The Scaffolder: A Short Story

We all gave out a collective groan as we came out of the portal. As I stood a wave of nausea hit me. I bent over and vomited in a metal bucket that came through with the barn. I could see others doing the same thing off to the side.
The barn transported us to the area shown in The Folder. A beautiful blue stream snaked through the lush, vibrant green forest. We stood on a small dirt path that sliced through the woods. The trail seemed well traveled and the thousands of feet compacted it. In the trees above (OADJ), insects buzzed and birds chirped. The barn we we came in was now a homey mud brick building. After seeing the serene and peaceful area, a warm wave of calm spread over me.
Out of the woods to my left, a small party of native Vernans stepped into the clearing. The man who
I have your payment waiting for you in town as promised.”
The man apprehensively scampered away, obviously afraid of this man. As he ran up the path he tripped and fell over and fell over an outstretched root. The followers stepped forward with thick ropes in their arms. They formed a rough circle around us and slowly, cautiously, moved in.
“If you try anything funny we will use lethal force,” the leader warned. “ I know you all must be confused about what is going on. The truth is the “Folder” was a scam to find people who were so desperate they would leave everything. The pictures you saw were all of native Vernans in the city of Vazdas. All of the humans we collect are sent there to work as slaves. Most of you will not survive the month.”
While he explained this, the guards bound our hands with a thick sturdy rope. We were all tied together to form one long line. The guards fanned out alongside of us, cautiously, worried at what we might try (DADV). drew their primitive wooden spears. If anyone ever strayed too far from the line was prodded back into