Sold For My Body

Chapter 4.1: The Selection

The man named Bruce stood up from his chair and looked at all of us. My dress looks like a bird’s nest because I didn't have the strength to fix it, and I haven’t had a bath for three days now so I probably don’t smell that good. Almost all of us were starved as we shared the same stale bread everyday. I wonder how I look right now. What will happen from here?

They lined us up and were told to walk towards Bruce so he can decide what to do with us. I clenched my hand into a fist really hard. I want to punch him in the face so bad.

“Slave.. Slave..Performer.. Slave..Performer..” Bruce was deciding whether a women will be a s*x slave or a performer like he was coming up with names for a litter of puppies. The performers are probably the ones that I saw outside who entertain men with liquor and by dancing. The slaves are those who offer their body and can be sold off with a certain price. What would I be called?

Finally, it was my turn. “Hmm.. you are quite pretty. Performer.” He dismissively labeled me and I was shocked. 

No, this can’t be. I am not good at performing in front of people! I will end up getting disposed of if I keep doing a bad job. I have to do something. 

“Wait.” I mustered my courage and called out to Bruce, who slowly turned to me. He looks pissed at me for wasting my time. What should I do?

I inhaled and gathered the remaining strength on my body as I tried to bargain with my life. Sheila said that I must make sure that they know my worth. That I have to prove my potential to them so that they will be reluctant to just give me away. If I can convince him that I am someone valuable, then maybe I can escape this place one day!

“Who are you to call me like I was no one?” I tried to sound as dignified as possible despite my raspy voice. Bruce’s eyes darkened. He’s definitely mad!

“I-I apologize, my lord! But I cannot perform at all. I don’t think... that I can do it well.” I gulped. What am I trying to say here?

“Then, do you want to be a slave?” he smirked.  The other males laughed with him and while mockingly looking at me. Who even wants to be a slave? Both of the choices he’s giving me are terrible!

I shook my head, “No, my lord. That’s not what I am saying. I-I’m just saying that I can do other things..” I muttered, with my voice slowly getting smaller due to fear. 

“What?” He hissed impatiently.

“Honey.” The woman named Ava called him. She was looking at me intently, with a calculating stare.

“She’s the niece of Petunia, remember? She’s the expensive one you bought the other day..”She said and puffed another smoke from her tabaco. She was just sitting at the desk while watching her husband do these things? Well, aren’t they a perfect fit?

“Aha! Yes, I do remember her.” Bruce said and he face-palmed in realization. “Petuna said that you could read right? Can you do math too? Can you at least do that much?” He asked and I nodded.

“Yes! Yes, I can do those things. I received a proper education.” I desperately replied and he nodded along. He stopped to think for a few seconds..

“Then,” he turned around and looked at his wife, Ava, who was watching us, “Take care of this one for me, Ava.” He said sweetly and the woman sighed. She stood up and went closer to me.

“Come with me, darling.” She said and walked past us.

The selection went on and I can hear the voice of Bruce slowly fade as we walked further away from the black tent. This woman in front of me reeks of an impregnable aura that you don’t want to mess with. She's a pretty and mysterious-looking woman who looks like she’s always thinking one step ahead. She was the complete opposite of that man named Bruce, who looks brutal and reckless. She was calmer and had more finesse. 

The way she carries herself makes the other guys turn to her, but she pays them no mind. She was walking with such grace, and her dress looked really expensive. Her red dress compliments her skin and makes her more attractive. 

We walked to another tent but it was smaller. Unlike the other tent, the inside of this one was filled with books and women. They bowed down to Ava as we walked past them with her head up high. She sat down on the main desk and asked me to sit across her.

“Bring me the papers, Evelyn.” She ordered and the woman with dark hair and a pale face came over and handed her some documents. She looked at me with apologetic eyes as she backed away from the two of us. I can tell that she was sorry for me being here.

“Tell me what you can do. Make it worth my time.” She said and puffed another from her tobacco.

“I can write, analyze, and organize files. I can also do math and accounting.” I said and she nodded.

“Can you kill someone for a job?” She asked with a straight face, causing my brain to freeze up in confusion..

“Pardon?” I said and shrugged.

“I don’t like it when I have to repeat myself.” She glared at me.

Kill someone for a job? What is she saying? Is she implying that I need to kill someone for this work that will be given to me? I can’t kill! What should I do? Is she joking? Is she just testing me? I looked at her and she was analyzing me. This must be one of the questions I need to answer untruthfully!

“Yes.” I said and she smirked.

“Oh.. really?” She asked with a hint of doubt.

“Yes. I am sure of it.” I replied.

She laughed loudly and slammed the papers on the table in front of me. 

“I’m glad. You will be one of our informants, then. Your job is to deliver a message to anyone you will be assigned to. If you fail to rely the message within a certain time frame, you will be punished. If you fail to do your task, you will be punished. If you try to escape, you will be punished.” Ava’s tone was firm and I looked at the paper in front of me, “However, if you do your job well, you will be rewarded handsomely. This is the contact that contains your name. Buy it and you will be free.” She said and I was shocked.

This is what Sheila’s talking about! I grabbed the contract and saw my name and the price. Two million birks!? But I was only sold for one million! How is it possible that it was doubled?! They must be making sure I won’t get out of this place that easily. 

It’s almost impossible but I will do my best!

I grabbed the pen and signed while making an oath within myself once more. I will definitely buy my name someday! I swear I will be freed!