Sarah Stryker: And The Scorching Fire

By Hanif Muhammad

A CITY IN PERIL

A BROKEN GIRL RISES FROM THE ASHES

A LEGEND IS BORN 

Seattle is on the brink of destruction. The living flame threatens to consume the entire population and in response, The Pride recruits more young women than ever before. They are an army whose influence extends to every region on Earth. The m

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hanif Muhammad
• Release date: Feb 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987493632

Book preview

Prologue

First Contact

A

grappling hook shot out of the barrel of a gun and soared through the air. The line whizzed, and the hook landed on the edge of a building with a clunk. There was a team of six stationed on top of the roof across the designated spot. It was a team that consisted of young women whose physicality was akin to that of Olympic medalists. The girl who had fired the grappling gun took center stage and led the rest of the team as they smoothly zip-lined from one building to the other in a single file.

Suzanna Gleeson stormed through the door stationed on top of the massive building and raced down the stairs as her comrades followed suit. She was a girl with a slim body but staggering biceps and broad shoulders. She was also the tallest person in the group. The second was her loyal friend, Samantha Montgomery. She was the only one who didn’t struggle to keep up with Suzanna. Her muscles weren’t as defined but she more than made up for it with her speed. Together, the two girls quickly dominated much of the competition and at a young age became respected members of The Pride.

The Pride was a secret to everyone except its founder. The presence of humans born with supernatural gifts had split the world into factions, and this faction was distinguished by the fact that all of its members were women who shared a sacred bond; a bond that would allow them to weather the storm of this mission and rescue every single person trapped inside of what appeared to be a government base.

The Pride had received word of an attack on Seattle by a sinister threat; a being of immeasurable power who saw the entire world and all those who opposed him as nothing more than sheep. He had made a bold move by attacking such a large facility and it was only a matter of time before he grew more ambitious. Something had to be done… and now.

Eleanor Johnston led a different team of a dozen young women through the front door in haste. They were about ten stories below the previous group, and if all went according to plan, they would meet in the center by the time they were finished. Despite her lack of physical prowess, Eleanor was the one in charge of this operation. Locating the remaining survivors was her sole discretion and one she would be held responsible for. She had smooth black hair wrapped in a neat ponytail and was a tall, slim-built woman, just like Suzanna and Samantha. Though she lacked the physique of either, her initiative made them appear identical.

Eleanor was the first person inside the decrepit building. She had planned everything out several days ago and now was watching it all play out in front of her. She dashed into one of the rooms to her right and found an unconscious civilian with a gash on his forehead, lying on the floor. A stream of blood poured down the man’s cheek. Eleanor noticed the room was covered in debris and much of the ceiling above now resided on the ground. She lifted the man off the ground using all her strength before hoisting him over her shoulder and barging out of the room.

The team took Eleanor’s lead and stormed through each of the rooms in a coordinated attempt to rescue as many civilians as possible. Eleanor could only carry one person over her shoulder at a time, but she knew some of her comrades could carry as many as four. Their enhanced strength also allowed them to kick open any locked door and burst through piles of debris with ease. If they continued to move swiftly, this entire mission would be over soon.

The team managed to locate dozens of civilians in almost record time. Everything was as smooth as silk and as Eleanor had planned it. She joined her teammates on the fifth floor as they prepared to rendezvous with the first group on the tenth. But something about this scenario didn’t sit right with her. There was something they were missing.

How many survivors? Eleanor asked one of her teammates as she handed an injured civilian to another girl beside her.

We managed to find a total of twenty-six, ma’am.

Good let’s go find Su—

But something had interrupted Eleanor before she could finish her command. The building shook in its presence and the walls around the girls began to crack. The team was suddenly overwhelmed by an unbearable heat that permeated every fiber of their being. They could all feel it, the energy in the surrounding atmosphere. It was strange, terrifying, and shook the girls to their very essence. Then, a scream louder than almost anything they had ever heard in their entire lives violated their eardrums.

What was that? one of the girls muttered in a state of utter confusion.

It came from the top floor, Eleanor replied. She had assumed it was one of the civilians but there was already a tiny part of her that conceded to the possibility of it being one of her own. Before she could dwell on that thought any longer, an enormous wave of fire appeared behind them.

The fire was so large that it appeared as if the bowels of hell were opened. Eleanor was mesmerized by the sight of it. She had never felt something so absolute, so pure in its destructive power. But that fascination morphed into horror as the fire drew near.

For the past several months, apartments, schools, and even entire neighborhoods were the targets of a fire so destructive, and so precise in its goal to end human life, it was coined The Living Flame. It was a force of great calamity to all who encountered it and to the few who lived to tell the tale. And it was only now that Eleanor realized the fire of mythic proportions was staring at her in the face, ready to consume her and everything she held dear.

Everybody run! Eleanor panicked. She and the team bolted just before being swallowed in the flames as the walls and the ground beneath them erupted. Somehow, to their dismay, the flames continued to tail them.

Eleanor quickly sprinted and took cover behind a wall at the end of the corridor before issuing her command. Go! Get the civilians to safety, she ordered.

What about you? one of her teammates asked.

I’m going after the others, she revealed.

Ellie wait! one of the girls yelled.

But Eleanor was already gone, already heading towards an uncertain fate, putting her life on the line for the sake of her teammates. Some of the girls listened to what they were told but there were four who decided to follow her. They quickly handed the injured civilians they were carrying to their fleeing teammates before joining her in her race to the top floor.

