The Shadow Bear (Hiatus)

Sold!

Time was meaningless inside of the steel cage. Not because she didn't know what time it was, but because she knew that there was no way out. All the waiting was boring and completely overdramatic.

Right now it was exactly 9 o'clock AM on Christmas Day. At least that's what her watch told her. The cute bear on it smiled up at her. Oh why are you so happy?

Altaria sighed and debated on whether she should turn on her phone or leave it off. She knew she should have called the police sooner, but a little voice in her told her to keep what little battery charge it had.

The percentage had been at 2% and that wouldn't have been enough to call for help. Instead, Altaria struggled to get the portable charger to work. Two things that everyone in the world should have had in their boots.

"Stupid USB cable! I knew I shouldn't have hid in such an awkward position. Ughhh..." Altaria gave up and shoved everything back into her boots before lacing them up tightly.

All day the girl had heard whisperings of voices from the store, but when she tried yelling, no one heard her.

Why doesn't this psycho hurry up?!

Hours passed and she grew hungry. She swore that if she saw the man coming in she'd most likely eat parts of him. That or she'd just beg for food. She didn't care how undignified she looked so long as she calmed her stomach's appetite.

So when the door creaked open at 7 in the evening, Altaria did just that. She grabbed onto the person's legs and faked sobbed on them.

"I want foooooodd!!!!! You can't just leave a poor baby girl in this dungeon and expect her not to starve. I'm famished and I'd do anything for a large BLT sandwich with extra mayo, Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce..." And then she just started listing a Buffet's worth of food.

"Would you just SHUT UP!!?" Altaria reluctantly sighed and pulled away from the man's legs. Oooooo, he does not look happy...

"Sorry that I'm a starved 'street urchin' who wanted to steal your bear. Geeze..." And now his face is turning a nice shade of red. Gosh darn.

Altaria finally scooted to the side and let the man talk. She was just itching to find out what he would do to her.

"Finally. Before you rudely interrupted me, I was going to say that a maid will be here to dress you and prepare you for your appearance. Don't embarrass me or yourself by trying to call for help. When you're out there you are nothing more than an item on display. Do hope a nice man buys you."

"It's sad that men need to buy women nowadays. Are you all truly that alone? Pathetic." The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes. She didn't really grasp how cruel men could be.

"Just keep your mouth shut. I can't wait to be rid of you. All you do is give me headaches." I haven't even been with him all night!

The Scrooge fixed his tie and left almost as immediately as he came. And I never got a response to my request for food!

Altaria sighed and curled up into a ball. "I wish I were at home in bed..."

🐻🐻

Minutes felt like hours, but soon a woman appeared in the girl's vision. She was indeed a maid because of her clothes and the nervous look in the woman's eyes.

"I'm here to dress you Malady."

"I can see that." However, Altaria didn't move any closer to the maid. The poor woman was starting to get anxious.

"Please don't disobey the Lord, Miss. He'll be real angry if I don't dress you." The dress in her hands looked revealing but modest enough that Altaria didn't argue.