Chapter 7

Jamie

No amount of Hail Mary’s were going to save me from this nightmare I got myself into, I just knew it.

I was forced into a white nightie, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. I’m also sure I was touched inappropriately when they forced me into this getup, and it was enough to bring me to tears.

Those two men decided they were going to sell me to the highest bidder. As a slave? Virgin sacrifice? I seriously didn’t know what was going on here, or what is about to happen, but those horror movies I’ve watched are real.

After they blindfolded me and tied my wrists and ankles together, I felt a cloth drop over my whole body before one of them picked me up and placed me over his shoulder. It was so uncomfortable being lugged around like a rag doll, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I couldn’t scream or call for help, and they threatened me if I did anything to call for attention.

“I seriously don’t know how you could pull this off, mate,” I heard one of them say.

“Just pipe down and put her in there! It’s our slot next!” the other one said.

I felt hands move over my body, and suddenly I was tipped over and laid on my side. I felt the fabric unwrap me, and they took my gag and blindfold off, leaving the ropes tied around my wrists and ankles intact. I stared up at the both of them in absolute terror.

“P-please,” I begged. “Please let me go. I’ll do anything to pay for—,”

“Too late, little bird,” the man crooned, tilting my chin with his finger, his eyes lighting up maniacally. It was obvious he was already imagining the money he was going to make, and I could already imagine my horrific fate.

They backed away from me and slammed the door. It was only then I got a good look at where I was. They had locked me inside a huge bird cage with nothing but a red carpet inside. He took a huge cloth with a drawstring on top and swung it over the cage, leaving nothing but a small crack of light seeping through the bottom.

I felt a chill down my spine as the floor began to shake, and I felt the floor rise up. I placed my hands on the floor to keep myself from falling, and a minute later, the ground stopped shaking. My heart was pounding against my chest, and my breath was coming out in short pants and wheezes.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you tonight!” I heard someone say. “This is the last item up for grabs, and I guarantee you’ll want to spend every last cent in your account for this.”

The cloth suddenly pulled off the cage, and I swiftly shielded my eyes with my hands to keep the spotlight from blinding me. I heard gasps and shocked intakes of breath all around. I cracked my eyes open a little, peeking up to look at the crowd seated at various tables. I swear I recognized a few famous people, but the longer I stared, the more their faces began to blur.

My eyes soon adjusted to the light, and I noticed one or two people pointing, while a few covered their mouths and whispered to the person seated next to them. I was feeling more and more like a zoo animal by the second, and the harrowing lurch in the pits of my stomach intensified.

Come on, Jamie! Calm down! Think, dammit, think! I thought, snapping myself back.

“Behold, ladies and gents!” the man behind the panel said, waving his hands in front of the cage like he was a magician. He produced a long skeleton key from his pocket, and unlocked the cage, the door swinging open easily. He knelt down and took the other end of the rope that was tied around my wrist and yanked it hard, making me stumble forward.

I caught myself just in time, and crept out of the cage with my head bent low. The man tugged at the rope again, and I took another step beside him. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“What’s your name?”

I said nothing and just glared at him. He merely looked at me with mild amusement.

“Fine. Don’t tell me. I was just trying to be nice,” he said flippantly.

“The nice thing to do would be to let me out of here,” I snarled through clenched teeth. He laughed heartily at my response and stepped forward.

“It seems our prize has quite the gumption, my dear bidders!” he cried, eliciting a laugh from the audience. It only made me glare harder at them all. “I think any man would have a marvelous time breaking the spirit out of this mare.”

He swept his hand into my hair and lifted a strand like a specimen to be examined. “Just look at this wonderful auburn mane! Fiery locks to match her fiery personality! Such smooth and fair skin, absolutely flawless! And a face even Aphrodite would weep for!”

He grabbed my chin with his hand roughly, and I pulled away and spat in his face, hitting him right between the eyes. He shrieked and made a move to slap me, and I tilted my head up ready to take it. If he hurts me, then no one will bid, and I can get the hell out of here I thought.

He blinked and lowered his shaking hand, breathing through his nose to keep his anger in check. He pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket, and wiped at my spit before fixing me with a glare.

“Oh, I am going to enjoy making money off you,” he whispered dangerously. He turned to the audience and smiled. “The bidding starts at 100 thousand dollars! Who would like to start?!”