The longer she ran, the more Eleanor felt like she was stepping on hot coals. The ground beneath them was unstable. This entire building could burn to the ground in just a few minutes. The thought was enough to cause Eleanor’s heart to beat so fast it burned as much as her feet did, but she continued to power through it and ignored the pain. It was as if she was being called to something beyond her control. She had to make it to the top. She had to know whom that scream came from.

Miraculously, the flames that had all but incinerated everything around them began to disperse as the girls drew closer to their destination. Eleanor thought this should have made her feel more secure, but even though she had stopped running, her mind was still racing. What could be up here that was so horrible? she thought to herself.

Eleanor made it to the top floor and found that her worst suspicions were true. The scream had come from one of her own. It was the last person she had expected to see in such a vulnerable state. The others huddled beside Eleanor with their eyes glued to the girl in front of them in disbelief.

Suzie?

Eleanor was utterly bewildered by what she was seeing. Suzanna Gleeson lay in a fetal position just a few feet from the team in the corner of the room and was in the most degrading state anyone had ever seen her in. Her hands and forearms were covered in charcoal and minor first-degree burn marks. She had encountered the approaching threat, the being everyone was so afraid of, and what she had seen struck Suzanna to her very core. She hadn’t been touched; merely being near the threat was enough to shatter her world. Only now did she realize all her strength and all her training meant nothing. All Suzanna could do was mutter as the reality of their impending doom permeated her soul.

His eyes… his eyes…

Whose eyes? What did you see?! Eleanor asked.

Chapter 1

The Woman of the Hour

I

t was an unusually busy day in Bellingham, Washington. All its citizens gathered outside to celebrate the inauguration of their daughters, sisters, and other loved ones who had accomplished what so many dreamed of. They would soon be warriors and would one day have the chance to fight alongside the elite. They would be a part of something larger than anything they could imagine. The recruits gathered in droves and entered an array of buses in a large single-file line.

Today was a day for the people. It was one of the few days in which everyone was important. The day The Pride began its recruitment of young girls into their army. It was a day in which danger and fear of the future took a backseat to the present.

However, there was one girl who didn’t seem to fit in, who preferred seclusion. She had silky smooth skin and conventional pale blonde hair wrapped in a neat ponytail, but it was her fierce gaze that took most people off-guard. Her eyes were like the ocean at night: dark and tainted pupils that had seen too much yet were dutifully observant, nonetheless. She was distinguishable from any crowd, a girl who truly didn’t have a care in the world. Her name was Sarah Stryker.

She was a girl from a wealthy family whose parents worked for the government; one who rarely spoke to anyone and never felt like she belonged. Yet despite her loneliness, Sarah had managed to excel at the top of her class and graduated school far earlier than her peers. Sarah was eighteen years old and had already majored in the medical field and possessed many other talents. She was great at soccer; both she and her sister won the school championship three years in a row. She also had a black belt in karate. It was this set of skills that caught the attention of the most feared group of women in the world. She was now on their radar and that carried a burden beyond what anyone could imagine. Despite this, Sarah remained calm. For her, this was just another day.

Sarah's eyes shifted as she examined her surroundings. She had to find that book. She wouldn't get the chance to later. She would be leaving soon and the last thing she wanted was to be behind on her reading. Sarah searched through the bookshelves until she arrived at the W-section. She ran her finger along the shelf until at last, she found what she was looking for.

There you are, she whispered, tapping on the desired book with her forefinger. She picked it up and looked at the front cover: The Wraith of Heaven, by Solomon Shields. He was one of Sarah’s favorite authors. It was most certainly a book she would have got ages ago had it been available. Now that she had it in her hands, all seemed right in the world. Her world, at least. She made her way towards an empty table, pulled up a chair, and, with eager eyes, began to read.

A little time alone and a good book always put Sarah’s mind at ease. It was like medicine to her. Anytime she was in a bad mood, anytime she was overwhelmed with her school or domestic life, she could come here and none of it would matter. The silence, the isolation, the serenity; it gave her life. She didn’t have to measure up to someone else’s expectations nor did she have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She was just Sarah, and for the time being, that was enough.

But Sarah had a nagging feeling she was forgetting something. She couldn’t focus. She was needed elsewhere. Reading could wait. She got up and walked towards the front desk. That’s when she saw a familiar face.

Hey Amy, Sarah greeted as she slowly approached her younger sister who was at the front desk, questioning the librarian.

Sarah! Oh my God! Where have you been? We’ve been calling you!

What’s going on? Sarah asked.

You know who is here, Amy whispered.

No, I wasn’t supposed to be meeting them for another… oh, Sarah muttered as she checked her watch. Even with that curveball, her voice remained in the same steady, nonchalant tone. If she was going to be late, then so be it.

Come on Sarah! We’re already late, Amy panicked.

Just a sec. Let me check this out first, Sarah insisted as she placed her book on the front desk.

Another one by that guy, huh? I don’t get it. What’s the appeal? His stories are so depressing. It’s all doom and gloom with no light at the end of the tunnel, the librarian said in a dismissive tone as he scanned the novel.

I like his books. I find them very relatable.

Come on Sarah! We have to hurry, Amy begged as she pulled her older sister towards the door.

Relax Amy. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like the girls can go without me.

I know. It’s just that I am so excited. You get to explore the world and experience so much. Not everyone gets that opportunity.

You’ll do the same thing one day.

You think so?

I know so.

Amy was the only person in the world Sarah could spend all day with and feel secure. The two sisters were symmetrical in appearance. Both had vibrant blonde hair they chose to place in a neat ponytail, just like their mother. Both were petite, seemingly meek, and vulnerable, despite their unwavering athleticism. However, due to the difference in their personalities, there was a tiny part of Sarah that questioned whether the two were related.

