Chapter Two

Amelia

The door swung open, and we cautiously stepped inside, entering a dimly illuminated room where a strange man sat at a desk, engrossed in writing. I glanced at Arnold, about to inquire what was going on.

“Shut up!” he hissed, raising his hand towards my face. The sound of his sharp slap reverberated through the room, leaving a stinging sensation on my cheek. My wolf stirred with unease inside me. Danger lurked here, causing me to instinctively retreat in fear.

However, before I could take another step back, Arnold’s voice filled the chamber. “I’ve brought the girl like we agreed.”

Shocked, I moved to protest, “What?” But Arnold landed me another slap across my face, it stung harder than the first.

The strange man ceased writing and glanced up, his eyes scanning me with a smirk forming on his lips. Then, he rose from his seat and walked towards Arnold handing him a bag filled with money.

Arnold happily accepted it and stared inside, then a smile appeared across his face, “She is yours to do as you wish.”

The words he uttered struck deep fear and confusion into the core of my being. Then the man turned to me said. “Welcome to your living nightmare, little girl.”

****************

A loud bell rung, shaking me slightly. The morning light was slipping into the room gradually and I couldn’t help but feel scared.

“Rise, you pathetic fools!” a guard yelled outside the prison cell, and I rose from the bare floor where I had slept. I looked around the small prison room and tears welled up in my eyes.

“Welcome to your living nightmare,” I recalled the menacing words of the man my stepfather had sold me to, as the memories of that dreadful event flooded my mind. I really believed that my life would be better once I left Arnold but it seemed like I was wrong.

“I’ve brought the girl like we agreed,” Arnold declared, and the man seated at the table had turned to face him. He studied me intently before nodding, reaching for his bag. I had no idea what was going on but I knew it was terrible.

“I hope you’ll be worth a lot of money,” Martha said to me with a smirk on her face. What did she mean by that?

I watched my step father and the man talk in low tones. What were they discussing? After a while, the man nodded and approached me. Fear gripped me instantly and I took uneasy steps back.

Ignoring my panic, he grabbed my chin firmly with one hand, and my breast with the other. He squeezed my breast forcefully, causing me pain.

“Don’t touch me,” I yelled fearfully, but Arnold scowled and grabbed me by the arm. “Stand still or I’ll lose my money, you fool.”

I winced in pain and lowered my gaze in humiliation, and the man chuckled.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope your master will love those succulent breasts,” the old man remarked, releasing his own grip on me and taking a step back.

He had then handed a bag to Arnold, who eagerly snatched it, opening it with anticipation. His eyes had widened in delight, then he turned to me.

“Well, you’ve proven to me that you’re not entirely useless like your mother,” he’d sneered, tucking the bag under his arm.

A thousand thoughts flitted through my mind immediately as I tried to make sense of what was happening. What did the old man mean about having a new master? Was I being sold off for slavery or …….Tears welled up in my eyes as I gasped.

“No…” I muttered, taking a step away from Arnold while he smirked. “You can’t sell me off as a sex slave.”

“But I just did.” He chuckled. “I didn’t think you would figure it out.”

“You can’t do this to me. I don’t deserve this. Please think about my mother and all she did for you.”

“Don’t even think you can blackmail me emotionally. Your mother was of no use to me and so are you.” He gave the old man a slight bow, “I’ll be on my way now.”

“No!…” I cried, my voice trembling with fear. “Please don’t leave me here.” I turned to Martha. “Please, talk to him. You can’t possibly hate me this much. You’re my sister.”

“Oh, really? So now I’m your sister huh? I thought you despised me?” She retorted, and I shook my head, dropping to my knees and clutching her leg.

“Please! I’m begging you! Take me back! I’ll do anything you ask me to do!” I sobbed, tears streaming down my face as I noticed the old man drawing closer.

“Please! I’ll obey your every command, without question! I promise!” I cried even harder as Arnold looked down at me. “Don’t do this to me, please.”

What seemed like a glimmer of empathy momentarily crossed his hardened features. He stared at me for a while and I felt like things were going to be okay.

“You know that you remind me of her but you’re weak. She was always stronger and more confident but you’re just a cockroach,” he murmured before snatching the necklace I had always worn from around my neck. The necklace was the only thing I had left of my mother.

“You won’t have any use for this where you’re headed,” he sneered, shoving the necklace in his pocket.

“No…” I yelled, my sight was blurred by tears as I gazed down at the floor, my trembling hand gently touching my neck where an emptiness lingered. It felt like the only remaining link to my mother had been cruelly snatched away. Now, I felt empty and utterly alone.

Arnold then walked through the doorway, never intending to return.

The clatter of the iron bars jolted me back to reality, and I blinked to find a guard outside my prison cell.

“I told you to get up, girl!” he shouted, and I hurriedly rose to my feet, scanning the cell to see the other girls already standing.

I was truly in my worst nightmare.