Page 31 of Burning Souls

“I’m sorry,” he whispers against me, taking a cloth in the water and wiping it over my back to clean off the man’s cum. His favourite thing to do is to get off on me being held down as he finishes on me.

I never complain.

I'd rather he did that than stick stuff up, leaving me feeling more pain than I already do.

“I know…” I whisper to him as he takes the showerhead, drenching my hair. He takes the shampoo, lathers it up, and then applies conditioner.

Tonight is the night of the bid, and I can't escape this one.

Jessie has to have more money than anyone, and that won't be a problem.

I’m carried back to my room, where a lilac dress and a bag of makeup are laid on my bed.

I leave my hair to dry naturally, as they are not going to let us use a hair dryer.

My legs cross on the bed as I open the bag of makeup I was given. I take the mini eyeshadow palette and open it, looking in the mirror to see dark circles and no life in my face.

I apply a brown eyeshadow to my eyes, finishing with a pearl shimmer in the middle. I use a light base of makeup.

When I finish, I take my handsand scrunch my hair to make my natural curls more defined.

This is the first time in years I have dressed up or felt like a human.

Killian comes toward my room, leaving the door open as he is ordered. I drop my towel and pick up the dress. I start stepping into it as Killian zips me up and passes me a pair of heels.

The same heels I was made to take.

I hesitate to take them off him, but when I do, I throw them on the floor. I put them on, trying to forget the memories that haunt me.

“I didn't have a choice.” I grow angry; he did have a choice; everyone has one, and he just chose the wrong one.

“Are you sure about that? You did have a choice.” I snarl at him, crossing my arms. Now is not the time for me to get worked up.

“Ash, now isn't the time for this.” I roll my eyes as he speaks.

“When is the time? I have been here for years and done any and everything I was asked of, and you come in here and make me wear the same shoes that man assaulted me with when I was sixteen.” I sense tears rolling down my cheek, and I try to stop them from ruining my makeup. Killian walks out of the room. What a surprise.

I never should've trusted him; I have ruined any chance of getting out of here.

The crowd behind the door is louder than I suspected it would be.

Then I didn't know what I was hoping for. It's a room full of men who are about to bid on helpless women. I bet most of them have wives and children waiting for them at home. The thought makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Two men open the two black double doors. The girls and I walk in a line through the crowd, down the middle, and onto the stage. The men look at every inch of our bodies, up and down, grinning at us while we are put into our spaces on the stage.

Jessie stands in the middle, off to the left, not making eye contact with me. My heartbeat pulses, sweat beads from my upper lip, and heat rises over my body, making me sweat from the look on Jesse's face. I’m not sure if I should feel good about this or try to run away.

That would make my life more of a living hell than it already is.

The men are kept away from us, as you can now only touch us when we are picked. Anyone who isn't picked is deemed unusable, so they won't make it through the night. I suspect most people who get chosen won't make it through the night either.

The only person who isn’t here is Phoebe. She's already gotten her buyer; she just isn’t ready to be taken yet. My father is trying to get more money for her than he already has.

I’m told to step forward by the man speaking into the microphone.

“This is Ash, twenty-eight, 5 ft 4, in perfect condition. Bidding is now open.”

I wait for Jessie to put something up, but he stays silent, still not looking at me.

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