "Let's move her, quickly!"

The two gathered their strength to make her stand up but Ingrid was far from weak to even move a muscle. She has lost count on how many times she had begged, and pleaded for the life they keep taking away from her.

"Eugh, she smells rotten! Do you think he would like this piece of scrap?" Kaya whined. "I mean, she's all nothing but skin and bones!"

"He will like her. This bitch is a witch, remember?"

"She's no blood of a Tenebrian, that's the first part of his deal. Every sacrifice must be from a pure blooded, we don't even know what tribe she belongs to!" Kaya babbled in distress. "Do you think he'll notice? What if he doesn't like her? He's going to kill all of us!"

"Ugh! Do you think I care about any of that, Kaya? What matters to me are the coins. Nothing else." Lara rolled her eyes as she handled a piece of cloth to Kaya. "Take this, cover her eyes."

The other girl fell silent and quietly did what she was told. Kaya clutched on Ingrid's shoulders, while Lara stood behind her, wielding a massive wood, pressing and poking it against her back, compelling her to move forward.

Blindfolded and shackled, Ingrid felt her body dragged from the cold confines of the cell into the biting night air. The rough hands of the villagers gripped her arms and shoulders, pulling her through the dirt paths of the crumbling village.

She could hear the crowd gathering, their voices low and filled with something between malice and anticipation. Each step forward felt heavier than the last, not because of the chains but because of the crushing weight of betrayal.

After minutes of walking in deep silence and darkness, she felt the hands that had been gripping her bones and skin loosen their grip. As her blindfold was lifted away, Ingrid was welcomed by the cold breeze, yet, amidst the solitude of the cold night, a realization dawned upon her: she was not alone.

The moon, nearly red, shone brightly in the dark sky. Ingrid looked around and realized that everyone in Tenebris had gathered behind her.

They looked at her without any sign of remorse or pity. Lara and Kaya were beside her, their eyes fixed ahead causing Ingrid to follow their gaze, only to see five hooded figures standing completely still a few meters away, their entire body and face covered in a hooded black cloak, casting an eerie yet mysterious atmosphere in the air.

"Walk." Lara whispered to her with authority. However, Ingrid did the exact opposite and remained rooted in her place. "Are you fucking deaf? I said "walk."

As their gazes locked with hers, fear seized her, clawing at her insides. The five men standing before her emanated an eerie aura, ten pairs of red eyes piercing the darkness like lightning bolts.

"Hand us the girl." The fourth man spoke.

"Our deal." Lara stepped forward and grabbed Ingrid by the arm. "Coins first before the girl. Thirty gold coins."

The man to Lara's left extended his arm, a small bag nestled within his grasp. Without hesitation, Lara's reflexes were quick enough to snatch the bag away from his hand and check its contents. As she inspected, a satisfied grin stretched across her lips as she confirmed the glimmering presence of gold coins within.

She again grabbed Ingrid by the arm and pushed her with force, causing Ingrid to trip and fall to the ground. With trembling hands, Ingrid quickly crawled towards Lara, reaching for her foot.

Her fingers grasped desperately as she pleaded with cries when she realized what was happening. Her movements were almost affronting as if she were about to touch the ground itself with her lips.

"N-No, please! Don't . . . don't do this! You can't do this to me!"

The crowd murmured uneasily, shifting as if her words carried a weight they didn't want to acknowledge.

"You can do anything you like with her. Whatever that man desires. Kill her if she doesn't satisfy him enough, that's the least of our concerns." Lara announced as she stomped on Ingrid's hands as if it was a piece of paper.

"Lara!" Ingrid shouted desperately. "N-No, take it back, please! You can't sell me out for coins like this! Your father wouldn't want this!"

That statement made Lara stop walking, her grasp on the bag tightened. She faced Ingrid once more, her expression blank.

"My father is not here anymore, is he? Alistair is dead to me the moment he decided to take you in."

With that, all of them turned their back on Ingrid. None of them dared to even look back - a clear sign of how much they want her gone off their lives.

Ingrid trembled, her chest tightened. Her fingernails gripped the ground, every emotion in her was felt. Anger, hatred, and resentment clouded her mind. Everything was messing with her head, spitting words that satisfied the demon inside her.

"C–Curse you! All of you! Cherish those gold coins of yours while they last! The moon will bear witness to your greed! The day will come, and you will pay! This land, already a crumbling ruin, will fall further into chaos!" Her voice cracked with emotion, the weight of her despair heavy upon her shoulders. "Eat any food while you can, for you will all devour each other's flesh as your souls will burn deep in the hell of fire!"

Ingrid's screams echoed, her tears flowing until they ceased. She was emotionally and physically tired and drained, leaving her numb and empty, like a hollow shell. 'They sold me out . . . just like that?' she thought.

"Woman. . ." A voice pierced the tension. One of the men cloaked in black called out, causing Ingrid to snap out of her distress.

"W-What is it that you want from me?" She faintly mumbled, almost whispering in the wind.

"The assassin who managed to kill Alpha Trevor of Crestforge years ago. It was you, was it not?"

Ingrid can't help but let out a weak laugh upon hearing what was said. "That woman died years ago. If it's her you want, you can't find her here, because I killed and buried her already. . ."

Ingrid's body, already battered and broken, finally gave out. As darkness closed in around her, the last thing she saw was the red moon glowing above, like an omen hanging heavy over Tenebris.

The hooded figure crouched in front of Ingrid. He studied her for a long moment before his gaze dropped to her chest. His pale hand brushing the few strands of hair from her chest. There, partially hidden by her torn clothing, was a white crescent moon tattoo.

"Take her and tell the royal baron. Tell Zagreus Hawthrone, the search is over." he said, "We found the girl."