2
- Evie -
For a moment, in the midst of the emptiness and darkness into which I had fallen helplessly, my senses were activated again from surprise, after having relived in my mind over and over again the last moments before falling prey to bad luck.
My breathing was heavy and I felt that I could stop breathing at any moment, since there was no light when I opened my eyes for that millisecond; something was around my head that did not allow me to distinguish my surroundings and the burning in my neck, distracted me.
I felt as if I had blinked and the next moment I found myself in an unfamiliar room, however, the only thing that caught my attention of its decoration were the women there, lying on unconscious beds.
I was on a couch, next to a girl who was not Lexi and my heart started to go crazy with worry, however, when I tried to move my body did not resist the weakness and I fell into the darkness again as if I had been subdued.
I had no idea what was going on and what little strength I had was useless to me.
Why were there more women there?
I took a deep breath when I came back to my senses, closing my eyes tightly after having had a strong light on my face, as if I was burning after having been who knows how long unconscious.
Cold liquid enveloped my body, as I tried to concentrate on one thing and react to my surroundings. I gasped as I felt several hands wrap around my body; I felt only the fabric of my underwear cover my body and when I opened my eyes I saw two women with looks that were not very gratifying to me, applying soap on my body and hair, as they bathed me sitting up, as I could not move.
One of them put her hands in my intimacy and as much as I could do to push her away, nothing kept her away. They waxed every area they could with wax, even the private ones.
In the middle of crying for not having enough strength to defend myself, I was carried to a room where they put me in a lace suit that could show my whole body perfectly, only covering the intimate areas.
My heart wanted to burst out of my chest as soon as I saw myself in the mirror, so disgusting and unknown, as if the woman I knew had disappeared.
Where was I and why had I been dressed like that?
After a few minutes they were still bringing to the same place several women who were equally or worse mortified than me, with the same lingerie.
However, none of them were Lexi.
"Eat up girls, the show will start in half an hour," entered a man in a pink wig and eccentric makeup, carrying plates of what looked like food in his arms.
My instincts struggled not to give in, but it was obvious I had endured hunger and as a cannibal I begged to quell that craving, no matter what it was or what it tasted like.
"While I know you are all confused and must be mortified to know what is going on, I am going to inform you of something quickly," he said, "You are the small premiun group; worthy women worth more than a textile industry," he folded his arms, with a smile, "The dark tycoons from foreign countries, those who cheat with their good looks, are tonight at the third auction of juvenile women and the first, where you will see a million dollar bid for a virgin," he sentenced, averting his brown eyes to me. My chest sank and everyone around me looked at me.
My pulse shot up aggressively, as soon as the man left the room convinced of something they had no way of knowing.
I wasn't a virgin, I had only made my boyfriend believe that, and besides, they were going to auction us off as if we were objects, to unknown men, as if our lives were worthless.
The crying not only overpowered me, but I started a sea of sadness and terror around the room. The worry of knowing absolutely nothing about my best friend, even if I tried to ask the women who were with me; some of them even spoke other languages.
My parents wouldn't even know about my disappearance, why I was the one who cut the tie that bound us since I left them. My boyfriend was the only person I had left and although I hoped he would care about me, in a world like that, where our lives weren't even worth living, surely he would never be able to find me.
"I heard that some of them after using the women to exhaustion, they killed them and disappeared their bodies," said sobbing one behind me and the deafening pounding of my heart was able above her voice, as if I was being overcome with pain and fear.
So that was my destiny. That was why I had started a new life away from my parents; to become an object of auction to ruthless, dangerous and twisted men.
"We're all going to die."
I couldn't even look at the woman who had said that, when the door opened wide a few minutes later and several men and women entered, ahead of what appeared to be their leader; a broad-complexioned lady, dressed a bit frighteningly and with makeup not at all in keeping with the color of her clothes.
"Take one at a time to make-up and put them in the box. We already know they are crying and begging heaven for their salvation, but it's show time and they must go to make up like innocent little creatures," she ordered and I watched as two men grabbed my arms so that I couldn't resist. I already felt stronger than before because I had eaten, but not enough to do a mission impossible act and escape with a coldly calculated plan.
Amidst the cries of resistance, I was dragged behind a brunette down a not-so-pleasant hallway. Anyway, everything there, even the food, looked terrifying to me.
I was kept standing in front of a door, however, a voice I could recognize even in the middle of a concert, caught my attention.
My heart turned white with venomous blood, filled with anger.
"The auction starts with the precious creature you gave us," the man said, "The debt that burdened your life was settled with a virgin, who unfortunately was your bride, but that's the way this business is, kid. A noose is tied around your neck and it never lets go," he added, turning to look at me, while my green eyes were bathed in angry tears.
"Mauro."