The morning sun poured soft golden light through the tall windows of the repurposed office building where the rescued had been sheltered. The scent of warm flatbread and honeyed tea lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of freshly washed clothes and the salt-kissed breeze from the nearby ocean. For many, it was the first time in years they had awoken without chains biting into their flesh or the bark of a slaver's whip greeting their ears.
Despite the comfort, a blanket of uncertainty still clung to the group. They sat close together on woven mats, shoulders touching, eyes cautious. Some stared ahead in silence. Others whispered among themselves, their voices fragile as porcelain.
