Page 24 of Caged By the Orc
"Let go of me!" I snarl, struggling against his tight grip.
Grokus laughs, a cruel sound that sends chills down my spine and makes my skin crawl. He's still injured badly from Sarod's beating, scars littering across his face in an ugly pattern. Some look fresh, barely healed, while others are older and more faded. He drags me away from the crowd, his bulk easily overpowering my resistance as he shoves me into a shadowy alcove.
"You think you're special, don't you?" he taunts, his foul breath hot on my face. The stench of stale ale and rotting meat makes me gag. "Think Sarod actually gives a shit about you?" His eyes, cold and menacing, bore into mine as he sneers. I can see the hatred there, the burning desire to hurt me just to get back at Sarod.
I glare at him, refusing to show fear. "You don't know anything about us," I spit, my voice steadier than I feel.
"Us?" Grokus scoffs, his laugh a cruel bark that echoes in the small space. "There is no 'us'. You're just another human whore to him. He'll toss you aside like trash when he's done." His grip on my arms tightens, and I can feel bruises forming beneath his massive fingers.
His words sting, cutting deeper than I want to admit. But I push the doubt away, clinging to the memories of Sarod's gentle touches, his rare smiles. "You're wrong," I hiss, meeting Grokus's gaze with as much defiance as I can muster.
Grokus leans in closer, his foul breath washing over me as his tusks graze my cheek. I flinch, trying to turn away, but there's nowhere to go. "Am I?" he growls. "Sarod doesn't care about humans. He won't bat an eye if I decide to have some fun with you." His free hand trails down my side, and I shudder in revulsion.
I struggle harder, panic rising in my chest like a tidal wave. "He'll kill you if you touch me," I threaten, but my voice wavers, betraying my fear. My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my throat, and sweat beads on my forehead.
"Will he now?" Grokus sneers, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. "Let's test that theory, shall we?" His hand moves lower, and I brace myself, desperately hoping that someone, anyone, will intervene. I scan the area frantically, looking for a friendly face, but we're alone in this dark corner.
His free hand slides down my side, and I feel bile rise in my throat. The revulsion makes me want to retch, but I swallow it down. I kick out, catching him in the shin, but it only seems to amuse him. The impact sends a jolt of pain through my foot, but I grit my teeth, determined not to show weakness.
"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" he quips darkly. "Sarod always did like 'em with some fight." His breath is hot on my face, reeking of stale ale and something worse. I turn my head away, trying to escape the stench.
I open my mouth to scream, but Grokus clamps his hand over it, muffling my cries. The taste of dirt and sweat from his palm makes me gag. Tears of frustration and fear sting my eyes as he starts to drag me further away into the shadows. I dig my heels into the ground, trying to slow him down, buthe's too strong. My mind races, searching for a way out of this nightmare.
19
SAROD
I'm still riding the high of our victory, basking in the glory of another zyrphix win. The roar of the crowd echoes in my ears, a thunderous applause that sends shivers down my spine. I clap Thokk on the back, grinning from ear to ear, my body aching but my spirit soaring.
"Helluva game, captain," he says, his voice hoarse from shouting. His face is streaked with dirt, blood, and sweat, a testament to the brutal match we've just endured. "That last play was something else. I really thought the ball wasn't going to make it in!"
I nod, feeling the familiar rush of pride swelling in my chest. My heart's still pounding from the adrenaline, and I can taste blood in my mouth from a split lip. "Couldn't have done it without you lot," I reply, gesturing to the rest of the team. We're all battered and bruised, our bodies a canvas of purple welts and angry red scrapes, but the thrill of victory makes the pain worth it. Every ache is a badge of honor, a reminder of the hell we've just been through and conquered.
As we're laughing and recounting the best moments of the match, I notice Zorg's expression change. His brow furrows, andhe glances over his shoulder, a look of concern crossing his face. The kid's always been a bit jumpy, but something about his sudden shift in demeanor sets me on edge.
"What is it?" I ask, my good mood faltering slightly. The adrenaline from our victory is still coursing through my veins, but now there's a tinge of unease mixed in.
Zorg hesitates, then leans in close. His eyes dart around, making sure no one else is listening. "I saw something weird just now when I went to the bathroom," he mutters, his tone urgent. "Grokus... he was dragging some human woman away. Looked like he was up to no good."
My stomach drops at the mention of Grokus. That bastard's always been trouble, but this? This sounds like it could be serious. I clench my fists, feeling the ache in my knuckles from the match.
"What woman?" I demand, my voice sharper than I intend. The words come out like a growl, and I can feel the muscles in my jaw tightening. "What did she look like? Tell me everything you saw."
Zorg looks taken aback by my sudden intensity, his eyes widening slightly. He takes a small step back, as if afraid I might lash out at him. "Uh, small thing. Brown hair. Looked scared shitless," he says, his voice wavering a bit. He shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant, but I can see the unease in his eyes. "Didn't get a good look, but she was definitely struggling. Grokus had her by the arm, and-"
I don't wait for him to finish. My mind is racing, piecing together the description. Brown hair, small... it has to be Josie. The triumph I felt moments ago evaporates, replaced by a sickening dread that twists my gut. My fists clench involuntarily, and I can feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The taste of victory turns to ash in my mouth as I imagine Josie in Grokus's grip, terrified and alone.
"Where?" I growl, grabbing Zorg's shoulder with enough force to make him wince. "Where did you see them?" My voice is low, dangerous, barely containing the fury that's threatening to explode out of me.
He points towards a shadowy corner of the arena, away from the main crowd. His eyes are wide, concern etched across his young face. Without another word, I take off, shoving my way through the throng of celebrating fans. If I find Grokus, I'm ripping his head clean off of his shoulders. Without a doubt. The thought of it brings a savage smile to my face, my teeth bared in a snarl.
I tear through the arena, my blood pounding like a war drum in my chest. The roar of the crowd fades to a dull buzz in my ears, drowned out by the rush of blood and the singular focus of my rage. Every second that passes feels like an eternity, and the thought of Josie in Grokus's clutches makes my blood boil. I imagine her brown hair tangled in his meaty fist, her small frame dwarfed by his bulk, and it drives me to move faster, harder, shoving aside anyone foolish enough to get in my way.
"Josie!" I roar, not caring who hears me. My voice is raw, primal, filled with a desperate urgency that I've never felt before. But my call is swallowed by the boisterousness of the celebrating crowd, lost in the sea of cheers and drunken shouts. I curse under my breath, my eyes scanning frantically for any sign of Josie or that bastard Grokus.
I search every dark corner, every shadowy hallway, my heart pounding in my chest like it's about to erupt out of my ribcage. Sweat trickles down my back as I push through the swarms of revelers, my eyes darting frantically from face to face. But there's no sign of them. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, stealing the air from my lungs - they're gone. That bastard Grokus has taken her from the arena.
Panic claws at my throat, threatening to overwhelm me, but I push it down with a growl. I can't lose my head now. Josie needs me, and I'll be damned if I let her down. The thought of her, scared and alone with that brute, fills me with a rage I've never known before. It's like molten lava in my veins, burning away everything but the need to find her, to save her. It's in this moment, standing amid the chaos and noise, that I realize just how much she means to me. She's not just some tavern girl, she's not just some thief - she's become my whole damn world.