The prison hall was filled with cries of girls who had already lost hope. The air smelled of sweat and fear.
Eliana held Diane close inside the cage. Her body still ached from the flogging, but she didn't care. Diane's small fingers were wrapped tightly around her dress.
"I'm scared," Diane whispered.
"I know," Eliana breathed. "Don't look at them. Just look at me."
Heavy footsteps approached. The cage door screeched open.
"Up!" a guard barked. He slightly opened the cage dragging Diane out roughly.
"No!" Eliana screamed, lunging forward. "Don't hurt my sister!"
The guards laughed.
"Well, well," one of them said. "Two sisters in the market on the same day. That's rare."
They dragged Diane out, chains locking around her wrists and ankles. She stumbled, nearly falling, too weak to stand straight.
"Eliana!" Diane cried.
Eliana tried to fight, but another guard caught her by the arm. Cold iron snapped around her wrists. Her ankles were chained too.
"You scream too much," the guard muttered.
"They're just girls," another one said with a grin. "noisy bees, makes tonight more interesting."
Eliana's heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear anything else.
They were pulled toward a dim hallway behind the auction stage. Inside, rows of girls stood trembling, while some already got used to the life they were forced to live here.
Buckets of water were thrown onto the floor. Guards tossed damp cloths at them.
"Clean yourselves," one ordered. "You'll face buyers soon."
Eliana knelt beside Diane, using the wet cloth to gently wipe the dried blood from her sister's arms.
"It hurts," Diane whispered.
"I know," Eliana said softly, her hands shaking. "Just a little longer. Stay strong.we'll get out of here, I promise"
Footsteps approached them, but it wasn't a guard. It was another girl.
She looked about same age as Eliana, maybe nineteen. Thin. Quiet eyes. Tired in a way that made Eliana's chest tighten.
The girl held out a small metal cup filled with water.
"Drink," she said softly. "You'll need strength tonight."
Eliana hesitated only for a second before taking it. "Thank you," she whispered.
But instead of drinking, she lifted the cup to Diane's lips.
"Slowly," she told her sister.
The older girl watched them, something unreadable in her eyes.
"You're new," she said.
Eliana nodded.
"There's only one way out of here," the girl continued quietly. "Pray someone buys you."
Eliana's heart skipped.
"And when they take you home," the girl added, lowering her voice even more, "you run. First chance you get. You don't look back."
Diane clutched Eliana's hand tighter.
"What about you?" Eliana asked softly.
A sad smile touched the girl's lips.
"We've been here two years," she said. "No buyer has ever showed interest in us."
Two years.
The words felt heavier than chains.
Before Eliana could respond, the door burst open.
A guard stepped in.
"Line up!" he shouted. "Now!"
The older girl stepped back quickly, disappearing into the row of trembling bodies as if she had never spoken.
They were given thin, revealing garments, some dressed in BDSM kits, Eliana stripped herself a little naked, covering her sister with the pieces of her clothes.
Chains clinked as the girls were lined up.
One by one. Hands bound. Eyes lowered.
The hall doors opened. Bright lights flooded in, music fills the air.
Men filled the room. Rich. Powerful. Watching.
Eliana swallowed hard and squeezed Diane's hand.
"I'm here," she whispered. "No matter what happens… I'm here."
A voice boomed across the hall.
"Welcome, gentlemen. Tonight, we present rare offerings…"
The first girl was pushed forward. Men started bidding and highest bidder was offered the girl.
"Eliana," Diane whispered, barely audible
.
"Yes?"
"Don't let them take me."
Eliana's throat closed. She had promised.
But promises looks fragile in a place where girls were sold.
The hall grew quiet when it got to her turn, she was pushed forward, forced to spin round so the men could see.
The chain on her wrists tightened as she was dragged forward into the light. The brightness burned her eyes. Faces blurred in front of her, men seated in velvet chairs, watching like they were choosing livestock.
Her heart pounded so loud she could barely hear the auctioneer's voice.
"Strong build. Defiant spirit. Rare."
Murmurs spread across the room.
Eliana searched for Diane with her eyes. She found her small, shaking, held between two guards at the back of the line.
"Don't touch her!" Eliana shouted suddenly. "Please! Don't hurt my sister!"
Laughter rippled through the hall.
Then the bidding started.
Numbers flew back and forth. Higher and higher.
Until the room fell silent.
A man in the front row lifted one gloved hand.
He hadn't spoken all night. He was dressed in complete black. Calm. Still.
Power sat on him like a crown.
"Sold," the auctioneer announced sharply.
The sound echoed like a death sentence.
Eliana's knees nearly gave way.
She looked at the man.
He did not look back.
Two guards stepped forward, unlocking her chain from the line.
"No. .. wait!" Eliana cried, twisting violently.
"Please! Please take my sister with me too! I'll do anything! She's just a child! Don't leave her here!"
Her voice broke.
The man stood Tall, controlled and unmoved and for a split second she thought he would turn but he didn't.
"Please!" she screamed again as they dragged her backward. "I'm begging you! Let her come with me! I'll work! I'll obey! Just don't leave her!"
Still nothing.
He adjusted his cuff slowly, as if she were nothing more than noise.
"I purchased one," he said finally, his voice low, cold, detached. "Not two."
"No… no, please…"
Diane was crying now, reaching for her.
"Eliana! Don't go! Don't leave me!"
"I'm not leaving!" Eliana screamed, fighting against the guards. "I'm not leaving you! I promised! I'll find you....."
But promises meant nothing in a place built on money.
The chains were removed from her wrists, only to be replaced by a tighter grip.
She was pulled away. Farther from the audition hall and the last thing she saw was Diane collapsing to her knees, small hands stretched toward her.
"Eliana!"
The doors shut between them.