Snippet #1175046

Pale fingers circled the cold bars as the hooded men walked away. They pulled and pushed until finally the child, no older then four, sank to the floor sobs caught in his throat. She had seen it more times then she could count in the last two years and she remembered that feeling. Down the metal halls, she knew there were other mothers, clinging tightly to their children. As soon as they were old enough, they'd be taken from them as well. It would happen a million more times, a hard realization for a six year old. One that made her grow up fast, all to fast.

When they behaved, they were allowed to visit their mothers once, every two weeks, no longer then two hours. She had a hard time keeping track of time, perhaps it was longer then that. If they misbehaved though, they were put in a separate cell with no other children to rely on as comfort. Just solitude. The other kids watched sadly but no one moved until she did. There were no words of comfort she could offer, so instead she simply knelt beside him and pulled him into her arms. She rested her cheek against his small redhead and as his tears soaked her shoulder, she felt her own welling up again.

Tomorrow, the visitors would come again. They would pinch their cheeks and poke them, inspecting them as if they could rot like fruit. People rarely took the children though. More interested in purchasing the teenagers and young adults for labor and cleaning. The young women who were not sold as personal servants, would be sold for pleasure. If they should become pregnant, their children would end up here. Some of the women were kept just for that purpose. Why kidnap and make slaves when you could breed them....

Shea woke with tears in her eyes. It had been ten years since then and three since she had dreamed of it. What had provoked the dream, she could not say but something about this city reminded her. Still, she had no time to think about that when she caught the yelling voices. Moving from her bed, she went to the window and could smell the smoke from the burning house before she even opened it. It seemed there would be no peace for anyone here, as she watched the soldiers moving through the streets. Turning quickly, she left her room and headed to check on Gabriel.