How did I get here?
Emily looked around, her mind in complete chaos.
The dark basement, the sobbing girls around her, the guards outside the cell. Everything was strange and terrifying, filling her with panic.
She felt some pain in her nose. Reaching up to touch it, she felt dried blood.
That blood made her suddenly remember what had happened to her.
This afternoon after school, she left as usual, walking back to her home in the East Borough.
As she passed by a small alley, several rough men suddenly rushed in from both sides, surrounding her.
They grabbed her, forcibly hoisted her up, and coerced her into a carriage.
Emily refused to be captured and struggled like mad, causing great interference for the men.
She even seized an opportunity to bite one of them hard. The man bled from the injury and flew into a rage, slapping her across the face so hard her nose bled and she lost consciousness, until now when she woke up.
I've been kidnapped!
Emily realized her situation and scrambled to her feet.
She rushed to the iron bars and found the cell door locked tight.
The gloomy corridor extended into the depths, with similar cells on both sides, imprisoning who knew how many people.
"Bitch, you're awake?!"
A crude, brutal voice sounded nearby. Emily looked up toward the sound and saw a fierce-looking man.
He wore a flat cap with a cheap vest over his upper body. The bandage wrapped around his palm was seeping with bloodstains, and his gaze toward Emily was full of disgust.
Emily unconsciously pressed her lips together.
She recognized him. This man was the kidnapper she had bitten.
"What, scared now?"
The man showed an inferior smile, baring yellowed teeth.
Fear rapidly accumulated in Emily's heart.
Her small body trembled, yet she still tried hard to widen her eyes and glare at him defiantly.
Her father's instructions surged up in her heart once again. She absolutely would not show a weak attitude to her enemies!
"Bitch, dare to look down on me!"
The man was enraged by her stare and kicked the iron bars viciously.
"Clang!"
"Ah!"
A huge noise immediately echoed through the basement.
The girls screamed in fear and shrank into corners, trembling. Emily fell to the ground but bit her lip tightly, refusing to show even a hint of timidity.
By now, she understood her situation.
Missing girls were a frequent occurrence in the East Borough.
People passed around rumors that they were captured by human traffickers and sold to brothels. Now, those rumors had finally been confirmed by her own experience.
Why is this happening!
Unwillingness and despair filled her heart.
Just a few more years of perseverance and she could have left the East Borough... Oh gods, when I saw hope, why must you cruelly give me despair in this way?
"I'll teach you to be cocky..."
The man was furious. He reached out to unlock the door. He was going to go in there and use his fists to properly teach this bold little girl a lesson!
"Creak..."
Just then, the heavy door at the top of the basement stairs was pushed open.
Bright lamplight poured down the corridor, stretching someone's shadow long. It was a male servant, backlit, looking down.
"What the hell are you doing?"
The servant said.
"Disciplining a girl who doesn't know the rules."
The man answered.
"Don't mess around."
The servant warned. "The Deputy Chief of Police is here. You know his preferences.
Pick him a disobedient girl."
With that, the door closed with a creak.
"Damn it..."
The man cursed under his breath at being interrupted, but soon he thought of something and became excited again, smiling at Emily.
"Bitch, you're in luck. Let that deputy chief dote on you. He loves using his whip to discipline stubborn little things like you."
With that, he reached out his filthy hand and grabbed at the girl's collar.
"No, let me go!"
Emily screamed, struggling and fighting with all her might.
She tried to bite him again using the same trick, but he anticipated it and dodged. She was forcibly dragged out of the cell and stumbled up the stairs.
Beyond that heavy door was a bright and glamorous world.
The marble floor was bright and spacious, reflecting the ceiling lights like a mirror.
The lavishly decorated hall was brilliantly lit, with numerous guests gathered together. They were well-dressed, laughing and talking, freely enjoying this beautiful moment.
Emily's eyes widened in terror.
In stark contrast to these guests' privileged treatment, the magnificent hall was also filled with many girls her age.
They were forced to expose their bodies, providing various services to the guests. It was cruel treatment Emily had never imagined in her life.
The girls screamed and cried bitterly, with none of the dignity humans should have, like livestock being casually toyed with.
"Scared now?"
The man laughed lewdly in her ear. "You're in for it soon..."
He dragged Emily through the crowd to a slightly portly middle-aged man.
"Boss."
He said respectfully.
This person was the master of this villa, named Capim. In public, he was a wealthy tycoon. In reality though, he secretly ran a human trafficking business.
"Call me Mr. Capim."
The middle-aged man wore a bow tie, dressed up properly. Hearing his subordinate's address, he was slightly displeased.
"Soon that title will change to Sir."
He turned his gaze to Emily and, under her glare, nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad, very much in line with that person's preferences."
With that, he waved his hand, signaling his subordinate to send the girl over.
Emily was dragged away again, brought to the center of the hall. There, the sofas, wine tables, and other items appeared very high-end.
A fat man was waiting on the sofa.
"Chief, this little bitch will definitely satisfy your requirements." Capim's subordinate obsequiously showed the man his wound.
"Look, she's quite fierce. She bit me like this."
"Oh, interesting. Leave her for now."
The man sat in the sofa, stroking his thick chin, his sticky gaze sweeping over Emily's body.
He was extremely obese. Even the large, high-quality sofa couldn't contain all that fat, as if it would overflow from the gaps.
A servant stood behind him, holding a long whip that gleamed under the gorgeous chandelier overhead.
Emily was released by the man and stood before the obese chief.
She froze for a second before reacting, then immediately turned and ran toward the door without hesitation!
"Whip her."
The chief said with great interest.
"Crack!"
The servant's whip shot out like a snake, viciously lashing Emily's small back with a crisp, cruel sound.
"Ah!"
Emily screamed and fell to the ground.
Her clothes were also torn by the whip, exposing her tender back where a bright red welt had appeared, frightening to behold.
"Does it hurt?"
The chief asked with a grin.
Emily got up from the ground. The intense pain made tears well up in her eyes.
Can't cry!
Can't be afraid!
If I'm afraid or cry, it'll be exactly what they want. I'll have lost!
She glared at him with angry eyes, biting her trembling lip with her teeth.
I want to leave the East Borough. I want to live a decent life. I refuse to be toyed with as a slave in this place...
"Again."
Seeing the girl's reaction, the chief's nostrils flared slightly as he breathed heavily.
"Crack!"
Another lash fell and Emily collapsed, unable to withstand it.
"Continue, don't stop!"
The chief shouted.
The whip kept falling. Emily's consciousness gradually became fuzzy. In her daze, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't finished today's homework yet...
Those math problems, I didn't understand them... It would be nice if Anderson could teach me.
In her daze, she seemed to see a familiar face appearing before her.