Chapter 4: Sold

“RUN AVA!” An adrenaline rush through me as I took to my heels. Dashing through the bush barefooted.

“ No! This way!” Jennifer screamed and I ran after her in the direction she pointed.

I groan as I stumble over. I got up and kept running, following Jennifer’s lead.

I panted heavily and kept running. My legs wobbled but I kept going. I have to escape. I have to survive. Not just for me but for my freedom, for Leah, and Jennifer.

“ come on, Ava. There is an express-way ahead of us!” Jennifer's voice fell on my ear and energy from nowhere entered my body. I can't give up now. Not now that I am close to escaping this hell. Even if my body is ready to give up, I am not.

I join Jennifer at the express-way and I place my hands on my knees while trying to catch my breath. My legs sting so bad but they are the last thing I care about right now. The sting won't kill me except the bleeding increases.

“ What now, Jennifer? There is no car on this road. Fuck!” I lamented but she gripped my hand and started pulling.

“ come on, this is not the time to lament.”

“ Look, a car!” I exclaimed in excitement, my eyes filled with hope as Jennifer stepped into the center of the road and started waving her hands.

Luckily, the car slowed down and pulled up next to us and I've never felt so happy and relieved in my entire existence.

“ Get inside, Ava!” Jennifer yelled at me from inside the car and my senses returned from wherever they went. I entered the car and shut the door.

“Please take us to the nearest police station, sir,” I and Jennifer said in unison and the car began to accelerate.

I remain silent in the car, praying silently for us to arrive at the police station safely. I look at the rear mirror and my eyes meet the most golden eyes I've ever seen. Chiseled jaw, thick brows, and thin pink lips. My heart pound on my chest and I gulp slowly.

I look away forcefully and see Jennifer crying for the first time. Guess this is how it feels to be free from hell. She once lent me a shoulder to cry on. This is the perfect time to return that favor.

I move closer to her and pull her closer before wrapping my right arm around her.

After about 15 minutes of silence driving, the car pulled up in front of a blue metal gate. I've never seen such a gate before but I am relieved to know that we've escaped.

“ Jen, we've arrived.” I tap her shoulder gently and she lifts her head to look outside the car window.

She grips my hands agitatedly as her body trembles. My heart raced frantically in my chest as I wondered what could warrant this reaction from her.

“ Oh no, Ava. We're back to the slave house.” she whimpered and I looked outside only to see Madam Terrific discussing with the man who had just helped us back to hell.

I remain mute, bereft of words. My mind is blank. Not even a drop of tears leave my eyes. What worse could happen than death?

I feel sorry for Jennifer. She's invested so much effort in this escape plan and I hate to admit that it ended this way.

“ They are going to kill us, Ava.” Jennifer sobbed and seeing her cry made me want to cry.

“ I want to go home, Ava. I want my fucking freedom back. I want to live like a normal human. Eat what I want and do whatever I like.”

“It's so sad that it all ended this way. I wish something could be done. I wish I had teleportation power but the reality is cruel. Isn't it?”

I fight back the tears in my eyes and wipe away the watery mucus in my nose with the back of my hand.

‘Reality is cruel indeed’ I thought to myself as I watched Terrific's masculine women approach the car. We could have escaped but our helper turned out to be our destroyer. The devil!  Who would thought a demigod would have such evil intentions with no ounce of humanity?

Fuck him and whatever he thinks of himself. MAY HE ROT IN HELL WITH THE DEVIL.

“ Get down, Now.” One of Terrific's  minions commanded and Jennifer clinged to me for protection.

I force a lump down my throat. I knew better not to provoke them than they already were.

“ Do not worry, Jennifer. We are not going to die. They won't kill us.” I said to her but deep down within me, I doubted my own words. They sound so fake to me and I won't blame Jennifer if she doesn't have faith in the words I uttered because I don't have faith in them either.

After a while, Jennifer agreed to come out of the car. We stepped out and I couldn't take my eyes off the face of the man who had ruined our lives even more. He is different compared to how he looks. I will never forget this face and if someday I gain my freedom back, I'll make him suffer!

I watch as he enters his car and drives away as if nothing happened. He is not different from Zane. Handsome but devilish.

We are made to stand face to face with Madam Terrific who still has the same wicked look on her face. If I had a gun, I wouldn’t hesitate to load bullets into her skull.

“ Do not hurt them. Take them back and feed them properly. Treat their wounds and give them a warm bath. They will be auctioned tomorrow along with the other girls.”

My eyes widen, almost popping out of their sockets. I doubt what she said to be true but if it is true then being auctioned is better than a death sentence. My heart warmed. I turn to face Jennifer and she has the same look on her face that says “We live to fight another day.”

******* AUCTION DAY******

Standing behind Jennifer in the auction rows amongst many other girls who don't know what the future holds for them. We are made to dress in explicit uniforms that reveal our tilts and a bunch of our back skin and asses. Our hair was clipped into ponytails, revealing our necks.

Being second in the row increases my anxiety as I pray silently for us to be bought by caring gentlemen who will give us our freedom back.

I quickly give Jennifer one last hug. Yeah, it might be the last one as the possibility of seeing her again is slim.

“ I will never forget you, Jen.” my arms around her tightened as I hated to let her go. My heart ache. My eyes sting from the burning sensation of my tears from trying to hold them back.

“ You must live, Ava.” This is her last word before she is pulled away by Terrific and my tears flow freely down my cheeks as I watch her back disappear through the curtains.

I restrain myself from screaming. Why does it hurt so much?

“ Get rid of that mess. You are next.” One of Terrific's minions said and I immediately wiped my face with the hem of my dress.

I have to live. Not only for me but for Jennifer and Leah. This is the beginning of my survival journey.

Madam Terrific walked in a few minutes after without Jennifer and that is when I realized she had been sold and for some reason, I felt happy for her and wished her well. Besides, she won't have to deal with Terrific and the slave house anymore.

“ Now, Ava. Don't keep our buyers waiting.” Madam Terrific grumbled and I followed her obediently to the stage.

I glance at the sea of men in the hall and my eyes fall on golden eyes. His eyes are fixed on me. Despite sitting at the far end of the hall, you can tell him from others. How can I forget the face of the man who returned us to the dungeon we escaped?

“ And the highest bid goes to JACOB STEELE” I hear Terrific announce and I watch as the golden-eyed man gets up from his seat and starts walking devilishly towards the stage while my heart beats rapidly in my chest.

Before I can decipher what is going on, he is standing before me, looking down at me with his intimidating gaze. His expensive cologne filling my senses.

“ What am I to you?” his barrel voice echoes in my head and my lips part slowly and blurted “ Master.”