"Oh god. Not again."
The scent of stale beer hit me as I walked through the front door. The house was a mess, empty bottles littering the floor. Victor, my step-dad, sat slumped on the couch, a half-empty bottle dangling from his hand.
He had always been a drunk from the very first time I met him, but it worsened as soon as he married my mom.
Each day felt like a nightmare, coming back home from work to meet an abusive, drunken stepdad.
I dreamed of escaping this life, of going to college and studying art. My sketchbook, hidden under my mattress, was filled with drawings of a future where I was free from Victor's tyranny. But those dreams felt like distant stars, unreachable and fading.
Victor roared when he saw me, the bottle clattering to the floor, scaring the s**t out of me. "Look at you! Empty-handed again! Do you have any idea what your uselessness is costing me?"
"I am not empty-handed, Victor. You haven't even checked. I just didn't make enough money today," I replied, fear gripping my heart.
I'd worked all day at the diner, exhaustion clinging to me like a second skin. The tips hadn't been good, and I knew it wouldn't be enough. But I had no choice but to return home.
"What is the difference, you swine?"
This had been my life since my mom passed away six months after her marriage to Victor. He put himself in countless debts under my name as his guarantor, and now I was forced to pay his debts or bear the consequences.
Every loan shark in Creek Town knew who he was, and because I was affiliated with him, my name was also registered in the documents. I had no choice but to pay for it, or else I would be passed around like a slut to different Alphas and Betas.
Victor stood up from the couch, staggering, before he picked up an empty bottle from the floor. "Same story every time," he slurred as he took staggered steps towards me.
I already knew what was coming. The next thing, he threw the bottle at me, but I was quick to dodge it, so it landed on the wall.
"Victor, please stop!" I cried.
"How dare you?"
"I'm sorry! I'm not feeling well, please!"
He hated it when I dodged anything thrown at me. The sound of weapons hitting my skin gave him great satisfaction, but today was not the day. I was already beaten by the rain while coming back, and more than anything, I craved a hot bath. My hands were numb, and I had little strength. If only he could just let me be this night.
The clinking of bottles and the sound of them shattering against the walls filled the tiny living room. I crouched in the corner, my heart pounding as I watched Victor drunkenly stagger around. His eyes were wild with fury, his movements erratic as he threw another bottle, narrowly missing my head.
"Useless brat! Can't even bring back enough money to pay off my debts!" he slurred, his face red with rage.
I pressed myself further into the corner, tears streaming down my face. "Please, Victor, I tried. The shop owners wouldn't give me more credit either."
"Shut up!" He bellowed. His bloodshot eyes were wild with rage. "Your mother should've died sooner if this is the kind of pathetic excuse for a daughter she left behind."
My heart clenched at the mention of my mom. She'd been dead for a year now, her life claimed by a relentless addiction to drugs. Victor had taken me in, but only because he saw me as a means to an end. I was seventeen then, with no family left to turn to, no one to protect me from his wrath.
And what was worse? Today was my eighteenth birthday. I was holding onto the small streak of hope that today would be different, but I guess the Moon Goddess didn't care enough to grant me my little request.
Victor's hand lashed out, grabbing me by my hair and lifting me up to my feet. A sheer cry escaped my lips, but I tried not to be too loud as that would only attract more punishment.
"You're a worthless b***h!" he spat in my face, and the next thing, he hit me across the face.
The force of the blow sent me sprawling, pain exploding in my cheek. I tasted blood but bit back a cry, knowing it would only make things worse.
But he lifted me up again, this time holding me by the back of my dress, the front of it strangling me.
"Please, Victor, please! I'm trying!"
His laugh was a cruel bark. "Trying? You don't even understand the situation, girl. I owe some very bad people a lot of money, and they're not exactly known for their patience."
"But I have some money with me. You can use it to—"
"Not enough!" he yelled as he hit me across the face again. I tried to break free from him, but he held my arm roughly. "But don't worry, you're going to be useful tonight."
My ears pricked at that statement. What did he mean by that?
"What are you talking about?" I asked, but no reasonable answer followed.
"You will find out soon," he answered as he pulled me towards the door.
I whimpered, trying to pull away, but his grip was like iron.
He dragged me outside in the rain and forced me into the back seat of the car.
"Where are you taking me?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling.
"Shut up," he barked, slamming the car door. The engine roared to life, and we sped off into the night. I sat in terrified silence, my mind racing with different thoughts and imaginations.
We drove for what felt like hours. Eventually, we arrived at a large, dimly lit building. The noise of a crowd greeted us as Victor pulled me out of the car and dragged me inside. The atmosphere was different here, and deep down, I knew that something was wrong and this was not a good place.
My eyes widened in horror as I took in the scene inside.
It was an auction, and the "items" being sold were women. There were young women like me, older ones too. Some were in cages, others were being paraded on stage, their eyes filled with the same fear I felt. My stomach churned, and I tried to pull away from Victor, but his grip tightened.
Some of the old Alphas cheered as the attendants paraded one of the women on stage. She was stripped completely naked and made to turn around to the view of everyone. She stood like a deer in the headlights, and even though it wasn't me on stage, there was a sense of dread that filled me. It was as though I was the one standing there. Or would be.
One of the Alphas came on the stage and placed a bid on her, his hands roaming around her body and evaluating his 'item.' He would press her breasts and ass, and the others would cheer.
"Hmm, it's soft. I bet it's succulent too," he said, and the others cheered him on.
Other wealthy Alphas placed their bids on her until the one with the highest bid won.
Ten thousand dollars. That was what she was sold for.
I couldn't believe my eyes. I never knew that such things existed, even though I have heard that there were such practices in different towns. But now, I have seen it with my own eyes, and it seemed... It seemed as though I already knew what was coming.
"No! Please, no!" I cried, struggling against Victor. But he was stronger, and he easily overpowered me.
"Quiet!" he hissed, dragging me towards the front of the room and towards the stage where a group of men stood, their eyes appraising the women like cattle.
"I have something special for you, Alphas!" His voice was loud enough to cut through the raving noise.
"What do you have for us, peasant?" A pot-bellied man asked from the front seat just beside the stage.
"Her. She's my stepdaughter. Her name is Ayra. She is eighteen years old and a virgin," Victor answered.
Slowly, I averted my gaze to Victor. It was then that I realized what Victor was going to do to me. He was going to sell me off to pay his debts.