[Erin]
My turn had come. The other girls had been sold to the highest bidders with a whopping amount of million dollars. I could even hear the cries of protest to each one of them as the rubber mallet pounded on the podium just like a judge sentencing a
death penalty to a criminal.
My body jolted from the sudden movement as the cage was being dragged towards the center stage. The intense flashings of light produced by the cameras blinded me as the thick satin cloth had been removed from my cage.
Choruses of awes, claps, and cheers erupted from below the auction block. My heart was beating faster than the horses racing on the track field as the bidding started.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for our last item in the cart. This lovely young lady, a twenty years old doll. She was silent but a bit feisty. She can be whatever you want her to be. A trophy for this lovely evening to satisfy the needs of your carnal desires.”
Kirstina moved forward with a leather lashing stick on her hand, cigarettes heels clicking the on the floor, and stopped in front of me. She pointed it in my direction with its tip and motioned me to stand. Afraid that she would hit me with it, I slowly stood up, my knees buckling at the process but eventually stood up at my full height. I kept my face up, willed myself not to cower, and straightened my back even though my nerves were wrecking me up inside.
“You can take her for the prize had been set to a minimum opening bid that starts at ten million dollars. Do I have any bidders for this doll?” The emcee continued with his script. The murmuring voices grew louder, waging their monies on me.
I was stunned for a bit when I realized how much I had cost for this auction. The others started at five million and been sold at the highest of twenty. Is there anybody in here who would want to spend that much money for me? I don’t even think I will be that worthy. My father even sold me for only thousands of dollars, and I even felt that it was already too much.
“Do I hear ten?”
I couldn’t even properly hear the emcee. My heart was beating even harder in my chest that I could even hardly understand what the emcee was saying.
“Yes, Mr. Liciano bids fifteen million dollars. Any other bidders going higher than fifteen?”
Did he just say fifteen? I squinted my eyes, trying to see past the beams of the spotlight, but I could even make out any people from below. The fact that the emcee could read through the glare of lights mystifies me the most.
“Counting once…” he started counted, “…going twice….”
I thought my display would be short-lived since fifteen million is pretty much costly, but the emcee called out another name again.
“Yes, I see Mr. Kusamatov bids twenty-five million dollars. Wow, that’s the highest bid for tonight. Any other bidder going higher than twenty-five?”
That is insane! And if my eyes could get any bigger, it will most definitely pop out from its socket. Who are these people? Why are they spending too much money on the people like me?
This should be illegal!
“Counting once…”
“Oh, Mr. Luciano doesn’t want to let loose for our doll. He bids thirty million dollars. Does anyone want to get higher than thirty?”
I now had a hard time following the dialogues, and the numbers kept on getting higher and higher, and it’s making me dizzy.
“Counting once…”
“… going twice…”
“…thri– Oh, we have a new bidder for this doll. Mr. Bronislav bids Fifty Million Dollars.” “Wow, just wow.”
I felt like I wasn’t a human. I felt like a piece of trash that had been found in the dumpster, which they cleaned and put in a box where stupid people collected them.
“Does anybody want to get higher than fifty?”
“Counting once…”
I was no longer listening to them. I was only staring up ahead blankly as I imagined my life. My freedom faded in front of me.
Well, actually, I never experience what freedom is like. Ever since my mama died. Papa got his clutch on me like an eagle’s talon wrapped around me suffocatingly.
“…going twice…”
“…Thrice!”
Maybe that is my fate in life.
“Our doll had been sold to Mr. Bronislav.”
I was jolted back to my reality as the mallet pounded on the wooden podium.
Have I been sold?
How much? To who?
I am at a loss with words for a moment.
People have started flooded on the auction block, the emcee shaking his hands to many mask people wearing his wide grin and in congratulations for the successful event while my cage was pushed towards the backstage.
I saw the other girls standing in line. All of them had a series of numbers tagged attached to the chains connected to the leather collar of their neck.
A rough hand suddenly clutches my arm, only a startled yelp escapes from me as he yanks me out from the cage and starts dragging me to the farthest spot on the line.
“Hey, careful!” I sneered at him. My injured knee protested from the sudden jolt of my body. It wasn’t that painful since the anesthesia they injected worked well, but for sure, sooner than later, it will wear off and put in an excruciating pain again.
The overly muscled man ignored me and kept his face stoic as he lets go of me. From his waist, he took a glitter-covered chain. On the other end was attached with a leather collar rimmed with sparkling diamonds studs. He unclasped the existing metal one on my neck and replaced it with the new one.
“Don’t try to run, or else we’ll shoot you on the head.” He warned me before leaving which I only responded with a glare.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes when he threatened me like he’s not fully aware that I cannot run faster since my knees won’t function properly.
The cold air coming from the ventilation system brushes on my exposed skin, eliciting an involuntary shudder on my spine. The girls on my side were shaking as well, their heads bowed lowly, and I could see the glistening tears welling up at the corners of their eyes.
