Chapter 3

After a bumpy ride, Sadie was yanked out of the car, a rough hood covering her head. The air reeked of rot and decay, a putrid mix of death and despair that clung to her skin. The heavy humidity pressed against her like cold, slithering snakes, seeping into every pore. Faint traces of something burnt lingered in the atmosphere, as if some unspeakable cruelty had recently unfolded here. Low, mournful wails echoed intermittently, a haunting sound like the cries of lost souls trapped in the depths of hell. The oppressive darkness seemed alive with misery. Zeke's ingratiating voice cut through the gloom. "Gentlemen, this batch is the real deal. Top quality. Now, about the price?" The hood was ripped from her head. Before Sadie's eyes loomed a fierce, grotesque face. The man's broken English was harsh and clipped. "She looks good. Is she a virgin?" "Yes, yes, absolutely," Zeke stammered, eager to please. "You know I wouldn't give you anything secondhand." "Fine. Take her away." As soon as the words left the man's mouth, two rough hands grabbed Sadie and began dragging her off. She tried to speak, to protest, but her mouth was gagged, and all that came out were muffled hums of resistance. She was thrown into a room that reeked of blood, the metallic scent so strong that it made her stomach churn. Around her, other women huddled in corners, their bodies battered and broken. Their hollow eyes followed her, filled with fear and quiet despair. Sadie tried to approach them to ask questions, but the clanging of metal bars cut her off. A burly man banged his baton against the cage, snarling, "Don't get any ideas. Once you're here, you don't leave alive!" His voice was deep and rasping, scraping against Sadie's ears like sandpaper. His words dripped with malice, and his crooked grin revealed a mouthful of yellowed teeth. "You think you can run?" he sneered, his eyes glinting with cruel delight. "You'll learn soon enough whose territory this is." Sadie glared at him, defiance burning in her eyes. "Let me out! If you dare touch me, your boss won't let you get away with it!" Her words only enraged him further. He unlocked the cage and stormed inside. His sunken eyes bore into her like two black holes, void of any mercy. Grabbing her by the hair, he yanked her face upward. "You think the boss is gonna save you, little girl?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "No one is going to save you, princess." His grip tightened as he leaned closer, his breath hot and rancid. "You're in my world now. Behave, and you might suffer less." Another man, tall and wiry, chimed in from the side. "If you don't listen, we'll beat you to a pulp!" Their laughter was cold and empty, devoid of any humanity. It echoed in the room, mingling with the sound of Sadie's ragged breathing. A shrill voice joined in. A woman with sharp, angry eyes and a whip in her hand stepped forward. "You think you're some kind of princess, huh? Trying to threaten us with our boss? Let me tell you something, girl. You're nothing here. You're just another filthy little piglet." The whip cracked against Sadie's back, the sting sharp and merciless. The woman's voice rose with cruel glee. "Every day, girls like you show up, thinking they're special. You want to know what happens? We break them. We beat them until they learn their place." She grabbed Sadie by the chin, forcing her to meet her gaze. Her smile was vicious, and her eyes glinted with malice. "And you'll be no different." The whip struck again and again, each lash accompanied by peals of laughter from her tormentors. Sadie's body writhed in pain, but she refused to scream, even as her skin burned and her strength waned. "Enough!" A deep, gruff voice interrupted. A large, rotund man stepped in, his tone pragmatic but no less chilling. "Don't kill her. The boss requested this one personally. Can't have her dying too soon." The woman spat on Sadie, her face twisting in frustration. "Lucky for you, girl," she hissed and then stormed off, leaving Sadie crumpled on the floor like a rag doll. Sadie lay there, every nerve in her body screaming in agony. Her vision blurred, the room spinning as blood trickled down her back. Her breathing grew shallow, and the world around her faded into a haze of red. Before her consciousness gave way, she caught a glimpse of a figure standing in the doorway. Gideon. His brows furrowed, and his expression was dark and unreadable as he looked at her. His lips moved, but the words didn't reach her ears. Then, darkness consumed her.