Shattered

Chapter one

To say I was excited was almost an understatement, and the fact that I had to park in back was understandable, seeing that more than two or three dozen had come before I had.

I had to make sure that I acted as everyone around me did as we entered the semi large building in a crowd of thirty, undoubtedly more. Of course we had to wait in line, though luckily there were three separate windows, which made things slightly faster than if there was only one where we had to buy our way in.

Five hundred. It wasn't a lot, per-say, but I was still slightly irritated that I had to pay just to enter, considering that me, or some others here, wouldn't end up buying.

About five minutes or so later, I was at the front, and I quickly paid to grab the small ticket the gruff looking man handed me. When I entered, a much, much, larger man guarded the door to the main room I was meant to go through, grabbing the tickets and checking ID's before sending someone in. One. At. A. Time.

I groaned inwardly as I waited, almost wanting to fidget as I got closer and closer yet. When I felt as though I couldn't wait a moment longer, it was my turn.

I slowly gave him my ticket and got my wallet from my pocket, flipping it open to show him my ID. He nodded once, stepping aside slightly and ushered me through.

"Twenty eight," was what he said before turning to the next person, stepping in front of them so they couldn't get passed without giving him what was needed.

I followed his words, looking at each seat carefully, considering that it was dim inside, it was very hard for me to see. And I was sad to see, that the numbered chair I was given was dead center of one of the closer rows. This time I did groan out loud. I pushed passed the few that were already in their seats, glaring daggers at me as I passed them. But yet, that didn't matter. They were all probably born hight and mighty, where I had to earn it. Funny.

The lights soon dimmed after all seated, and the fat man that came to the front spoke loudly into a microphone. But I didn't listen. I was texting.

"Let the auction begin!" Was the only thing I heard before putting my phone away, the murmurs and talking ceased as the first slave came up on stage. I gagged, having to cover my mouth.

She was sick, that much was obvious. No one would buy her, then again, I guess that's why I was here wasnt it? I rehabilitate slaves, much less these furry ones. Literally. This would be the first furry I would be taking in, if I got her. But I knew I would, no one wanted a next to dead slave. Then again, there was me, so...

She had those dog poles on her left and right around her neck, but it was clear the cat didn't need it. She could barely stand, walking was another matter though, barely able to put one foot in front of the other as they practically dragged her onto the stage. 

Her eyes were shut, so I couldn't see what the color of her eyes were. Maybe black like the other few I've seen. But at least they were in good condition.

I could hear sounds of disgust from all around me when the sickly figure was forced to kneel, not even looking the slightest bit aware of what was going on around her. She was little more, no, she was skeleton, her black fur looked clean enough, no visible mange or matting of the semi long coat. Her ears didn't move or twitch in the slightest at the loud tsk's or rude comments around her. They just laid on her head.  Her tail was limp as she was, her nose not taking in her surroundings. She was just that weak. I could have mistaken her for dead, hell, anyone could have.

How anyone could allow someone to hurt like this, baffled me. If she wasn't sold, she would probably just be tossed out or put down, seeing that she couldn't hold her own weight, the poles the only thing keeping her head held up high and preventing her from flopping onto the floor like a ragdoll. 

"How could they allow that pathetic thing on stage?" I heard someone behind me mutter. I turned around briefly, staring at the man. He gave a curt nod, and I gave my own before turning to face the front in my seat again, getting more comfortable.

"Just wanna get rid o' her, man. Bitch ain't wan'ed in the firs' place," came the unintelligent reply. Sounded like a hillbilly if I was asked on his background. How would someone like that be allowed in here? But then again, they let anyone in that had a few dozen grand. This wasn't even illegal, so the owners or whatever didn't care too much about secrecy or anything of the sort.

Just stole these creatures and ran, trained them and beat them, forced them to go down on their knees for whoever would buy them.

But this one? She was starved. She had no muscle, no fat, her skin looked tight and constricting. She would have been mistaken as a feminine male if she hadn't been nude. 

The old, fat and stocky man that owned the place came out from behind a curtain on the left side, stepping closer to the two men, and practically dead cat. If it weren't for her breathing, this would have been some sick joke, which I didn't doubt in the least to warn the other soon-to-be slaves to behave themselves. This cat, clearly hadn't learned her lesson. 

"Alright!" The huge man spoke loudly, his arms out as if he was welcoming us. "Let's start the bidding at five thousand dollars!"

I shook my head a few times, not believing my ears. Five? Five, when all the others started at LEAST one hundred or higher. It took a few seconds for me to realize he wasn't joking. His smiling face and that glint in his eye meant something. He knew something I didn't. The smile looked forced, not reaching his eyes. His hands rested at his sides, patiently waiting. But no one spoke, raised their hands. I was still too shocked to do anything.

That is, until his stiff voice broke me out of my stupor. 

"Any takers?" A second passed. "No?"

I quickly raised my hand, not daring to waste another moment. No one else around me made a move.

"Five thousand" he said, pointing at me, before looking around the room at all the uninterested people. I glanced around me too, no one else was even looking at the stage, and the two or three that did, besides me, had  disgust written all over their faces. "Five thousand going once, going twice..." 

As stupid as it was, I was holding my breath. This was a good deal, if I got her, it may only take a few grand to fix her up, another five grand maybe and then would sell for at least twenty. I would get twice of what I paid for. If I was lucky, others would offer more money than the other. 

"Sold!"