Mishka

chapter 2

A sharp kick to my ribs brought back every painful memory.

Sadness crashed over me like a wave.

"Stand up, boy!"

That was when I realized I was in a large room with only one tiny window, its glass coated in thick dust. I wasn't alone. Several other boys my age, and some slightly older, were chained together in groups.

I slowly stood, my head lowered. I didn't have the courage to look at the three men standing before me. They looked enormous.

I was dragged out of the cell and through dark, narrow corridors. As we walked, we passed different rooms filled with children, women, and even elderly people, all chained like prisoners.

"Walk faster, boy. We don't want to keep your new master waiting."

Master?

Wait... what?

A knot formed in my stomach. I had no idea what that meant, but every instinct told me it couldn't be anything good.

I'm doomed.

We stopped in front of a pink door.

It was the only splash of color in that dreadful place.

The door creaked open.

Inside sat a huge, disgusting-looking man behind a medium-sized desk and a black office chair. Another man stood nearby with his back turned toward us, making it impossible to see his face.

Unlike the rest of the building, the office was surprisingly beautiful. The walls were spotless white, a coffee machine rested neatly on a counter, elegant flowers decorated the room, and a luxurious leather chair sat behind the desk.

"Welcome, boy," the fat man said with a grin. "He's very beautiful."

Those words sent an unpleasant chill crawling down my spine.

The other man finally turned to look at me.

"Very well," he said calmly. "I'll take this one. He looks new... and fresh."

The ugly man clapped his hands excitedly.

"He's all yours. Same price as we agreed."

Price?

My heart nearly stopped.

I looked at the stranger with desperate, hopeful eyes.

"Fair enough," he replied. "Pack him up."

With that, he walked past me.

Pure dread settled deep inside my soul.

Sweet Jesus...

I'm dead.

Why is fate treating me like this?

What have I done so wrong?

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After being bundled into a van, I was driven to an enormous mansion.

It was breathtaking.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

And somehow... it felt even more terrifying.

I was certain those elegant walls hid thousands of dark secrets.

I stood quietly in the room that had supposedly been assigned to me, waiting for my master and whatever fate he had planned.

The room wasn't anything like I had imagined.

I had expected a tiny bed, cracked walls, and a filthy floor.

Instead, I found a king-sized bed covered with soft sheets, sparkling chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a massive bathroom, a large wardrobe, and a long mirror that stretched almost from floor to ceiling.

I was still trying to make sense of it all when the door opened.

A young girl, who looked about my age, stepped inside.

"Master says you should take a bath," she said softly, "put on your finest clothes, and join him for dinner."

Fear gripped my heart.

Dinner?

Why would a man who had bought me want to have dinner with me?

Was this my last meal?

The girl seemed to notice the fear written all over my face.

"Don't keep Master waiting," she said quietly before leaving the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

For several minutes, I stood frozen.

Every terrible thought raced through my mind. I had heard stories of people disappearing without a trace, of rich men buying children for unimaginable reasons. Was I about to become one of those stories?

With trembling hands, I walked into the bathroom.

The warm water washed away the dirt that had covered my skin for days, but it couldn't wash away the fear clinging to my heart. After drying myself, I put on the neatly folded clothes that had been left for me. They fit perfectly, as though they had been made just for me.

A knock came at the door.

"It's time," the girl called from outside.

I followed her through the mansion's long, silent hallways. Every corner of the house looked expensive, yet the silence made it feel lifeless. Even the servants kept their heads down as we passed.

She stopped in front of two large wooden doors.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed them open.

The dining room was breathtaking.

A long table stretched across the room, covered with more food than I had ever seen in my life. Crystal glasses sparkled beneath the chandelier, and the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air.

At the head of the table sat the man who had bought me.

Without looking up, he calmly said, "Take a seat."

My legs felt weak as I obeyed.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

A young man, probably in his early twenties, walked into the dining room.

He was tall, well dressed, and carried himself with quiet confidence. His face was unreadable.

For a brief second, I expected him to look at me.

He didn't.

Not even once.

It was as though I didn't exist.

He pulled out a chair, sat down, and began serving himself food without saying a single word.

The silence between father and son felt strange, almost rehearsed.

I lowered my head again.

If the master terrified me...

His son was impossible to understand.

The master watched his son leave before turning back to me.

"You'll stay here from now on."

The words landed heavily in my chest.

"I... I want to go home."

The room fell silent.

The man leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"I'm afraid that is no longer possible."

A lump formed in my throat.

I wanted to argue.

I wanted to ask why.

I wanted to demand to know what he planned to do with me.

But the words refused to come.

I lowered my head, swallowing the fear threatening to overwhelm me.

"Take him back to his room," he instructed.

The girl who had brought me to dinner appeared almost immediately.

"This way."

I followed her through the long hallways once again.

Neither of us spoke.

When we reached my room, she opened the door.

"If you need anything, ring the bell beside your bed."

I looked at her.

"How long have you been here?"

She hesitated.

"A long time."

"Can people leave this place?"

A sad smile touched her lips.

"I should go."

Before I could ask another question, she hurried away.

The door closed softly behind her.

I walked over to the large window and pulled the curtain aside.

Outside, the moon bathed the gardens in silver light.

The mansion looked peaceful.

Beautiful.

But I knew beauty could hide monsters.

I sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping my arms around myself.

Everything had happened so fast.

Yesterday I was free.

Today, my future belonged to a stranger.

A tear rolled down my cheek before I could stop it.

Just then...

Three slow knocks echoed from the door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Before I could answer, the handle slowly turned.

The door opened.

My master stepped inside.