Page 12 of Throne of Sin

“Please. A thousand tonight and a thousand every week until you reach ten thousand,” I negotiate.

He wiggles his foot with a disgusted curl on his lips, trying to get me to let go of his feet. “I’ll send the money, but only if you get bought. If not, you get nothing and I get to take your kidney for free.”

This is the worst decision of my life but there’s no turning back now. “Thank you, thank you.” I can’t believe I’m thanking this man. I use both hands to wipe the tears from my face. My girl is finally going to get the medication she needs. She’ll be able to be healthy and run and play like all children should.

“Get up from your knees and make yourself presentable. You’re on in half an hour.” I nod repeatedly. I will make this work.

I’m placed in a holding room with all the other girls. None of their eyes dare to travel up to meet mine. They are wearing white night gowns that remind me of the eighteen hundreds while I’m naked. Tex told me it’s to remind the men that they like women with curves. I want to tell these girls to run back home and never return. It’s all very hypocritical of me. I study each of their faces and promise myself that once I get my shit together, I will help these girls.

“You’re on, Demi!”

Armed guards escort me through the cold narrow hallway and my nipples peak in the chilly air. I’m shoved through a curtain and onto a stage with lights that blind me.

The hand I’d been using to protect my modesty by at leasttryingto cover my breasts rises in an effort to keep the light out of my eyes.

“Spread them so we can see what we’re buying,” is called from below.

My stomach flips at the words and I cast my eyes down, deciding it’s better just get it over with instead of trying to see beyond the stage lights. I pull in a deep breath, attempting to keep my knees from knocking together. My muscles are fighting against the freeze I’ve placed on them with the hopes of hiding how nervous I am. I want to turn around and say, “Not today, Satan…” but it’s my way to save Oakleigh. She needs her medication more than she needs me. She deserves more than I ever had.

“The first girl of the evening,” the announcer says from somewhere in the room.

The once rowdy room grows silent. My hands grip a lone stool in the middle of the stage. I can’t bring myself to sit on it, but it helps to keep me steady as my hands hold on to it from behind me. Like the chair will save me.

More silence. I shift from foot to foot.

What if no one buys me?I want to be sick, the bright lights only making the feeling worse.

“Fifty thousand.” My eyes snap up and I search for the bidder.

“Starting bid is one hundred thousand,” the announcer reminds the room.

I swallow. They don’t even want to pay the normal amount. My other realization is that Tex is making a pretty penny off my sale and has promised me almost nothing.

My chest tightens. There are beads of sweat that line my brow. This has to be a bad dream. I fight to stay upright as my head grows lighter and lighter.

“One hundred thousand.” A man in the front row bids. He licks his lips and blows me a kiss. I take a step back, trying not to recoil. The stool wobbles, reminding me I have nowhere to go.

“One hundred and twenty-five thousand.” The same man who offered fifty thousand bids. He sits in the back, a shadow cast over him except his shoes. He’s wearing white sneakers, I think.

“One hundred fifty,” an accented man calls out.

“Two hundred.” The man in the front says, glaring at the competition.

My eyes have finally adjusted to the bright lights and I can now make out the hungry glint in the eyes of most of the men around me.

“Two fifty!” exclaims the heavy-set accented man with a double chin. His shirt has sweat stains around his belly.

Silence.

I look around, wishing there were better options here for me.

“Going once, going twice…” The announcer begins to close my bids up.

“Four hundred thousand,” announces the sneaker man.

Shock radiates through the two men who were bidding for me.

“You can have her at that price.” The one in the front row laughs, like I’m not worth that much. It pisses me off.

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