Prisoner Of The Dark

Going once, Going twice, SOLD (part one)

As I was brought to the market I saw a huge variety of different people all in the same position, some people had faces lined with fear and terror, some were angry and refused to let anyone go near them, some faces were lined with pain and their bodies were covered in scars, some people were clearly struggling to hold back tears, some were young, like myself, and some were so old you wondered how they could carry out menial tasks such as chopping wood and cleaning and polishing houses and farming and some were, well you get the point. The odour surrounding us all was sweat and fear. the stench of our depression. Then I turned to the "masters", oh I do hate the word "master" it's added humiliation to the fact that we have to accept inferiority and work tirelessly for no pay and only slight food, why should we treat them like royalty.

I had heard that some masters were good and loyal and as I looked out to the crowd, it is obvious who was generous and who was harsh, the harsh ones would question everything about the slaves and sometimes ask for the person guarding us, ensuring we wouldn't run, to yell commands and would grin at our suffering, the preferred generous masters were surrounded by people begging them to buy them, these people would offer better food, nicer uniforms and perhaps even a mattress to sleep on, but those kind of masters were rare. most were lazy and wanted some poor soul to fill out their dirty work for them. One man refused to take his eyes off of me the whole time, he stood alone, wearing a suit, he looked creepy and he would not stop watching me with a malicious glint in his eye, it is clear he was planning something, and I didn't like it one bit, his hair was a dark brunette violated by strands of silver, he was wearing a black tuxedo, which was especially odd as it was a baking hot day and he was shopping at a market for slaves, not hosting a speech or going to some sort of formal gala.

I allowed my eyes to investigate his person more, to try and persuade him to stare at someone else, he did not look like the kind of master that I would want, yet my scrutinising was in vein, he seemed amused by me watching him so warily, and he grinned wickedly, exposing a set or pearly teeth. His eyes glinting like sapphires, it was a shame because if it wasn't for his evil mannerisms and his stand offish atmosphere he could actually be seen as quite attractive, however the grin on his face was a telltale sign that he was villainous, and as he looked me up and down my person, fear raced up and down my spine. 

He took me looking at him as an invitation and began slowly strolling to where I was standing, quaking in my plimsolls I had been allowed to have from Lily's wardrobe to "enhance" my chances of a rich buyer being interested. Father surely wasn't wrong as this guy from his outfit and fancy shoes was clearly quite rich. Before I realised he was standing in front of me, looming over still wearing that wicked grin, he asked my guard whether he was allowed to "test me out" as if I was some kind of inanimate object, there to be used. to my dismay, the guard agreed with a grin. The man introduced himself as Shawn and insisted I was to follow everything he said or he would give me a lash with his whip for disobedience, I trembled and he laughed manically. He then proceeded to command the most demeaning tasks. 

"Lay down" Shawn growled, and I did so, dominated by the whip which had been placed much too close to comfort for me, there to give me the same evil look that was plastered on it's owners face. 

He then said "sit up" which I followed without hesitation, other masters were beginning to watch now. a couple with faces of pure sympathy, others trying to hide a laugh, but most cackling and chanting for more.

A blonde man, with emerald green eyes chuckled menacingly and said "make her beg, make her beg like a little puppy dog" Shawn looked shocked for a minute before his devious grin returned and he repeated the command. Shame hit me like a tidal wave, but out of pure desperation and fear of being harmed by this monster. I followed the order, placed my hands to my chest like a meerkat and whimpered, I whimpered like a puppy dog, all I wanted in that moment, was for the earth to swallow me up as my actions received loud applause, it was working, I was a favourite, but a favourite for looking like a fool and being treated like a circus performer. What would they do next? Ask me to bark? 

The second I let that thought process, another evil looking gentleman opened his mouth to speak "make her bark , make her bark" I was done, rage began to build inside me as "Master" Shawn once again repeated the command. I shouted "no". Mistake. I was suddenly met by the malicious whip which had been lying stationary next to me as it licked the skin of my arm,. I whimpered, tears gathering in my eyes, the pain was unbearable. Shawn  angrily muttered through gritted teeth "I said, bark" and I gave in, . I opened my mouth and forced myself to follow, I had lost all pride I had now, so as more ridiculous commands came in, I completed them all, receiving malicious laughs and applause from my growing audience.

Then it was time for the auction, we were made to stand with our numbers at the front and each one of us stood, using our eyes to beg the kind masters to choose us. Some were lucky, others weren't and in one particular case, I saw one poor man, old and frail, refuse his masters command, the master kicked him and the slave fought back. The poor slave was whipped and kicked repetitively and out of pure terror got up to run, big mistake, rule number five, slaves shall not run from their masters, the consequence ,horrifying as it sounds, was death. He was then taken down again by the guards and we heard a loud cry followed by a blood curdling crunch as his master brought his foot down, directly on the poor slaves head, it took everything I had not to let the tears of pure angst run down my face. Leaving the slaves limp body on the ground, swimming in a pool of blood The master ensured the slave was dead and demanded a refund as well as new slave as an apology for wasting his time.The slave at the podium who was about to have been bidded on trembled with fear as he was escorted down to replace what had "broken", because just like in shops, if the object doesn't work the way you want it to, you can get a refund or a replacement. The new slave was a young boy, covered in scars, he followed the master's every command in the fear of ending up like the previous man. Who was still lying dead on the rough dirt ground, forgotten and abandoned. Just an example to all of us as to why we should behave.

I was one of the last numbers to be called, so unfortunately almost all of the more generous masters had already spent their coin and had left with their new slaves, who were smiling as if they had just won the jackpot, in a way they kind of had. As I stood at the platform my eyes surfing the sea of malicious predators, praying that if I was to be chosen someone kind instead of one of those hooligans would be the one I would call "master" and to my delight, one of the generous souls I had seen earlier, face lined with sympathy stood and offered a high bid for me, and I was delighted. I thought "yes, yes, YES" as I heard the auctioneer chant the well known "going once, going twice" and as I was waiting to hear the blissful word "sold" a familiar voice rang out and I was dragged back to reality.

"i shall give double that amount" and everything went quiet.