Sisters by chance - The beginning

Sisters For Sale

Sofia's POV 

Tobias has let me sleep next to Mia. I'm not sure how it happened. Just that I woke up next to her. We haven't spoken much. What is there to say? My new sister and I somehow don't need words. Tobias gave me a morning-after pill while signaling me not to speak. I guess it wasn't sanctioned by Hugo. Apparently, our days here are up, and late last night, Amanda came. We have all gotten some breakfast and are being transferred somewhere. My entire body aches, my shoulder blade stings, and my treasure box feel like it's on fire. Tobias has bound the others together with rope, just like dogs. Me, he holds me by the arm and turns to the rear of the truck kicking the wall with his foot. The backlash goes down, and we enter a loading dock to an old industrial building. It looks abandoned, with moss covering the roof and grass looking up in the cracks. Hugo stands there waiting with a huge grin. Carefully I follow Tobias holding him tight. Every step makes the pain between my legs worse. A small, thin man with beady eyes and a clipboard stands beside him. 

"Well, Hugo! You didn't lie. She is a beauty!" he exclaimed and pat Hugo on his big shoulder. I'm not sure who he is talking about. We all look like s**t. Dirty clothes, greasy hair, pale faces with dark circles under our eyes. My legs are still stained with dried blood. 

"I know, she is perfect! So, you'll make an exception?" 

Hugo looks down at the little man who seems to shrink down even more. 

"Yes, yes!" he said with fake confidence. Waving his hand and smiling ridiculously. Hugo nods and grabs me by the arm pulling me with him into the building. It's gray and without windows. Bare fluorescent lamps in the ceiling enhance this place's abandoned feeling. It's empty in the corridors, and I'm stumbling one step behind him all the way to a blue door with the number five on it. 

Tobias and the others are behind us. 

"Now, shower and make yourself pretty. I need all the money I can get!" He commands the girls behind me, then he gives me a suffocating kiss and squeezes my ass firmly while clarifying.  

"You, my pretty pet. Just need to doll yourself up for me! Do not disappoint me. You understand?" I nod submissively, to get out of his embrace. He then opened the door, and with a slap to my ass he sent me off into the unknown room. It's a locker room. Tobias gives me a bag and then another to Mia and tells her to share with the others. When he closes the door behind me I break down. My body is shaking, and I fall to the ground sobbing out of control. Mia covers me with her body, hugging me without a word. 

"What's wrong with her?" Amanda sequels. Earning a slap from someone. The sound eco in the empty room. Mia starts giving orders, and soon the water is running hot. Mia and one of the twins help me to the shower. I hear a gasp from someone when my back is exposed. They washed my hair, my body, and somehow my mind. All the love shown to me is overwhelming and soothing. My hysteria transitions to quiet sobs. I look up at the girls, women. Realizing how important they are. Rose and Ruth smile vaguely; they're so pretty. Strawberry blond hair, heart-shaped faces with soft skin and features. Round doe eyes and long lashes. Mia's curly chestnut hair falls before her brown eyes. She is crying. Olivia's narrow face with almond eyes looks drained. Her slim figure is leaning against the tile wall. Her black hair is damp and shorter than I expected. 

I give them all a smile and a thank you one at a time. Mia grabs my cheeks between her hands looking into my eyes. 

"Thank you for saving me!" 

"I should have saved Agnes too…" 

"Listen, it wasn't your fault. It's him. This is all him. Her death wasn't your responsibility!" 

She is resolute. So I just nod. We all pulled ourselves together and 'dolled up' as requested. In my bag, there was no underwear, just one of my own dresses from home. A soft black cotton midi dress with tiny red flowers on it. It brought tears to my eyes, remembering home. In the girl's bag, there was underwear and nothing else. All black lace bra and panties. Mia was happy about it until she realized that this was it. She held a long monolog about the stupidity of men. And how the world would be a better place without all of them while she walks back and forth waving her hands. We don't have any makeup but we found a brush and helped each other untangle our wet hair. Mia's curls were troublesome. Then we sat and waited. We came to know Amanda some. She was wise enough to not ask about what had happened to me. But we did tell her about the attempted escape and the loss of Agnes. Amanda has this bleach-blonde, straight hair, she is really skinny with a small beast and unexisting hips. She looks strong though! I bet she is into horses. Her face is slim with sharp features. Her eyes are icy-blue but friendly. While waiting I take turns pampering them by braiding their hair, as a small thank you. When Tobias sticks his head in and tells us, that it's time to go, I gather everyone's clothes and put them in my bag. Then I take one last look at the girls. Making eye contact with each one of them. Somehow it feels like it's goodbye. And I don't want it to be. I feel safer with them, loved, and I love them. My new friends, my new sisters!

We left the locker room and walked out as we came in. The girls tied together on a lead and me on Tobias' arm. Walking around people without underwear feels weird and uncomfortable. But at least I have clothes. I look over my shoulder at Mia and smile vaguely at her, she frowns and smiles back. Tobias leads us through a corridor. I look at him, and he is staring at the floor. I gently squeeze his arm feeling stronger from my time with my newly found sisters. He looks up and gives me a sad smile before looking down again. I sigh. 