My nerves were wracking me up as well. I wanted to flee this hellhole as soon as possible, but I feared I wouldn’t see the sunrise again if I did that.
Dying is something that I am scared of because no one will know what lies ahead in the afterlife.
If there’s any, that is.
[Erin]My teeth were gnashing against each other, the tiny hairs of my body stood erect that I could already see the small bumps on my skin. I was damn freezing with this type of clothes they made me wear, and I can't even consider this as a cloth. It was only garter straps that were only enough to cover my private areas.The girls that were also on the line seem to be freezing; they were hugging themselves, shivering from the cold.I was looking at them, rubbing my palm against my arms to create friction in hopes of giving me some warmth.What are we doing here? Are we waiting for our new owner?I was mulling over my own thoughts with dread coiling and furling inside my lower belly, too occupied to even keep myself aware of my surroundings.Just then, a heavy soft cloth drapes into my shoulders, startling me to my feet and sends my heart into gallops, ripping a squeak out from my throat."Relax, I'm not goin
[Erin]The ride was quiet. Akim focused his gaze on the road. It was already night. It was too dark for me to see outside or hint me anything of where we were going. I couldn't seem to find my voice to speak, despite the blasting cold air conditioner inside the car, and I was sweating bullets.Good thing that Akim give me his coat or else, I'll be freezing my butt off in this seat. It is my first time riding in a luxurious car. I have never even imagined being inside of one. However, I never thought that it would be like this. I couldn't enjoy how smooth it drives on the road. Fear was overwhelming all of it.My clammy palms clasp tightly on the seat belt. I was staring at the dark road ahead. I am not seeing anything, aside from the two-lane street we are now taking and the high walls at the side. The car swerves over the curve street, and just on the end of the road, a gigantic black gate emerges. It was so high that I cou
[Erin]My chest tightened as my heart dropped. Figuratively speaking. I believe my lungs are not functioning properly at this time as well, as it is refusing to pump enough air through my system that I will collapse any time at this moment.Akim gently pushes me forward. But I can’t move, my feet feel as if they are glued to the ground. My mouth feels as parched as the Sahara, and I'm literally shaking my wits off with fear.“Come on, sweet cake, move forward,” Akim whispered right
[Erin]What?Everything stops. I’m not even sure if I hear it right.Does he mean that he’s not going to kill me?The cold gun was still pressed on the side of my head, and he was holding the trigger. If anything, he could be jesting me and would blow my head into bits. While Akim stood there motionless as if what this man said astounds him as well.I could feel the sweat trickling down at the column of my neck as the jugular hollow of my throat drummed with tension. My lungs constricted, my knees blaring with pain. Hence my body froze at the moment.Nobody spoke. A pair of mossy green eyes pierced into my brown ones. He removes the gun away from my head and steps
[Erin]The girl smiled at my reaction. My mouth literally dropped when she said that she was going to be my personal maid.I expected to be treated as a slave or something, but I never imagined that Nikolai would appoint someone to look after my personal needs.But on second thought, was this his initiative?My head turned towards the bathroom door where Akim emerged, he was hold
[Erin]A piercing, petrified shriek penetrates the depths of my eardrums, jolting me out of my brief slumber. In the background, the sound of running water slapping against the marbled floor resounded. The bleach white wall blurred in my vision as my lids fluttered open. My nose immediately stings as I try to take a deep breath, but instead of air, water rushes into my nasal passages, instantly wheezing as I gasp for air.“Oh, goodness, Erin! Are you alright? I thought you were dead!” A woman’s voice shouted on my side. I whipped my head, blowing the excess water off my nose as I fully came to my senses. Only to be greeted by Micah's concerned expression hovering above me.I look at her with a baffled expression, my brows furrowed deeply.
[Erin]I didn’t say anything after that and finished off the remaining food, which was only a few pieces of grapes. Both of them waited patiently as I emptied everything on my plate. I stood up, Micah went to usher me, assisting me towards Akim, who is now holding the wheelchair steady as I ease myself in it.I keep my silence. Though my stomach is now happy, my heart fell heavy upon thinking about how my fate twirls around a man’s palm. Playing with its strings and then cutting them whenever he gets sick of me or decides that I am no longer of use to himI felt Akim start pushing the wheelchair while Micah followed on our trail. We weaved through the labyrinth of corners. Navigating from there to here until I lost count of how many turns we took, my attention focused solely focused on the abstract portraits
[Erin]Tears flowed right through the corners of my eyes as I kept my mouth clamped shut, denying him access. Nikolai didn’t just stop there assaulting me with his punishing kiss. One of his hands moved down, rough palms trailing flatly on my stomach until it found the lacy strings of my underwear, and in one swift motion, he ripped it.The fabric bites on my skin. Surely that would leave an imprint. I writhed underneath him, my knees trying to push him, but it was to no avail. He’s too strong for me to even twist my wrist in attempt to twist my wrist and break free.I let out a whimper when he bit my lower lip so hard, gasping as he did so. He took it as an opportunity and plunged his assaulting tongue without permission. I could feel my lips seared and become swoll