Page 63 of The Caged Girl

Bradley took my hand, and a door opened on the rooftop we had landed on. A man and a woman appeared.

“Hello, Mrs. Ivory.” An older woman with bright white, slicked-back hair eyed me carefully. The man was wearing a neatly pressed white butler-styled suit and pursed his lips at Bradley’s hand that was clutching mine. He immediately released it.

“We decided to get the baby birds as requested by Mr. Ivory to prevent you having to go out into the field to find them.”

Baby birds?I swallowed as my throat grew dry.

“Come this way.” The woman directed us through a door and down a narrow set of metal stairs. We were all wearing the same platform shoes that emitted no noise against the otherwise cool steel.

I gripped the banister tightly as we paused in front of a second door. “Usually, we use Alister’s dark therapy, but because he wants you to analyze each bird before selecting them, we’ve chosen to go with the white therapy route for this batch.” The man with piercing green eyes winked at me.

“A word with Mrs. Ivory in private please? We will be right behind you.” Bradley nodded the older couple off, and they stopped and turned away to exit the room. The door silently slid shut as I walked to the wall and pressed my back against it.

“Bradley…” I scratched my neck.

“Demi, listen to me. You cannot crack. We have to select the inventory, and they’ll be shipped back to Ivory Island. If you do anything that is even slightly alarming, then Ian and Daphne will report you.”

“Did you just say Ian and Daphne?” Fear slammed throughout my body as I looked at him with terror.

“Demi, every older couple that works for the Ivory family are now called Ian and Daphne in memory of…”

Cringing, I rubbed my arms. “This is all…insanity,” I whispered.

“I need you to choose four birds based on this.” He handed me a form, composed of four lists.

The first one read: Male, brunette, prefer blue over other colored eyes. Will accept hazel. No scars, visual birthmarks. No obesity permitted. Please make sure he is extremely good-looking. Check teeth. No health concerns. $550,000 paid in full.

“Bradley, what is this?” My heart was beating violently against my chest as I scanned the rest, including requests for two females.

“Alister Ivory runs an all-inclusive resort for the one-percenters, Demi. Your husband owns the first and only resort that quite literally provides anything and everything their heart desires, which would otherwise take too much time or would be shunned. Fantasies and families…that is what he specializes in.” Bradley typed a code on the keypad.

“The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get back home and move on with our lives.”

I bit back a laugh.Home? Life?We walked through the door, and I immediately shielded my eyes. The light was far too bright and bounced off the stark white walls and floor.

The massive space was cut into small, opaque, cage-like boxes. “I think this one will fit the bill for the small female bird requested by Mr. Ivory.” The woman called Daphne pointed and scanned a badge against the door. I brushed my dress and as soon as the door slid open, my eyes widened.

“Oh my…” Bradley pinched me. I winced and immediately composed myself. A little child was sleeping on a small white cot, wearing a white gown. Their head was shaved, leaving a short layer to be able to identify their hair color.

Deep down, I hoped this was some child found on a street and needing a home.

“We were able to find her. She needs a new home. One with love and safety.” Daphne said calmly. “She’ll need some time in either the dark or light therapy program if they want a more obedient child. She did bite when we first got her…”

“Found her?” I looked at the little girl who was staring at a small bowl of white rice and plain yogurt. The two meal items I asked for when I was found in the ocean, knowing it was the only way they’d believe I would also obey and that I could be brainwashed. I knew as soon as I saw the two people in the ocean with their blonde hair and green eyes that they worked for the Ivory family.

“Well, the baby bird’s mother was too busy drinking and left her unattended. Honestly, we saved her. These parents don’t understand that children are meant to be protected from monsters.” Daphne smiled as I moved forward and looked at the small tag attached to the child’s gown.

“She’s going to miss her family,” I whispered as I read the date of birth, weight, and height. “Isn’t her mother looking for her?” I looked at Bradley, who immediately shook his head.

“Of course, she is. But the child will be far happier with the couple Mr. Ivory has chosen. Why not place these children with wealthy families who can provide organic meals and private schools?”

I thought my sister was being forced to give birth to provide babies for a few wealthy resort visitors. Why take these children?

“We will take her. I think she fits what the Matthews were seeking.” Bradley walked away to the next, and as soon as the door opened, a shriek echoed.

“Mama!” a little voice screamed. I ran over and pushed Bradley out of the way.

It was a little boy.

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