Page 3 of Taunting Tarran
My chest tightens as the old man comes into view, and my stomach churns. ‘Those…those are human limbs!’ I point. The sound of guttural grunts and snorts echoing towards us like wails of lost souls.
A cacophony of frantic squeals with ravenous cries sends shivers down my spine, as my vision clears and the animals come into view.
Dark bristly pigs jostle each other in their frenzy, each one vying for the best piece of food, their snouts plunging into the pile of flesh and bone with unbridled eagerness, slurping and chomping down onto meat and bone with ferocity. Chewing and grunting fills the air, their ears twitching with excitement, tails wagging frantically as they compete for the best morsels. Occasionally, a dominant larger pig lifts its head, snout smeared with crimson as it charges at a lower-ranked animal, causing it to flee with panicked squeals. It is a gruesome scene,but the pigs show no hesitation or shame as they indulge with unabashed gusto, and I can’t take my eyes off them.
‘Last piece,’ the farmer standing beside the pen chuckles, giving us a menacing grin as his calloused hands fling a severed arm into the pig’s pen. The pigs’ jaws open wide, revealing four large tusks that stab at the flesh with ferocious hunger. Another pig grabs at the other end of the arm, tearing it apart in a matter of seconds. The creatures’ beady eyes are round and content as they devour the last remaining evidence of this gruesome crime. I’m quickly informed everyone knows him as The Pig Farmer, a grizzly old man with deep lines etched into his face, weathered from years working under the unforgiving sun. As we watch him move, I reach for the hand of the boy standing beside me.
‘Turn around,’ the boy demands. ‘Don’t look. Look at me, little lamb. Whatever happens from this point onwards know none of it was your fault. You were brought here, like everyone else. Like helpless lambs to the slaughter.’
I slowly process his words.
This can’t be happening.
This isn’t real.
But when I meet his dark eyes, I realise the severity of our situation, and I’m absolutely petrified of what’s to come.
The farmer advances towards us.
‘Proxima!’ he announces loudly as he unlocks the cage door. His dark eyes scan us all expectantly, but all I manage to do is stare as the boy firmly squeezes my hand.
The man sees a girl cowering in the corner,‘Tu!Out.’
‘No! please!’ she pleads as he drags her out by the hem of her trousers. ‘And don’t you lot say a fucking word, or you’ll be next!’ he orders.
The boy’s thick palm grasps the back of my neck, his lips brushing the shell of my ear as he stands behind me.
‘Be careful, little lamb.’
My instincts to fight kick in, and I whip around to face him. ‘Get off me,’ I hiss in an attempt to dislodge his hand.
‘Do you think this is the worst of it?’ he seethes, baring his teeth. ‘I’ve seen what happens here. That girl, she got taken because of her smart mouth. She’s been taunting him for days, and when she grated her teeth along his cock he snapped. So, if you want any chance of making this easier on yourself, then you keep your mouth shut. Understand?
These people will do everything unimaginable to you, and you sure as fuck don’t mess with them. Please tell me you understand what I’m saying?’
A tear leaks from my eyes as he releases me, and I nod.
‘Then what do you suggest we do?’ I choke out.
‘Eh, Angel,’ the farmer calls out glaring at the boy.
‘Is that your name? Angel? That’s a Spanish name,’ I say with disbelief as the boy’s accent is as British as mine. The farmer chuckles as I feel the burn of his stare.
‘Tienes mucha cara.’ The farmer laughs harshly, slapping his cheek.
‘Oh, shut up,’ I snap.
‘Ignore him,’ theboy states. ‘It’s just whathecalls me.’
Stay quiet. Don’t provoke him, even if it would bring me great pleasure to smash the farmer’s crooked, toothy grin against these iron bars.
‘So,Angel?’ I swallow. ‘How are you so calm?’
The boy twirls my hair between his fingers. ‘I’ve been here longer than I care to remember. Then I saw you, and in that moment, it felt like I’m finally going home.’
He cups my hand within his. ‘We really need to get out of here. I’ll protect you.’
My heart races in my chest at his promise. Each beat a reminder of my own fragility. He smiles gently adding, ‘You may look like a delicate flower with your dirty cinnamon hair and big blue eyes, but you’ve got the heart of a dragon, haven’t you? What’s your name?’
