Sarah looks at me confused by my outburst, and without giving her time to think, I devour her lips like a carnivore would do to his prey while sliding my hand over her breast.
I know Wasim is watching; I feel it in my gut this is a message for him.
Don't even think about it.
Sarah goes along with it, letting me do whatever I want to her full pouty red lips, I lose myself in her until I heard Razzag's voice filling the entire space.
“Dear friends!” He shouts, with a golden microphone in his hand. “Welcome once again to my favorite day of the year. You may wonder why is it my favorite day? Well, the answer is easy, today is the day where the Hakme family delivers love.” Everyone applauds, including me. “Because we are not selfish, we love you all so much and that is a big enough reason to celebrate!” He shouts the word ‘celebrate’ and everyone applauds again.
Sarah looks at the floor but listens carefully to his words.
“My family and I are honored to be able to give this love to my closest friends.”
Yes, of course, let's not forget the billions of dollars to get in and buy human beings. “You all are probably thinking, ‘Razzag, stop babbling and get on with it’,” everyone laughs. “That's what we are about to do, but first, my son Kaled will explain the rules of the night.”
Razzag hands over the golden microphone to his son and he very seriously begins to explain what’s going to happen.
No jokes.
Nobody is laughing now.
This is business.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the rules as usual are very simple. The merchandise will be presented to you, along with a brief description we believe will undoubtedly tell you all you need to know about it. If you are interested, you must raise the auction number given to you to place a bid. If nobody outbids you, we’ll contact you as soon as the presentation ends. You may bid as many times as you want, on as many items as you desire. It is strictly forbidden to approach, touch, shout and make improper comments to the merchandise or any other guest for the duration of the show. If you have any concerns or questions, there’s a button on the base of the auction number, kindly press it, and my brother Wasim will gladly help you. Having said these words and without further ado, let us begin.”
The lights now dim all the way out until we’re in absolute darkness.
I can only see the stage, Sarah gets lost in the shadow, so I put my hand on her shoulder, just to be sure she is still here with me, in this horrible place.
I need her support. I need someone with her self-restraint, because I'm losing mine.
A piano and a violin start playing through the speakers, giving the already pompous atmosphere even more arrogance to breathe in.
The first person in the auction appears on stage. A small woman with Indian features. Wasim begins to describe her.
“Female, virgin, fifteen years old of Indian origin.” Dressed as an empress, she walks down the catwalk, eyes down. She stops at the end for a few seconds and then turns back.
It hurts my stomach to see such an atrocity, but I have to concentrate, for Dante’s sake.
The light barely bounces off of Dante’s face, I can't see his eyes, but I know he's watching us because of what happened earlier and that makes me feel some part of him recognizes me.
