I missed my lunch that day because, by the time I was able to complete five carts and drag myself to the hall, the food was already finished. I was the last to go there.
Hungry, tired, and far too irritated, I made my way back to my chamber wing and my tunnel, dragging my cart with me. Every muscle in my body ached, and my mouth was dry. I felt as if I would fall over at any time.
"I don't know if I can feel pain in my bones," I groaned.
I met others ragged and nearly falling over on my way. I finally understood why the workers were like zombies, and that was why I was baffled by those two. How did Tiber and Syla do it? How were they looking so alive?
Maybe I'd ask them when I got the chance later.
I sat on my cart and rested for a while, breathing through my mouth to regain as much energy as possible before I started the second five carts. I didn't know what the punishment was, but I really didn't want to find out either.
My stomach groaned and bit at me painfully, but I shrugged it off. I should be used to hunger and I was, but not with working so hard without eating something substantial.
"I'd better get back to it, or I'll really just sit here," I thought. My body protested, but I still dragged myself over and lifted my pickaxe.
'Clang! Clang! Clang!'
I completed three carts before I started considering skipping the remaining two for the day. "Any punishment they want to give me will simply not be worth the pain I'm feeling right now," I thought.
It felt as if heavy stones had been tied to my limbs, and each step brought so much agony that I clenched my teeth. But when I got to my wing, I found a man I hadn't seen before standing over the body of a woman, her back a mass of blood.
The man was one of the overseers tasked with ensuring everyone submitted their allocated carts. "I thought it was supposed to be Taiwo?"
I watched as the man brought down the leather whip, its tips braided with metal.
'Flam!'
I saw flesh tear like paper as it hit, and I shuddered. The woman moaned and whimpered in pain, too low, as if she'd already passed out.
The overseer sneered, his eyes cold. "Take her away, and when she wakes, tell her to continue working." His eyes passed over us all. "That's all you're good for. Do your work, or I'll make you like this or worse."
He swept out of the chamber, almost making a dramatic exit, but he stumbled, caught himself, and shot us a glare before disappearing.
No one thought it was funny except that I heard a snorting laugh from a tunnel that sounded familiar. I threw myself into my work after that.
While fear of the unknown might be one of humanity's greatest fears, once it was known, it might be just as terrifying.
I liked my flesh where it belonged.
I didn't remember much after leaving the mine that day. I remembered that the moon was high before I was finally done, and fortunately, there was food this time. I quickly ate the abomination, then remembered seeing a bed and falling onto it.
When I pried my eyes open the next morning, I groaned as the light made my head ache. I heard the tent flap open, and instinctively, I looked around but didn't see Tiber and Syla.
"They've probably gone back to that pool. Should I join them?" I wondered. My body didn't want to, but I dragged myself there. I stank and wanted to wash off the dirt from the day before. My body was tender and hurt in ways I hadn't felt in a long time. It brought back memories of when I first began training.
Tiber and Syla were already training when I arrived. They froze when they saw me. Tiber shot Syla a knowing look, and she turned to glare at me as if I'd done something wrong.
I ignored them and focused on my training, trying to find the same peace as the day before. I managed to, but not for long, as I broke out of it myself. I dragged myself into the water and sighed as the cold water closed around me, a soothing balm to my sore muscles.
Suddenly, I heard, "She died yesterday."
I didn't open my eyes immediately, but when I did, I saw the two of them watching me carefully.
"The woman?" I asked calmly.
Tiber nodded, his face somber. "The monsters got her attracted to her blood, I'd say. They only found her hip bones on the ground."
Syla scowled. "Or she went deeper into the tunnel intentionally. That's what a lot of people do, you know. When they can't take it anymore, they kill themselves. It's an easy way to get out of this."
I splashed water on my face and nodded. I thought, it was something I would have done days ago, and I understand them perfectly. Still, it chilled me.
Syla continued, her face tight. "And it's worse because she was bullied into sharing her resources. To think the overseers probably know about this!"
Tiber gestured at her and shook his head in warning. "Stop, or you'll get in trouble if anyone overhears you! And don't forget the overseers are Squires and stronger ones, even more so than our wing leader."
She grumbled but switched the topic to something else, asking if they'd finally start feeding us something other than the bile we were given. Tiber was ready to disagree, and they launched into their usual argument.
I tuned them out. So there are bullies here? I should have expected that, but it's not really my business. The only thing that's my business is to stay away from the overseers at all costs. I don't want to be made an example of.
I quickly finished my bath with the others and headed to the great hall to eat.