Dark and Delicate

Before It All Began

Her coughs could be heard from down the halls. The barred door offers no privacy. Her small form curled tightly into the corner, shaken from the recent beating. The king's men showed no mercy for the young girl, using her as they desired.

As months blurred, her resentment for the king grew darkly. She promised herself he'd live as miserable as she did when she escaped. With no idea what happened to her family, she knew she had no one to return to. "Lei!" the king roars. She had not expected him to visit so soon again. Silently, she listens as his heavy steps grow near. Keeping her head low, she stands facing the bars as he stands before her.

"M-my lord." her eyes are painfully glued to his feet. She's never enjoyed being near the man. His eyes carry an evil glint that puts her off. He is not known for his undying kindness; death is hooked strong under his belt.

"Come," he spat, "We have business to attend." the door clicks and glides outwards. His hand reaches for hers, but she steps ahead as rage bubbles in her soul. She'd silently prayed this would be the end of her captivity or life; she wasn't picky.

Strolling down the long, narrow halls, they stop at large, golden-trimmed doors. Beyond is the full courtyard. Fear washes over Lei as a solemn realization strikes her. The king grips her wrist, dragging her toward the large, musty cage. Tossed in and discarded, she oversees her surroundings. A small boy crouches in the corner with what she presumes is his mother, and a girl with the most striking green eyes stares back. She was around Lei's age; her black hair covered most of her hunched body.

"People! Let the bids begin!" the announcer blares sharply through the court. The worse an enslaved person behaves, the more likely they are to get sold, which brings Lei to the top of the list. She hated tending to others as much as she hated the king. As the announcer hollers her name, she's hauled up to the beefy man.

"1000 dollars!" he shouts. She tenses at the low offer; Lei has never been much of anything, but it still hits her profoundly. Another man shouts that it should start lower, and the crowd howls. A hand raises in the back, a tall man, his face covered by his baseball cap.

"Going for 1000!" the announcer bellows again. Her heart slumps as no other hand goes up. Her fears swell in the pit of her stomach, evident in her features as the man moves closer. All she can hope for is a better chance to survive a little longer.

"Sold! To the man in all black..."The beefy man's voice trails off as if he had a hint of recognition; it's gone as fast as it was there. The younger man holding me yanked me over to the man, throwing me roughly into his cage. I lean against the bars, happy to be alone once again.