1. Betrayal

                

Iris POV

“Where are we going sister?” I asked, this didn't look anything like the newtown market.

“We are almost there, Iris be patient” She gave me a reassuring warm smile.

I nodded.

It had been  thirteen years since I started living at the church, thirteen years since my father dropped me off. Promising to return, to come back and take me along.

I could still remember that fateful night vividly.

His eyes were empty without emotions.

My mother was nowhere to be found.

The sound of the church door closing as I stepped in.

"Iris, I have to go, I’ll be back to get you okay ? " my  father's voice echoed in my head.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched him disappear that night.

I waited for him to return, days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.

But he never came back.

After my father's abandonment, the only thing I had as a family was the church. Sister Anne  took me as her very own child. The church became my home.

“Sister Iris.” I remembered as sister Anne's sweet voice would call, she was one of the people I had come to love in the church. She cared for me like a mother would.

“You seem lost in thought.” She said,

“Oh,that.” I said, scratching my hair awkwardly.

“Thinking about your parents again?” She would ask. This always brought a smile to my face, she always knew what I was thinking. I wonder if I was easy to read or it was because we were so close.

After that she would spread her hands out for a hug.“It's going be alright child,the lord has not forsaken you.”

Every morning, we would all gather at the dining table at the church, all the sisters already fitted in their uniform with godmother Anne at the head of the table.

Godmother Anne’s voice would echo through the room as she urged us to say our prayers. We could never eat unless our prayers were successfully recited word for word. That was our daily routine, one I had come to love.

Earlier this evening, Sister Anne had  requested I follow her to the newtown market. She had  never asked me to accompany her before and when she did,I hurriedly accepted without a second thought.

The church's familiar walls had long disappeared, we were already  far away from the building and heading toward the lonely aisles.  The church was built away from town with tall trees situated around it like a fence.

We finally arrived in front of an old warehouse, it was lonely and deserted with no soul in sight.

I kept wondering if this was the right place or if we had made a wrong turn on the way cause it looked nothing like a market. No scent of prepared meals, no buzzing activities, nothing. There were supposed to be at least something indicating traces ofa marketplace but none.

I was about to protest before a man in his late 40s suddenly came out of the warehouse, he was fitted in finely woven fabric and made his way to our direction immediately greeting Sister Anne.

"Finally Annabelle, I thought you'd also fail to come tonight as well." The man spoke before staring at head to knees.

Sister Anne's jaw immediately clenched at his words but she didn't speak.

“S-sister Anne,” I stammered, gripping her gown tightly. “Are you sure this is the right place ?” I questioned, only to be met with a cold stern look for her, threatening that I immediately loosen my hold.

I was dumbfounded, Sister Anne suddenly looked like a different person entirely, her warm eyes turned cold.

"This is Iris Paulman." She told the man and immediately his smile widened. “I’ve deliver her safe and on time, now follow your end of the bargain”’

Bargain? What was Sister talking about? Did she already know this man? I looked over at her waiting for a possible explanation but none came

"On time? “ The man asked, raising a brow, “I wouldn't call this on time.”

His gaze immediately left hers and over to me.” Ohh! The lovely Iris!" The man said, his fingers trailing down my cheek, I immediately dodge and the man's face changed from one of admiration to disgust.

“Didn't you train your slave to behave well Annabelle” he spat out gripping my jaw even more firmly in place.

Slave?

“Don't worry, A month in the dorm and you will learn some manners.” The man suddenly let go of my jaw.

What dorm?

Were they taking me? No Sister Anne would never do such.

The man suddenly left my jaw, searching his purse before revealing a bag filled with  coins. He shook the bag before tossing it over to Sister Anne who immediately caught it at once.

"What's happening?" I asked, but Sister Anne's expression immediately silenced her

The man grasped my wrist, his grip  tight and firm. I looked over at Sister waiting for her to protest, to tell me what exactly was going on but nothing.

I held her gown again praying to the Lord that she would say something.

Anything.

"No!" I struggled, I wasn't going to let go. The church was my only family.  The man on the other hand irritated by behavior, he hissed before sending a stinging slap directly to my cheeks.

My cheek arched as tears left my eyes but instead of Sister Anne to protest. She roughly removed my hands from her gown.

“Stop misbehaving child.” she warned.” The Lord has blessed this, so you better behave.”

It finally dawned on me, the cold hitting my skin like an iceberg. Sister Anne was selling me off.

In the next second two hefty emerged from the shadows, their eyes leering. "She's a pretty one. We'll get a good price."

Huh?

What did they mean by that.

I could feel my heart pounding heavily in my chest,"Please, Sister Anne, don't do this."

Sister Anne's face twisted in disgust."You were never mine to keep, Iris," Sister Anne spat.

The slender man that had slapped her previously nodded, "Yes she'll fetch a handsome price.” he chuckled.

Sister Anne turned to me with a twisted grim on her wrinkled face. "Consider this as payment dear, for everything I have done for you.”