Chapter 16: Underground Transaction
(Sophia's POV)
The harsh lights blinded me momentarily as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. What I saw made my blood run cold.
I was trapped in a massive rusted iron cage. Around me, at least a dozen girls of various ethnicities huddled in corners, all bound with chains. Their clothes were torn, barely covering their bodies. Bruises and cuts marked their skin like grotesque decorations.
Compared to them, I was in better shape. I still had my clothes, though my shoes were gone. The cold metal floor sent shivers through my body.
"Don't look," I whispered to Emma, pulling her closer. Her small frame trembled against mine.
The other girls avoided eye contact, staring blankly at the floor or walls. Their spirits seemed broken, hope extinguished
