Treasure

The Auction

Rosalind is startled awake with the sound of chains clanking against each other. Her eyes open only to be met with darkness. She immediately panicked. Where's Prim? Where is she? Are they at the auction house? Her questions are answered when a bag is ripped from her head and in front of her sits Prim. Her arms and legs bound by chains and her head covered by a burlap sack. just like the one she previously had on.

"Good morning sunshine!" One of her captors exclaims cheerfully in front of her. Clapping his hands in front of her face. She couldn't see as she squinted her eyes adjusting to the bright light of the room. He speaks again but can't make any of it out as he wasn't speaking to her but to a group of ladies behind him.

One woman walks up to her eyeing her with disgust. "This little thing, she's basically skin and bones how is she going to sell?" The man simply replied with a shrug.

"That's what you're here for, we'll give you some of the profit if you clean her up a bit, no special treatment or anything just hose her down and maybe bandage up her wounds. No one wants damaged goods." The woman nodded in understanding.

"Alright bring her to my place in about an hour, I've got to clean up." With that the woman walked away. Stopping for a moment to look at the little girl still with the sack over her head.

"What about this one?" She asked, pointing at Prim. The action caused Rosalind to flare up ready to fight if she dares lay a hand on her little sister.

"Oh, that one, we branded her, so she probably won't sell for much. If I can't get more than 50 gold pieces then we'll keep her as our little pet." The woman nods and continues to walk away.

"Don't you dare hurt my sister." Rosalind growled in a low voice at the man. The man turned his head toward the girl still in his grasp.

"Last time I checked I already did a number on her, and thinking about it now it was your fault wasn't it?" The man but a hand on his chin like he was thinking. Rosalind stiffened.

"It wasn't- "She was cut off.

"Did I not tell you that if you tried anything, I'd punish you for it, that's what you get for not following the rules sweetheart." The man growled pulling Rosalind next to him, walking in the direction the woman previously went in.

"And if you do anything to embarrass me during the auction, I won't hesitate to kill your sister." Rosalind shuttered knowing he meant it. She followed the man obediently to the woman's cottage where she was meant to be "treated" for her injuries. The man said she needed to be presentable.

After arriving at the cottage, the man handed Rosalind off to the woman, telling her if she tried anything just to hit her. The woman nodded and pulled the girl into a cottage that smelled of spring flowers and freshly baked bread. The woman led her to a tub that was filled to the brim with water.

"Take off your dress." She demanded as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

Rosalind's hands shook as she undid her corset and slipped out of her full red skirt. Dipping into the lukewarm water. The soap made her injuries burn but it also felt soothing. The woman began to scrub her roughly, getting all the dirt and grime off her freckled skin. Then she dunked her head under the water and put soap in her hair as well. Thoroughly molding her fingers in her scalp.

After getting out of the tub the woman provided her with a nice silky baby blue slip dress to wear. she brushed out the tangles in her hair and patched up the cuts on her skin. She obviously was no doctor as she paid no mind to the sprained ankle and simply stitched up the wound on her thigh with a sewing needle.