Amy was always so affectionate and so timid. Only she knew what to say to cheer Sarah up when she was in a bad mood. She was the girl who cried when Sarah was sullen, burst into gleeful laughter when Sarah smiled, and whose wounds Sarah would be the first to treat when she was injured at a soccer game. She was the only person Sarah ever felt she truly needed.

So, the girls are at home with mom? Sarah asked as their limo driver escorted them inside the vehicle.

Yeah, mom’s been keeping them company. They wanted to speak with you before they left. So I asked mom to let Rocco take me to the library. I knew I would find you here, Amy replied.

Of course you did.

Amy beamed. Sarah savored that moment as the limo driver took off.

This is so exciting! I can’t believe it! The other girls were just telling us earlier how rare it is to be chosen. They pick the best from around the world. That must mean that you’re like really special or something! Amy was bubbling with so much enthusiasm she was bouncing in her seat. Sarah shrugged.

Does it… does it make you nervous? Amy asked.

Why would I be nervous?

It’s a big responsibility. It’s a lot of work, Sarah.

I’ll be fine.

You mean you aren’t even a tiny bit scared. Just a little?

No, not really.

Just a teeny tiny bit?

No. This is what I’m supposed to do. I know that it’s the biggest undertaking in my life. I know that I should take this seriously but honestly, I’m not the least bit worried about it. I know I’m as ready as I’m going to be and if I’m not, then I’ll make myself ready, Sarah explained. Amy stared at her sister with her mouth hung open in disbelief.

Wow! she muttered.

Yeah, it’s that simple, Sarah confirmed.

Wow.

Um, yeah.

Wow, Amy repeated in disbelief.

Okay, now I’m starting to get a little scared, Sarah teased.

It’s just, everything that you said. It’s so true. Make yourself ready. I really need to remember that.

Definitely. Keep that in mind and there is nothing you can’t do, Amy.

So, are they going to teach you how to be a better fighter? When you’re over there I mean. Because if they do, I’m going to be so jealous!

I’m not allowed to say, Sarah muttered as she bit her lip.

Come on Sarah. It’s me. Since when do we keep secrets from each other?

Well yes, from what I’ve heard and the research I’ve done, The Pride incorporates nearly every form of martial arts known to man, both lethal and non-lethal.

That sounds really scary. Are you sure you’re going to be okay Sarah? I mean, are they going to need you to fight to the death with someone?

No, they already have plenty of muscle. The fighters in The Pride are top notch and they rank with some of the greatest warriors in the world. Don’t worry. I’ll be in good hands, Sarah assured her.

Make yourself ready, Amy muttered. That made Sarah smile, it was the last genuine smile that she would give for quite some time.

After the short ride, the limousine entered the gates of Stryker manor. It was a tall mansion that consisted of three sections; almost like three houses merged into one. The sisters were home. The limo was parked by the front door. When they entered, they found their mother sitting on the couch, drinking champagne. She was in the middle of a deep conversation with three young women who would soon become Sarah’s new sisters.

Sarah, I was beginning to wonder where you were. I was just keeping your new friends company until you got back, she said.

Hey mom, Sarah greeted.

Where have you been? We’ve been trying to get ahold of you.

Sorry, I must have lost track of time.

We were just in the middle of an interesting conversation. It seems these young ladies have been as anxious for you to join them as I was, she explained. Sarah examined her visitors as they stood up. There were three of them, but they were one in stature. They were tall and athletic, each with black hair wrapped in a neat ponytail. They were a little older than she was and had perfect posture. Sarah would have known at once who they were even if she hadn’t been expecting them.

Sarah Stryker, the Woman of the Hour. It’s an honor to finally meet you. My name is Eleanor Johnston. You can call me Ellie.

You’re The Pride’s second in command, right? I’ve read about you, Sarah replied shaking the hand of the tall, mild-mannered young woman at the front.

Yes, I am currently. These are my close associates, Samantha Montgomery and Suzanna Gleeson. Sarah shook Samantha’s hand first. She was flippant and didn’t seem to care about Sarah one way or the other. Sarah then offered Suzanna her hand, but she refused to take it. She just stared at Sarah with her mischievous brown eyes.

Don’t be rude, Suzie. Introduce yourself to our new sister, Ellie ordered. Suzanna exchanged glances from Sarah to Ellie. Then without warning, latched her hand onto Sarah’s and squeezed it. Sarah could feel her bones colliding with each other in ways they shouldn’t. She yanked her hand away from Suzanna’s and massaged it, doing her best to ignore the excruciating pain.

So, have you packed all of your things? We’re ready to leave whenever you are. The camp is a long way from here and we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, sister, Ellie explained.

Actually, Sarah already has a ride, her mother chimed in. I’ve arranged for her to take the limousine if that’s all right with you.

Are you sure? I mean, Sarah can ride with us if she wants. It’s no problem at all, Ellie replied.

It’s all right. I think I’ll ride with Rocco. I still have a few things to pack, and I don’t want to keep you all waiting. Besides, I think I could use the alone time if you don’t mind, Sarah answered.

Of course, we don’t, Suzanna answered mimicking the group with a high-pitched squeak.

Of course, it’s no problem. I just want you to feel safe. You’re our sister now Sarah. You can trust us, Ellie promised.

Thank you.

It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you. And Sarah we’re expecting great things. She has been watching you, Ellie revealed.

She as in…

You know who I am talking about.

Sarah’s eyes widened in disbelief as a sly smile escaped Ellie’s lips.

Who was she talking about? Amy whispered in her older sister’s ear as Ellie and the two girls turned towards the door.

