The tiles were cool beneath my feet, my wrists cuffed behind my back. The sharp edges of the cuffs dug into my skin with a searing pain that jolted to my brain.
My heart was racing like a galloping horse, my eyes scanning the dimly lit space. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, smoke, and something fouler.
Fear was etched in the faces of the women around me, their whimpers and sobs filling the room. We could all hear the bidding going on just beyond the curtains. The sounds of men’s laughter as they analyzed the women presented to them echoed through the space.
My blood boiled with rage as my fingers worked the cuffs discreetly behind me. I had grabbed a discarded pin from the floor about thirty minutes ago, and since then, I had been struggling to unlock the cuffs that held me without drawing unnecessary attention.
One by one, the guards dragged random women out onto the stage to be auctioned like some piece of property. It was all fun and games to the men seated beyond the curtains, as they decided how much each woman was worth.
As the auctioneer’s voice droned on, my scowl deepened, fingers working more deftly at my back. My eyes scanned the surroundings, waiting for the right time to bolt toward the door to my right. Three armed guards were keeping us all in line, but none of them was near the exit. They were focused on making sure we all stayed put.
I wasn’t going to be sold off like a worthless piece of shit to some devil in a suit. Hell no. I had to do something about my situation because, unlike the other women, I still had some fightleft in me. I refused to accept my fate and was determined to escape by any means possible.
While my fellow prisoners wept and said silent prayers, I was working on my freedom. After one last strategic twist of my finger, the cuffs unlocked with a soft click.
A fleeting wind of relief blew across my face, and I locked my jaw, knowing this wasn’t the time to celebrate. Setting my hands free was only the first step. Getting to that door on time was step two. And although I had no idea what lay outside, I was willing to take that chance.
How fast would I have to move in order to outrun the guards?
“Hey!” the guard in charge of selecting who went up next bellowed, pointing at me. “You’re up.”
My heart kicked against my ribs, and without a moment of hesitation, I took off, surging toward the door.
“Stop her!”
Heavy footsteps rushed after me from behind, and with each passing second, they drew closer. I didn’t stop, didn’t slow down, because I couldn’t afford to get caught.
However, I was almost at the door when a brutal hand grabbed my shirt. The pull was so powerful it ripped the collar of my shirt, forcing me down to the concrete floor. My face contorted in pain, my back aching from the impact.
A huge man picked me up like I weighed nothing, my legs flailing in the air. “You’re becoming a real headache,” he growled, his eyes flashing with fury. “And it’s starting to piss me off.”
I staggered backward when he finally put me down, my chest heaving with uneven breaths.
“Try to run away again, and I’ll break your legs,” he warned me, his voice deep and menacing. “Get her out there,” he ordered, nodding at one of the guards.
“The boss should’ve let us have our way with her,” one of them said, his tone laced with disdain. “Nobody’s gonna pay a dollar for such a wild one.”
I glanced back at him, casting a stern glare. And for a fraction of a second, I could’ve sworn that I caught a glimpse of fear in his eyes. The man swallowed hard and looked away instantly, avoiding my gaze.
Before I knew it, I was pushed onto the stage, my eyes squinting at the bright lights flashing directly on my face. It took a moment, but I adapted to the light at last, and that’s when I saw the black suited men seated in rows.
The mere thought of being bought by one of those pigs in tailored suits sparked my defiance. Adrenaline kicked in, and I moved instantly, springing into action. I jabbed my elbow into my handler’s ribs, then struck him so hard in the nuts.
A collective intake of breath rose from the seated men, almost as though each of them felt his pain. As he grabbed his balls and dropped to his knees, I dodged a punch from the other guy, retaliating with a powerful blow that broke his nose.
Crack!
He stumbled backward, groaning in pain.
Like the untamed beast that they claimed I was, I fought back with every ounce of strength in me. I clawed at my attacker, threw as many punches and kicks as I could. And although I took down a couple of them, in the end, I was outnumbered and pinned to the ground.
I could barely breathe with that huge man’s knee pressing down on my neck while he bound both my wrists behind my back. I was roughened, treated like an animal, and when they forced me to my feet, my heart shattered into a million pieces as those pigs laughed at me.
To them, the fight for my freedom was some kind of twisted entertainment—one they clearly enjoyed.
Furious, I cursed them all from the depths of my broken heart, wishing them death in the most miserable ways ever. But those pigs just laughed at me, whispering God-knows-what amongst themselves. My jaw tightened by the minute, and my intense glare swept across the room.
That’s when I spotted him—the only man who wasn’t laughing like the others.
