Black Windows

1

MALIK:

The girls today were shit.

Some were undesirably plump and the majority were criers. The Boss didn't like criers.

When the last veiled woman sauntered into the room, her chin was held high in feigning confidence. I'm sure her knees were shaking with fear.

The thin kimono that was wrapped around her slender body slid to the floor, revealing a set of toned legs and a firm stomach. She also had a considerable sized rack. The Boss would like this one.

As instructed, she slowly turned in circles, allowing the potential buyers to get a look at her. My hand hovered over the button when she unexpectedly began swaying side to side, as if there were music playing. Her dark hair tumbled out of the pins as she shook her body to the silent rhythm.

I sat up from the couch, infatuated with this woman and her graceful movements. She danced as if she weren't about to be sold to the highest bidder, but like she were on stage surrounded by adoring fans. I'm sure she had more than a few fans by now, but her reward wouldn't be a golden trophy.

Her hands snaked up her body and teasingly tugged on the lace lingerie that hid her breasts.

A smile pulled at my lips as I thought of what hid beneath the thin fabric.

Instead of pulling out her breasts, though, she held up her two middle fingers and walked the entirety of the room making sure the buyers got a good long look at them.

To my surprise, I began laughing. This girl had spunk & I liked it.

I immediately punched the button, signaling that my people would be the one to buy her.

"Good one, Malik," Robert said. "The Boss will like her."

"Uh-uh, this one is mine."

SHEA:

This trip was going to be absolute hell.

Ever since we landed in London all my mother could talk about was how our family vacation should've been spent "lying under the sun" in Hawaii. She spoke as if it were my fault we had to change our plans last minute. It's not like I could control the hectic schedule of my workaholic father.

As we entered the hotel, my mom began listing the pros and cons of tanning topless.

Before she could delve any deeper into the benefits of tan boobs, I said, "Mom, I'm gonna go explore for a bit. I'll meet you in the room in a few hours, yeah?"

I swiftly ran through the lobby doors before she could object or offer to join me.

A few minutes of aimless wandering led me to a small cafe just a few blocks from the hotel.

After ordering a hot chocolate and snuggling into the leather love seat, I pulled out my book and began to read. Hours of flying on broomsticks and exploring the halls of Hogwarts seemed to pass by in minutes and before I knew it, it was pitch black outside.

Fear crept its way into my chest and I suddenly forgot where my hotel was located. The cafe was now empty of customers and only the moody cashier remained. She'd previously yelled at me for spilling my drink on the carpet, so I didn't feel like asking her for directions.

A small man walked past the large glass windows of the coffee shop, momentarily making eye contact with me and smiling. He seemed friendly enough.

"Hey!" I yelled from inside the shop, hoping to grab the man's attention. "Do you have any idea where the Bronze Hotel is?"

He gave me another smile and offered to walk me back to the hotel. My childish fear of the dark and becoming hopelessly lost overruled my almost non existent fear of strangers.

The man made several attempts at small talk, but I was too cold to form a coherent sentence, so I simply mumbled and grunted in reply.

After about 45 minutes of walking, I became uneasy. We had been walking for so long and none of my surroundings looked even remotely familiar. This man could be a murderer for all I knew and I had just followed him into the darkness.

"The hotel is just down the street." He said as if sensing my discomfort.

Abruptly, he stopped in front of an unfamiliar building and before I could explain that this wasn't my hotel, a sack was pulled over my head and a hand muffled my screams.

***

I awoke to the sound of rustling fabrics. A middle aged woman stood in front of a clothing rack, her back to me.

"Where am I?"

She turned around and took in my disheveled appearance, shaking her head.

"Oh darling, they're going to spit on you if you walk in there like that!" She hurriedly began brushing my hair and applying makeup to my face.

"Here, put this on." The woman handed me two small pieces of lace and a thin robe.

"Where the hell am I and why do I have to wear this shit?" I practically screamed.

Her lips formed a frown and her eyes betrayed a hint of sympathy. "Please don't raise your voice. You'd much rather I be helping you prepare than one of them. Now put those on and be quick about it!"

"What are you preparing me for?"

"Sweetie, tonight you're going to be sold to the highest bidder and it's my job to make sure you look presentable." Her bluntness took me by surprise. "If you don't hurry the fuck up, you'll be dressing with a gun pointed to your head."

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I slowly slipped off my dirtied jeans and oversized sweater and into the black lingerie. The kimono did little to cover my exposed skin.

"Now, when you go out there listen to everything those men tell you or you'll end up getting your new clothes dirty." I'd hardly consider these scraps of cloth as clothes, but I nodded in compliance. "I recommend not crying or acting shy. These men are dangerous, but if you give them a show, you'll likely end up with one of the better companies. If you aren't sold tonight it'll be a few more weeks until the next auction and you don't want to stay here any longer than necessary."

Every cell in my body wanted to run or fight back, but I knew that would only result in pain.

"Okay," was all I said.

She pushed me out of the small dressing room and into a hallway filled with men in dark suits. One of them grabbed me roughly by the arm and began pulling me into yet another room.

This room was pitch black and seemingly empty. The man that was latched onto my arm said, "Don't move until we say so."

He then walked away, leaving me cowering in the darkness.

A blinding light suddenly lit the room and I was able to make out my surroundings. The circular room was lined with black windows, tinted so darkly that I was unable to see what lay on the other side of them.

A throaty voice overhead instructed me to slowly turn in circles. I did as I was told.

Give them a show. The woman's words floated through my mind.

Hoping that she was being truthful, I began to dance.

I probably looked like a complete idiot, but the men I believed to be sitting behind the windows wouldn't enjoy watching me cry, like I so desperately wanted to do.

Teasingly, I pulled on the thin bralette that covered my chest, but instead of flashing the invisible crowd, I held up my middle fingers. These men could go fuck themselves for all I cared.

Any feelings of fear washed away as I continued to walk around the room, my fingers held high. It was likely reckless of me to disrespect the people who could so easily end my life, but I wasn't going to be sold off like an object if that's what they thought.

The lights dimmed and the voice overhead returned.

"SOLD!"

He said this as if I weren't a human being, but a cow in a barn auction.

My smug expression vanished.