I’ll tell you later, Sarah whispered back.

After the girls left, Sarah’s mother closed the door and fastened it securely behind her before letting out a sigh of relief.

Thank God! I’d thought they’d never leave, she said as she leaned against the door and pulled out a cigarette.

Laura was a woman who built her entire livelihood on stress and misery. She had welcomed it onto her doorstep years ago and it had been haunting her ever since. It was her job to cater to people. She made a living- in fact, a fortune- ensuring other people’s happiness at the cost of her own. And all of it was for her daughter. Stryker manor, the exotic vehicles, the negligent and abusive man she married, she acquired it all for the sole purpose of assuring that Sarah would have the best, that her future would be secure. And now, that future was right outside, practically tangible.

So, what do you make of all of this? How do you feel? Nervous? Laura asked after a long drag, letting the smoke dribble out of her nostrils as it spiraled away towards the roof.

No, I’m fine, Sarah replied.

I still can’t believe it. You don’t know what this means to me. I spent so many sleepless nights thinking about this moment and I still can’t believe they chose you. I knew you were special from the moment I laid eyes on you, and now the whole world will know!

The whole world will know? What did that mean? It was probably just hyperbole. The thought made Sarah feel uneasy, but she did her best to conceal it. Her mother knew her too well though and she responded to her daughter’s lack of enthusiasm.

Sarah, what’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts?

No, I just…

Sarah listen to me. You aren’t obligated to do this for me. You don’t owe me a damn thing. You never did.

I know I just…

Sarah, this is about you. Don’t think about me, remember? It’s your choice. We can pull out of this plan completely. I will support you one hundred percent and use all my assets to keep them from contacting us again. But you need to make a decision now. Because once you’re with them, I will no longer be able to protect you. You will be theirs and you will have to shape up and be exactly who they want you to be.

I know that.

Everything suddenly became so real. Sarah was going to leave her family. She was going to spend a good portion of her time with a bunch of girls she didn’t even know. Was she ready for that? Laura sensed her daughter’s hesitation and walked closer to her. She cupped Sarah’s fragile hands into her own.

Sarah, are you sure?

I’m sure, she replied, this time without hesitation.

Then you have to promise me... Promise me you’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. Worry about your future, about your sister’s future. It all depends on you.

I promise.

Twenty minutes later, Sarah stood outside the mansion with all her things packed and placed in the back of the limo. She couldn’t believe what was happening. When did she decide to turn her life into such an adventure? Why? All she ever wanted was to be left alone and yet there was something inside of her that yearned for more. She wanted something that isolation wouldn’t give her. She wanted a purpose. The Pride would give her that. She wasn’t sure what their purpose was, but for the moment, that didn’t matter. The fact they seemed to think she had something to contribute did.

Amy waited outside with her older sibling. She was quiet and a little fidgety. Laura told Amy she was free to go inside, but somehow Sarah knew she wouldn’t. She had sort of hoped that Amy would though. It would have made leaving a lot easier. Laura was outside, too. She spoke to their limousine driver and gave him a map that had the directions to The Pride’s training facility.

Now Rocco, I trust that everything is in order?

Yes, Mrs. Stryker. The Angels won’t be on the prowl tonight. I can assure you. Rocco, Sarah’s limousine driver, and butler was a tall man with a thick mustache. He was bald but often wore a cap to hide the fact.

That’s what I like to hear, Laura said with a proud smile.

No need to worry. Sarah will be amongst her new friends in no time, Rocco insisted.

You’re right. Still, a mother worries. You don’t know how hard Sarah has worked for this moment. Today, everything needs to go smoothly. It may be the most important day of her life.

Yeah, but you know, no pressure, Amy said with a laugh. Rocco entered the limo and left Sarah alone with her mother and sister. The moment she had been dreading was here: the moment in which she would have to say goodbye.

Be careful. Always be careful. I don’t trust them. I can tell by the look in their eyes. They’re cutthroats, even the polite one. Most girls are, Laura warned.

Thanks, Grandma, Sarah teased. Her mother embraced her in a long and affectionate hug.

I’m going to miss you, Sarah Stryker. You make your mother proud, okay?

I will, Sarah replied.

Now, if you girls excuse me, I’m going inside to have a few drinks. With any luck, I won’t be sober until Sarah comes home. Amy and Sarah watched their mother storm back into the house without another spoken word. She was tired and worn out. Sarah didn’t blame her.

That’s weird. I thought she would have a bigger reaction than that. I mean, she didn’t even cry or anything, Amy said in a bemused tone.

She will though, right around the tenth drink, just before she loses consciousness. She’ll cry for sure. She’ll cry until she doesn’t know what to do with herself, Sarah said.

How do you know that?

I know her. Just like I know that in a few moments you’re going to cry.

What? What are you talking about? Why would I cry? What do I have to be sad about? I’m happy for you!

Sarah said nothing.

What? Stop staring at me like that! I’m happy!

Sarah didn’t reply. Her focused, unwavering eyes were enough to produce a reaction.

I’m happy! See! Happy! Amy exclaimed as she pointed fervently at her teeth. But the instant she spread her mouth; she was already twitching. Her eyes moistened and her teeth clenched.

Amy, I’m only going to be gone for four months.

That’s a long time, dumbass, Amy replied hotly.

Sure, but it’ll be over before you know it.

No, it won’t! It’ll feel like forever! Mom won’t be able to put up with me. You know how she gets when we’re alone. We need you, Sarah. We’re going to be all alone. We’ll go crazy! Mom will go crazy! We’ll be like those people on TV. They’ll have to put us away. They’ll… Amy was in tears now just as her sister had predicted and it was becoming difficult for her to keep her composure.

