Beneath the Bloodstained Moon Chapter 17

Alarica’s body ached with every shallow breath she took. Her wrists throbbed, raw and bloodied from the fight against the cruel ropes, and her legs felt too weak to hold her up.

Yet, she stood. Shaking, barely holding herself together—but standing.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

*Look at everyone*

Girls—so many of them—sat scattered across the splintered wooden floor. Some were barely covered, their frail bodies trembling from the cold, while others clung to their torn rags, shivering with fear.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

*Gulp in pain* (No… No, I won’t let this be their end)

Her fists clenched as she took a shaky step forward. Her voice was weak at first, raspy from dehydration and exhaustion, but she forced it out.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

Listen to me everyone!!

Alarica Volkova (FL)

We can fight back *Said strongly*

Nothing

The girls didn’t even flinch. Their eyes remained vacant, their bodies remain still.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

I know you're scared! I am too! *Shouted with teary eyes*

Alarica Volkova (FL)

But we can’t let them win! We have to fight!

The girls didn’t move. Not even a flicker of recognition crossed their faces. They sat there—empty, hollow shells of who they once were.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

(Don’t do this to me. Don’t give up on me.) *Close her eyes in frustration*

She clenched her fists and shouted louder, her voice hoarse and trembling.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

Please! I can’t fight alone! But with you, with all of us together—we have a chance!

Silence

Her eyes darted around, searching their faces for even a flicker of resistance, a spark of hope. But she found nothing. Only dull, empty stares.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

(Is this really it? Am i really alone?)

For a moment, her legs threatened to give out. Her fists, once clenched with determination, began to tremble.

The faces around her were unmoved—just hollow shells that no longer cared.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

*Tear roll down from eyes* Dada

And then, suddenly, a voice from deep within her mind echoed with startling clarity.

Her father’s voice.

Someone

The careful choice of your words is the only thing required, Alarica, to determine how strong you are and how easily you can manipulate their minds.

Someone

You have to find their weak nerve and press it until it truly hurts them. That’s the only way they’ll start reacting the way you want.

Someone

But remember, it’s you who must decide how much pressure to apply. It can either break them or ignite the spark they lost in their life.

For a moment, she simply closed her eyes. Her fists clenched at her sides.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

Is this the future your mother and father wanted for you? *Said fiercely*

Alarica Volkova (FL)

Is this the fate they dreamed of when they held you in their arms for the first time?! *Said with rage*

Silence

Alarica Volkova (FL)

Do you think they would want to see you suffer like this? *Said in a painful voice* Or would they want to see you fight?!

Alarica Volkova (FL)

This world is cruel! Yes! But do you know what’s even crueler?

Alarica Volkova (FL)

The sight of your parents crying for you. Crying because you gave up. *Scream in anger*

Alarica looked around but there was no response. She started to feel helpless.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

The world didn’t make you weak. What made you weak is the moment you chose to suffer… instead of making them suffer.

The room fell into a suffocating stillness. And then, from the far corner, a small, trembling voice pierced the silence.

Random little girl

If I help you… will my mother stop feeling pain? *Said in baby voice*

Alarica Volkova (FL)

*Breath hitched sharply and eyes widen* (What?)

There, standing barely tall enough to reach her waist, was a frail girl no older than seven.

Random little girl

Tell me sister... Will you help my mother?

Alarica Volkova (FL)

*Hands trembling*

For a brief moment, Alarica forgot how to breathe. She stared at the child, her eyes wide, her throat tightening painfully.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

(A child… Oh God. I didn’t even notice her.) *Look around the room* (And them)

She looked up at Alarica, her wide, tearful eyes filled with something far stronger than fear—hope.

Random little girl

If I help you… will she stop crying? *started crying*

Alarica Volkova (FL)

(She wants to save her mother…) *Tear rolled down from eyes*

Her fingers, trembling slightly, gently brushed the child’s dirty, tear-streaked face.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

I swear. *Bend to her level*

Alarica Volkova (FL)

I will help her. I will help all of you. *Look everyone else*

And then, slowly, the child's mother stepped forward. Her face was streaked with tears, but her eyes—once void of life—now burned with something else: desperation mixed with fragile hope.

Random Girl:1

I'll help you *Shivering tone*

Alarica Volkova (FL)

I promise. I will get you out of here. All of you. *Nods*

The child’s mother clutched her daughter's hand tightly.

Random Girl:2

We’ll fight with you. *Eyes teary*

And then, one by one, the others came. The women—mothers, daughters, sisters—began to rise. Their weak, trembling hands slowly found strength as they clutched their daughters close.

Their tear-streaked faces lifted, no longer empty, but alive with defiance.

Random Girl:1

We won’t let them take our girls. Not again

Another woman grabbed the arm of the girl beside her, pulling her to her feet.

Random Girl:1

No matter what. We will fight.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

*Smile* (They’re with me.)

Alarica Volkova (FL)

(We’re not broken yet. Dad you see, I'm your strong and brave daughter. I didn't give up.)

And for the first time, they were no longer prisoners.

They were warriors.

Alarica Volkova (FL)

WE WILL FIGHT AND WE WILL SURVIVE.

She spoke in an encouraging tone, and everyone agreed with her, supporting her with a strong voice as they repeated after her.

Random Girl:2

We will fight and we will survive.

Random little girl

We will fight and we will survive.

To be continued...

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