Page 1 of Quiet Confessions: Part Two

Prologue

People say that life only gives you challenges that you can handle or overcome. If that's true, then what the fuck am I supposed to do now? Standing here on this hot stage as the lights beat down on my naked flesh, I feel raw and exposed.

I feel broken and destroyed. I feel hurt and betrayed. If this is meant to be a lesson or something, then someone better tell me what the fuck I’m supposed to learn from this. Because right now, all I want to do is crawl into a hole and disappear.

Chapter One

THREE WEEKS EARLIER

I wake up locked in a cage with other people. I can’t see anyone, but I can hear them crying. My head is throbbing and I have crusted blood drying along my skin. My arms are shackled and I’m freezing. I wait for someone to come, or to tell me what’s going on, but no one does. When the room stops spinning, I open my mouth.

“Where am I?” I ask, and someone immediately shushes me.

“Please, they will hear you,” a cracked voice says from behind me.

“Who?” I whisper back, and the person crying next to me starts to sob.

“I just want to go home. I want my mommy,” another girl says and I feel sick. Heavy boots thump down some metal stairs and a light flicks on. I gasp in horror at what’s revealed.

“You,” one of the guards shouts, pointing at a young woman. She can’t be older than sixteen. She’s naked, like we all are, and her skin is filthy, as though she hasn’t showered in weeks.

I take in everything that I can see before they leave and the light is extinguished again.

“Where did they take her?” I ask, and the person behind me laughs, but it’s hollow.

“To the auction. Young thing like her will fetch them a pretty penny.”

My stomach rolls and I vomit down the front of myself, wincing at the pain in my temple.

What the fuck is happening? How did I get here?

I know I need to ask more questions, but my head is heavy and my eyes start to close once more.

I don’t know why the hell Mr. Reynolds kidnapped me and brought me here. I need to find a way to escape and warn my family. They are all in danger.

* * *

“Wake up, boy!” someone grunts, before kicking me in the side. I groan and open my eyes. The pain in my head is worse and I feel lethargic. My stomach rolls, but it’s empty now. I smell sour and I feel sorry for whoever is trapped beside me.

There is a dim light by the stairs and I can see shadows. All these poor, innocent people, trapped here for God only knows how long.

“What do you want with me?” I croak, and the guard laughs. He gives me a smile, but I can tell it’s fake. He’s looking all around him and it’s hard for him to mask his disgust at what he’s seeing.

Interesting. Maybe he’s also being held here against his will. “The Boss wants to meet you, but first we need to hose all this shit off of you,” he grumbles, and pulls some keys out of his pocket.

My wrists are still secured, but I’m no longer attached to the wall. I allow him to guide me up the stairs and over to a locked door. I try to count how many women and children are down here with me, but it’s too dark.

“What is this place?” I mumble, and I’m shocked when the guard answers me.

“Hell. I suggest keeping your mouth shut and doing everything the Boss asks of you. It’s better that way, trust me.”

I scoff and wince as the pain in my head worsens. “I’ll never trust someone like you,” I grumble and he sighs, but nods.

“Good, you may just make it out of here alive, then.” The door opens and the bright lights make me curl into myself and stumble.

“Fuck, my head. Turn off the damn lights,” I shout, and the man drags me quicker down the hall and into a shower room. He turns the lights off and I’m once again surprised by his kindness. I don’t think this guard is really a guard.

“Make it quick and don’t try anything. I’d rather not have your blood on my hands,” he grumbles, then chains me to a hook on the shower wall and leaves me. I rest my head against the cool tile for a moment, then turn the water on.

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