Amy, I’m going to be gone for four months. Not years.

Not years? Amy asked as she wiped her eyes and sniffed.

Sarah held up four fingers. Four months. That’s all.

A-alright, I guess I can survive until then.

I know you can. Actually, between me and you, it’s mom that I’m worried about. She needs you, Amy. She needs you more than ever now.

D-do you really mean that Sarah?

I said it, didn’t I?

Yeah.

Well, obviously that means that I meant it.

Without warning, Amy pulled her sister in tight and squeezed the life out of her. Her hugs were always far too tight and a little painful, but Sarah didn’t care. She embraced her all the same.

I’ll see you soon Amy, Sarah said. She turned toward the limo. She was determined to not make this any more difficult on either of them.

Amy called out to her again. Sarah! she panicked.

Sarah turned around.

Be careful, Amy warned. Sarah nodded and then entered the limousine.

Sarah took one final look at her home. She could feel something inside of her, stirring; the uncertainty and dread that is felt when one is alone. There would be no turning back after this. She turned her head away as they drove off. Sarah knew Amy would be watching her until the limo was no longer in sight. She would stand there looking into the distance even after the fact, but Sarah was determined not to do the same. She kept a clear head as the limo ventured into the foggy mist of the unknown. She was a girl with her whole life ahead of her. There was nothing that could stand in her way.

Chapter 2

Innocence

I

f only Sarah hadn’t taken the limo. The ride to her training camp was unusually long that day. Maybe the basic training camp really was that far away. But her butler had not given her directions. She would never know.

Rocco, are you sure you know where we are going? We’ve been on the same road for thirty minutes straight, Sarah said as she knocked on the partition window.

Yes, Ms. Stryker. Not to worry. Your friend explained it to me in detail. Not to mention, I have a map. We will be among your new friends in no time.

Rocco seemed different somehow. Sarah always knew him as a robotic servant who would obey her every command. But his voice, it was… strange. It was human. It appeared that he was more nervous than she was.

Sarah decided to do her best to put her mind at ease by reading one of the books she packed. Usually, when all else failed, a good book would bring her to life in a way that nothing else could. For a second, she almost forgot about the trip, but then the limo hit a bump on the road.

What was that? Sarah asked.

Not to worry. It was just a bump, nothing more, Rocco answered.

They passed a sign on the road that said they were near Seattle, Washington.

Are we going to Seattle?

Rocco stared at her through the front mirror for a long time, and finally uttered a maybe.

The look he gave her chilled Sarah to the bone. It would be the last time she would feel cold again. It was the most unusual sensation. It was like her entire body was on alert, yet it felt that the appropriate response was to do nothing. She decided to make one last effort to read and went to prop her book up again, but before she could open it up to her page, the limo hit another bump on the road, swerving suddenly, aimed directly at the trees. Rocco managed to jam down hard on the brakes and the car jarred to a screeching halt as the front end crunched against a huge trunk of a tree.

What just happened? Sarah exclaimed.

Sarah’s ride had been compromised. Rocco tried to start the limo again, but it wouldn’t turn over.

Rocco, what’s going on? she asked while attempting to mask the concern in her voice.

I don’t know. Listen, I’m going to the trunk to see if everything is okay. Stay here.

He opened the front door and slammed it shut behind him. Sarah was left alone to gather her thoughts and formulate a plan to no avail. As she sat still and did her best to remain calm, it dawned on her that she was stranded in the middle of nowhere. How was she going to get out of this? Another unusual sensation came over her. She wasn’t cold or hot though this time. Sarah couldn’t feel temperature anymore. But what she did feel was something crawling over her; it agitated her skin. She stepped out of her limousine.

Rocco, is everything all right? Can you fix it? Sarah asked.

There was no reply. She turned toward the woods and one glance sent shivers down her spine. It was quiet. But there was a sudden ringing in her ear that was almost deafening. It sounded like a melody. Then, there was a whisper in the wind.

Sarah…

Her eyes widened in horror.

Rocco, we need to get out of here right now!

But Rocco had vanished. She turned around to find the trunk opened and saw the engine busted. Sarah searched the limo. There was nothing there. No one had bothered to let her look at the map or the directions either. She had no idea where she was. She looked around. The woods were desolate. There was something off about it. She could feel it converging. It was changing somehow. Her vision was becoming narrow, blurry and the ringing sound caused her head to spin in circles. Sarah closed her eyes. Then, the most horrible sound she ever heard violated her eardrums, a loud hissing noise. Then a voice spoke inside of her head.

You are no one.

Sarah opened her eyes and what she saw was unbelievable. It was like something out of a nightmare. The limo had suddenly become overrun with live snakes. Hundreds of them were now slithering and circling their way through the limo. It couldn’t be real, but their scaly skin and bloodshot bright red eyes were far too vivid for Sarah to shrug off as imagination. As soon as she looked at them, they turned their eyes toward her and hissed in unison. They knew who she was.

Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest, but she remained still, fearing to move. She knew she should run but for some odd reason, her legs didn’t want her to. Sarah’s vision continued to blur, and as she watched, the hundreds of snakes joined, merging into a single snake. Its memorizing gaze penetrated her heart as she stood paralyzed. All she could do was watch as the snake lunged forward and attacked her. It latched onto her left ankle and bit into it with its gigantic teeth. The fear and shock of the bite helped her regain some sort of control over her fear. She watched as the snake retreated and spotted a figure to her immediate left. A man walked towards her, an evil look on his face, the most unnerving and sadistic smile she had ever seen on a man.

