A Girl in Glass
Linden White
On the day we finalized our college applications, I chose Cromwell University.
The moment my brother saw it, his expression turned icy. Before I even understood what was happening, everything went black.
When I woke up, I was trapped inside a glass box.
All because our cousin Wendy had failed to get into Cromwell. To make it up to her, he ordered his men to carry me to an underground auction, putting me on display for a hundred strangers to gawk at for entertainment.
I pounded on the glass, crying and begging for someone, anyone, to let me out.
No one came.
Men gathered around, their gazes shameless and invasive, murmuring to each other as if I were an object, something to be assessed and priced.
My brother stood among them, watching.
Then he smiled.
"You brought this on yourself," he said lightly. "You had everything, our parents' support and my protection, and still you went after Wendy. You even had someone threaten her.
"Because of you, she missed her exams. Because of you, she lost Cromwell."
He took a step closer, his voice turning colder.
"Your life's been too easy. It's time you learned what it feels like to be humiliated."
I sank to the floor of the glass box, my body trembling, my mind going blank.
While I was being reduced to nothing, he booked an entire resort in Wendy's honor, hosting a grand celebration for her acceptance to Halvard University.
Later, when our parents called and asked him to bring me along, his assistant interrupted with a message.
"Mr. Lawson… the police have confirmed Miss Kelly's death."