Chapter Two

Ruby's POV

I woke to muffled sounds, my head throbbing as I tried to make sense of the darkness around me. A heavy veil covered my face, but I could still see right through it as my eyes slowly opened. The cold air bit at my skin, it felt as though I was naked. My hands were bound, my knees aching from kneeling on a hard floor. My breath came out in harsh gasps as I struggled to move, but it was impossible.

Other muffled voices and low cries drifted around me as I tried to recall how I ended up here. I couldn't remember much, just a flash of my father's lifeless face, the gunshots, and then…darkness.

There were some young girls kneeling next to me, but one would be about two centimeters apart from me. All of them at the same look, veiled faces, hands bound, heads bowed in silent terror.

Like me, they were nothing more than products on display. I could hear the hum of the air conditioning as tears stung my eyes.

I was about to be either bought or killed.

A voice bloomed across the room, startling me. “This one here is a rare beauty,” Someone announced, his voice ringing in my ears. He was standing next to me, and the sound of his shoes sent chills through my spine.

“Take her veil off, let them see what they're paying for.” That same voice spoke again.

Rough hands grabbed my veil, yanking it back. The sudden brightness almost blinded me, and I squinted as my vision adjusted. All around, unfamiliar faces stared back, eyes inspecting me like I was some grocery.

My stomach churned with nausea, fear slithering through my veins. I felt small, exposed, and utterly helpless.

Murmurs filled the room, these old men seemed to take interest in me. Their eyes fixed as if they wanted to devour me.

“Rare beauty indeed.” I heard one of them say.

“She's way too beautiful.”

“Hey, Groff, I got you on this one! Haha!”

Those were some words I could audibly hear as chatters and low laughters filled the room. My mind drifted to my mother lying in that hospital bed, her pale, fragile face etched with pain.

How could I help her now? How could I pay for her treatment when I couldn't even save myself? Bitter tears welled in my eyes, but I forced them down. Crying would only make this worse.

I couldn't escape this place.

“One million!” A husky voice called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Three million!” Another voice called out.

“Five million!”

“Ten million!”

“Fifteen million!”

“This girl is such a hot take. Anyone willing to bid higher?” The announcer spoke, chuckling slightly.

Silence hung in the air. It felt like the last stop until someone called an amount that made me widen my eyes.

“Thirty million!”

Murmurs. Silence. Then the announcer's voice, “Sold!”

No, no, this couldn't be happening. I wanted to scream, to run, but my body was too weak and the chains seemed like an endgame.

The highest bidder was an old, fat man with too many beards. His eyes fixed on me as if I were already his, shooting me a smug, mischievous look. He smiled and strode forward, his rough hand seizing my arm, pulling me up with a harsh grip.

He dragged me through the room, his fingers digging into my skin like claws.

Once outside, he shoved me into the back of a Rolls Royce. My heart was beating very fast, my legs trembling as he climbed in the driver's seat, his presence was like a predator closing in on his prey.

I pressed myself against the car door, my hands trembling as I tried to break from the chain. “Girl, you don't get to act so stubborn! You're too pretty for this. I'll take care of you, princess.” He glanced back as he began to drive, laughing aloud as if he just won a bet.

So disgusting.

My cold gaze shifted to the window, I needed a miracle right now. All I wanted was to escape from this fat dude.

Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt. I wasn't afraid to speak, but I wouldn't waste my time talking to this man right now.

It seemed like he was panicking. I looked ahead to see a figure standing right in front of us. A black car parked beside him, silent, as he slowly raised his gun at our car.

“This son of a bitch is here again!” Fat dude growled as he hissed, opening a safe to bring out a gun.

Now, my heart was beating even faster. This smelt like a very big problem.

What in the world was happening?

The tall figure approached us, I looked out and saw he had a mask on his face. He looked like a Greek god even with the mask on. Tall, lean build, exuding a powerful, dark aura.

Just as the fat dude was about to trigger the gun, the next thing I heard was a gunshot. How could the masked man have moved so fast?

Blood splattered, warm and sickening, across my face and arms. Fat dude’s body slumped over, lifeless.

I choked back a scream, my body paralyzed by shock. The masked man reached for the door and opened it.

And for a moment, I couldn't breathe. I could feel his intense gaze on my entire body. There was something about him. Something alluring. Something dark and dangerous.

It suddenly felt like my head was hit by a hard stone as I felt a tiny dart on my neck. My vision blurred and my head spinned. The last thing I saw before the world went dark was his shadow towering over me.