It Started with Slime - Part 1

Chapter 100 - R & R, Ami

Aarav adjusted his position to cradle Ami in his free arm, rocking her slightly to try to bring her back from her daze. She was a little delirious from their treatment and the washing. But as he rocked her, she started to come back around.

A full hour passed with their wrists chafing on the handcuffs before anything further happened. Aarav was almost glad for the reprieve. Being out in the day was a pleasant change. He heard some noise from around the corner; men were speaking too softly to hear clearly, and was that, a woman as well? Yes, that's a female voice.

Seconds later, a couple walked in with Shoony. The woman was statuesque and poised, large and round and sweating. They had been walking fast. The woman appeared to be in charge, the man subservient to her. They are not a couple. I just assumed. The woman bent and examined Aarav closely without preamble, quickly checking his teeth, fingernails, eyes, and feet. Aarav didn't have the strength to protest, and what would he have done in the situation? Handcuffed as he was, it would all be useless. Then she produced a stethoscope and checked his heart and lungs during his laboured breathing. She clicked her tongue but said nothing.

From there, she moved to Ami. No one uttered a word. She completed the same checks on Ami then straightened. Her face was a cool mask. "They are damaged. You have not been taking proper care. I know you like to have your... fun, but this is unacceptable. I will give you half!" Aarav thought he saw rage contort her features for a moment, but then it was gone. Maybe he had imagined it in his delirium. It also sounded like he was going to be purchased. Surely this woman would take them out of here to somewhere better.

It was too much to hope, and he slumped a little. He could not allow himself to gain false hope. He had to be strong. For Ami! Ami slipped, arm outstretched above her, cuffed to the rail still. It almost looked like she was passed out or sleeping. Aarav knew better; she was still ill.

"The girl is sick and weak, and they both stink like they have been wallowing in their filth! I will give you half or speak to interested parties about your operation here. Don't think I won't! I tolerate your tastes because you bring in the goods but mark my words, you are just as replaceable as the rest of them!" the woman taps he heeled shoes on the tiled floor. Aarav noticed the black hair pulled back severely into a bun and wearing a suit of some kind, but he couldn't make himself care. He just wanted to rest, to sleep.

Shoony grumbled under his breath, clearly displeased and glaring at Aarav in anger. Aarav winced in response, and he would feel that anger on his body soon enough. Please buy us; anything is better than another beating in the darkness.

It was a measure of his desperation that he wished Shoony would sell them like cattle.

"No deal! I will not sell to you at a loss. Someone else is coming by later, and they will give me full price!" Aarav heart sank. The beating was inevitable, it seemed. He would take the one that Shoony wanted to give him and also the one that he would dish out to Ami. She would not survive another. Double the beating would be worth protecting his precious Ami.

The woman cruelly smiled as though she had been expecting this response. Then she laughed, a high pitched cackle, before turning to the fat man with her. "Show him." She said in what was probably the calmest tone she had used so far.

The fat man wiped some more sweat from his brow with a greasy handkerchief and presented a document. Through the thin paper, Aarav could see that it was an image. Shoony's face visibly paled when he saw it, and his defiant tone changed to obsequies. "Take them, take them both. I will not stand in your way."

Aarav could not help it. At those words, the boy let out a sigh of relief, Ami would be cared for, and he could stay with her. He had been praying that they not be separated, but this was better than he had expected. The woman turned at his sigh and smirked, then turned back to Shoony. "Good choice. Oh, and if you try anything, just know I have set this image to be sent to the appropriate people on a schedule unless I stop it personally!"

Shoony, who had been covertly motioning to Ek and Dho, visibly wilted at this; he was not one to think ahead, leading instead with his impulses. Aarav's eyes tried to form tears of joy, but he was still dehydrated.

We might make it out of here.

The happiness in Aarav heart died when he saw the next look the woman gave him and Ami. He had thought Shoony had an evil stare, but the physical beatings were upfront, and he knew where he stood. Now looking into this woman's dark eyes, he was unsure. He shivered and clutched at Ami, holding her close to him, protecting her from this woman's dark gaze.

"Bachu, remove the handcuffs. Let's go!" She spoke to the fat man who promptly leapt to obey. He snatched the keys from Shoony's numb fingers, almost taking one off when the keychain loop caught on his finger. Shoony gasped, but the other two paid him no mind. Ek and Dho were both standing stock, still unsure what to do next.

The fat man unhooked them from the rail and handcuffed them to each other and him. Aarav helped Ami up while Bachu roughly got Aarav to his feet; the small boy winced at the pain. Then they were both escorted out. "Gently, Bachu," the woman muttered. "I don't want my merchandise damaged, as it is. We are going to have to work hard to get them in good condition thanks to..." she left the sentence unspoken and sneered at Shoony. Then she produced a bundle of notes and handed him a few. Aarav caught the barest glimpse of two thousand rupee notes in her hand.

"For expenses, and be lucky I am giving this much!" then she turned on her heels and followed Bachu guiding the children out of the mansion. Then she spoke to the children in front of her, "I have a lot of plans for you both. You may call me Mrs Carva!"

Summary: Aarav and Ami, having spent a week in the mansion's basement, are taken out, washed, and dressed for a prospective buyer. The buyer comes in and, using a combination of blackmail and persuasion, purchases the two children with an evil glint in her eye. She had plans for the two.

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Aarav jerked in bed and mumbled, "No, no. Please just..." and devolved into sobbing, rolling over; he started rumbling unnecessary breaths again, deep in sleep.

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Moving is annoying and moving halfway across the world from East Africa to the UK is even worse. That is my excuse for missing a week but will be posting all 6 chapters today! Yayy, if you don't like it take it up with marketing! (Just kidding, I am marketing. lol)

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