Page 29 of Burning Souls

A sharp prick of a needle is inserted into my arm, until my hands become less and less heavy, the same as my whole body. I'm sent to the pits of darkness again.

My eyes open slowly, still heavy. I’m in some sort of basement.

My hands are tied behind me. Fuck, panic sets in.

My eyes open fully, and I see Killian and Jessie standing beside each other.

“What the fuck? Get me out of here. Please, I have been good. Get me out of here!” I yell, trying to break free, but it’s no use. Killian comes over, kneeling to my height.

“Shh, come on, we wouldn’t hurt you, but the more you scream, the more likely they are to come down, and we all will be dead,” Killian says, wiping my face as tears form without me noticing.

“Okay, sorry, I just got scared,” I say in a faint voice. I’m not stupid enough to trust them. For all I know, they are in on all of this, but I need all the help I can get.

The worst that will happen is that I will die.

“It’s okay, baby, we just needed to get you alone. We need you to listen to what we’re going to say.” I nod, trying to stay still so the rope won’t rub against my skin and burn me.

“Okay,” I murmur, my voice slowly becoming less shaky. They both stand looking at me, leaning against what looks like a wooden shelf. I have never felt more on edge than I do at this very moment.

“We have a plan; we can get you out of here, but for that to happen, Jessie is going to claim you and outbid your current buyer,” Killian tells me as I try to collect my thoughts for a second. Who is my current bidder, and why do they know and I don't?

I’m yet to be sold or bid, but I have heard from the other girls that they must claim you in front of everyone when you are brought.

One reason they keep you a virgin. They let the men do whatever they want as long as they don’t take your virginity. Most of the men like to do anal or fuck you with other things.

My stomach turns at the thought of my first night here. He came into my room, shoved me face down, holding me as my pants were pulled down. My legs were spread wide open, and a heel was pushed inside me in and out for what felt like a lifetime.

I told him no. I screamed and kicked. I tried.

I fucking tried to get him off me but all it did was make him hold me down tighter and choke me harder. Saying no should have been enough, but it wasn’t even the bare minimum.

These men get off on us saying no. They want us to beg them to stop, beg them not to fuck us. All it does is make them do it harder.

There is one girl, Phoebe.

She is older than me and has been here longer. She’s known as the crystal. She’s worth more than anyone here.

She has been here so long that there isn’t anything left, not a single soul inside her. She doesn’t cry or scream when he comes into her room.

The numbness that consumes her would worry a normal person, but to me, Phoebe is doing the only thing possible in this place.

I’m not sure how long I have been in this place, but it’s been more than a week, maybe months or years. I have lost track of time. My father is nowhere to be seen.

Killian’s voice takes me back to reality.

Now that I think about it, this basement looks vaguely like the one I was in for weeks. This is the same basement I was kept in by that man. I wasn’t hurt, but it stopped me from having to go through the bidding.

I was never bought.

Everyone thinks the man who comes to visit me is the one who’s buying me, but I’m not so sure. I think he just paid to do whatever he wanted as long as he didn’t take my virginity before I was sold.

The thought that someone could buy me like I’m only worth some cash makes my skin crawl.

“I have been here before; in this basement, I was kept down here for what felt like weeks.”

They both look at me, confused and concerned; I’m not crazy. I remember being down here. Or do I? Am I just going crazy being in this place?

I wouldn’t be the first one. I haven’t stepped outside since I was kidnapped.

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