Chapter 3 Chapter Three

The beastman named Gavin had left me a change of clothes.

A short dress that stopped at my thigh. The back was open and the front had a large cut that ran down from the center of my chest until my midsection. The only thing that was decently covered right now was arms. But if I had to wear this, I would be better off naked.

“It's time to go, human.” A voice called out to me and I looked up when they pulled the doors open to reveal a beast with the head of a hog. A grotesque-looking creature with sharp tufts protruding from its mouth and a helmet sitting on top of its small head.

“You can’t possibly expect me to go out like this. I need new clothes.”

The beast man regarded me with a scrutinizing look. His beady eyes dragged slowly from the sole of my feet to the crown of my raven black hair before eventually coming back to my angry face. The corner of his lips tugged into a smirk.

“It fit, don it?”

“But-”

“No time. Boss’s here.” his sentences were short. Leaving no room for arguments. When he stepped closer I stepped back. “Move. Now.”

The vicious look in his eyes told me that if I made things difficult than they should be, he would drag me out of here by the hair if the need be. I gulped down my anger.

“Fine.” I huffed. Gathering whatever was left of my dignity I stepped past the beast with my head held high.

A decision I soon instantly regretted the second I stepped out of those doors.

The hallway was nothing like I’d imagined. I’d pictured dark, dank corridors with more cells like mine stretching endlessly, but instead, I was met with harsh fluorescent lights that burned my eyes after being held in near darkness for days.

But that wasn’t what made my stomach drop. It was the eyes that fixed on me. There were many other faces pressed against every window. Mostly women, but there were a few men too. And they were all watching me with expressions that ranged from pity to envy.

“Keep moving.” the Hog-man grunted, shoving me forward and I glared at him when I stumbled forward, barely catching myself.

“Fresh meat!” someone called from one of the cells, followed by cruel laughter. I hugged myself, painfully aware of how exposed I was.

“Look at her---somebody must be paying premium for that one.”

“The lucky bitch.”

My face burned. Lucky? Premium

We turned down another stretch of hall, thankfully, no more catcalls were coming from cells. Instead, I heard multiple voices mixed with the clicking of glasses undercasual conversations.

The Hog-man suddenly grabbed my arm. “What the--”

“You behave,” he growled. “No crying. No begging. Smile pretty for the boss and maybe he goes easy on the pet.”

"I’m not anyone’s pet--”

He backhanded me. The blow wasn’t hard enough to knock me down, but it snapped my head to the side and brought the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth.

“I said behave,” He leaned in close, his breath reeking of sewage. I was forced to swallow my rage, once again reminded of how weak I was. I gave him a nod.

“Good girl.”, he said then shoved me through a set of double doors.

“Ah, there she is!” A voice in the crowd suddenly rose up.

My skin prickled at the many eyes that fell upon me now. All eager to catch a glimpse of the 'merchandise'.

The room beyond the doors was very different from the one I'd just come out of. Plush seating areas surrounded the raised platform at one end. There were already half a dozen beastfolk, human men and women all dressed in fantasy attire, lounging in the chairs, drinks in one hand, talking among themselves. I was disgusted to see how reclusive they all were about what was happening behind those double doors.

I scanned the place, hoping to find at least one face I could recognize, to tell them this was all some kind of misunderstanding, but they all had on masquerade masks that covered their faces.

Did they think that was enough to cover their sins? This wasn't right.

But out of the many masked faces that stared at me now, only one stood out in the crowd.

There was a man in the far corner. His mask was different. Black with gold etched into it. And while everyone lounged, he sat perfectly still, watching.

Watching me.

“My, my! Even better than the photos!”

The spell broke when a portly man waddled towards me, arms spread. He was short, round in the middle, and dressed in an expensive suit that strained at the button.

“Lot fifty-eight he read from a card in his pudgy hand, then looked up, his eyes were dark beneath that gold mask that was studded with gems that looked fake. “Crystal Noir. Oh yes, the photos didn’t do you justice, my dear.”

Photos?

He circled me slowly, appraising me like a piece of meat. He hadn’t touched me yet, but I felt every inch of my skin burn from his disgusting gaze.

“Turn around.," he ordered.

I didn’t move.

“I said turn around, girl.” His voice hardened. “Let me see what has been paid for.”

“I’m not--” I started, but the hog-man grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.

“Yes, Yes. Excellent proportions.” He hummed with approval. He stepped closer, reaching out to tilt my chin up with thick fingers. “I’ll enjoy you.”

I jerked my face away from his touch.

When he laughed there was a snort at the end. “She’s perfect. Worth every bill.”

“You’re a lucky man .” Someone in the crowd said and the others laughed. But my curiosity had been drawn by someone else.

I looked past him, curious about the man I’d made eye contact with, maybe he was someone I knew, or someone who knew me, but he was already gone.

“Pay attention when I’m speaking to you!” The man before me grabbed my jaw and I winced. "You belong to me now,” He hissed, his cheerful facade cracking to show the real monster underneath. “And you’re going to learn very quickly what happens to pets who don’t listen.”

“I’m not your pet.” I spat.

“You will be.” his grin returned. “They all break eventually. Come along pet!” The collector grabbed my arm. “Let’s go home.”