King's Prize (Kissed By The Baddest Bidder)

Chapter 4: Satine

"Rino, don't do this to me."

My voice broke on the last word, my eyes imploring him. I clenched my fists as if that would somehow hold back the tears, for I still couldn't quite believe that Rino, my only friend since my mother died, had betrayed me.

"Shut up," the man who stood beside Rino growled at me, and I flinched at the menace I heard in his voice. He bent down and I struggled, turning my head this way and that until he slapped me so hard my head reeled, then he covered my mouth with duct tape, rendering me speechless.

"Rino, move it."

I glared at him.

If I didn't know better, I would've said that Rino looked torn, but after one look at me, he turned his back and followed the hateful man he call father.

His ash-blonde hair was the last thing I saw before the doors of the van were closed.

I freaked out at the darkness, scared out of my wits, and knew that, if I didn't focus on anything else besides myself I would surely go mad. I willed myself not to cry the way the other girls had done, squinting my eyes as I tried to see the faces of the other girls.

I was afraid, so afraid I was tempted to just close my eyes and not breathe until my lungs give out, my mind conjuring up horrible images Rino's father, a yakuza to whom we were taken to, was sure to do to us, and only my mother's memory prevented me from sobbing hysterically like the other girls. I could almost feel my bones turn weak, my arms and legs felt numb and fright was threatening to overpower me.

I summoned the image of my mother in my mind, hoping to draw strength from the last time I had seen my mother alive.

My mother had told me to live life as best as I could.

And I couldn't very well do that in this dark forsaken van.

The vehicle started moving and the other girls cried even harder, and my heart was pounding so loud it was the only thing I could hear.

The ride seemed to take forever.

I trusted Rino, and now hated the day that I did.

He seemed like a nice enough young man. Even my mother had been taken in with his confident smile and tender words when he swore on her deathbed that he will take care of me. He was the only one who was there those few weeks before my mother died, who had spent months in the hospital before her heart finally gave out.

The shock of losing my mother was eased by Rino's presence at my side, who had even helped with the burial.

I had been seeing him in the neighborhood for almost a year, always in the company of a girl. I used to think he was just that popular among the girls-- Rino was as goodlooking as he was charming, and I was surprised when he approached me after months of just looking at each other; I was not the type of girl he was always seen hanging out with. Those girls were really pretty. Now I knew why, I thought bitterly.

The sobs weren't stopping but I knew no one could hear us from outside.

When the van stopped, waiting for our fate seemed more agonizing than ever.

I didn't know how long we stayed there. Every second was like a dagger piercing my heart, and I started shaking uncontrollably. i closed her eyes, fixated on the image of my mother smiling at me.

Mom, help me. Help me.

I felt blinded when the doors of the van opened, Rino's father pulling me out by the collar of my jacket that I stumbled on my feet, my throat constricted with unshed tears.