Chapter 91 - No Human To Be Found Here

-- Aaris - PoV --

The woman in front of me had her face dipped in a puddle of dirty water, it splashed on my legs and I backed off a bit with shock. Then, I glanced at her and my heart stopped and my tongue got sour. I feel nauseated while looking at her.

Her body was riddled with wounds and bruises, few scraps of clothes were barely hiding her, in a single glance you could tell what are the fresh wounds and old blisters with growing infection, her skin was like the parchment of burned clothes, and blue swells, scars, and stitches, her hair had dreadlocks probably they weren't washed for a long time, she looked no longer human.

Melvi puked with this dreadful sight and Zia grabbed her to stay sane, she was horrified that she wasn't even able to utter a single letter out her mouth.

While Zia just closed her eyes in horror and disdain holding Melvi close to her.

"You fucking tramp! Do you know how much money I spent on you and your food? And you can't even satisfy a man, you were the one who tried to throw everything away and then asked for food!"  The man who was holding the chains of the collar and the woman stepped on her nails.

And she screeched in pain and started crawling in misery, her voice was breaking with long breaths like she can't even have the strength to speak.

Slowly crawling to my feet, she grabbed my ankle, her grip was even weaker than a baby, her hold slipped to my toes in no second,

"He...help… me… I… have a… child waiting for me!" She still had her face pushed to the ground and was just asking for help in a blind wish of saving herself.

"No one will come here to waste a time on whence like you!" He pulled her chain and dragged her to the ground, "Oye brats! Who are you?"

I just stared at the woman biting my cheeks clenching my fist, barely holding myself back from ripping the man's jaw off, and torturing him until the day he begs for life.

Still, I swallowed my blood and reached my hand to him with the paper, the old man gave me and smiled, 

"Oho, you are new escorts!" He suddenly broke into a loud annoying laugh, yanking her hair, and raised her in front of the paper, "look! They are the same ones as those who delivered you to me! Man if I find those bastards again I'll ask for a refund!"

The woman looked at me, bit her lips, and wept in agony, jerking her legs, wailing, "please...help me! I want...t... to….see my…. child! He must be hungry and crying! He is… still a baby-"

"He is dead bitch!" And he kicked her again, "I told you he is dead! But you annoying bitch doesn't want to believe it! Why are you so annoying! Forget him and work to pay me back!" He yanked her again in a chuckle.

Zia clenched her teeth and her eyes went red with hanging tears, Melvi was hiding her face trembling in horror.

"You must be looking for Aston right? You will find him on the corner, you must hurry or the auction will start!" The man pointed to the left and giggled, 

"Thank you, well then I'll see you." I smiled and pulled Zia's arm, taking her away from there with careless steps. She looked at me in contempt, jerking her wrist from me.

"She'll die Rise! They'll kill him! How can you turn your back on her like this? If you can't save her, what good is this mission? She is going through hell with each second! If you can't help her then, please! 

Let me go, I will take responsibility for my action and I promise won't say anything about the mission if I get caught, so-" 

'You can't do anything Zia, she is neither the first nor only one suffering, look around you, you'll see every color and race wrapped in collar, covered in wounds and bruises!'

The place we were standing right now was worse than hell imagined, carcass and bones were thrown like modest trash, children in ropes and chains, men drinking and beating women and throwing them corner to corner, cries for help, and screams filled with agony and pain is the only thing echoing loud here like the music of festival, a festival straight out of hell.

We are at just the tip of the iceberg! If you lose yourself here, it's better to return now, but if really want to save just shut your 

TRAP FOR A DAMN SECOND AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED!" I clutched her shoulder clenching my teeth and jerked her away.

Melvi was dumbstruck and held Zia just like she did before, and looked at me in disbelief.

"Rise, why are you-"

'Just as I said, we aren't fighting for a single person here, this isn't child play, this world of cruelty and savagery knows no bounds! You need to understand when you can put yourself in the lines, what is the right time you need to forward your hand to help, and when to keep it inside the pocket! If you really want to save her, then just shut it and move!' 

I calmed myself and emptied every emotion I had inside me, the world I saw in 2 years in the Garden, this is the true face of the world that doesn't flinch before eating the wound of others when starved with greed.

I averted my eyes and moved forward but for some reason, my feet were heavier than before, yet I dragged myself from there and they just silently followed me gazing down in hopelessness.

When we reached the tavern we were supposed to find our job, there was no one there, just a man cleaning glasses glaring at us, I went to the man behind the counter and handed him the paper and he looked at me, with a smirk

"When I looked at you entering the place, I thought why are some puny children here, but looking closely in your eyes, I am convinced you are the perfect guy, I have never seen such dead eyes before! I can say many newbies no matter how old they have hesitation flickering on their face, and look at you grinning, haha I like you kid now follow me." 

'I am much obliged, sir!' I giggled and looked at Zia and Melvi who covered half of their faces with cloth, and followed him, and he led us to the staircase going up and we climbed with paved steps. 

In a few minutes, we ended up in a fancy-looking storeroom, where many other people were chattering and lazing around.

They were not normal people, they were mages! Probably escorts like us. 

They looked at us and ignored us at the moment, and I looked at Melvi and Zia, and walked to the corner, resting there for a while. My mind was still blank, the only thing I could think and feel at that moment was nothing but my breaths. 

"Listen here, all of you! Be ready! The auction will start soon so keep your eyes and ears open! Now you, you and you stay close to the entrance-"  a man who looked young and dressed all sparkly came in and started pointing and sending off other mages.

We kept silent and then he called us, "you three fools! Why are you so late you'll stand behind the curtains looking out for the creeps if they jump on the stage!" He pointed at us with his cane and dashed out of the room hurriedly.

I sighed and asked a guy nearby for our position. He took us to the narrow hallway covered with a curtain on the side of the small stage. Melvi and Zia stood beside me without saying a word to me and I crossed my hands and leaned on the wall.

I looked around and noticed many nobles and rich traders weren't here chatting to each other and drinking like there was a feast, and suddenly lights went off.

The chattering stopped and the spotlight shone brightly upon the same guy who told us our position.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for coming here, today we have an amazing collection and toys in our showcase which will tempt you to bleed your pockets in gold! And also we have a special and main event of our show today's show, which I know you all came for! But that's for last! Let's begin with some handy and fun-filled dolls you will definitely enjoy after buying!"

He shouted and a rumble of clamps filled the room. He looked to his right and nodded and a huge man pulled a young girl from the curtain to the stage and threw her on the floor.

"Let's call our first doll! A human girl!

Age - 24,

From Gelov village!

No scar or illness, well kept in a perfect condition just for you! And the cherry on top she is still a virgin, 

So with further ado, let's hit the call with 10000 Muras!"