"Tobias, please. Tell me what is happening." I whisper. 

"I can't Sofia, it's too late to stop anyway." He stops and looks at me. 

"Have you said goodbye?"

My eyes brim with tears again. I suspect that this was some kind of end. I shake my head, no. He lets my arm go and motions with his arm towards them. We all hug each other tightly. Mia whispers: "keep it together, be strong, and I love you all!" Now I know how it feels to have a big sister. To not always be the strong one. We all mumble "I love you too" and I continue "Think positive. Now you don't have to deal with Hugo!" we giggle half-heartedly before letting go. I take a deep breath, and Tobias takes my arm. Tobias led us on and open this large set of double doors is into a huge open space. Too big to be called a room. More like a warehouse. It's bustling with activities, the sounds travel and seem to grow thanks to the high ceiling. There are rows upon rows of tables and cages. And I gasp, realizing that this is a market. Tobias leads us to the right and walks us up the row against the wall. It's covered with cages keeping humans and animals in them. Hugo is waiting by an empty cage. He leans against it with his arms crossed over his chest tapping his foot to the concrete floor. Tobias shoves the girls inside and closes it. 

"Go and see if you can find Manfred, he always needs new editions," Hugo said, dismissing Tobias and grabbing my arm. 

"Now, behave. And I might give you a reward later!" He hisses in my ear. A man walks up beside us and is dragging a wagon. On it is a big furry lump. It looks like a pile of animal skins but suddenly it moves and I can see it clearly. It's a bear! The Man pushes the wagon into the cage beside us, huffing and panting. He jams a syringe in the furry heap, and a low growl escapes it. He cut the ropes and hurried out. Hugo laughs.

"Arthur, you still got it I see! How's the missus?" 

"Oh, she is fine. Home with the kids. She is a good one. Better than the first you sold me!" The man named Arthur answered carefreely and started to fill in some papers. He is tall like Hugo, but not as big. They have the same demeanor somehow. He has attractive dark hair, a neat beard, and a straight nose. Arthur smiles and nods in the direction of the bear. 

"Can you watch him for me? I need to submit this before they start the auction. Or this will take all day. You know how it is"

"Sure!" Hugo shrugged and pulled me close, placing his hands on my hips and breathing against my ear. The tall dark man walks off. But their conversations echo in my head. Hugo sold him a wife. More than once? This place really is a market. Is he selling my sisters? His manic laughter brings me back. 

"River, is that you? I knew it!" His voice is sinister and dark. I look up at him. His eyes are black pools, and his face is sharp and savage-looking. He is staring at the bear laughing. 

"Captivity suits you just fine! No more trouble from you, the campsite is going to be a nicer place from now on." The bear growls again as if he understands. He lifts his head and gives a deadly glare. The bear is apparently known as River has this incredible hazelnut fur. He turned his head to the cage with my sisters sniffing the air. A soft whimper leaves him. Olivia is standing looking at him. Soft tears roll down her cheeks. I understand her, how can they do this to an animal, and to us. I might not be in that cage, but I am a captive like most here. Tobias returns with some papers and number tags attached to rubber bands. He gives them to Mia and tells her to give them out. When the girls have them on their wrists. Strange people walk around looking in the cages. I hate them on instinct, they are buyers, and nothing good can come from that. A group of four women dresses like they are going to a masquerade approach and mumbles. They are covered by long cloaks and have their hoods up. Two of them are younger and walk slightly behind the older women. Hugo bows on his head. When he realized that I'm just starting he grabs my neck and push me down deep. "Behave" he growls low. 

"Ah, Hugo. On the other end of the lead I see!" an old woman cackles. Hugo just nods and starts telling them about his merchandise. One of the young girls' eyes clouds over, and she sways alarmingly on the spot. Then she shakes her head and looks me right in my eyes. She bends close to the oldest and whispers in her ear. Her eyes darted to my sisters.

"Hugo, let me take a look at the one with the hair!" she motions to Mia. 

Hugo waives her forward to us, Mia comes forward with her arms over her chest. The oldest holds her hands out and closes her eyes. Then nods. "This one will fit our needs. Write down her number!" she tells the others and then starts to walk away. They obey and scurry after her. 

Behind us, the bear has rolled up against the cage wall separating him from us. He makes this low humming noise and keeps eye contact with Olivia. She is squatting down beside him singing faintly. People keep on walking past us, some come up and look closer, others just ignore. Arthur comes back and starts to talk with Hugo again. Olivia is scratching the bear behind his ear through the bars. An unhealthy-looking man with reddened eyes, and sickly white skin comes up licking his lips. He looks hungry at Amanda and then nods at Hugo. A short, round man with a mustache steps up on a small stage and starts shouting at the crowd to gather. He greets everyone with a slick voice and then begins to auction out the various goods. His rambling is hard to understand and it doesn't take long until he shouts "Sold!" with a huge grin.