You Can't Run Forever

-4-

I was only in the cell for maybe three weeks when I was brought out. Auction day. The striped me of all my clothes, handcuffed my arms behind my back, and ankles about a foot apart. I was pushed into line with many other men and women around my age. All of us naked with a number painted on our backs. I felt the lady write a big 57 across my back. So objectifying and just made my shoulders slump more. My back still hurt because I was talking back to the guards a few times. They whipped my back a few days ago and right when I got here.

One by one we were sold until number 55 was called. I watched the girl, probably just 18, get yelled at with numbers until no one went higher. Then the girl in front of me had her turn. She was older than me but no more than 25. My stomach was sick as I was led out onto center stage. They pushed me around so the buyers could see all of me. My cheeks flushed bright red as numbers started going. Tears streamed down my face when the "sold" was called out. Again guards ushered me away. In a back room I was pushed onto a couch and left. Still chained up as I was there was no chance for escape so I gave up. I sat on that couch and bawled my eyes out. My whole body shook in fear of what would happen when I met the highest bidder.

The door opened. The amount or fear that surged through me as I met the hard, grey eyes was unexplainable. He shut the door, just looking at me. I couldn't read whatever expression was on his face. As much as I tried to stop the tears and look strong I just kept falling apart. When the man walked closer I backed away as much as I could.

"Stop. I have the key to your cuffs," he told me. I stopped scooting away but there was no way I trusted him yet. The man bent down and took my ankle, unlocking the cuff and setting me free. I immediately got away from him after my wrists were undone. Now he was by the couch and I stood across the room, covering my body as best I could. I watched him sigh and look away. When he pulled out an injection of sorts my eyes widened. "I do not want to use this on you but I will if I must. We are going to walk out to my car, and you will hold my hand the entire time, understand?" I nodded my head, just happy to get out of here. The man put his hand out to me then so I took it. He was warm and I noticed now how much I was shaking.

"Wait," I said before he opened the door. My voice was raspy and my throat dry. He gave me a questioning look. "C-Clothes, I-I need c-clothes," I stuttered. The man sighed again but shrugged off his suit jacket. It barely covered my ass but it was better than nothing. "Thank you," I said to him now that my exposed body wasn't so cold now. The man then pulled me out of the room, up a flight of stairs, down a long hallway, and into a parking garage. He led me to a black car waiting. The inside was luxurious as he started the car. I watched his concentration as he navigated through the traffic. Still my hands were shaking despite having the warm jacket. I was absolutely terrified for what was going to happen.

"Are you hungry?" The man asked me. I looked over, scared this was a trick. He gave me a look with a raised eyebrow. "Well, are you going to answer?" He asked me.

"Y-yeah," I said just above a whisper.

"Love, don't be so scared. Have I hurt you yet?" He asked me. I shook my head. "Have I yelled at you?" Again I gave him a no. "You have no reason to be frightened. I have given you no reason to. I'm stopping for lunch and you will stay in the car. Try anything and you will not like the consequences, you hear?" The man put a threatening tone on at the end. I quickly nodded. "I want a verbal answer," he demanded.

"Yes," I squealed out.

"Yes what?" The man pressed further.

"Yes, sir?" I didn't mean it to sound like a question but I was unsure. He gave me a nod so I assumed I was right.

We went through a drive thru and I had to fight the urge to ask for help. The man handed me a box of chicken nuggets and a large water. I quickly scarfed down half the box when he stopped me. "You're going to choke or make yourself sick if you keep doing that," he scolded me. "Besides, we were supposed to share these," the man sighed. I looked down and got self conscious suddenly. He let out another sigh and gave me the box back. "No, it's okay. I didn't mean it like that," he assured me. The look he gave me was kind now. He put the chicken nugget he was going to eat back in the box and gestured for me to eat. I went slower now but I was still starving. I couldn't remember the last time I had a hot meal.

The man seemed to understand how hungry I was because not fifteen minutes after I had finished he stopped at another drive thru, got another box and a side of fries. "Thank you," I mumbled to him as I went back to stuffing my face.

"You're welcome," he politely responded and ate the burger he got for himself. I relaxed once I was full and warm. The seats of the car felt like a cloud as I drifted off.