Chapter 2 Desperate Attempt

• Eloisa’s POV
• “72! Wake up, 72!”
• I woke up to Mama’s voice and jolted from the bed. I looked around to make sure we were the only ones in the room.
• After what happened on the first night I left the underground prison, I couldn’t help feeling anxious when the night came. An unexpected encounter with a werewolf in its beast form still made me tremble in fear.
• I didn’t know what happened after that incident. It was too much for me and I fainted at the spot when he asked who I was. I just woke up with Mama nagging about some thief who tried to break in and steal her ‘goods’.
• Days passed since then. A few minutes later, I’d be on display when the shop opened.
• For three days, I had been thinking of ways to get away from this hell. There would be no guarantee that my buyer would be kind, not that the word kind even existed in the werewolves’ vocabularies. He could also be someone like the one who barged in that night.
• After watching Layla suffer at the hands of Mama for not satisfying her master, I realized it would be likely for me to suffer the same fate after getting bought. My only option was to escape when I had the chance.
• “Wash yourself and get dressed. I’ve already found you a buyer,” Mama told me and tossed a white plain dress in the bed. “I have no choice but to compromise. If not for the bad reviews I recently got, I could have sold you for a higher price. So, make sure you serve your master right. You’ll have to convince them to leave a nice review of the shop, too.”
• I was about to open my mouth when Mama glowered at me with her eyes narrowed. “I appreciate it if you don’t speak when not asked, 72. Now, start moving before the buyer arrives.”
• Mama tucked the strands of my brown hair behind my ears as she beamed at my face. “You’re a beauty and a virgin. Such a rare good to find these days. Don’t worry, 72. I found you a good master. There’s no need to be nervous like that. Stop shaking and be composed. Do not ever embarrass me, do you understand?”
• Nodding was my only response, otherwise, Mama would have hit me if I showed a hint of disagreement.
• “Good. I’ll be waiting outside the dorm. Be done in five minutes,” she said before leaving.
• I wasted no time and got ready. There was no telling what Mama would do if I was late even for a minute.
• The cold water from the bath felt nice, perhaps because I didn’t have any scars yet. For two years, I obeyed Mama’s words to avoid the punishment. Unlike the other girls who tried to escape and even talked back to her, I was a coward who only nodded and shook my head whenever asked. I was afraid of getting hurt so I always tried to behave.
• But was it worth it?
• No matter how much I behaved, it wouldn’t change the fact that Mama would still sell me as a slave.
• I put on the dress Mama left for me. It was nothing grand, just a plain white dress I always wear, but newly washed.
• My heart was beating erratically as I walked out of the dorm. Mama was there, leaning on the wall while talking to someone on the phone.
• “Oh, she’s here. The candy is ready and fully wrapped. You can come and pick her up anytime,” Mama mumbled as I walked toward her. “Yes. You will not regret purchasing this special good,” she added and laughed, before hanging up.
• “You’re on time, 72. See? If all the girls behaved like you, they wouldn’t have to suffer. Follow me to the waiting room. You’re lucky to be bought without having to stand on display the entire day.” Mama looked at me, impressed. She clicked her tongue and clapped her hand before leading me to an empty room.
• “Sit still and don’t move. This is your collar. It’s a brand new one.” Mama put on a collar on my left wrist.
• I heard it was to monitor our location in case we tried to escape. There were also rumors going around in the underground prison that collars could electrify the wearer when their master pressed the remote that came with it.
• “I’ll be outside to welcome the customer,” Mama said and locked the door, leaving me alone inside.
• I roamed my eyes to look for a possible exit. The window was no good. It was too small for me to fit. The ceiling wasn’t an option either. Mama could smell me within a certain distance. If I tried to leave and she discovered me before I could get away, it would be the end for me.
• My body shivered when I heard footsteps coming closer. Mama was talking to someone. Her voice got louder and clearer as she stopped outside the room. The sound of the dangling keys made me nervous as Mama opened the door.
• “Here’s your candy, Sir. I’m sure you’re going to like her.”
• Mama stood by the door with a mischievous smile. Next to her was a man with a beard, grinning like he won the lottery for the nth time.
• “She’s wonderful, Ma’am. I can’t wait to take her home,” the man commented, looking at me lasciviously. “I’ve sent the amount to your account. I will add an extra later after giving it a try.”
• “And a five-star review, Sir Barrio. Please don’t forget to rate my shop after enjoying the goods,” Mama added and handed the remote to my collar. She turned to me and smiled sweetly. “Off you go, little bunny. Remember the rules. Do not embarrass your Mama.”
• Mama gestured for me to come close to her and whispered, “He’s serving an alpha so be careful. You’ll have a chance to live lavishly if you follow him.” She then pushed me toward the huge man who bought me.
• “Welcome, dearie. You smell like a fresh budding flower,” he muttered and held me by the arm. “We’re going, Ma’am. Do let me know if you have other goods like this one.”
• Mama waved to us with a winning smirk.
• The man fastened his pace as he walked out of the building. He led me toward the red car parked a few meters away. It seemed like he came alone to get me. His frequent checking of the surroundings made me think he was hiding the fact that he came to buy a slave.
• “Hurry up! It’s going to be troublesome if someone sees me around this area,” he grumbled, dragging me to keep up with his pace.
• It had been so long since I went outside. Everything changed. The buildings were still the same but the busy streets were almost empty with just a few werewolves roaming around. It was hard to find a safe place knowing nothing about the current society. But I rather take a chance than become a slave of this despicable race.
• “We’re almost there. Walk faster, will you? Hey—!”
• Using every ounce of my strength, I pushed the man away and ran across the street. Anywhere was fine but in the arms of that man.
• “Idiot human! Stop right there!”
• My wrist started to itch and in the next second, I fell on the ground while shaking due to an electric shock. The rumors about the bracelet were indeed true. It only meant that what the girls talked about in the underground prison was also true.
• Slaves who were bought were treated as sex dolls by their masters and were discarded when they could no longer satisfy their desires.
• “There’s no way I’ll let myself become one,” I mumbled under my breath as I desperately moved my body while my supposedly master sauntered in my direction.
• My hopes came back when I saw a fast-approaching car heading to me. If I died, even werewolves couldn’t bring me back to life to punish me.
• “Watch out!”
• I grinned while spreading my arms, waiting for the car to run over me. The clear blue sky was all I could see before shutting my eyes, awaiting death.
• However, my hopes were stolen when the car stopped a few inches away from me, sparing my life. I opened my eyes and glared at the driver who squatted next to me with a frown on his face.
• “Silly, are you trying to get me involved in your suicide plan?”