Open Fire

VALENTINA

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"For an auction." That was C15. Her voice sounded more stable this time around, more knowledgeable.

My gaze darted to my left even if all I could see was darkness.

The stench rushed into my lungs but this time around, I didn't even bother to think about it.

"So, we are like goods."

"And you'd better pray to be wanted. If not you'll be delayed till the next month and if the same thing happens, you will be called 'stale'. They'll take you to their pack and ravish you till there is nothing left to take."

"They will fúck me till I die?"

I needed it straight, no time for poetic style of talking about my possible demise.

"You have a foul mouth, but yes."

"Pack. Are they animals? How do these monsters really look like? Have you seen them?"

There was silence and my head started to bring up all the images I caught on the database at the Unit.

Each just as terrifying as the last.

I cringed visibly.

Goodness, no!

I don't think I would ever recover if I had to face any of that.

"They are different monsters here but our captors are the only ones I've seen. The ones here, they take the form of people and can also turn into wolves."

Take the form of people?

My throat dried up at that.

Werewolves? That was impossible. Those were mythical creatures that only existed in the only fantasy romance book I had. Not mine though, it was technically Ru's but still.

Was that it? Was the stranger a monster?

No--- that couldn't be.

I would have sensed it right from the bat.

"When is this auction?"

"Tomorrow night--"

"Great. I still have time." I held my gun closer to myself, not wanting anyone to bump into me and notice that I was armed.

"To what? Escape?" C15 asked. It sounded less like a question and more like a statement though.

Well, I said that underneath my breath but this place was freaking small anyway, it was expected that she had heard me.

I gave no response, allowing my mind to imagine the cage and find an exit.

"The door is behind me. You can open it."

That sounded like a trap.

But before I could respond, she was already moving closer towards me to clear the path where the door was. C13 seemed to be moving too, as she audibly cursed under her breath.

I pushed my hand upwards, out through the bar, ensuring the presence of my gun still stayed a secret.

The cage's door was easy to open. I only had to pull the little iron rod backwards and I felt the grip loosened immediately.

If it was so damn easy to get out, why were they not trying to escape?

I couldn't contain my confusion, so I asked.

"Why aren't you running?"

"There is no where to run." It was C15 again.

"Have you tried?"

"There is no use."

Great, they had manipulated all of them into thinking like fools. The only thing keeping them in here was the restraint the captives had put in their heads.

I had better get out of here before they make me as gullible.

I pushed pass them.

"Don't. You'll regret." C14 said.

Her too?

"Let her go, I want to see some fúcking blood anyway. Besides, this place is tight."

I rolled my eyes. C13 was really getting on my nerves.

"Don---" C16 started to say.

"Ah, shut u--" C13 groaned but C14 cut her off immediately.

"Careful," she said in low warning.

"Fine, Mother Hen."

"Don't go, you'll regret it." She said to me.

"I'll be fine and if I can make it out, I'll come back and get you."

I was about to step out when C15 whispered discreetly to me.

"Be careful. Keep the gun close, you'll need it."

Okay, C15 was really starting to creep me out because, how did she know I had a gun?

"Also, whatever you do, avoid Agro. He'll only make you stale." Her voice sounded strained and without another word, she let me go.

I slipped out, locking the door behind me.

I tried to sniff the air for Anastasia's expensive lavender perfume but I couldn't sense it.

Hopefully, she hadn't been captured and even she had, I was in no position to rescue. I loved to be a hero but sometimes, being a hero was stupid.

Times like this.

It was everyman for himself.

It was oddly quiet but I always had a way of moving in the dark. There were cages by my sides, people in them, I could sense.

I held on to my gun, pointing it forward, heading to wherever it was that I perceive to be the door to get the hell of this place.

I didn't have to search for too long though.

Creeeeaaaakkkk.

It swung open, yellow light seeping in from some distance behind me.

I ducked behind an iron cage, squatted as low as I could. Ah, if only my boobs were a little smaller.

"You shouldn't be here." A voice snapped. Angry, quick.

A male's.

"Oh, come on. I just want to take another for a test drive." Another male voice.

Relaxed, arrogant, humorous with a promise of danger.

"The auction is tomorrow. No. Do it after." The first voice said again, urgency in it.

"Why are you so scared, Jumbo. They won't notice." The clanking of iron, opening of a cage. "They never notice."

"Because I always cover up for you, Dummy. You know what, just take your usual."

"No. I'm bored of her. Fúcking the same human for a month is very boring."

"We can't risk having another Stale, Agro, they'll find out and we'll be punished."

My heart dropped. That was Agro. Poor C15.

I felt sorry for her but I also hoped that they would leave already. Common sense and C15 said I had to avoid them. Especially Agro. Asides from what I could already deduce, I wasn't too keen to find out more reasons.

Wait, why was everything suddenly quiet?

At that moment, I felt a presence in front of me but before I looked up, my suspicions were confirmed.

"You don't smell like one of ours. How the fúck did you get in here?"

Despite my thundering heart I knew that was Agro, the very one I should be avoiding.

"Who are you?" The other asked from behind me.

Jumbo? I think.

The next thing I knew, I was yanked up in the air by Agro's rough hand around my neck, his golden glowing eyes staring into mine as he wriggled me in the air like I was a piece of the paper.

"Answer me!"

With my air flow restricted, my legs dangling in the air, the feeling of suffocation overpowering, adrenaline kicked and I fired.

The last thing I heard before been knocked out completely was, "Fúcking Bitch, she shot my dick!"