Chapter 30
Xander knew he probably wouldn’t make it until morning. After he spoke, he closed his eyes, not looking at Serena again.
At the mercenaries insistence, Serena and the others were escotted out of the room. The noise outside was deafening. She could even hear people on the phone, begging their families for help after losing too much money in some kind of rigged
game.
With every room they passed, the scenes inside made her heart race with dread.
They walked down a long, closed–off corridor and entered a flasly, over–the–top casino. The mercenaries led them toward an elevator that would take them in the underground auction house.
While waiting for the elevator, Serena suddenly heard a man’s pleas corning from another elevator. “Mr. Harrington! Mr. Harrington! Please, spare me just this once!”
The mention of the surname made her freeze in her tracks. She stared at the nearby elevator. A mercenary, noticing her hesitation, gave her a sharp look.
When the elevator doors opened, a group of Afoan men stepped out, one of whom was being dragged along. But the person she thought she might see wasn’t among them.
Yeah, there’s no way he’d be here, Serena thought, her steps slowing. But just that slight delay earned her a hard slap across
the face
“Damn it! If it weren’t for the rule against firing guns here, you’d be dead already. Get in!” the mercenary yelled.
Serena covered her face, lowering her head in numb silence as she entered the elevator. When the elevator finally reached the third underground level, she thought they had arrived at the auction site, but it was still part of the casino.
It wasn’t until the mercenaries led them into another elevator–this one requiring retina verification to activate–that she realized they were going even deeper. After who–knows–how–many more floors, the elevator door finally opened.
Serena could barely make out a group of buyers, all wearing masks, heading toward the auction hall. They were then taken to the backstage area, lined up, and numbered. Staff applied ankle cuffs to each of them
Serena’s number was 9.
As the first, a blonde, was led onto the stage, the room erupted in a bidding frenzy. She was young, beautiful, and untouched, and in the end, she was sold for 300,000 dollars.
Next came
came a man, but he wasn’t as lucky. He was short, and his arm had been broken in the beatings. No one bid for him. Minutes later, he was yanked off the stage.
“Take him to the operating room. Just leave the parts we can use one of the mercenaries ordered.
At those words, the man passed out. Some of the women, too scared to hold it in, started crying, Serena clenched her tists, her breath coming in shallow gasps,
She watched one after another being auctioned off, and those who weren’t bought were dragged back and thrown into the next room. There, the sound of their gut–wrenching screams echoed.
Serena’s heart raced to her throat. She thought, “Xander’s right. Being sold might just give me a fighting chance.
I was in the hospital when these people came for me, she replayed everything in her mind. It must have been because I got in Dr. Ziegler’s way, so he cooked up this whole thing
Her thoughts spun, but eventually, they settled on one thing. Jonathan’s still in the hospital. I need to see him wake up. 1
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Chapter 30
can’t just die here—No.4 wout. I have to survivel
“Lot number 9, the auctioneer called.
66%
Serenas straightened her hair and walked onto the stage. The crowd was a dark sea of masked faces, all looking down at her, and a single harsh spotlight burned her skin.
The auctioneer began his introduction. “A standard Afoan beauty from Aspellis. 5’6” tall. 121 pounds. Healthy except for mild anemia Starting bid, three thousand dollars.
Serena looked up at the darkened crowd, no one bidding. As the minutes dragged on, she felt like hell was reaching out to her. Tears welled up in her eyes.
7 thousand.”
“10 thousand
“12 thousand.”
Bids kept rolling in, but Serena felt herself sinking deeper into despair. She knew that even if she was bought, it’d just mean
stared ahead. a lifetime of hell, a one–way ticket to nowhere. There was no saving her now. Her eyes were empty as she
“30 thousand
“Wow, a bid of 30 thousand from this gentleman! The auctioneer’s voice grew more enthusiastic. This stunning Afoan beauty is a rare find in our auction. Don’t miss out!
“25 thousand”
“38 thousand.”
“68 thousand.”
Serena couldn’t make out the faces in the crowd, only the outlines. The person adding 68 thousand seemed to be an elderly
70 thousand.”
“75 thousand”
“80 thousand”
The competition was growing fierce. In the end, only the elderly man who bid 65 thousand on the right side and a woman on the left bidding 80 thousand were left
The auctioneer, clearly excited by the intense bidding, raised his voice, “80 thousand, going once. Any higher bids–85 thousand! The gentleman on the right just raised his paddle again.”
After that, the woman stopped bidding. Serena bit her lip, her rails digging into her skip. She knew she was about to be sold to that elderly man
85 thousand, going once! Coing twice… The auctioneer raised his gavel, about to call it closed, when suddenly, Serena saw someone in the center of the audience raise their paddle.
“330 thousand! The gentleman in the center just jumped to a 330 thousand bid This is the highest bid we have ever had at our auction!” The auctioneer’s ecstatic voice rang in her ears.
A stir ran through the audience as everyone turned to look at the man who bid 330 thousand. Serena stared at the man in the center, his black mask obscuring his features, but for a brief moment, she thought she recognized him.
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“Going twice. Sold for 390–thousand!” The auctioneer slammed down his gavel. No surprises there. Serena was bought for 330 thousand by the man in the black mask.
They took Serena backstage, and it was clear the mercenaries treated her with noticeably less aggression.
A staff member in a suit approached. “I have been working here for two years, and this is the first time I have seen someone fetch this high a price. Well, Miss, please stay still. I’ll take off the cuffs.”
Once finished, he added. “Please follow me. I’ll take you to your buyer. He led her out of the atiction hall and into a lavish lounge.
“Sir, here’s your purchase,” he said, pushing Serena forward. The man in the black mask was waiting, eyeing her up and down as she approached.
“She’s completely unharmed, I assure you. We take very good care of our goods. The staff member was all business, pulling Serena in a circle for inspection.
Serena kept her head down the whole time, silent and tremblingslightly.
n in the mask said.
“Mm, you can go,” the man in
“Understood, sir,” the staff member replied, quickly exiting
Now alone with the man, the silence was heavy. Serena stood frozen, almost holding her breath.
After what felt like an eternity, the man spoke, his voice chilling, “So, was it fun, coming to Faliden with Andrew?
