If anyone would like to make me a cover, I'd appreciate it. :) Thanks.
~ Prologue ~
I froze; the guard yelled, telling me to get a move on. The unearthly screeching sent all of us into shock, soon turning into fear. Some cried the moment they reached the door. I didn't know what was coming, but it'd be painful.
“Next!” I was two kids away from the cold metal plated door. I closed my eyes, hearing a scream from behind the door. The girl in front of me started to cry.
“Shut up!” A guard yelled, slapping her cheek. My eyes widened and I forced myself to swallow tears that threatened to fall.
“Next!” My sore bare feet scraped across the dark tiled floor as I made my way forward while the next child went in. I wouldn't survive a slap to the cheek, no matter how strong I looked.
“Next!” The girl in front of me quivered and shook, her fear obvious. I cringed away from the door as a laugh echoed in the next room.
“Stand up straight!” The guard yelled at me. I didn't dare look him in the eyes, knowing I'd be hit like the last child that stared at him.
“Next!” My skin crawled as the door opened. My eyes were too adjusted to the darkness as the light burned my eyes. My cracked dried skin stung as hands held onto my arms and legs. “Her owners letters are MIC.” I screamed, realizing why others were crying out at the top of their lungs. A branding iron leveled with my chest; the letters 'MIC' were about to be branded into my skin. I could hear the sizzle as the man grinned and spit on the heated metal.
“Please!” I begged and whimpered, letting a silent tear fall down my right cheek. I tried to pull backwards as the burning metal met my skin. I withered and cried, the branding iron searing straight through my dirty nightgown just above my chest. The stench of burnt flesh hit my nose the moment it left my throbbing body. I let out a grunt, as the hands that held my arms and legs dropped me, my knees slapping the floor with an echo.
“Michael Ian Carthwrite, this one's yours.”