Moon Valley: The Hidden Contract

Claire POV. I stirred awake slowly, my head throbbing like someone had struck it with a heavy stone. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was—only that my last memory was stepping off the small ferry onto the docks of Moon Valley, the quiet island I’d hoped would finally give me the peace I’d been searching for. When I tried to sit up, my body wouldn’t obey. My arms felt heavy and pulled tight. I shifted my legs, and they wouldn’t move either. Panic rose sharp and cold in my chest. I twisted my head and saw thick, rough ropes binding both my wrists and ankles, each tied firmly to the four corners of the old wooden bed beneath me. “W-what the—” I couldn’t finish the sentence. The heavy wooden door creaked open with a groan, and my eyes snapped toward it instantly. My heart hammered against my ribs so hard I thought it might burst. Fear coiled tight in my stomach, cold and heavy. I had only arrived on this island earlier that same day—how could I possibly end up here, tied down like some kind of prisoner? Two men stepped inside. They looked rough, unkempt, wearing worn jackets and expressions that held no warmth or kindness. Everything about them screamed trouble, like the kind of men who didn’t care about rules or decency. My voice shook, but I forced myself to speak, anger mixing with the terror rising inside me. “W-who are you?! What do you want from me?” One of them let out a loud, mocking laugh. “Ha ha ha! Brother, looks like we hit a jackpot!” He strode closer, and I immediately thrashed against the ropes, every pull sending a burning ache up my arms and legs. “W-what are you doing? Stay away from me!” “Sshh…” His hand reached out, rough and calloused, and brushed lightly against my cheek before trailing slowly down my neck and over my collarbone. I flinched hard, my skin crawling. “Brother,” he called over his shoulder without looking away, “how about checking if these goods are in good condition…” I couldn’t even find the word for what I felt anymore. Scared was too small; confused didn’t cover it. I’d left the busy, loud city behind just to escape danger and chaos—all I wanted was a quiet, safe life. That was why I’d chosen Moon Valley, a place people said was peaceful and far from trouble. My thoughts were cut short when the second man spoke, his voice sharp and firm. “Enough. The deal says the merchandise must remain untouched. Hands off.” My eyes went wide. Untouched? How could they know that? I had told no one about my life, about my choices. The realization hit me—they knew I was a virgin. The first man scowled, clearly disappointed. He pulled his hand away roughly. “Tch. If it weren’t for the money, I’d keep her as my own little plaything anyway.” He turned and walked over to the old dented refrigerator in the corner, pulling out two bottles of beer. He tossed one to his partner, twisted the cap off his own, and took a long drink. “We should call the buyer soon,” the second man said, leaning against the wall. “Tell him we’ve got exactly what he asked for—untouched, just as promised.” My throat felt tight, but I had to try. I took a shaky breath, my voice trembling but clear enough to be heard. “If… if it’s money you want, I can give it to you. Just let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone this happened. I won’t go to the police—you’ll never hear from me again, I swear.” The two men paused, then exchanged a look. Suddenly, both burst out laughing—loud, cruel laughter that echoed off the walls. When they finally calmed down, the first man wiped a tear from his eye and shook his head. “You think your money is worth more than what we’re getting? The buyer pays enough that we could live in comfort for the rest of our lives. But that’s not even the main reason.” He leaned forward, his tone turning serious and cold. “Handing you over to him isn’t just about cash—it’s about making sure we stay alive and unharmed here. Cross him, and this whole island becomes a grave. You don’t get to bargain your way out of this.” My heart had been hammering with pure terror just moments before, but as their words sank in, something shifted inside me. The cold fear didn’t disappear—it turned, sharp and hot, burning into a rage so fierce it made my hands shake even harder. I tugged and twisted at the ropes binding my wrists and ankles, pulling until my skin stung and a dull ache spread up my arms and calves. “Let me go! Let me go, you animals!” I screamed, my voice cracking but loud enough to bounce off the walls. “Who is this buyer you keep talking about?! Why me?! And how—how do you know such things about me?!” I thrashed harder, ignoring the raw burn of the coarse fibers digging into my skin. “No one knew I was coming here! Not my family, not my friends, not anyone I ever knew back in the city!” ‘Moon Valley was supposed to be my sanctuary! I went through every check, handed over every document, every medical record, every detail of my past—how did this happen?!’ “Shut her up, will you? She’s getting too loud,” one of the men growled, irritation thick in his voice. Before I could yell another word, the second man stepped forward quickly. He grabbed a dirty, crumpled cloth from a nearby chair and clamped it hard over my mouth, pressing it tight against my lips and nose so I could barely breathe. I coughed and tried to turn my head away, but he held it firmly in place. “Listen well, girl,” he said, his tone flat and uncaring. “You want answers? Save them for the buyer. We’re just the ones collecting what’s already been claimed. All we know is—you are marked. And we got lucky enough to be the first ones to find you before anyone else did.” My eyes went wide, my struggles slowing just a little as those words hit me. Marked? The thought spun over and over in my head, sharp and confusing. Why? Who would do such a thing?