Sold As The Price

Author's POV:

Poppy froze.

The lamp trembled in her hands.

The man didn’t speak. He just stood there—sweating, and his stomach folding over itself, with beady eyes that glinted beneath the harsh overhead light.

His breath was labored, and his grin was slow, like he thought this was normal, and was entitled to her.

Poppy's hands shook harder. She lifted the lamp an inch higher.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice cracked and hoarse from the screaming.

No response.

He took one step toward her, his stomach was hairy and jiggled with that step.

Her heart flipped, and but she still tried not to gag. She jolted back, nearly tripping over the rug behind her. “Stay away from me!”

The man cocked his head to the side. “You were brought here for me,” he said calmly, as if he were explaining a hotel room mix-up. “They said you would cooperate.”

Poppy’s stomach rolled. She almost dropped the lamp right then—but her fingers gripped it tighter.

"No," she breathed. “No, I wasn’t. You’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not doing anything for you.”

He moved again.

She backed toward the double doors.

She remembered stories of women who screamed and no one came. She remembered Laura’s eyes not moved even as she struggled to breathe.

She remembered Penny’s slap, her Carrie's silence, the way this whole house had turned its back on her.

The lamp was heavy, but it was also solid. And if this man came closer, she was going to hit him.

“Don’t take another step,” she warned, her voice breaking.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. “It’ll be quick. Just do what you’re told.”

That was it.

Poppy lunged.

The lamp swung against the edge of the nightstand—glass and metal flying from her grip as she stumbled.

He flinched instinctively, but that second of hesitation was enough; he came even closer.

Poppy didn’t stop screaming.

She kicked and banged on the heavy double doors with everything she had, the heels of her palms ached as she pounded them again and again.

Her voice was hoarse, her throat raw from screaming, but she couldn’t stop.

“Open the door!” she cried. “Please, let me out! Please—Penny! Laura! Anyone!”

Her heart thundered in her chest, the pounding echoed in her ears louder than her own sobs.

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, blurring her vision as she hurled herself at the doors again, hitting them so hard her shoulder nearly gave out.

She could hear them outside. Their muffled voices were just beyond the thick wood—taunting her, ignoring her, pretending they didn’t hear her.

“Hold it!” Penny’s voice shouted. “Carrie, I said help us hold the door shut!”

“I... Why are we doing this?” Carrie’s voice came out trembling and confused.

“Just help!” Laura barked. “Do you want the deal to fall through? We need this!”

Inside the dark room, Poppy froze.

Her eyes darted to the sound behind her. A shift. A single step across the carpet.

She turned her head slowly—and saw him.

The naked man was watching her.

A cold, sick feeling flooded her stomach. She understood now.

Why they locked the doors. Why Carrie had looked away. Why no one answered her when she begged them not to go.

This was never about locking her in for her own good. This was about making her accessible.

For him.

She screamed—a high, terrified scream that broke from deep in her chest—and threw herself against the doors once more.

“OPEN IT! LET ME OUT!” she wailed, hammering the door with her fists. “PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE—”

“What are you doing!?” he barked, stepping closer.

That was all it took.

A primal instinct roared inside her, deeper than fear, deeper than rage. It was survival. She pushed against the doors again, but this time with a strength that didn’t come from her arms or legs.

It came from something older and angrier.

BANG!

The doors burst open with a force that shocked even her.

She stumbled forward, nearly falling, but caught herself. Her eyes locked on Penny first. She was standing nearby, arms crossed, clearly not expecting to see Poppy emerge like a storm.

Poppy’s chest rose and fell, her hair wild, and eyes burning with something new.

“You,” she said, her voice shaking.

WHACK!

Her palm met Penny’s cheek with a crack so loud it echoed down the hall.

Penny gasped, her head snapped sideways from the impact. Laura rushed forward, but Poppy turned on her too.

She grabbed the strap of Laura’s dress and yanked her closer, face to face.

“You brought a man into that room to assault me!” she shouted, the words ringing down the hall like a bell.

Penny stumbled forward. She was furious. But Poppy didn’t flinch. She raised her hand again and struck her across the other cheek.

