Broken Chains: Chapter 1

A lithe young woman growled quietly at the indifferent guards that led her down the hallway by heavy iron chains that were strung from her neck down to her wrists and feet.  The three guards were lightly armored in the low-grade titanium mesh body suit that did little more than protect the wearer from blunt physical damage and certain projectile weaponry.  They didn’t mind the cheap armor though; they weren’t expecting a raid on their low-key slavers establishment to be made by a group wealthy enough to stock energy lasers any time soon, their business was small enough to be passed over by the larger money-hungry corporations.  Certainly three guards would be more than enough to escort a chained young lady, despite the rumors that floated around.

            The guard in the lead that held the chained leash glanced back over his shoulder to make sure that his companions still held the slave, one on either side of her with their hands gripping a shoulder, making sure that she wouldn’t try anything funny.  He shook his head slightly and yanked on the leash just for spite, causing her head to whip forward but she didn’t look up at him, instead she kept her eyes firmly on the ground ahead of her as he asked the guard on her right, “Why the ancient chains anyway?  Did we run out plasma binders?”

            His companion shook his head, “No, we have plenty, but I overheard Boss talking to her delivery manager.  Apparently her previous slavers had troubles keeping the binders functioning while on her, some sort of electrical shortage of some sort that let her loose on a number of occasions, Boss didn’t want to risk it after just getting her.”

            The lead guard nodded and barely caught a hint of a smirk on the ladies face before running his eyes up and down her slender form.  What he couldn’t understand was why the beauty got shuffled around so much.  Surely a flower like her would be a prized addition to any man’s harem, unless this flower was hiding thorns.  He didn’t realize that he had stopped moving in his contemplation until he saw his hand was reaching up to stroke one of the red locks in her jet black hair.  His thumb lightly caressed the top of her forehead right above her left eye and traced an invisible line up to her hairline, where the lock of flaming red hair started.  

He caught glimpses of her hazel eyes that stubbornly looked to the floor as his gaze traveled further down her unmarred, lightly tanned skin.  Her slender form made him think that perhaps she was under fed by her previous owners, but on further inspection he found no other evidence of starvation; her ribs beneath her translucent black dress weren’t sticking out more than normal.  The thin fabric of her sleeveless dress left little to the imagination as it hugged her curves rather well until her waist, where it flowed out like petals on a flower.  The outlined designs on her decorated bra and underwear were easily discerned through the material and left licentious thoughts on the guards mind. His hand cupped her cheek as he grinned to both of the other guards, “It’s too bad that we’re not on post for her bath no?  Maybe we could talk to the manager, convince him that she’s too dangerous to be left unguarded.”

All three snickered as they each imagined the servants stripping her down and hand washing the chained beauty.  Her body instantly stiffened beneath their grasp as she barely whispered in a mixture of disgust and horror, “Bath?”

The lead guard perked up and attempted to read her still downcast eyes, “So you can talk.  Yes, Boss ordered us to take you to the bathing compartments.  What the-..”

            “What is it?” The other two guards asked almost simultaneously.

            “Check it out, her eyes.” He forcefully lifted her chin up to force her to look at him as he gasped at the sight, “They’re black, but how?”  Both of her eyes were completely over clouded by a black impenetrable mist that blocked out any hint of the hazel and white that was there previously.  The cold black gaze stared at him as she growled and jumped on her opportunity of distraction.  

            Her hands had been gripping the chain leading from her wrists to her bare feet, the cold iron slowly had been melting into putty in her grasp. With a sharp yank she broke that section off and hit the lead guard square under his jaw with her clasped hands.  He fell to the floor dazed as his companions struggled to maintain their grip on her arms.  She head butted the one to her left rather forcefully, causing him to back up a few steps and rest confused on the hallway wall.  The third she was able to swing the chain dangling from her wrists around his exposed neck and grabbed the end of it, pulling it tighter and tighter, until he fell in a heap unconscious and barely breathing.  Not waiting for any of them to come to their senses, she decided to try and make a quick run for it.  The chain between her feet was just barely long enough to allow quick short steps as she did her best to quickly hobble away.  Luckily their bathing quarters were close to the outside perimeter of the building.  She was able to make it outside before she heard yelling behind her.  Frantically she made her way down a back alleyway, clinging to the shadows as best as she could but the clanging of the chains was a dead giveaway for her heading.  

She panicked as her eyes changed back to their soft hazel tone and dashed into the closest doorway which was luckily locked by a rusty bolt that easily broke after she hit it once.  Panting, she glanced around after shutting the door, knowing that the guards didn’t see her enter but also keeping in mind that it wouldn’t be long before they did a sweep of the area.  Her eyes strained against the darkness of the room, adjusting rather well and finally made out the outlines of crates and shelves of processed food.  After her breathing settled down she was able to make out the bustle of a cantina a level above her.  

Good, a crowd to get lost in, she thought to herself.  A deep and chiding male voice spoke in her mind, Oh yes, a crowd is usually helpful, but you’re forgetting that currently no crowd would be able to hide your chains, or, that rather superb dress of yours.  She sighed and found a space between a few boxes to sit down and rest for a bit to think, You’re right, quite the mess you’ve got us in no?

Of course, were you expecting something else?