Sarah bolted toward the forest. She ignored the pain of the snake bite, the venom that had penetrated her body, and the approaching fear of death. She ran with every fiber of her being. Everything seemed to be moving much slower. Sarah could feel the footsteps of multiple men chasing her. There was at least a dozen more following the first one she had seen. She decided the best chance she had of getting out of this alive was to outsmart them. She had to hide.

Sarah maneuvered behind some trees and in the distance, she saw shadowy figures pacing around and standing in watch. They were looking for her. Somehow, they must’ve known she would be here.

Sarah noticed a few of the men creeping closer. This wouldn’t be good enough. She needed a better hiding spot. One she could rest in until she could gather her thoughts. There was a huge log on the ground just a few feet from where she was. If she crawled inside it unseen, maybe they wouldn’t be able to find her. She ran toward it. Her footsteps were loud, and her pursuers were bound to have heard her, so she needed to make haste. She made it inside just seconds before they ran past her hiding spot. Close call. Sarah’s attackers stopped right beside the log she was hiding in and looked around. She could feel them. She could feel everything. Her heart appeared to burst out of her chest. One of the men called out her name.

Sarah. Oh Sarah...

She could feel the wound on her ankle throbbing. But she couldn’t make a sound; otherwise, she would be discovered. She took a deep breath. She was going to make it out of this. There had to be a way.

Suddenly, a tiny snake appeared right in front of Sarah inside the log. It sank its teeth into her hand and started to pull and jerk on it like it was expecting some sort of reaction, almost like it was human. The sting of his bite agitated her more than she thought it would, and as she moved to shake it off, she smashed her elbow against the top of the log. That was it. Her cover was blown. They heard her. She couldn’t have been in a worse spot.

Sarah crawled as fast as her hands and feet would take her. One of the men almost stomped on her as his foot came crashing down, crushing the rest of the log. The men were right on her tail. They were like wild animals, fast but for some odd reason, she was faster. It wasn’t long before she regained the advantage. She searched desperately for a better hiding spot, and there it was. Her salvation. The perfect hiding spot. Large bushes with enough grass to cover her entire body while standing. However, she was becoming weaker by the second. She was so dizzy it required a conscious effort to walk. Then, she heard the voice of a man inside her head.

"Do you feel that, Sarah? The paralysis, the inevitability of defeat penetrating every fiber of your body. That’s as close as you’ll ever come to being one of us. You know nothing of this place. You aren’t at home anymore, little girl. You’re in my domain. It was my snake that got you. Don’t worry, we plan on keeping you alive for some time. If one of the others had bitten you, it surely would have killed you. Pretty soon you’ll wish that it had…

Sarah used whatever remaining strength she had left to jump behind the bushes. The other men had caught up to her and now they were right in front of her, searching. This time though, she couldn’t be seen. If even one of them spotted her now, there may not be another chance to hide.

Sarah. Oh Sarah…

The men continued to call out her name in that degrading tone. This was all just a game to them. She was their toy and nothing more. She was prey.

Sarah. Oh Sarah...

They hissed and laughed. Just as before, small snakes were hiding in the bushes. They revealed themselves to her to scare her away, but Sarah was ready for them this time. One snake crawled over her shoulders and her breasts while another crawled on her leg. Sarah closed her eyes and used all her willpower to ignore them. She waited for what must have been ten minutes while snakes slithered over her and bit her. Finally, the group of men that had been looking for her had left. She looked around. They were gone. This was it. This was her best chance to escape; it was, in fact, her only chance.

The last thing Sarah remembered was being hit in the head hard by some sort of steel handlebar the second she dashed out of the bushes.

Hey, I found her! She’s over here.

It was Rocco. Sarah couldn’t believe it. But before she could do anything else, he hit her again and knocked her to the ground.

As the men took her away, Sarah fell in and out of consciousness. She remembered entering some sort of weird place and seeing a miserable little girl singing the strangest song, and then, blackness.

"When the soul of a man splits in two, a demon spawn is born anew.

Where one half laughs from the maidens slew, the other mourns and rue.

So, watch out, because The Serpents are watching you. The Serpents… are watching you."

When Sarah woke up, she found herself in what appeared to be an abandoned jail cell. It was dark, illuminated only by a small light bulb in the ceiling. She felt stiff and was bleeding out of her ears. Sarah wasn’t alone. The same little girl from before was sitting right beside her. She looked like she was around five years old.

Where are we? Sarah asked as she gently touched her on the shoulder.

The girl muttered one word in response. Hell.

Before Sarah could get anything else from the girl, two men suddenly approached the cage. Sarah recognized one of them as her limo driver.

Well, there she is, just like I told you, Rocco said.

You did well, the other man said as he stuck his thin Serpent tongue out at her and hissed.

Sarah recognized his voice. It was the man that spoke inside of her head earlier. He had black hair of medium length that extended a little over his eyes, a slim body, sickly pale skin, and a sinister grin on his face.

We had a deal, Rocco said to the man.

I suppose I won’t kill you. You’re free to go.

Go where?

One of my men will show you the way out. You will find your ride and your money. Now hurry up and leave before I change my mind! the Serpent hissed.

Rocco vanished without taking so much as a single glance at Sarah. She was now left alone with the predator standing right before her. He was the one responsible for all of this.

So, you’re one of The Serpents. I’ve read about you. Sarah said.

So, you’ve heard of us, Sarah. Good. I was afraid I was going to have to give you a history lesson. If you know who we are, then you know exactly what we are going to do to you. We can do this the hard way, or we can do this the really hard way, he said with a sadistic chuckle. Your choice.

