Unshackled

Gun

Asiyah's POV.

After taking everyone's personal belongings, we went inside and were told to sit in an area with a bunch of couches.

Then, we were each given a medium-sized black gym bag. I wondered what was inside.

"If there is a blue letter in your bag it means you're on our team and will get trained in the coming days and if you see a red letter it means one of the men here is willing to marry you" Sultan said.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?!!!!!

My jaw dropped to the floor. What is this stupid game? This can't be legal. But then again no one would care about the law here.

"Proceed to open the bags," he ordered as every girl opened their bags in surprise or disappointment.

I don't even dare to open mine. I don't want marriage, and I don't want anything else either. I just want to go back home! But my curiosity took over me and I opened it to find a blue card. Oh god.

Why am I somehow feeling relieved that I have a blue card? What about Maryam?

I peeked on the other side and noticed Maryam's. She's certainly upset. This really can't be happening. Am I dreaming??

I pinched myself realizing it's not changing anything.

"Red cards—follow one of the maids they will bring you to your rooms" Five girls got up including Maryam.

My heart sank and my stomach twisted. They took my other half with them.

"The rest of you, follow me" he ordered as we got up and followed him. The only reason I'm following his orders is that I'm not alone. These girls are with me otherwise, I'd find a way to run away.

We followed him to a huge training room.

"The changing room is right behind—5 minutes to change and huddle up back here," he said.

I raised my hand.

"Yes,"

"Why are we here and why are we changing??" I asked.

"I'll explain later, come on now...Oh and leave your headscarves in the lockers" he added.

Is this a joke?! Are they making us remove our hijabs too?

"Why should we take it off?" I asked without permission.

"If you don't hurry to change now, consequences will apply," I rolled my eyes. Will I get killed?

I was never the one to choose to wear my hijab in the first place. But I do have a connection with it, I've been wearing it since I was a kid and to have to take it off today for no valid reason and in front of so many men is just not right. I followed the other girls to the changing room. I opened a locker room and took off my hijab.
I changed my clothes into the gym clothes that were in the gym bag.

It was a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved compression tight-fit shirt. I tied my hair into a high ponytail.

Zorah looked at me. She's about to say something.

"You're okay?" I asked first.

"I knew this was going to happen" she says.

"What?" How does she know?

"My brother works for them" she adds.

"What are they going to do to us?" The girl beside her asked.

"We're going to get trained to work for them" she's just repeating what Sultan said but I don't believe that's the only purpose of us being here.