Chapter 2 Where is Marvel?

The hell we were shoved into wasn't as ugly as the acts they were performing in it.

These wolves were rich and could afford to buy a big museum for their illicit business.

I shivered at the thought, I was now merchandise that would make them richer.

“Look alive girls,” The tallest of them yelled, “your miserable lives are about to be given a purpose. You were born to serve your superiors and we're going to find you your master today!”

I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood. I wanted to scream at them, to tell them that nature made us all equal and we all were born with equal rights but even I didn't believe that anymore.

I'd read it in one of my father's books, something that now sounded like a faraway fantasy.

Werewolves were stronger, prettier and they even mated for life.

There's nothing equal about us, they always found ways to make that clear.

Five of them broke out from the rest with guns in their hands, they didn't need them, but fear was their preferred tactic.

And it was working.

“Everyone, form a straight line,” one of them with his hair dyed blue said, “there are bathrooms up ahead. You'll shower quickly and put on the clothes that'll be waiting outside for you –”

“Jaden, get them ready quickly, we have less than an hour to get out of here!” Their leader barked.

“You heard the boss man, move your asses!”

We didn't need to be told twice.

It's when I'd finished showering with the tiny bar soap that I remembered I was supposed to be looking for a way to escape.

The bathroom was tight, and there was no window.

The only way out was through that door and the second I walk out of it, it's straight to the auction room.

Oh my god, who am I kidding?

I'm probably going to die out here, Marvel might even still pass through this same route to death and nothing would happen.

The only hope any of us had was the rogue Alpha coming to save us and even that sounded so impossible that I didn't bother hoping for it.

There were tens of these raids every night and he couldn't rescue everyone.

The main door clanged open and they began yelling, “Everybody out! I don't care if you still have soap in your hair, come out right now!”

Their voices sent fear through everyone's systems and soon, doors were opening.

So I decided to not die too soon and did as everyone else did.

I've learned early on in life that stubbornness with these animals only sends you to death's door.

My father didn't live to tell the tale.

Immediately I stepped out, I picked the dress and put it on.

Dress is a crazy word for this piece of underwear but let's go with it, it's not like I can magically change anything.

They herded us out, yelling and prodding us forward.

The red-haired girl was in front of me again and I realised she was shaking.

I recognised that, her nervous system had had enough and was staging a protest so I did the only thing I could think of – I placed my hand on her shoulder as we walked into the dark room.

“Thank you,” she whispered and I nodded even though she couldn't see me.

They didn't care that we couldn't see or maybe it was intentional but we were hitting our feet on random objects on the floor until everyone before me stopped.

Did they hit a wall?

The sniffling, crying and coughing made me know where everyone was.

Suddenly a light switched on at the centre.

“The bidding is about to begin, My Lords. We'll get this done as fast as possible.”

Then they pushed the first girl to the spotlight.

She was wearing a golden, shimmery dress with a single strap and the dress stopped short before her thighs.

She clearly felt uncomfortable as she kept trying to pull it down to cover her ass cheeks while also trying not to cry.

“Bidding starts at five drums of ley gel!”

My eyes widened, they weren't even selling us for physical cash, but for the bright, shiny blue and toxic stream that surrounded every part of our lives.

One day we were all having a normal life as humans oblivious of the beasts that were hidden from us and the next, the ley lines appeared.

They were said to hold so many benefits but only when experimented with, raw and undiluted, it was slowly killing us all as we were constantly exposed to it.

The girl's cough was a sign and I heard one of the wolves growl in irritation.

Nobody wants to buy a sick girl.

“Four drums? We'll take three, she's good for at least a year of draining!”

Movements from opposite where she was standing made everyone pause.

And boom, lights flooded the entire hall.

Turns out we were in the centre of the museum and literal works of expensive art hung around us but that's not what had my eyes widening.

Chaos ruled in the wake of the new arrivals.

I didn't even get a chance to see the vampires before they disappeared, doors and windows slamming shut in the wake of their exit.

Growls filled the large hall and I saw him, the rogue Alpha.

You'd know he's the one from how huge his wolf was, black as night with green orbs for eyes.

And they found mine and for some reason, the world stood still.

A scream by a girl broke the weird spell and a fight broke out immediately.

The wolves that kidnapped us versus the rogue Alpha and his band of rogue heroes.

What are the odds?

I swung into action, not wanting to wait to find out which side would win. Besides, who knows if he'll decide to keep us for himself? I've never heard anything of such about him but paranoia is sort of a normal thing in this world.

I pushed the redhead forward and she tapped the other girls and we got moving.

Snarls rang out, screams and cracking of bones filled the night but I kept my gaze locked on that door.

We soon made it out of the large door and then the question of how to get out of here without getting kidnapped again stilled our feet.

“Does anyone know how to drive?” The girl who was about to be sold off for three drums of ley gel asked, her voice shaky.

We all shook our heads.

Almost immediately, the noise stopped and footsteps made us all turn, our heart rates increasing erratically.

One of the men came out and took a good look at us.

“We apologise for this, our kind is usually less… corrupt. Where were you all picked from?”

“District 8,” I answered.

He nodded at me.

“I'll drop you all off. Get into the bus.”

I thought about it but then realised thinking will only make me scared with no solutions.

We didn't have any choice.

The ride back wasn't as long as the one that got us there and the relief when we were all being dropped at our gates was palpable.

When I got down, I was already picturing how shocked and terrified Marvel would be when I tell her what happened tonight.

But then I got into our one-bedroom apartment and the first thing I noticed with just one glance at the small space was that Marvel was not home.

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