“Get up,” Luis barked his order at her the moment he stepped through the door. “You need to be cleaned up. We have buyers arriving and you will be the top prize.”
Luis’ finger wound through the strands of her brown locks, his grip all consuming. It felt as though her hair was being ripped from her scalp as he dragged her across the floor. He shoved herinto the shower and turned on the water. Searing pain screamed through her veins as the ice-cold spray pelted her skin. A woman she had never seen stepped into the tiny room carrying supplies. Luis gave her room, allowing her to step to the bath’s edge.
Her muddled English broke the silence. “Take off your clothes. Do it. Now.”
“Not in front of him.” Everly held Luis’ gaze, her defiance penetrating his stare.
Luis shoved the woman out of his way and flicked open a blade. He grabbed the fabric, shredding it off her in one clean cut. Everly whimpered as she tried to cover herself, but her attempts were futile. Luis slapped her, causing her to fall against the tiled wall. “You will do as your told.” He ripped the remnants of her coverings, leaving her completely nude. “Clean her up.” He stepped over to the doorway and paused. “Someone will be in with her clothing for the auction. See that she is decent for the event—or I’ll kill you.”
Everly flinched at the sound of the door slamming shut, her nerves barely easing. The woman carefully guided her to the edge of the tub and sat down. Everly’s cheek still stung from Luis’ venomous slap, but it was nothing compared to the beating the woman who was now lying dead in her bed endured. She barely felt the water as it splashed over her arms, she was numb to everything but the pain. Each pass of the scratchy material made her wince, making her wish for death instead of the fate she knew was to come.
“Am I going to die?” Everly’s question was barely audible over the sound of the water falling.
“Just do what he asks.”
“But he’s selling me like property. Only monsters buy humans.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Could be a worse man who buys you—but maybe it better.” Her accent was thick as she spoke her words.
Everly stayed silent as the woman finished preparing her for her fate. For the first time in months, Everly did not recognize the woman staring back at her in the mirror. She looked like someone ready for a grand ball, wrapped in silk chiffon that hugged every curve. For a moment she felt beautiful until she remembered why she was dressed this way.
“Good. She’s ready.”
Luis grabbed her arm and led her down a narrow hallway. When they stepped into the sun, Everly had to shield her eyes from the light. Aside from her miniscule window, Everly had not been outside in what felt like months. She tilted her head back and basked in the warmth of the golden rays as they kissed her skin. Her moment was broken when Luis covered her head in a fabric bag. It was dark and smelled like sweat and vomit, making bile burn in her throat. He bound her hands behind her and forced her into the back of what felt like a moving truck. The soft sobs of who she assumed were other women filled the space. The truck lurched forward. The momentary lurch caused her to fall into someone beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Are we going to die?” the soft broken voice of a girl whimpered.
“I don’t know.”
Everly hoisted herself back into a sitting position and leaned against the cool metal of the vehicle. She was no better than cattle being carted off to the slaughter. A slaughter would be better than being sold to a different monster. She knew whoever bought her was doing it for one reason only. To use her in whatever way they wanted. She would become their property—until her death. Everly swore right then, that she would either kill the men responsible for this or herself. She wasn’t going to allow a man to use her. Nothing was worth that pain.
The truck came to a halt and the rear doors were violently thrown open. Everly could hear a man’s voice, ordering others to remove them and take them to their rooms. Her body was dragged out, her knees scraping against the pavement.
“Stop.” A man grabbed her and jerked her up. “You are damaging my property.” A loud bang made Everly jump. “Get rid of his body. And let this be a lesson. If you fuck up my merchandise, I’ll kill you too.” He led Everly down a hallway and into a small room. “You will wait here until one of my men comes and gets you.” He jerked the hood from her head and slammed the door.
Everly sat down on the cot that was pushed up against the wall and looked at her knees. Her flesh was tattered and red where the gravel had embedded itself into her skin. Everly tried topluck the tiny pebbles from the scrapes, but it was making the area even more angry. It wouldn’t matter, her buyer probably wouldn’t notice the damaged skin, anyway. Everly closed her eyes and waited. The silence was deafening. The beat of her own heart echoed so loudly, Everly was sure it was beating on the outside of her chest.
“Get up.” The disgusting sound of Luis forced her eyes to open. “It’s your turn.”
“My turn?” Everly’s voice cracked when she spoke.
“Yes. The auction is underway, and you are to take the stage. The boss has saved the best for last.”
Everly was dragged out of the room. Luis held her behind a large curtain, waiting for Darby, the man that held her fate in his hands, to call her to the stage. She could see a portion of the room beyond the platform. There are at least a dozen men waiting to see her.
“It’s your turn.”
Luis shoved her into the spotlight next to Darby. Everly could hear Darby speaking, but she couldn’t understand him. The light was blinding her, keeping her from seeing the people bidding on her. She tried to shield her eyes, but it didn’t help. Everly stumbled as Darby forced her to turn around. She looked down, hiding her eyes as she was put on display like a piece of meat. The voices of men filled the room, fighting for the right to own her. Everly willed the vomit to stay down. The last thing she needed to do was lose it on stage. The rush of her heart beatingdrowned out the yelling. She did not know who was bidding, she couldn’t make herself look up.
Darby jerked her arm, forcing her forward as the word that would seal her fate slipped from his lips.
“Sold.”
"Themoneyisreadyfor you. Are you sure you can handle this, Cris?” Matias’ voice was filled with concern.
“Yes. This is the only way we can dismantle this motherfucker’s enterprise.”
