First Life – Auction (1)
1045 Words
Chapter 2: First Life – Auction (1)
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“Now for the special event that only a select few of you are allowed to witness…” The showman was in the middle of the stage, wearing a mask to cover his identity like all the other people in the public. His mask was in a particular deep blue color that made him stand out from the other workers behind him that wore simple gray masks. The public on the other hand had a variety of colors, ranging from orange, to pink, to green and then red or yellow…
And finally there was a special group of men that wore completely black masks, those men were guards standing off to the side of the stage and on all the exits. There were a total of four exists from the huge theatrical room that they had prepared for this event. Two guards on each door and a handful of them on the side of the stage. Probably in case some on the merchandise decides to give up on the auction in the last moment.
“The auction for our special object…” The showman was flashy in his mannerisms, his voice making the event sound like a lighthearted circus show, however it was far from it…
The ‘object’ he was referring to was an albino man with deep purple eyes, he looked as pale as a sheet to the point the man looked sickly. As the man walked up on the stage wearing a simple gray suit, he was the only one in the entire room without a mask.
Was he there against his will? No… but did he want to be there? Not at all…
The reason he chose to participate in this event and sell himself as if he were nothing but a doll on the shelf was because… behind the scenes he was offered something he couldn’t refuse…
Staring at the huge crowd of people that prepared themselves for the upcoming auction, he sighed internally. ‘If my life ever had meaning… Would I use it any differently?’ He wondered to himself as he stood there looking at the crowd. He began observing the menand women that raised their hands.
“Let’s begin with 10,000$ !” The showman said as he announced the first price. Hands went up quickly, both men and women alike offered the amount and the bidding began.
“15,000$ for Lady 315… 16,000$ for Gentleman number 80…” The showman happily announced the raise in price each time. It was like excitement welled up inside him each time it the number on the huge screen behind him got higher.
The albino man standing in the center of the stage had no name, he had no identity to begin with, so there was nothing for him to hide in the first place… He tried to observe the huge crowd that offered to buy him, as if attempting to guess who would give the final offer.
“Now, now… calm down… You’ll all get your turns to bid!” The showman had to reassure the crowd that was becoming impatient. “27,000$ for Gentleman number 209…” He smiled as he turned to glance at the albino man, then turned his focus back to the crowd as if purposefully ignoring him.
The people in the crowd were all of considerable wealth, to the point they wouldn’t care if they were to throw such a sum of money carelessly. Was there any higher purpose to this event? Was there any reason it had to be held and people had to be sold? No, there was no important reason, it was simply for those in power to distinguish themselves as such. For them to stand out from the crowd if you will…
But the very fact this event held no real meaning or importance, that’s exactly what irritated the albino man the most… After it was all said and done, he would receive half of the prize money and the rest would go to the auction house. So it was in his best interest to bid himself for the highest possible price… but in return he would have to stay with the person who bought him…
This kind of arrangement was pathetic, losing your freedom for money wasn’t something just anyone was willing to do but… The albino man had his reasons… His sick mother and his younger sister that took care of her… they were his reason for doing something so miserable…
Allowing himself to be degraded like this, to be looked at as an object, all of this for his widowed mother and his younger sibling… Was he a good brother and son for doing this? Maybe… but would he ever get to tell them? Never…
Because after the auction is over he will not be permitted to see them again. Whoever he goes to that day… he will become his property…
Even though he wasn’t doing this against his will, it was difficult to keep your head held high while knowing everyone is looking at you like a piece of meat… He could not take pride in his actions, nor could he ever dare to look at his family after doing this… but he wanted to save them and if that meant sacrificing himself then… he was willing to do it and that much more…
The albino man’s heart wasn’t pure… He held resentment for himself and for those that put him in this position. He was disgusted of everything surrounding him at that moment… The screaming crowd, the constant raising of hands, the flashy masks and clothes they wore, the showman that glanced at him happily… all of it revolted him to the point he wanted to disappear but he couldn’t…
If he were to run away, the money would not be given to his family…
And if that were to happen then, there was no point to him doing all of this in the first place… His entire life would have been a waste, since he couldn’t bring anything of value to himself nor his family. Such was the cruel fate the man lived in, but feeling miserable and pathetic was the least of his worries…
- Writer
