Disappearance: A broken Wing

Circle

Sitting in this room for hours made me reflect on life. The only way I was going to survive this hellhole was if I focused on my family. I would survive. I just had to put on an act until I could find a way to escape.

"Kara, guess what? This is where we say goodbye," Cue said as he walked into the room.
"What do you mean?" I questioned, my voice shaking.
"You are now a part of the circle."
"What's that?" I asked, fear creeping into my voice.
"You'll see."

Cue came behind me and untied the chains. I didn't even bother running—there was a gun pressed into my back. I followed his commands, trying to keep my breathing steady.

It felt humiliating to walk out of that room with no pants or underwear on—Cue had ripped them off—and now I was exposed in front of all the men in this warehouse.

"Yo, Cue, when you're done with her, can I get a chance?" one guy called out with a sick grin.
"She's in the circle," Cue replied.
"Well, crap. Are you going to split the check?"
"I'll think about it," Cue muttered, smirking.

I followed him into another room, where I saw women sewing clothes while four men stood at each corner holding AKs, their eyes sharp and unforgiving. These women weren't workers. They were slaves.

"Listen up," Cue barked. "I need Kara here washed and dressed so I can put her in the circle."
"Yes, sir," one of the women said, quickly standing up.

"I'll be back in forty minutes," Cue ordered before leaving.

The woman gently grabbed my hand and led me toward a giant metal tub in the center of the room.
"Please remove your remaining clothes," she asked softly.

I froze, feeling the heat of all the men's eyes on me. I refused, shaking my head, but one of the guards started walking toward me with a look that made my stomach twist.

The woman quickly stepped between us. "Listen, I know you're uncomfortable. I get it. But I would rather you take them off yourself than let them do it. I'm just trying to do my job, and if I don't, you won't be the only one getting hurt. I'll be killed."

I looked into her tired, broken eyes, then glanced at the guard. I took a shaky breath and removed the rest of my clothes.

The women filled the tub with buckets of water, scrubbing the dried blood from my skin. I wanted to curl up into a ball and sob, but I refused to show weakness. Not here. Not in front of them.

When they finished, they handed me a blue bikini that barely covered anything, but I had no choice. I put it on, and the women straightened my hair and applied makeup, as if preparing me for some kind of twisted show.

Forty minutes later, Cue returned and grabbed my hand, dragging me behind him. My heart sank with every step.

I took a deep breath as I was shoved into Cue's car, my wrists tied tight.
"Whatever you do, don't try to escape," he warned. "You'll be dead before you even make it on stage."

Stage? My blood ran cold.

As he drove, he pulled a black bag over my head, blinding me. My breath came out fast and shallow. I was panicking.

Eventually, the car stopped, and I felt the door yank open. Rough hands grabbed me, carrying me upstairs. My body tensed, my mind screaming questions: Where am I? What's happening? What are they going to do to me?

The muffled sounds of voices grew louder. I was shoved forward, then abruptly stopped.

"Next up is a young female that goes by the name Kara. Her sassy attitude and pretty face will keep you on your toes. Shall we see her?" a man announced.

I felt someone push me again, and the bag was yanked off my head.

I was on a stage.

Eight men sat behind a glass wall, looking at me like I was an object. My heart hammered so hard I thought it would burst.

"Shall we start the bidding at 86,000?" the auctioneer's voice rang out.

Buzzers went off. The numbers climbed higher and higher.
"100,000!"
"800,000!"
"1,000,000!"

They're buying me.

"Sold for $2,000,000! Thank you for your services. She will be at the front gate."

Two armed men grabbed me by the arms and dragged me toward the front gate. Standing there was a tall, muscular man with dark brown skin, green eyes that pierced through me, and a neatly trimmed beard. He looked like trouble.

"Well, hello, Kara," the man said, grabbing my hand and kissing it like this was some twisted date. My stomach churned.

"My name is Carter, and this is my bodyguard, Zues. Try something, and he has orders to kill you."

Carter opened the passenger door of a sleek black car and gestured for me to get in. If I ever wanted to see Zayden again, I would have to play along. I climbed in, Zues immediately taking the seat behind me. There was no escape. Carter started the engine and drove off—to God knows where.

After what felt like hours, we pulled into the driveway of a massive mansion.

"This is our home," Carter announced.
"I have a home, and this isn't it," I snapped.

"Cue said you had a mouth on you. Don't worry, we'll fix that." His tone was both amused and threatening.

"Zues, show her to her room."

I stepped out of the car, noticing how many guards patrolled the property. Escape? Impossible. I followed Zues into the house, my heart pounding.

The "room" they led me to looked luxurious—king-sized bed, black furniture, a massive walk-in closet, and a bathroom that could have belonged to a five-star hotel. But this wasn't a room. It was a cage.

Then Carter walked in.

"You like our room?"
"Excuse me?" I said, my voice sharp.
"This is our room. Together."
"Listen, I don't know what your game is, but I'm not sharing anything with you."
"Kara, I own you."
"That's what the last guy said."
"Yeah, well, I actually bought you. Listen, I drove five hours just to buy you. I'm extremely tired, so we can do this one or two ways. You can easily submit—or be forced."
"Submit to what?"
"Sex."

My blood ran cold.
"Oh, hell no. You're going to have to kill me first."
"Alright then."

Carter stepped closer. Fear shot through me, but so did adrenaline. I started throwing kicks and punches with everything I had. I bolted for the door, but Zues grabbed me like I weighed nothing and carried me back, pinning me to the bed.

"LET ME GO!" I screamed, thrashing, but Carter called in two more men to tie me down.

I was useless.

"You're going to learn, little girl, that you don't stand a chance against me," Carter said as he ripped off my bikini and began undressing.

I screamed, I kicked, I begged—but the ropes dug into my skin. There was no escape.

Carter didn't hesitate. He entered me with brutal force, his weight crushing me. Pain ripped through my body. I cried, but no one cared. He went harder and deeper, each thrust taking away something I could never get back—my virginity, my dignity, my sense of safety.

As blood smeared beneath me, Carter leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Welcome home, love."

This was a nightmare.