Save The Children

Can Anyone Here Me?

 She stared at the bars of her cage, blinking as her small, grime-smeared hand grasped the cool metal. She shivered, small tears rolling down her dirty cheeks. She heard approaching voices and flinched back, huddling in the back of her cage and stifling her whimpers. Master didn't like it when she made noises.

The light was switched on, illuminating the room and blinding her. Two men paused in front of her cage and she recognised one as her master, "This one's 11," her master laughed hauntingly, "She's a good little slave," he leered at her.

"Oh?" the other man purred slimily, causing her to flinch, "How so?"

"Just tell her to do somethin' an' she'll do it," her master smirked, "She's a...good little thing."

The other man peered at her, his eyes dark and pooled with greed, "The price?"

"Hmmm...." her master hummed thoughtfully, reaching through the bars to stroke her cheek, "$80,000." She held her breath, stilling her trembling frame.

The other man laughed mockingly, "Check or cash?"

"Cash, preferably," her master's lips twitched.

"Why are you....selling this one anyway?" the other man snorted, "She's very pretty, eh?"

"She's gotten too old for me, and too used," her master chuckled. She flinched, some spot inside her hurting at the cruelty of his words. I'm only eleven, she thought, how can I be too old? Have I not served you well enough? She curled into a small ball, willing herself to fade from view.

The other man snorted, "I'll find some use for her," he chuckled, "Give me a day and I'll have your money." The men walked back upstairs, leaving her in the darkness as they switched the light off.

The only sounds, now, were her ragged breathing, tears dripping down her chin as she sobbed, weeping, silently. Her chest heaved as she struggled for air.

"Mama," she whispered, her small voice breaking, "Why did...?" She couldn't bring herself to state what her mother had done, as if it would cement the fact that she'd been sold...by her own mother. She turned her eyes away and through the faint light was able to see the six slashes against the backwall her cage was pushed against. She counted again to be sure, one....three....five....six.

Was I not good enough? She wondered, asking a question that would never be heard. Will I ever live what those tales have told? Her mind escaped reality as she drifted to sleep, dreaming of a life she hopelessly longed for. Is anyone listening, seeing, hearing, looking? A small, painful sob escaped her as she mourned for a life she never had. Never had a chance to have. Her eyes closed, darkening her already bleak future as her mind fell unconscious.

She woke as a door slammed open and steps stomped noisily down the stairs. She could hear muffled screams of someone fighting reality. Isn't this normal? She thought as a small, writhing girl was dragged down and thrust into the cage next to her. She was gagged, blindfolded, and in the cruel grips of her master's guards and she fought. Why do you fight? She thought, Doesn't this happen to everyone? Why fight the normality of a life you cannot escape?

The girl was young, possibly younger than herself when she was brought here. She didn't know though, only knew of the length of time, counting off the days until she reached 365. She didn't remember her own birthday, even.

The girl wore frilly clothing, torn in places, but undirty. Why is she wearing clothes? She frowned, glancing at her own naked frame. She turned her attention back to the girl who was silently crying as the guards unbinded, ungagged, and removed her blindfolds. The girl is pretty, she decided. The guards left, locking the cage behind them.