Chapter Seven

Lucia's POV 

I opened my eyes and realized I was still in the cage and covered by a thick black cloth. 

Applause was echoing in the room.

“Welcome to the Midnight Claim Auction.” A deep voice said, echoing through the room.

“Tonight we have new and fresh stock in hand; these girls are not sold permanently, just for one-night rental.”

More clapping came after he finished. My heartbeat went through the roof, and my ears rang.

My heart seemed to plummet to my stomach.

What?

What in God's name was happening?

“Reveal the merchandise.” The coordinator ordered.

I watched as he pulled the black cloth away and blinding stage lights flashed at me.

My eyes squinted, and I realized I was on the main stage between two cages, one on each side of me.

“Remember, gentlemen, these girls are just one-night rentals. The highest bid wins the right to possess for one night till sunrise.”

The coordinator approached with a practiced smile.

“Now please meet our three new items: Sofia Bellini, Amara Rossi, and Lucia Romano.” Thunderous clapping continued till I couldn't hear myself think.

“Two of these girls have already been analyzed.” He announced.

“Sofia, step forward.”

Men rolled Sofia's cage forward; under the lights, she was pale.

I stared at her blonde, wet hair and her intense blue eyes.

“Sofia has been analyzed; details of her analysis will be shared with the highest bidder. Her opening bid is two hundred million dollars! Let the bidding begin!”

“Two-fifty!”

“Four hundred!”

“Four fifty.”

“Eight hundred million,” came from a deep, commanding voice, and everything was dead quiet.

My stomach turned in knots.

“Eight hundred million, going once… going twice… sold to Mr. Viktor Kane for one night.”

Sofia's face immediately went pale the moment she heard the name of the man she was being sold for a night.

She looked like she might pass out.

Two handlers escorted Sofia's cage, taking her away behind the curtain; she shot me one terrified look as they moved forward.

She didn't even struggle; her eyes simply stared forward as though all her fight had been completely drained from her.

I turned my head and looked at Amara's cage; she looked like she could be no more than my age. 

Her raven curls framed a pale, gaunt face, but it was her eyes that captivated my attention. 

Her mismatched eyes, one brown and the other green, were beautiful despite her predicament.

“The other girl has already been assessed,” the host said, his smile widening as his gaze fell upon me.

My breath caught in my throat.

No, not me, please not me.

My breathing became ragged; I tightened my grip on the bars of the cage so hard that my fingers screamed out in pain.

My gaze darted over the faces in the audience, each one seemingly evaluating me, judging me, deciding my fate.

My whole body was trembling as the terrifying consumed my mind.

Between the two of us, which one had already been analyzed?

“Up next for auction is Amara,” the host declared, and the room erupted in applause. I took a shaky breath. At least it wasn't me.

Not yet,

My heart hammered against my ribs like a desperate bird. 

Amara's cage was rolled into the center of the room, and a wave of hatred for this place washed over me.

I had to escape, but the question was how?

How the hell was I ever going to get out of here?

I had a sinking feeling it was my turn next. My instincts had never been wrong. 

“Amara has been evaluated, and the bidding will begin at five hundred million dollars,” the host announced.

“Let the bidding commence!”

“Six hundred and twenty!”

“Seven hundred!”

“Eight hundred and fifty million!”

The room fell silent. “Eight hundred and fifty million dollars going once… going twice… sold to Mr Ricci.”

Amara's cage was pulled away, and she didn't even glance my way.

Now, I was the only one left on the stage.

“Let's proceed to the next auction,” the host said.

“This particular contestant has not been assessed yet, so she will be taken backstage for evaluation before auctioning.”

I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My cage was wheeled off the stage. The second we started moving, the door sprang open, and I flinched back.

String hands grabbed my wrists, and then rough restraints clicked into place.

A blindfold was tied around my eyes. Then the chain was yanked as I stumbled forward after the guard.

“Where am I going?” I asked, my voice trembling, but I got no response.

“Where are you taking me to?” I demanded louder, and for a split second later, I was shoved against the cold concrete wall.

Pain shot across my face. “Shut up bitch, because the next thing coming out of your mouth is your tongue,” the guard growled, and I clamped my teeth hard on my lips.

The remainder of the walk was a blur of silence. A door creaked open, and I was pushed inside. Something soft grazed the back of my legs.

A bed.

The restraints were reassured before the blindfold was removed. My eyes flitted around the dimly lit room, illuminated by an unsettling dark red light.

The ceiling and walls were completely covered in mirrors, making the room feel vast and disorienting.

A shiver traced its way down my spine.

The room felt wrong on a primal level. The door opened again, and several hulking, tattooed men entered.

The man who dragged me here moved to me and started to remove my lingerie.

I froze, trying not to move; he undressed me until I was naked, staring at my reflection in the ceiling.

They spoke among themselves, completely ignoring my presence.

“I'll do the assessment,” one of them said with a predatory grin, and the others nodded.

“Make it quick, Draco; we have a lot to do.” 

My heart pounded frantically in my chest.

I tugged at the restraints, but they were unyielding. Draco stepped closer, a clipboard in his hand as he gave me a smirk.

“This shouldn't take long.” He said, eyeing my naked body.

Just as he moved to touch me, the door burst open once more. The man snapped to attention.

“Boss.”

My blood ran cold. Damien.

He entered the room without acknowledging anyone else.

“Get out, I'll handle her myself.”

No one protested; they handed him the cupboard and exited the room silently, closing the door behind them.

The click of the lock echoed in the silence. Damien cast a brief glance at the clipboard before placing it on a nearby table 

Then he turned his gaze to me; a slow, unsettling smile spread across his face.

“I need you to scream, Lucia, as loud as you can.”

……

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