"Come on boy!" A Thorn soldier pulled at the chains he was holding.

A young teenager had been chained around his neck and hands. The pull forced him to trip since he could barely catch up to the soldiers. He wasn't entirely sure what had happened, but he knew that he did not like these soldiers. It had been a couple of years when he woke up to these soldiers and they used him however they liked, as a bait for the Rose Kingdom, to cook for them, to fix their weapons if they needed...

I want to go home...

The moment he thought that, he began to realize that he didn't know where "home" even was. It was a sad thought that made him slightly depressed. He tried not to show any emotion in case the Thorn soldiers would take advantage of him. Nevertheless, someone always noticed and took it upon themselves to harm him with the blunt side of their swords. Just recently one of the soldiers decided to use the flames from the campfire to sear one of his eyes. The boy became blind in one eye and he could still feel the burn stinging.

"STOP DILLY-DALLYING!" A large soldier whose stomach was struggling to keep hold in its armor rumbled.

The boy hated him the most. Not only was this soldier particularly mean, but he would sometimes touch him in inappropriate areas claiming it was to relieve himself of boredom. If it weren't for that fat soldier constantly looking at him, he would have found a way out long ago. He stood up and the chains clanked and felt heavy. They constantly dragged him and the chains made him use more energy in trying to catch up with the enemy soldiers. If they took off the chains, he would mostly gain speed and agility probably at a faster rate than these soldiers.

It had been so long since his last meal, yet they would not let the boy rest and barely gave him any food and water. He was starting to feel dizzy, but tried not to show it on his face. He closed his eyes and followed the soldiers by the sound of their heavy footsteps.

"You there! Halt!" A soldier exclaimed.

The boy opened his eyes and made out a blurred vision of a child. Or was it a child? He couldn't really tell, but he knew that this child was standing in the middle of their trail a couple of feet away from them. The child had their palms stretched out and it seemed like they were holding some kind of weapon. A sword maybe?

The soldiers stopped, taking out their swords and other weapons. The soldier that was holding onto the boy's chains quickly tied it to a thick tree and threw out his weapon. The boy wanted to scream, but his throat was hoarse from lack of water and his vision blurred again.

Ahhh...dammit, why did I have to get a fever now?

The child would most likely not survive with the number of soldiers surrounding them, but surprisingly the cries of the soldiers were numerous. The child was winning. He tried to look, but all he saw was a blurred young girl with red hair. She slew at her enemies, jumped in the sky and brought down others. Her armor was a bit tattered with their blood, but she didn't mind as she stabbed into the hearts of two soldiers at once.

Everyone left standing was astonished at this young girl, but they didn't have time to be in awe as their lives were at stake. She looked like she was dancing and killing her enemies at the same time. She successfully killed them all but one.

"Hahahaha!" It was the fat soldier, "You are worthy to fight me. What is your name child so that I may show my king the head of a worthy warrior?"

The girl didn't respond. She moved her sword quickly to get the blood off of her weapon and it left a trail of blood on the ground. At least 20 or so soldiers were dead because of her. The boy struggled to keep his eyes open.

"I don't reveal my name to Thorn soldiers...but if you must, call me the Red Demon."

The fat soldier shuddered at her calling, "You...YOU'RE JUST A CHILD!"

He lunged at her with his large weapon, but she sliced at his armor and it fell apart. All that was left was his meaty flesh that was open for everyone to see. His shirt didn't do him justice because she could see his large stomach bulging out. She flung herself underneath him and slit him in the stomach. The fat soldier couldn't see her coming and did his best to defend himself.

Unbelievable! This child is much faster than...!

The girl used her legs to jump to the tree where the boy was trying to keep awake. Her legs were so powerful that she managed to fling herself to face the enemy and slice his head off. The fat soldier's head landed near the boy, but he didn't flinch. The girl swung her weapon again and left another trail of blood before sheathing her sword. She walked towards the boy who seemed to be unconscious.

"Boy..."

".........."

Another soldier turned up and on the side of his armor was the Rose insignia. Was it safe for the boy to answer? The soldier had his sword drawn, but the girl put her hand up and he backed down.

"Are you from the Rose Kingdom?" She asked him.

The boy looked at her, "I'm not sure..."

"Then...are you from the Thorn Kingdom?" 

"No...I woke up with no memory and," he took a deep breath, "was dragged by the soldiers for years."

"Were you their slave?" The soldier asked.

The boy nodded, "I was used...to lure out citizens...of the Rose Kingdom. I tried...my best to warn them, but it was no use." He gasped as he struggled to speak. His eyes were starting to close as his fever started to rise and his head was growing ever dizzier.

"Boy, I need you to answer one last question," The girl unsheathed her sword a bit, "What will you do if I free you?"

"...I," he gasped, "want to find...home."

His head dropped and he fell asleep. The girl looked at the soldier, "He won't be of much use right now, but I think he will once he's all healed."

"My princess, we do not know of his identity. What if-"

"He has been through enough already. It is clear that the Thorn soldiers do not like him as he has been abused. There is evidence of a large bruise on the back of his head."

She stood up and turned to her soldier, "You are ordered to take him to safety and keep him in my room until I return. We are not finished with scouting the Northern regions."

The soldier saluted as the girl fully unsheathed her sword and swung at the boy's neck, arms and legs. The chained shackles fell off their prisoner and the boy was slowly falling towards the ground before the soldier caught him.

"Your majesty, if he is found to be an enemy soldier..."

"Then I will take responsibility. You can tell that to father."

End of Chapter 10........................................................................................................................