And you are? she asked, ignoring his threats.

I’m Anthony. The one man you will regret meeting for the rest of your long, miserable life.

Anthony. The name of the man that would change her life forever. She would never forget his name. She wouldn’t be able to even if she wanted.

You won’t get away with this, Sarah retorted.

And who exactly is going to stop us? Your new sisters? Your mother? Amy?

Leave my sister out of this, Sarah warned.

I am, for now at least. This is about you. We’ve been watching you for a while, Sarah. We know exactly who you are. You’re The Master’s new pet and we have a message to send her. You can beg all you want but you’ll never leave this place. No one will hear you scream. Well, no one who cares, anyway, Anthony said as he let out an evil laugh.

You’re a monster, Sarah sneered.

Don’t flatter me. There is a reason why The Serpents are the most feared group of men on this planet. We make a living making an example out of worthless bitches like you. This place, the prison you are sitting in right now, is our home, our lair. This is a place that no woman has made it out of alive. I promise you; you will never see the light of day again.

Anthony’s words were beginning to cut deep. Terror washed over Sarah as he leaned against the prison bars and continued to speak.

Poor little Sarah. You have no idea what’s in store for you, do you? Do you know why that snake bit you? Do you know why you are still alive right now? The venom that is within that snake is the rarest type of venom on the planet. It is an ancient catalyst that penetrates the mind and alters your perception of time. The effects are temporary for some, but for others, they can last a lifetime. We know all about your plans Sarah, and I must inform you that your little trip with The Pride has been canceled. We planned to bring you here at this exact moment. You see, you will be down here for what will feel like years before anyone even notices you are gone out there.

The Pride will come for me, Sarah replied.

Please. Those bitches don’t care about you. They’re too busy serving their own agenda than wasting their time worrying about some new girl that got left behind.

She couldn’t argue with him. At the end of the day, despite her achievements in the medical field, Sarah wasn’t the fighter that many in The Pride were. She was expendable and maybe that was why The Serpents chose her.

What’s the matter, Sarah? You gonna cry? Anthony mocked as he let out another thunderous laugh.

She didn’t cry. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Not in a thousand years. Not in a million years.

Isn’t this what you wanted Sarah? To be alone? To be just like any other girl? Isn’t that why you’re always locked up in that library of yours secluded from the rest of the world? Well, congratulations Sarah! You got your wish. You are no one now.

That voice. It was the same voice Sarah had heard in the woods when she had first arrived. Who were these men? Were they really men at all?

Sarah Stryker would manage to spend two whole weeks in The Serpents’ lair and live to tell the tale. How she was able to survive is a mystery. How did they keep her alive? Did they feed her? She didn’t remember eating anything, but what she did remember was the stench of rotten meat that all but violated her senses. She met a Serpent named Ismail Mainor who gave her muddy water to drink when she was dehydrated, but that was all.

What Sarah remembered most during her time in the belly of the snake was the sensory overload. She heard so much until she couldn’t hear anymore. She felt so much after a while her body became numb. She tasted so much filthy mud water she forgot what clear water tasted like. And she hurt so much that she finally gave in and accepted it. That is what affected Sarah the most during her time in The Serpents’ lair. It wasn’t just the torture, starvation, or even the unbearable fact that she was brutally raped every day for several hours at a time. It was the fact she was slowly losing all her faculties until by the end of it all, she felt like a frozen shell, empty and hollow. Sarah wasn’t a person during her time spent with The Serpents. She was a toy.

