Page 17 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

The concrete felt like ice under my bare feet, but I trudged up along with the other women. Mary stuck close by my side all the way.

"What is this place?" she whispered. "I was expecting an abandoned warehouse, but this feels…"

"Not abandoned?" I suggested. We were clearly in a city, but I could only guess at which one. If I had to, I'd bet on Melbourne. At this time of year, Brisbane would have been hotter. The two journeys in the truck were too long, too far for to only be in Sydney. Unless we were driving around in heavy city traffic. That didn’t seem likely. The outer fringes of Melbourne were a much safer bet.

"Maybe they use this place a lot for… Things like this," she said. "We're not the first."

We were definitelynotthe first, but she was so sweet and naïve, it clearly hadn't occurred to her until now this operation was something ongoing. Something much bigger than any of us.

All I could say in response to that was, "No. We aren't." I glanced at her to suggest we should stop talking. I didn't want to draw the attention of Brutus or any of the others. If I was going to get out of this, I needed to stay under the radar.

Luckily, she got the message and fell silent.

We passed two landings before the stairs stopped at a third. The door was open. Hades stood in the doorway.

"It's good to see you again, girls," he said with a smile that was more menacing than warm. Especially when his gaze lingered on me. "Come with me."

I missed neither the innuendo nor the wink he directed at me. At any other time, and any other place and context, I would have responded with, "in your dreams." Here and now, I kept my mouth shut and followed as he moved out of the doorway and across a carpeted room.

Along one end of the room was a stage, approximately up to my waist. The rest of the room was filled with chairs, all of them currently empty. It didn't take a genius to figure out what this room was intended for. We'd be paraded on the stage for the viewing and bidding pleasure of those who would be seated comfortably.

Assholes.

"Step up to the stage and through the backstage," Hades directed. "There you'll find showers and a change of…clothes." He chuckled.

I started up the steps, hoping to find a door that led out. Or a window with a fire escape. Or…something.

The backstage area consisted of a long table which spanned the wall. Across the wall, several mirrors hung. Chairs sat in front of each, so people could sit and apply make-up. At the end of the room was another door that led into a bathroom. I made out several showers and a couple of toilets.

The top of the table was covered with piles of bras and panties, each lacy and sheer.

Change of clothes my ass. I should have guessed that was what he meant. Of course buyers would want to see what they were getting before they placed any bids.

I spied one heavy door that led out of the dressing room, but it appeared locked. I was going to have to wait and try to figure out a way to get the fuck out. I was patient. I could bide my time a little longer.

Wrinkling my nose, I chose a black bra and panty set that should fit and hurried into the relative safety of the shower. There were no doors, but none of the men followed us in. They must have felt secure that we had nowhere to go.

Like I had in the big shed, I showered in about a minute flat and dried myself on one of the towels that hung off hooks on the wall. I wriggled into the bra and G string and glanced at my reflection in a mirror that was quickly becoming steamed up.

Hunter and Parker would have loved what I was wearing. The lace was so sheer it was practically transparent. My pussy and nipples were clearly visible through the silk.

"That looks good on you." Hades looked me up and down and grinned. "There's hairdryers, hairbrushes and make-up over there." He waved in the direction of the long table. "Go and make yourself extra hot. And before you—" he directed the statement toward all of the women "—think that making yourselves look messy will mean that you avoid being sold, think again. Firstly, we'll make you wash it off. Secondly, the better you look, the better quality buyer you'll attract. Trust me, you don't want to attract the cheapskates. Unless you want to end up with someone like Brutus over there." He nodded towards the other guy.

Brutus flipped him off, but grinned. "I don't mind taking the leftovers. If they've got a pussy and like to cry, they're exactly my type." He leered at Danica.

She looked back at him with a devastated expression on her face. She was clearly terrified exactly that might happen.

I didn't blame her for being scared. Life with Brutus would be short and brutal.

"You're such a ladies man," Hades teased. He gave Brutus a nod before heading towards the doorway and back down the stairs.

"I really am, aren't I?" Brutus eyed Danica again. He laughed when she shrank away from him. "Where do you think you're going?" He stepped over towards her slowly, like a lion stalking his prey. "I might as well make you dirty before you get clean."

She whimpered. And again, when he grabbed her hair and pushed her down to her knees.

"Don't," Mary said, surprising me and herself. "Leave her alone." She lunged towards him, hands in fists in front of her.

"Mouthy bitch." Brutus raised his gun and fired a single shot into Mary's stomach.

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