Major trigger warnings!!! There will be enormous amounts of vulgarity and subjects of sexual violence in this thread.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Go fuck yourself." Cole spat in annoyance as he fixed his tent. His group had been working the desert for months and had learned very well how to flit from one oasis to the next. They were on the far end of a rather nice one. It was odd that there was no permanent settlement here.
The tents were being erected in a circle, some by men and others by women who did not look up from their work, did not look at the armed men, and absolutely did not glance in the direction of the group of shackled men and women kept in the center of everything. Mostly pretty young women of any color and variety you could wish for - from more than one country. Some of the girls sobbed, some cried silently, and a few were staring at nothing at all - broken, stoic, and numb. Or maybe just in shock.
"C'mon Cole, you gotta scout. You're the best at being all sneaky." It was Jarvis, trying to coax him into doing the dirty work with a bit of flattery.
"You mean you're a lazy bastard that doesn't want to do it. I've scouted every night this week. You do it." He was tired and he mostly wanted to crawl into his tent and sleep. If at all possible, but it wouldn't be. The other men would expect him to cavort and join in their nightly games and fun with the poor sods that were all tied up waiting to be sold.
Someone clapped him on the shoulder jovially and he looked up to see his father, the man in charge. "Son, just go already so we can relax. I'll nick your guard duty for two weeks." When it looked like Cole was still going to protest taking scout duty for the night he spoke up again. "Aaaaaand I'll let you have first pick of the girls tonight. Whichever you want. I won't let nobody touch one of the little cunts until you get back and choose yours."
It really wasn't a huge incentive for him, but he glanced in the direction of the weeping women with an irritated sigh. They expected him to love torturing the girls as much as they did. "Fine, fine, but seriously, I'm going to stab you if I get stuck with any sloppy seconds."
Both Kaleb and Jarvis rolled with laughter. "Deal."
It was dark and Cole blended in well with the night, nearly entirely covered from head to toe in dark blue-grey linens to protect him from the sun in the day and the plummeting temperatures at night. They also protected him from being seen.
Shockingly there was actually someone out there. Cole didn't think anyone would be out here in the middle of the desert alone. There she was though. He could tell she was a woman, easily. Although really getting a better grasp of what she looked like was impossible from his hiding place in the dark at this distance.
He crept closer until he was within striking range. One of Cole's hands came down over her mouth to silence any screams, the other pressed the blade of a knife against the delicate skin of her throat. "Shhh. No sounds now, sweetling. Just nod your head yes or no. Are you alone?"
His tone was low and dangerous, making sure that his words would be both threatening and unheard by any unseen companions nearby.