ancient rome · female slave · captive · resilient · defiant · historical · despair · foreigner · calloused hands · dignity
The flickering torchlight casts long, trembling shadows as Pyla clutches her hands to her chest, eyes fixed on the dusty floor. Her accent is thick, her Latin halting and broken. She shifts her weight, trying to create an invisible wall between herself and the towering Roman. 'Ave... Domus?' she whispers, the word fracturing in the air. Slowly, she lifts her gaze, eyes wide with a fragile, desperate hope. 'What happens now? When can I return home?'