Chapter 2

Nyx's Pov

“Six Hundred One Thousand Dollars!”

“Seven Hundred Thousand!”

Bids rang throughout the auction house and the more they spoke, the more I got scared.

“Nine Hundred Thousand!” Someone bidded and everyone went silent. My eyes immediately went to who had bidded and my eyes widened.

“Nine Hundred Thousand going once… twice…”

“N… no. You… You can't give me to him!” I screamed, turning my head to stare at the Auction Master, “You can't give me to him!” I struggled to get up, trying to rush towards him but it was no use. I was held down, pushed to the ground, my knees hitting the ground with a painful thud.

With fear and wide eyes, I stared at the fat bellied man with horror coursing through my veins. No, this couldn't be. I can't be given to him!

“Going thrice! She has been sold at Nine Hundred Thousand!” A roar of approval erupted from the crowd as the gavel came down with a decisive thud, sealing my fate. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I clawed at the bindings around my wrists, the rough rope digging into my skin.

"Please!” I choked out. The auction master shot me an annoyed look and signalled to the guards.

“Keep her quiet.” He barked.

The guards stepped forward, one of them gripping my face with a calloused hand, fingers digging cruelly into my cheeks. I struggled against his hold, my jaw trembling as I glared up at him, tears streaming down my face. But before I could bite or scream, another guard delivered a sharp slap to my mouth, the force making my vision blur for a moment. Blood trickled from the corner of my split lip, the metallic taste flooding my senses.

“Enough!” One of them growled, yanking my head back as they forced a thick gag into my mouth. It cut into the sides of my lips, muffling my cries and turning them into pitiful whimpers.

“The auction master smirked, the satisfied gleam in his eyes sickening. The crowd had settled back into murmurs, their masked faces blending into a sea of twisted indifference. To them, I was merely an object to be owned.

“Payment will be finalised shortly, so please , go with them to the back.” The auction master declared, looking over at the fat-bellied man who had sealed my fate. His grin was wide and his eyes were gleaming with the thrill of ownership.

I screamed against the gag, my muffled voice drowned out by the sound of laughter as the guards dragged me off the stage. Each step away from that platform felt like I was being pulled further into the start of a nightmare. I was taken to the back and thrown unceremoniously on the ground. The fat bellied man had followed them to the back, his focus on me. I shuffled backwards, trying to keep myself hidden from him.

How could he be here? If they gave me to him, he was going to use me to death. This man was called Gary Don, he was a part of a gang or rather, he led the gang. He had always had his eyes on me ever since I turned sixteen, he had almost succeeded in raping me one night, it was my mother who saved me. And now… now he owned me. The memory of that night flashed in my mind, his lecherous grin as he reached for me, the way his whiskey-soaked breath had made my stomach churn. I shuddered at the memory, my heart pounding as panic clawed at my chest.

“Ah, Nyx…” Gary's voice was like oil, thick and revolting as he stepped forward. His heavy boots thudded against the wooden floor, each step sounding like a death sentence, “I told you I’d make you mine one day. Take her to the car.” They took me to the car outside, putting me inside despite my struggling.

“Drive.” The car started and my eyes darted around the car, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon, anything that might help me escape.

“Don't make this more difficult for you, sweetheart. Just do as I say very obediently and you will enjoy it.” Gary sneered, his grin widening as he reached out to touch my cheek. I flinched, my body trembling as his fingers brushed against my skin.

Just as his hand gripped my chin and I flinched, my hands flexing, a sudden, deafening crash echoed in my ears. The car shook violently and Gary stumbled, eyes wide with surprise as another impact rocked the car, this time from the opposite side. The driver and guard that was sitting at the front shouted in confusion, their attention drawn to the chaos outside.

Before I could process what was happening, the car door burst open with a force that sent glass flying. The impact knocked Gary off balance, and he fell to the ground with a grunt. I froze, what the heck was happening now?! I shifted backwards, huddling to a corner as I stared at Gary who was still groaning in pain. However, I was pushed outside, my body slamming into the concrete ground. Pain shot throughout my waist and back as I yelped.

But then, black shoes came into my view, with long legs. I looked up slowly, my vision still spinning from the impact, but what I saw made my breath hitch. Standing before me was a man dressed in a sharp black suit, tailored to perfection. The evening wind played with the dark hair that fell just above his sharp eyes. His eyes were like deep ruby gemstones, filled with fury and something else, something much more colder.

He towered over me, his expression a mask of indifference as he looked down at me and then shifted his gaze to Gary, who was now scrambling to his feet, eyes wide with a mixture of rage and fear. The man tilted his head slightly, as if deciding whether to speak or act first.

“Who… Who the hell are you?”