Another loud whack.

Penny stood frozen. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

She hadn’t thought this stupid, weak little girl could do something like that.

She reached forward, grabbed Poppy by the chin, and sneered. “You little—”

But Poppy slapped her hand away so hard it left Penny stumbling back.

“WHAT is going on out here?”

The voice came from behind them all.

Mr. Lionel stood in the hallway, cane in hand, dressed in one of his usual dark robes. His stern face was tight with displeasure as he took in the scene: Penny flushed and furious, Laura off-balance, Carrie pale, and Poppy—wild-eyed and trembling.

The moment Poppy saw him, her anger broke into something else entirely.

Relief.

He was here. He had seen it. He would fix it.

She ran to him.

“Papa,” she sobbed. “They tried to lock me in the room—with a man. He was naked. They were going to let him... touch me. They pushed me in there and they shut the doors—Penny, Laura—”

Her hands clutched his arms. “Please... Please, you didn’t know. I know you didn’t know.”

Behind her, Penny and Laura were suddenly very quiet, and they bowed their head. Their eyes dropped to the floor.

Poppy saw it; they were afraid.

They’d been caught.

She smiled through her tears, gripping his arms tightly. “You’re here now. You can stop this.”

But her father only stared at her.

His face didn’t soften, instead his jaw tightened.

“So?” he said.

Poppy blinked. “What... what do you mean?”

“I told them to take you to Mr. Yan,” he said flatly. “Why aren’t you in there with him?”

Her entire world tilted.

She took a step back, her mouth parting in disbelief.

“No,” she whispered. “No, you didn’t. You couldn’t.”

“Yes. I did,” he repeated coldly. “Someone has to pay the debt. Your sister won’t. And I certainly won’t.”

“But... Papa... please... don’t make me do this.” Her voice cracked like glass. “Don’t make me go back in there.”

“It’s the only way to keep our name. Our standing. The family depends on this.”

That was it.

Their name.

That was worth more than her.

Poppy fell to her knees. Her fingers curled at his feet, her tears soaking into the hem of his robe.

“Please,” she begged. “I’m your daughter. Don’t make me do this. I don’t want to be touched by that man. I don’t want to be hurt. Please. Please... I’m not garbage. Don’t throw me away like this.”

She wailed, holding his legs tightly. “I haven’t done anything to deserve this. I’ve always been quiet. I’ve always listened. I never asked for anything! Please, Papa... please... just this once, protect me.”

Her words echoed in the silent hall. Everyone watched her crumble.

But he didn’t move.

Penny reached down, grabbing her by the arms to pull her away.

“No! No!” Poppy screamed, clutching tighter.

Laura waddled forward, grunting as she grabbed at her waist.

Even with both of them pulling, they couldn’t pry her off.

“Driver!” Laura called down the stairs. “Get up here and help!”

The driver came up quickly—a tall man, broad-shouldered, clearly strong.

He grabbed her under the arms and tugged hard.

Nothing.

He tried again, using all his strength—but she didn’t budge.

He was sweating and panting from the effort. This man had spent all his time lofting weight in the gym, but when he was faced with real life challenge; lifting a woman, he couldn't.

“Are you a man or what?” Penny shouted. “Can’t you pull one girl off a pair of legs?!”

“I’m sorry, madam,” he gasped. “She’s... she’s too big!”

Poppy clung tighter.

“Let go of me this instant!” her father roared.

Then the cane came down across her back.

CRACK!

Pain exploded down her spine. She cried out, her grip loosening. She fell sideways, curling in pain on the floor, her hands over her head.

“Drag her. Throw her. I don’t care how you do it—just get her in that room before Mr. Yan loses patience,” her father ordered, turning his back and walking away.

He didn’t even glance behind him.

“No... no... please don’t...” Poppy sobbed.

But they were already grabbing her again.

Laura, the driver, Penny—all dragging her by the arms and legs toward the door.

“Carrie!” Penny snapped. “Help us already!”

And Carrie came.

The girl Poppy once called her friend didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward and grabbed Poppy’s ankles, helping them drag her toward the dark room.

Poppy screamed the entire way.