Marked by the Mafia King

The cool night breeze carried a cold whisper into the late evening, and a stronger chill was left in its wake.

Inside the small congested room, Baka could hardly feel the cold. 

Yet she knew something was wrong before she heard the howls. 

Loud, desperate howls, piercing the silence of the night. 

Goosebumps ran down the length of her arms with rapid precision and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

She sat up for what seemed like the fifth time that night. Her roommates were snoring loudly, seemingly deaf to the terrifying howls. Even despite the cold breeze, the room was as hot as ever because it was poorly ventilated. About twenty people occupied their small room. Baka could barely stretch her legs.

She stared down at her roommates as they slept on either side of her on the matted floor. Nothing but fatigue would have them sleeping under all that howling. The work they performed every hour of every day could make one sleep through a stampede.

But try as she might, she couldn't summon sleep. The sinking feeling in her gut didn't ease her plight and racing thoughts.

She heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching and crawled her way through the mass of bodies around her towards their dilapidated door.

Baka’s shoulders relaxed a little when she spotted her mother, but one look at her face made her tense up just as quickly.

Pushing the damaged door open ever so carefully to avoid making noise, she whispered, “What has happened, Mother?”

Her mother looked up at her in surprise. “Hush, Child. Help me with my things,” she spoke softly, gesturing to her bloodied apron and equipment.

Baka did as she was told with efficiency. It was clear her mother knew exactly what was going on. She was a midwife— the only midwife in their community. 

When Baka had safely deposited her mother’s things in a small corner, she returned and found her mother sitting solemnly on the only chair in their room. 

Baka sat on the ground beside her and gently touched her thigh. “Mother…”

No response. Baka got up and crawled back through the mass of bodies. She took a sandwich she had kept and crawled back, offering it to her mother.

“Here, I saved some for you.”

Her mother raised her eyes at her. “Thanks, Child. But I don't have an appetite. Have you eaten?”

She nodded. But the look in her Mother's face told her she detected the lie.

“What am I always saying? You cannot give what you don't have. Help yourself first.”

Baka nodded again, even though she disagreed. Her mother’s views always seemed to be the opposite of what anyone would ever advise. Weren’t you supposed to be selfless and help others before you help yourself?

“Eat,” her mother encouraged. She did as she was told. 

“How has everyone been?” 

“Bessia was punished by Luna Amie again,” Baka replied between bites. “Eight lashes. It took a while for her to sleep today. She kept crying.”

Her mother sighed slowly. “What about the boys?”

“All is as it always is. ”

“Be careful with your tone, Child. The only reason we're still alive is because we obey the rules.”

“To what end?” Baka retorted. “They gave us and the boys separate rooms and told us never to go to each other's residence without a guard. Why do you think they said that? Because they don't want us to reproduce. They don't want us growing in number. We're probably the last living humans, scattered and dying.”

The howls grew louder, and Baka could swear they sounded sorrowful. What was going on? Not knowing made her sick to her stomach. 

Her mother had a forlorn look on her face and spoke a tone lower. “The Alpha King’s Luna is dead.”

Baka spoke without thinking. “What?”

Her mother’s eyes sharpened as she looked her straight in the eye. “Don’t ask a question with “what”, Child. Do you want to end up like Bessia?”

“No, Mother,” Baka mentally chastised herself. Here in Khadom city, humans got killed over the most minute things. “I meant… Sorry?”

Her mother nodded in approval. “She died during childbirth. The baby didn’t make it either.”  

“That's not possible.”