Anthony’s bitch. She was called that and many other names for what felt like millennia. All the days seemed to blend until she could no longer feel time. She didn’t care anymore. She didn’t care about her future. She didn’t care about The Pride. She didn’t care about the pain. She didn’t even care about her own mother. She was certain she had lost all hope in ever leaving that nightmare.

~~~

Sarah felt as if she had been trapped there for years. She was engulfed by pure darkness. It was the end of one particularly brutal day, and nothing made sense. One of the men threw her nearly lifeless body down in the basement. Sarah had reached her threshold. She had almost nothing to live for and nothing to keep the eternal blackness of the dungeon from suffocating her spirit. She had nothing. That was when she heard the words that would be the catalyst for her awakening.

I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.

What? Sarah muttered from where she lay on the floor. Ismail appeared to be different from the others. Just what was he mumbling about?

Invictus, he replied.

Sarah didn’t understand what he meant at the time. She heard of the poem but the idea that a Serpent would recite such things was simply unbelievable. Ismail Mainor was a young man with light brown skin and short hair. He was tall and had a slim, muscular build. He put his hand over Sarah’s mouth to keep her quiet.

Shh. I’m going to free you.

It was a trap. It had to be. It had been two weeks since Sarah was kidnapped and not a single person had shown up to rescue her. There was no way a Serpent would betray his own kind to help one broken girl. And why now? There was no way. Ismail unlocked the shackles on Sarah’s cold, bruised wrists. Was this some sort of joke, another sick ploy by Anthony? It must have been. But then Ismail put loose handcuffs on her so he could escort her out of The Serpents’ lair without any question. No! It couldn’t be. He was serious. He was really trying to help her. Now if she had any hope of survival, she would have to ally herself with a Serpent.

Sarah wanted to ask him why? Why would he help her after all this time? After all the times he stood by and watched as the other Serpents tortured her. But her time spent with them made her all but mute. It was difficult for her to even form a syllable. She glared at him with a cold, sinister look. Sarah decided she would give him some respite but if he made just one wrong move, she would end him.

Ismail escorted Sarah to the entrance of the lair. She didn’t say a word the entire way there, although there were about a million things that she wanted to ask him. When they came to the entrance, two Serpent men stopped them in their tracks. One of them interrogated Ismail.

Hey, where do you think you are taking her? A subject must never leave this place unless given permission by Anthony.

Sarah didn’t know what came over her. Maybe it was hearing Anthony’s name, maybe it was the suppressed rage over everything that had happened to her over the past couple of weeks, or maybe it was pure insanity. She didn’t know. But something inside of her snapped and within seconds, a dagger made of ice appeared in her hand. She stabbed the man in the neck, causing him to gasp as his body grew numb. She used the dagger to stab the other Serpent in the chest, freezing him instantly. Then, another Serpent who had been watching the whole thing came to attack Ismail and stabbed him in the back. For some reason, this upset her. Sarah kicked the Serpent with all her might and proceeded to grab him by the collar and slam him to the floor. She opened his legs and stomped on his crotch with her heel. The man screamed in agony as a cold sensation more painful than anything he could have imagined overcame him. It was obvious they were alone. No one came to the Serpent’s aid, no one who cared. Sarah used her icepick to castrate him. The sounds of the Serpent’s shrieks echoed throughout the dungeon. Sarah couldn’t possibly imagine what this man was going through. She didn’t particularly care to, either.

Where is Anthony?! Sarah demanded as she pointed her weapon toward his face.

Please! I don’t know! He left! Please!

Sarah could have killed him right then and there. It would have been the humane thing to do. But she wasn’t human anymore. She was something else entirely.

You think you’re in pain? You got off easy. I am weak now. But one day I will get stronger and when that day comes, I will show all of you what pain really is. Tell Anthony his days are numbered. I am coming for him.

Saying those words was like waking up for the first time after years of slumber. Sarah hadn’t been truly alive since the day she was captured until that very moment. Those words filled her with renewed vigor. She had a new mission in life, a newfound purpose: to kill Anthony. She had to do it. She needed to kill him. Not only for revenge, not only because of the torment, the pain, and the suffering he inflicted on her and countless others but simply because she needed him dead to move on. It was as natural to Sarah as her desire to protect her mother and her sister.

Now, what to do with this fool? she thought to herself.

Sarah weighed her options as Ismail stood up and limped to a corner to heal. She stared at him. She could simply kill him and be done with it. It would be the easy thing to do. In fact, it might be the smartest decision to make. With him gone, there would be no evidence she had ever been to this place besides Anthony, and Sarah was a patient woman. Just as Anthony took his time with her, she would return the same courtesy. But with Ismail, she knew she had to decide right then and there. There would be no turning back from this moment on.

She placed her ice blade on the back of his neck and said, You spared my life, so I’m going to return the favor, just this once. But let me make one thing clear, snake: You try anything, anything at all, and you will be joining your friends here on the ground. Do you understand me?

Ismail nodded and then fell unconscious.

Sarah dragged Ismail out of the lair and back into the woods where she first came in. Seeing light for the first time in ages blinded her. She dragged the Serpent for about a mile until she found an abandoned trailer. She picked him up by his arms and pulled him inside. Sarah noticed she was bleeding and had wounds all over her body. For the first time in a long time, she felt pain, real genuine pain. She let Ismail rest while she used her new freezing ability to stop the blood and inflammation. Ismail woke up a short while later.

Thank you, he muttered as he wiped his face.

Sarah said nothing. Ismail got up and walked out of the trailer.

I know a place not too far from here. They have medical supplies. Be right back, he said.

Ismail returned a short while later with alcohol. The two cleaned most of their wounds but there was one still irking Sarah: the snake venom.

Normally there is little that can be done when the venom of a snake enters the body. But there are natural antitoxins in the blood of a Serpent that can fight it. May I? Ismail asked.

Sarah lifted her shirt and let him treat her wound. He cut his hand with a knife and placed it on her abdomen. Sarah had forgotten the pain of the wound until he did. Flashes from the snakebite and Anthony’s chastisement penetrated her soul. As Ismail treated the venom on her ankle, she lowered her body temperature to prevent the poison from getting to her nervous system. How was she able to do this? Furthermore, how did she possess the instincts to know she could do this? Sarah had to find out. She needed to know the full extent of her power.

Why? she asked him.

Ismail looked at Sarah with bewilderment.

Why? she repeated. It was the only word Sarah could muster.

I don’t know. All that torture, all that pain and helplessness, and you’re still standing. I guess seeing your strength helped me to finally realize my own.

That wasn’t good enough. Without so much as a goodbye, Sarah got up and walked out of the trailer. Ismail came after her.

Sarah. Wait! Where are you going?

I have somewhere I need to be, she said in a nonchalant voice.

But you can’t go now. You’ll be all alone out there, Ismail replied.

Like always.

Chapter 3

Reflection

"S

arah, wait!" Ismail called out as he ran. Sarah had hoped he wouldn’t follow but somehow, she knew he would.

Sarah please just listen. You’re in grave danger. It’s not safe for you here, he warned.

I know that. That’s why I need to keep moving. I can’t afford to be followed. I need to leave now before any more of them show up, Sarah explained.

Yes, but how are you going to get there on foot? Just come with me and I will take you wherever you want to go. Sarah turned around and glared at him, baffled at the absurdity of what he was asking her to do. Did he think she was stupid?

You’re one of them, Ismail, she said with a stern voice. He lowered his head in shame for a moment before replying.

"You don’t know what it’s like, having this thing inside of you. I-I’m sorry Sarah. Look, I don’t blame you if