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“Come on, ladies. I don’t have all day,” he says as he ushers us down the hall.
Much the same as the day before, we are led to the large showers, and each girl steps in without a word and begins to bathe. The lack of care in what they're doing, the vacant, emotionless faces, are more terrifying than anything. How long have they done this, day in and day out?
The men watching us seem to rotate, but other than a few sideway lusty glances, they give no attention to us and again it makes me wonder. I suppose anything that is a routine long enough can become normal.
Morbid as it is, I find myself pondering over what specific fear motivates the girls. Between yesterday's forced photoshoot, the doctor, and the threats from Eli, much less the manacles on my wrists, I can only imagine what other things these women are threatened with.
I pause at the edge of the shower and look down at the chains. I look over at the man leading us who is already watching me. He sees where I glance and shakes his head.
“They stay on,” is all he says before nodding toward the shower.
Swallowing, I step forward and move as far back into the room as I can before grabbing a sliver of soap. No different than the rest, I wash as quickly and quietly as I can.
When we’re led to the makeup room once again, I feel icy fear course through my veins harder than before. I don’t want to make myself pretty for these people. Eli’s words from the day before come back to me.
“I can’t wait to see you on auction; you will despise it and I will revel in your misery.”
I was so terrified in general that I don’t think those words really registered until now. I watch as the girls move around the room to their places and begin to paint their faces.People can’tsellother people!a voice in my head screams, drowned out by an infinitely more logical one.
You’ve been kidnapped, stupid. Of course they can sell you. They can do whatever they want with you.
I don’t realize I’m just standing there, until I feel a hand touch my arm and I jerk back before looking into the brown eyes of that kind girl.
“Come,” she says quietly, darting a glance to the man who I now realize is standing behind me. She shakes her head at him and leads me to one of the spots, lifting up the heavy chains and my hands so they’re resting on the desk like someone who knows the inconvenience of confinement.
“Let me do your hair, it's hard with those,” she tells me, pulling out an old blow dryer that looks like something you’d find in a seventies motel room. Without another word, she turns it on and starts brushing out my long strands. Despite the situation, I find it soothing, and relax slightly as she dries my entire head.
“Lovely color,” she says quietly, lifting up a strand. “Suits you.”
I give her a small smile which she returns. In the mirror, I see the guard pull out a phone and say something into it before darting a glance at us, and stepping out. The girl must see me watching him, see something in my face, because she leans forward to my ear.
“They won’t be gone long, but if we’re quiet, they can’t hear us.” She pulls back to look into my eyes, seeking confirmation. I nod shortly, and she smiles, pulling her seat up to me. A few of the other girls look at us, but hurry back to their own makeup.
“I’m Jaime,” she says in a low voice.
“Kinsey,” I reply. “Where are we?”
Jaime shakes her head. “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. You work for the Iron Elite now, you know that?”
I try to nod but instead, feel my lip quiver and a tear springs free. Jaime tilts her head, bringing a hand up to wipe the tear.
“None of that now,” she says firmly. “Listen, this place is a few things and all you need to know is that if you listen and stay quiet, you'll do fine. It's an in-between spot for some girls, home for others. A place where they’re groomed, brought into the life before they’re brought elsewhere.”
She pauses a moment and looks at my face. I’m sure unadulterated horror is plastered there, but she must be used to it because she continues.
“Now, I work here all the time, usually in the general brothel, but sometimes for individual masters. It…it isn’t so bad, when you get used to it.” She shrugs, but the look in her eyes speaks a different story. “Did they say why you’re here yet?”
Her words wash over me and the situation begins to sink in. The matter-of-fact way with which she discusses it makes me actually dizzy and I see spots in front of my eyes.
I want to say, “I’m here to be auctioned,” but my mouth dries up and the words float aimlessly around my mind.
Hearing Eli say it, seemed abstract and unreal. Hearing Jaime say it, a girl who could have been a friend, classmate, or coworker to me in another life, is another thing entirely.
“Kinsey?Kinsey!” I hear her say my name but it sounds distant, and a worried expression on her face hovers in front of my eyes. I hear shouts and then everything goes dark.
* * *
“Wake up, my silver Vixen.”An unpleasant voice brings me back to consciousness. My eyes shoot open to look up into Eli’s dark eyes, watching me with a smile on his face. I’m back in my room, naked and shivering.
